While the women got into the topic of Sarada and other mundane things, Asura met up with Gaea in her sanctuary.
Shun and Byakuya were waiting for him on the moon so they could start their sparring session with Duo.
Asura walked under the veil of the night wearing white jeans and a white shirt with black classic shoes along with a choker on his neck with a emerald in the center.
Walking silently towards his destination that was filled with greenery, Asura looked like an adult. It was the norm of the new era for children to mature by the age of 13 but most people that weren't so talented found it awkward and weird.
Children these days could have mature bodies very quickly and their mind as well, for some parents that meant their children being older than them mentally.
It was the result of living a high speed life and using the clone training on top of that. The stronger the individual, the longer they have spent living.
Naruto's physical age was close to 40 years because of his messing with time control and travelling to the Immortal realm but his mental age was in the thousands.
It went the same way for everyone else.
Only with the right environment provided to the children kept them from becoming too old in the mind. That was one of the side effects of living in the speed and clone training, feeling mentally drained.
This also meant that all the talented kids could only interact with other talented kids, limiting their social network.
Some people had issues with this problem especially since it meant that the children lost their childhoods very early.
The maturity process started early from the moment that chakra was made in the body at the age of 3.
To counter the problem, mental blocks were put on the children and unlocked once they hit 8. It gave them some time to enjoy the childishness outlook of life.
To further allay the fears of the people and the injustice, it was explained that the children of the new era lived in the child zone longer than every one of them because of the speed.
Even though the human time was less but in superhuman terms they actually lived a long time as children.
Asura had always been a quiet child so his maturity was faster than other children regardless of the mental blocks.
Most of the kids were starting to look into relationships now since they had reached the graduation date, which was the requirement for being a considered a full-fledged adult.
'Ssss' Asura stopped as he heard the sound of a snake in his ears. He could see Gaea's temple in the distance with the mountain and the waterfall in front of it.
"Who is it?" Asura asked as he knew it couldn't a normal snake for obvious reasons. His Rinnegan eyes scanned the area and a book appeared in his hand called the Legend of the Legendary Heroes.
'Halt child, it is us.' Asura felt something touch him and small black snake coiled around his neck.
'Lord Apophis, how can I be of assistance?' Asura realized it was the Master of Chaos and one of the strongest Immortals.
It was the giant snake that could swallow the planet and light, cause insanity and madness. It represented chaos so it was bipolar.
'Can you guess, can you guess?' Apophis voice changed from regal to playful as he looked at Asura directly.
Seeing the situation, it seemed the answer was obvious, 'Do you want me to become your avatar?'
'That's my boy. You are absolutely correct, so what is your answer?' Apophis said in a cheerful tone like they were close as he crawled to the top of his head.
'Or, do you prefer Gaea?' The voice changed into a dark tone that sent shivers down his spine but the emerald shone with soothing light and he was saved from embarrassment.
Apophis stared at the green glow with his murky gold eyes and smiled, 'I was kidding.'
'Lord Apophis aren't you being too greedy. I believe my sister is your chosen one and now you want me to become a backup. I don't think we suit each other, my instincts resonate with the planet.' Asura answered calmly without any fear. He was confident in his father's protection.
'Is that so? I thought you were like me, so I wished to help. If you think you are sure then we don't mind. Remember that we are your friend child, so don't treat us like a stranger.' Apophis crawled to his shoulder and started disappearing into the night.
'Thank you for the offer, Uncle Apophis.'
'That's right.' With that Apophis disappeared and Asura walked towards his destination.
Gaea had been watching without interfering because it was his choice. As he came inside the temple, Gaea took form from the nature around them.
She looked like a mud sculpture at first before finalizing into a proper human size woman with beautiful looks.
"Welcome child, I am happy that you decided to accept my offer." Gaea greeted with gentleness, her voice soothing and motherly as she walked towards him and hugged him.
Gaea looked slim and small compared to Asura's muscular and wide body, though they were the same height of 185 cm.
It was a body that was very similar to Naruto except the facial features.
"Good evening, Miss Gaea. Thank you for your offer." Asura replied in a formal tone as he let Gaea hug him, it reminded him of Kaguya.
"No no, thank you for accepting it." Gaea was very happy and she loved all of Naruto's family members.
They didn't know it but she was always watching over them.
"Does this have to do with the war?"
Looking into those calm eyes, she saw Naruto in him. He didn't look like someone that would give in because there were others behind him.
"Yes, it is time for us to start the process soon. So, we wish to make the most of it and for that this bond needs to be made first. The others will also be getting a contract." Gaea answered truthfully as she walked inside and Asura followed behind seeing the servants move about.
"How will this contract affect me? I have a feeling of a bond with this planet, does that make sense?" Asura asked curiously as he walked with grace. It was a question that Naruto said to give Gaea.
"I know about your bond. I have felt it. It is your bloodline ability that ties you to this planet, and those symbols on your body are the signs of it. It means that you are more powerful on this planet than anywhere else and nothing can kill you here unless the planet is destroyed.
My contract will strengthen this bond and increase all your abilities tied to it." Gaea stopped at a pool filled with liquid gold, it was her blood.
She released a green pulse in the air and Asura's bloodline activated as intricate blue lines shone across his body.
Asura felt his body's balance become awry and almost fell down. He felt like his senses expanded and his body became bigger.
He almost drowned into the world. Gaea held his hand and Asura regained his balance.
"What was that?" Asura was unnerved and confused as he held his head with the other hand.
"That was the world. You will get used to it and freely control everything. Now, come." Gaea beckoned him into the small pool.
