The Pantheon of Nine
By: Finn Mertenz
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.
Chapter 150: God Of The New World! Dust to Dust.
Sunday 3:03am, October 26th 58SSP.
"We shouldn't have done that!" Tenten visually shed regret.
Traversing a barren tree-line under shining rays of moonlight, the white eyes of Neji guided her path. Used to escort as both of this youthful ninja in training rushed to find and aid their sensei.
"Lee has made his own decision..." The worded response she received was bleak.
To risk life and limb for safety of village and friends, that was the sacrifice Lee previously resolved to make. True to meaning as he encouraged every companion to move on and regroup.
Because even as a child, this student to Guy and Sasuke knew well the reality of loss, conflict and shame. Bullied and belittled since childhood for the lack of skill and promise he showed.
Now, these bygone tormentors of old were no where to be seen as their victim stood tall with shinobi pride. "He's putting his life on the line to give us this opportunity, we can't waste it!" A brown ponytail flailed.
With Byakugan eyes acting as the perfect tracker for chakra, twin students trailed after their Uchiha teacher. Too far to spot the secluded hideout they unknowingly sped towards.
Striving to stop each of these trespassers, Shisui journeyed a stones throw behind, leaping over branches. Losing sight and balance as a fiery aura of red blindsided him from behind.
"Howl: My Youth!" Fists were treated like jutsu.
Barreling hardened knuckles forth with the speed of plummeting meteors, friction ignited the air itself. Giving birth to an inferno-styled barrage of numbered orbs and spheres that burned bright.
Ordinarily honed and molded from chakra, Lee's inspiration of flame was created with nothing but will. Spreading an onslaught of illumination that burrowed and caught his foe alight.
Forcibly pitched and plunged through decrepit trees before striking dead and decayed groves of grass below. Flaked skin perpetually cindered as crackling fire took hold and swelled.
Titled as the 'Evening Elephant' Lee's usage of Taijutsu was that of a prodigy, a master who trained for years. No longer some irrelevant child or a sniffling brat that sought to prove himself.
Devastating the already dried landscape, craters of seared ember cocooned a dozen blobs with radiant heat. Turning revitalized flesh black before it crumpled and crumbed to sprinkled ash.
Continuing this breakneck pace of invigorated assault, a slurry of spit spewed from Lee's drunken mouth. Too numb and dizzy to feel any sensation of pain, dread was nonexistent to drama.
"You did all that... Without any Ninjutsu?" Shisui's shape lumbered tall from flames.
Safe from lethality that would harm the living, the Edo Tensei kept his body whole with no allowance to die. "Yes! Because I don't need or rely on the fancy usage of jutsu that others employ!" Words slurred loose.
"My strength doesn't come from Ninjutsu! Or Genjutsu! It comes from the friends I cherish!" Bones broke midsentence.
Resolved to hold the line as a stalwart and steadfast shield like the unknown fall of Guy before him, teeth gritted. Ready to make any attempt or achieve any goal as long as it kept his friends safe.
Meanwhile.
Running as the epicenter of tendrils that swayed with shade, Shikamaru somehow already smoked a new cigarette. Narrowly saved from the singed radiation that echoed from Choji's blow.
Placed in combat against this revived Butterfly Sage, Ukon and Sakon joined this estranged Nara with hurried feet. Swiftly spotting layers of azure that surged towards them like a tsunami.
Led by a thousand butterflies that flapped ethereal wings, strings of adamantine silk shot out to restrain them. Weaving the shape of a net that quickly bulged and exploded from mass.
Treated like twine that suffered a significant cleave before decorating the scuffed landscape below and abound. Kidōmaru was caused to wince with five raised and crossed arms in front.
Four ninja each with their own defining goals and dreams, all scrambled in defiance of their Senjutsu embroiled foe. Having no more roofs to traverse or travel upon, Konoha was desolated.
Left sizzled and singed by enflamed and spiritual insects, whipped shadows saved an endangered ally. Giving clear sight to Shikamaru with both hands held aloft in a firm and steady rat seal.
Moving in twin unison as strands of blue rustled beneath rays from the vibrant moon that beamed above. A cooperation of leveled Ninjutsu was cast with both brothers crying "Wind Water Rage Jutsu!"
Accomplished by Ukon spitting a wave of water while Sakon reached with an outstretched hand to point. This Jonin display of might roared forth before striking numbered butterflies of blue.
Producing a miasma of steam that poised and polluted the night time horizon, battle became obscured. Bridged and broken only by the casting of Wind Style: Supreme Typhoon.
Dispersing every adjacent gust of surrounding mist that corralled them, clarity was swiftly restored. Suddenly paving the path as shinobi shoes ran forward, dashing parallel to one another.
As neighboring and clenched fists were hurled on approach, two arms resembled an onslaught of seven. Somewhat compared to a blurred depiction of flesh and knuckle that hewn the air.
Caught and ensnared by bare-palms as Choji reacted with no freedom of movement, grey sclerae glared. Sundering earth into soil below as pulsing wings of azure repetitively fluttered.
Snapping the stretched ligaments he captured like bent straw, howls of agony rebounded and reverberated. Trailed by thudded husks striking stone as each brother was hastily tossed aside.
Raising bandaged fingers to weave the necessary seals he required, shade from above soon lashed out. Led and directed by the visual connection of Shikamaru; focused on the friend he loved.
"Over here!" Kidōmaru's voice of condescension leaked free.
Flanking the sage he fought from behind, four fists were coated and covered by engrained particles of gold. Gifting their carrier with resilience and strength to withstand the impact of Senjutsu.
Devolving into an exchange of might and muscle, loosened grain ricocheted free from heavy collision. Blanketing the battling bodies that fought beneath sheets of gold and shadow.
Taking two knuckles to restrain and match the pitched flow of a singular punch from Choji, air bellowed. Parted and split by the vertically swept slice from numbered shadows overhead.
Capable of ending most who lived, the risen shinobi that was their target had already embraced deaths door. Driven forth and powered only by the installation of Rinnegan eyes in his mind.
Halting every blow that neared him with an ethereal aura of sapphire, his silhouette boiled as chakra crackled. Searing shade with clear clarity while Kidōmaru's grained skin fell off.
Propelled by the sheer exertion from these radiant waves, defenders of Konoha were blown back and plowed. Cobbling dirt upon cloth as each rolled before scrambling to evade flung fists.
Falling short as exhaustion neared, Shikamaru's foot gave way before slipping on a crinkled carcass of leaves. Forcibly left still as Choji charged him with a cocked arm ready to deal the end.
Only the intervention of an Adamantine Staff saved him from certain death, extending from far-off piles of soot. "I was blessed with the name of this village!" Konohamaru screeched.
Retracting the precious heirloom he carried, its bronze edge bore the brunt of Butterfly Senjutsu, vibrant and pure. "Careful, Sarutobi! I'm strong, but his chakra will still hurt!" Enma cautioned.
No longer left alone, every remaining shinobi at disposal was brought to bare and clear eyesight from all around. Biwako, Homura, Koharu, Aoba, Yamato, Yoshino, Shikaku and many more.
While every civilian stayed safe and hidden alongside a pregnant Tsunade and Anko, those fit for combat were ready. Grouping together for one final push to eradicate this lethal invasion.
Hiashi, Tsume, Hana, Hayate, Yugao and numbered Anbu also gathered, blotting the horizon with friendly aid. Because every other threat had been neutralized, tamed and dismissed.
Saving face and lives as tense feet spread to ready themselves for action, far-off owls hooted from hidden coves. Glaring with perfect sight of the counted and gathered ninja heads in front.
"I'll end this threat to our village! Just like my grandfather before me!" Teeth curled.
Giving encouragement for every shinobi abound to rush forth, several hands clasped and weaved in multi-unison. Like an army of faithful who ambushed the undead and risen foe beyond.
Watching her grandson with eyes of wonder, Biwako couldn't help but think about the husband she lost. Now visualized and willfully reincarnated into the stalwart depiction of Konohamaru.