Asura looked at it and followed without any hesitation, and his body was submerged in the golden blood to create an unbreakable bond.
While this was going on, Shuten sat under the moonlight near the Tear Lake. It was shaped like a tear drop and was surrounded by snowy mountains.
There were beautiful flowers around the lake that got water from underground. Shuten sat with her feet inside the water under the red bamboo umbrella with a cup of sake.
Just like Naruto, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Yoruichi, Yodo and Mei, Shuten also liked to drink. It was part of her life and she was very strong drinker that put everyone to shame.
Her alcohol was her weapon and medicine, and her blade's butt had a crystal container filled with it.
Shuten loved her father a lot but that didn't mean she followed his fighting style. Naruto's main weapon was a spear and he would usually not use any weapon.
She was a social butterfly but there were times that Shuten liked to stay alone and enjoy.
Shuten was enjoying the night as she thought about the party. It was a side of her father that was new.
There was also Sarada. Shuten wasn't blind, she knew from long ago.
It was amusing, just like the amusement she will get from Namida's action the next day. Shuten had a tendency to play around with others, in small or big ways.
She had pushed Namida and given her the courage to pursue Boruto, a little bit of her special drink and anyone would get the courage.
Just thinking about the romantic play made her smile. Shuten took a sip as she moved her beautiful legs inside the water and slowly stood up.
Looking at the night sky, she took of her Kimono and walked into the water with just her metallic undergarments.
'What do you think you were doing?' Shuten muttered as Apophis appeared on her navel. Her tone was cold that most people would do a double take to see if it was really Shuten.
'Such a naughty child, do you want me to tell daddy dear?' Apophis chuckled as he appeared in front of his chosen. The child that was excellent and perfect in every way.
'I will make you regret your existence. Now, how long do we have?' Shuten was dismissive of his threat. Nobody had the guts to go through anything with her.
She was aware of her powers. She was the best. She was the strongest. She was beautiful. Everything was hers for the taking.
It was just natural.
With anybody else, Apophis would have made their lives hell but Shuten was special. He liked her cold personality just like how he liked her good girl personality.
Her threat was also very real as every one of them knew that Shuten was the Alpha of the new generation. With her powers, it won't be long before she could make her threat a reality.
'Aww, why won't you talk to me gently? Am I not your partner?' Apophis asked in a whining tone as he crawled over her arm that she raised while floating in the Lake under the moonlight.
'Stop getting under my skin and I will treat you nicely, Apo. Now, my question?' Shuten tickled his snake head before sitting on the water.
'You have three years before you will join the battle. This is true for most of your colleagues, but my lovely chosen can definitely participate earlier.'
'No need, this is what my father has planned so all factors must have been into account. It is probably the serum.' Shuten thought as she played with the water with her finger, making it churn at insane speeds.
Unlike the other kids, Shuten was in the know since Apophis came to her one year in the past. Even before that, Shuten was curious and perceptive so she didn't miss the signs.
This reality, this happy reality was a dream for the people. It was a gift from her father to his people and family so that if the end came to them, all of them could die without too many regrets.
The world was almost a utopia that people seemed to have almost forgotten the darkness of the past.
She saw through the illusion but didn't break down. Just like Apophis, Shuten had a chaotic soul and she loved chaos.
She didn't like her family suffering but the threat of total annihilation didn't put her down because Shuten had no regrets except one.
She had lived a fulfilling life just like how Naruto wished for them to live.
She just didn't feel much from such things. Shuten's only aim for now was to grow strong and help out, carry out genocide on the battlefield.
She did all of it for the sake of praise from her father.
Apophis explored her with his eyes and smiled, his chosen was just so perfect. When she died, he would have such a delicious meal.
"Greetings, Mistress Shuten." Shuten heard a voice filled with respect from the land and Apophis disappeared into her body as the snake tattoo on her back pulsed.
Looking to the interloper, she found a man with black hair and dark eyes. He wore a white suit with golden linings and buttons along with a white mask with a golden sun symbol that had nine tails flowing on the side.
She couldn't feel his energy, meaning he wasn't someone simple.
"Who are you?" Shuten asked as she stood up and covered up. She was relaxed and the air around them was filled with her scent.
"You may call me, Messenger. I am here to request your leadership for our group. We are the Golden Dawn, loyal servants of Lord Seventh." The Messenger beseeched as he bowed his head and spoke in a happy tone.
Shuten rolled her eyes as she heard those words, there weren't enough problems already and now there were some fanatics.
Not even the first ones. She was the best so they always came to her, some also started with others before getting thrown out.
There were some people who loved her father more than anything and took his words like the law, and would kill anyone that denied it.
It seems to have started five years in the past.
"I don't have time for this, please leave." Shuten warned as he blade appeared and the air became poisoned, killing everything around her and even melting it.
"I see, sorry for the disturbance mistress. We will meet each other at a better date. Excuse me and good night." The Messenger bowed graciously, showing no anger and walked away before disappearing like dark smoke.
'Do you know where he went?' Shuten asked as the man was dangerous and powerful.
'Yes, he isn't trying to hide and he is already registered on the system. Not a threat.'
Shuten looked into the name on her communicator and found Golden Dawn, it was written by an outsider so it wasn't much.
It didn't seem they had many members and didn't seem to care about numbers.
"I am going back." Shuten shook her head and teleported back home to hang out with Himawari.
A.N Hope you enjoyed and comment.
The songs are there for the mood and telling more about the people involved. I put the lyrics because not everyone is going to look at it.
These are rare and won't happen much except in important events.