Caught at the forefront of every pressing shinobi, Choji's expression fell flat as a smile swiftly spread into view. Smashed by Enma's swung and staff-like shape before Sai sealed him with ink.
Meanwhile.
God to some, yet a demon to others; this was the reality that heavily bore down upon Naruto's heaving outline. Recuperating from the sheer lethality of Guy's past attack, steam gushed.
Both bathed by sporadic rays of moonlight that scarcely managed to pierce thicken clouds of foliage from above. Twin Rinnegan shone like the purest chunks of amethyst, unblinking and dazzled.
Coupled alongside torn and tattered sleeves, Akatsuki robes clung to his body solely because of his right shoulder. Losing every strand and thread of fabric that once covered his left arm and torso.
"You want the answer to your moronic question?!" A sneered.
Shocking sand to glass beneath the sudden ripple of his electric advance, an aura of blue sparkled like starlight. "Everyone hates you!" His drive for victory was fueled by the loss of loved ones.
Flinging a clenched left hook coated by static, it rushed mere inches from Naruto's whiskers before going stiff. Restricted by gravitational waves to strong and stern too overwhelm.
"Almighty Push." Whispers dripped free in reply.
Repelling the 4th Raikage with the strength of an erupting volcano, chakra-infused wind caressed his plummet. Offered aid and rescue by Temari's masterful control and display of Wind Style.
Amidst this backdrop of combat, Kisame lost the final shred of his humanity, turning more shark than man. A gifted boon and bonus from the sentient relationship he shared with Samehada.
Misukage robes were impaled and skewered by rigid fins that sprouted upside both elbows and the tip of his scalp. Growing the length of a tail that hastily wiggled its passage and nurture.
Retaining nothing but pants as enlarged gills swelled into place atop each shoulder, eyes were beady and black. Triggering the transgression of a gigantic tsunami that roared from the shoreline.
Achieving 'Water Prison: Shark Dance Jutsu' Kisame became the center of a roving dove to thickened sea water. Led forth by a cackle with razor teeth as the sandy coast was doused.
Ensnaring every allied Kage within his sphere of influence, water cleansed yet gave the ability to breathe. The polar opposite of its effect upon Naruto; instantly striving to drown him.
Too soon to repel this torrent with any precast exertion from his eyes, hands instead cut themselves before clapping. Employing a puff of smoke that called upon yet another giant crustacean.
Swinging stout pincers to snip and snare the 6th Misukage on approach, fins of opposition were too strong to crush. Bypassing the towering crab that blocked his path before readying claws.
Striking a true blow against the rogue he fought, bisections of flesh parted at the waist with a dispersion of gore. Acting like chum that poised the water and turned it red amongst sapphire.
A victory too short to savor as dozens of ravens flocked free before finding themselves locked inside Kisame's sea. Dying like miniature puffs of white as neighboring Kage scanned for battle.
"This is good... I think you're beginning to understand." Naruto's meaning was lost to all that heard it.
Seated upon what little remnants of cliff remained above, legs dangled as cloth wavered beside rustling strands of blond. Clearly watching the battle unfold below without any previously noticing.
Impossible to read and too swift for anyone to follow, even the Five Kage struggled to match and equal him. Now with that number reduced to four, pressure swelled as their chakra reached limits.
"The only way to save your world... Is to hate me." Rinnegan were the sole source of illumination on his face.
A response gleefully received by Deidara who swam atop Kisame's blob of liquid before running with focus. He hurled a handful of clay senbon that rushed and surged like hail during a storm.
Enthralling each of these thrown projectiles to rupture after raising his right hand aloft with budded chakra. A half formed Seal of Confrontation basked under moonlight accompanying smoke.
Booming into an obstruction that obfuscated the land, grinding alloy and metal audibly broke in a sparked flash. Trailed by scraped steel that shed flaked aluminum atop Naruto's feet.
Causally dislocating his own left wrist, fair skin was torn apart as a free hand was yanked from its spot. Revealed attached webs of iron that acted like bone, coiled up into rope.
Using an unsung and rarely observed technique the Rinnegan, flesh changed from soft and squishy to steel. Turning partially mechanic with the foreign protrusions of ballistic missiles.
Launching this myriad array of smoke-lined incendiaries, bones once called the radius and ulna were replaced. Changed by mental and infused will from the Asura Paths domination.
Parting what smoke remained abound, circular plumes of artificial cloud divided beneath their rushing girth. Highlighting horizontal columns of soot left astray from the backside of rockets.
Too soon to spit or chew another morsel of clay, Deidara's safety was guaranteed by the swept fan of Temari. Blowing stark wind strong enough to stifle and snuff several vents of exhaust.
Kicking these fizzled missiles away before they managed to explode, the 4th Tsuchikage used feet to scale high. Managing to loom above what few fuses failed to flicker under wild currents.
Detonating with artful explosions that caused their intended target to ooze and cheer like a gleeful teenager. The vibrant ponytail he bore suffered repeated stains of flailing sand and soil.
Stricken by bellowing shockwaves that continued to echo and ripple, the band that restrained his hair fell loose. Enabling a once ornate hairstyle to freely fall like a full scalp of near-gold.
Observing these actions yet focused elsewhere, Kisame's shark-like silhouette surged in the center of a giant blob. Thrashing like an unkempt beast finally freed from its decade-long cage.
As water tread wherever this creature of the deep swam, coastlines beneath were soaked by waves of saltwater. Coated and churned by the merged precision and control of the 6th Mizukage.
Crumbling pillars of poorly towered rock, upswept currents of jetted liquid crashed against a mile-high cliffside. Spraying droplets from the ocean upon the still-seated shape of Naruto.
Holding coils of steel that clung to his detached left hand, this strange revelation was given no time to sit or stir. Not while Kisame bellowed with a call of the deep while baring naked fangs.
Piercing the throat he longed to sever, blackened feathers gushed out instead of bodily ichor of crimson. Swallowing both with water as his surrounding pool followed him everywhere he went.
Hoping for blood, ravens were all he captured; promptly drowned amidst the wandering sea he wore like a cloak. "Kazekage! Give me some of your wind!" The 4th Raikage raged after surfacing.
Using static currents to strengthen his own reflexes, arcs of electric azure infected the surface he traversed. An identical tone and tint to the ever-present coating of Lightning Armor he kept active.
Soon rising beyond the reach of earth and water below, he wasn't alone in the realization studied moments prior. The recognition that Naruto floated above with a half-made torso of ravens.
Receiving a boost of height from the swept array and length of Temari's opened fan, far-off clouds dispersed in result. Clearing the way for A to soar near the moon itself as teeth grinded.
Singing stray feathers that lazily flaked from Naruto's barely-formed torso, hardened knuckles sought to end this threat. Parting the skull in front as nothing but feathers poured loose.
"Look out!" Deidara shrieked as he rode atop a freshly molded bird.
Drawing all eyes above, the final vestige of clouds were demolished by the descending mass of enlarged stone. Raised days before alongside the now ruined yet once hovering city of Uzushio.
Developing twin eyes that widen into saucers as this emboldened rock plummeted like a hidden meteor. A's altitude lowered as he entered an uncontrollable freefall until Deidara saved him.
Providing a brief sense of rescue that all but melted away as boulders broke off from the falling dome above. "Wind Style: Great Whirlwind Wall!" Was dispensed by Temari's intervention.
Swinging her already spread fan with such fortitude that soil below splintered into disheveled particles of spice. The spiraling yet well-funneled tip of a tornado surged up like a veil of green.
Slapping hardened rock in a failed attempt to stop its plunge, individual pebbles fell beneath erosive currents. Acting like a blanket of terrain that resembled a downpour of debris.
Howling like a forlorn demon of the deep, naked yet amphibious palms of Kisame clashed to rebound. Calling upon every droplet of adjacent water that would heed his aquatic dominion.
Moving a body of water the size of a moderate ocean, greater focus was channeled to fuse saltwater. Gifting a wonderous view to Deidara and A as each gawked from atop a clay bird.
Lifting razor-lined hands aloft inside his ever-present cocoon of liquid, torrents rose to met and answer his summon. Consuming both allied Kage above before lashing out even further.
One by one, numbered tides cascaded upward like annular protrusions of shafted volleys firing along with haste. Smashing the mountainous and moon-sized boulder overhead like a hose.
Losing the first few of these streams stalwart enough to strike, countless others quickly gave watery reinforcements. Soon succeeding where the 5th Kazekage's past jutsu failed to hold.
Ensnaring the foreign and artificial moon plucked upon them from above, the 6th Mizukage held its weight at bay. Knowing full well that no escape could be earned from such a massive mound.
"That was good..." Naruto's compliment slipped like an unlatched pipe.
Cut-off from the cares and concerns around him, whiskers sporadically wavered beside an unkempt ocean breeze. Treating the Kage-level battle in front like a picnic as he sat upon rock.
Out of range from Kisame's sea but still stuck in the shadow of his own looming boulder, arms rested at ease. Basking in chilled currents like a lovesick child that watched the stars.
"But what will you do about the second one?" He acted like he was watching TV.
As if brought out on queue, another silhouette of alpine stone fell from the very horizon that acted as a night sky. Crashing against the barely upheld tip to his precast satellite of gravel.
Breaking through every attempt designed to restrain them, the weight that dropped was beyond measure. Like a nova of cataclysmic and chakra-fed cement that gushed with stoned spillage.
Dividing the sea that Kisame utilized like an aura, chunks of severed rock struck its surface like rainfall. Letting loose swept deluge that doused and drowned the entire landscape.
Crumbed and crashed as a once thickened pool was reduced to mere puddles separated by layered pebbles. The emersions of Deidara and A both clung to the same bird for rescue.
Moving like a breakthrough of bubbled gel, each leaned and groveled on their sole source of safety and stability. Kept alight and brightened only by the static yet constant haze of A's armor.
"Now! Tsuchikage!" Muscular fingers purposely gave way.
Riding waves of air and wind that rebounded from the sheer devastation around, danger went by unconcerned. Soaring like a kite with the aid of lightning before snagging orbs of white adrift.
Gifted these spheres of clay in an instant by the readied reflexes of Deidara, all four of them were held like gold. Cupped with two hands against his stout chest for what felt like minutes.
"Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!" Conjoined palms radiated on command.
Unleashing a cocked and concentrated swell of chakra, disks of plaster shot forth at the forefront of its blinding mass. Hurled and twisting like pitched balls moving too fast to follow.
"Boom!" The face on a palm smiled as a half Seal of Confrontation was billed.
Ordered to erupt by the squinting silhouette that led Iwa, explosive soot mixed among an array of arcing azure. Acting as a combination of twin Ninjutsu, like a nova that drifted infection.
With gaseous plumes that trailed behind each blob, an offshoot and downgraded mixture of Kekkai Tōta was enabled. Spewing toxic degrees and sweltering temperatures of heat.
Already molded from the precast solution of Earth Style and Lightning Style; A's own electricity gave another boost. Evolving into a pinnacle of crackling blue that zapped hundreds of rocks.
Continuing to grow as boulders the size of homes suddenly crinkled into pulverized soil beneath static strikes. Looming shade from above soon carried even more sections of stone.
Burying the 4th Raikage despite the power he exuded, Temari and Kisame themselves were already swallowed. Leaving the 4th Tsuchikage estranged and distant as he knelt for security.
Still stationary upon the back of the bird he employed, globs of plaster hastily fluttered to uplift its carriage high. Like the blurred painting of a star that careened through a field of meteors.
Losing momentum as spiky strands of blond confronted him, Naruto's jutted scalp appeared like a flash of gold. Half-concocted from flesh while the rest was nothing but a cloud of feathers.
With no legs and no need to stand, his naked left arm reached before knocking Deidara from the sky. Causing a forced plummet that spanned a 100ft of flailing and swirled distress.
Only the towering and poorly stacked tips of piled mountains gave him the confidence to safely land. More than could be said for his bird as a singular hand rose to channel its detonation.
"Boom!" His favored phrase echoed.
A word of mouth quickly answered by an ignition flame, the close proximity of its girth to Naruto was clear. Searing already black quills into charred dust that sprinkled a rainfall of ash.
Darkened yet pale beneath what little spots the moon managed to illuminate, cinders acted like shampoo. Dirtying the already stained outlook of the once clean-cut shinobi in opposition.
"Where is he?!" A roared after breaking free from stacked rubble.
Accompanied by Temari and Kisame, the former coughed for breathe while the latter groaned with an aching head. "If it weren't for Samehada, that would've killed me." Death was laughed at.
Losing form and muscle from the forced separation of his blade, past weight became too much to endure. Now standing shirtless with nothing but black pants and shinobi shoes.
This realization stood true for the 5th Kazekage as well, previously kept safe solely by the mass of her fan. An heirloom from the very same mother she fought mere hours prior.
With the love of a parent preventing her certain loss of life, it did nothing to keep her robes or hair clean. Even the knotted and lined scalp of A turned ashen in an hour bereft of sunlight.
"It seems you're finally starting to understand what pain is." Sulked shapes stirred.
Phasing up from below, the Hiding In Surface technique was utilized to casually emerge from a watery puddle. Pushing himself free with flattened hands that pressed against sandy earth.
"But my pain is far greater than yours." Naruto rose with a hunched back.
Lazily hazed with a downcast face as four Kage swarmed him from all angles, violet light freely poured. Casting an aura of amethyst below as engrained sand jostled beneath weight.
Sneering with flat teeth as electrified knuckles soared ahead of him, A sparkled bright for one last climax. Paired alongside the vertical slash from Temari's metallic yet versatile fan.
Even Kisame lumbered forth before lending the hungry skin of Samehada to bare, as naked as its wielder. Leaving a shuttered sight for Deidara as his palm continued to chew and gnaw.
Preparing enough clay to effortlessly mold one of his highest explosion, time was never given to complete it. Instead, the 4th Tsuchikage mirrored the actions of all other Kage nearing approach.
Shoving a handful of plaster that gushed from his second mouth, its fuse was held at bay with nothing but focus. Leaking a consecutive stream of smoke beside serrated scales of grey.
"Almighty Push..." A whiskered face was raised.
Leading the sole obstacle of devastation against all ninja abound, gravity suddenly held them in their tracks. Further restrained as blackened pupils swelled to expand encircling rings.
Radiant with unseen yet swelling pressure, the blowback from Rinnegan eyes was enough to sunder mountains. Dealing the entirety of its brunt force upon the unfortunate ninja abound.
Each struck and battered in the midst of their pressed fray, once famous Kage were treated like crawling ants. Dispelled and dispersed across a backdrop of ruined rock and soiled earth.
While A burrowed through a stack of pillars before being buried, Kisame jetted out of control across the sea. Made limp after smacking the surface and sinking deep alongside Samehada.
Even Deidara was crippled as his back plunged through four hollowed sheets of stone while coughing blood. Losing the ability to mold or hold clay as every bone in his arm was shattered.
Left frail and rigid as his torso soon leaned against debris, a threaded veil of pale blond obscured his face. Knocked unconscious as Temari's fan snapped in three before wildly rustling.
Finding grained dirt against her cheek as the loss of her shinobi heirloom was like the sacking of a great wall. The 5th Kazekage soon groveled like every ally as she rested on her chest.
Like an arrayed compilation of defeat and damnation, none of those who remained were able to stand or rise. Either gasping for breath as they clung to the conscious world or already asleep.
This was the reality inscribed upon all that sought to defy or stand against Naruto's revitalized version of society. A notion of existence without the constraints or past grudges of shinobi.
"Another step towards peace." Purple eyes drifted to the moon.
In truth, the end was near and the harrowing hour of an era could be felt riding currents of salty sea air. The same Moment of Selection that Jiraiya once searched and studied for decades.
Meanwhile.
Every image, bloodied body and decayed carcass forcibly flickered on and off like the constant flip of a light switch. Inputting decades of death and distain all in the measly span of seconds.
Not just the experiences of one shinobi, but dozens; if not hundreds that each spilled their lengthy summaries. A myriad of life and reasoning that all crammed itself inside of Sasuke.
Stuck in an ethereal yet tangible copy of the shinobi world, ever-present Mangekyō Sharingan burned like coal. Striving to break the obvious Genjutsu cast upon them, yet failing every time.
Fed the knowledge of every soul that Naruto ever absorbed, even Itachi's own views were mixed in like batter. Replaying the horrific Uchiha Massacre from a completely new perspective.
Beholden to the feuds of Tajima and Butsuma, Hashirama and Madara, Tobirama and Izuna; played like a TV show. And every secession of memories gave one clear fact, the Cycle of Hatred.
Reoccurring grievances from the past that failed to die or settle themselves, eventually ballooning into conflict. Because every nation had another to blame, another to label for their losses.
This was the catalyst that led to the forced death of every Uchiha alive, save the young boy who stood in front. An eradication of the very same clan that became infested with hatred.
When one is defined by their past, they can never move on! The final words of Tajima rang like a chorus.
Dying on the field of battle like so many during the Warring States Period, Butsuma suffered and fell beside him. Leading many clans that were once numerous to be nothing but extinct legends.
If we can't put our grudges aside, the village we built will suffer! Hashirama's own memory echoed.
Even after the foundation of shinobi states, grudges from old refused to die, like Madara's lost love for his brother. A pain also shared by Tobirama himself, learned in the loose of siblings.
This defining crutch was the very concept that held the world back from progress, unable to move on or forgive. Especially when the same person responsible for past pain was still alive.
On a grand scale, this was why Iwa detested Konoha, why Kiri loathed Kumo and why Suna sizzled in the west. Because even these nation states were susceptible to contrived grievances.
"That's why I had to break the cycle." Itachi's true voice cut through.
Instantly swept back to reality, the Uchiha Hideout bathed in the morning chirp of cheerful and counted birds. Occasionally dampened by the sporadic squawk of crows as Itachi stood still.
Taking blame for an order given by Danzo; then supported by Hiruzen, the firstborn of Fugaku didn't care. Only ever-focused on the safety of his younger brother, an unspoken bond.
A connection too faint to share as Sasuke's sole reaction was to grip his brothers collar before shoving him back. "Where is he?! Where is he hiding?!" Was the eyed-response he met.
Once cast and controlled by the unnoticed presence of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, its hold was wholly broken. Given way for Sasuke's true conscious to seep through with panicked lag.
Too focused on his far-off friend instead of the risen brother in front, knowledge learned only gave more questions. Artificially instilled with memories that held Naruto to blame for everything.
While some of these patterns were true, like the assassination of Ōnoki, the murder of Kakashi or Hiruzen was not. A manipulated fact as their fake deaths were played on repeat.
"Where everything started, where the end began." Itachi whispered with a cracking face.
Dissolving into sprinkled ash without any invention or act from his sibling, white flakes revealed a stiff Suna shinobi. Completely ignored as Sasuke turned before lunging over a stout railing.
Oblivious to the 30ft drop that loomed before landing like a blur, feet slithered between barren and decrepit trees. Paying no heed or notice to the approaching yet obscured shapes of two.
"What is this place? I've never seen it on a map." Tenten fumbled with her lack of preparation.
Finally catching up with their sensei, Neji's eyes of white spotted this fleeting silhouette through stone walls. Encouraging his partner to follow, both instead fell prey to rippled violet.
Cast and corralled by a black feathered mass that landed atop the overbearing gutter above, Shisui perched. Not the shinobi they fled from, but the revived raven that carried his name.
Hypnotized, stunned and tripped by the glare of a singular Rinnegan, just one pupil was enough to petrify. Making sure that no interference or interruption would disturb what approached.