Here's the next chapter. Took me a bit longer since I wasn't sure how to handle Toneri here. Should be fine now.
Fun little fact before we go on, but I just love how Unknown territory has more than one meaning, for this chapter. You'll see what I meant, at the end.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto... or Hinata, even though I make her go through quite a lot.
''Hey, Hinata!''
That stirred her... awake?
She was laying on the ground. Grass from the feeling alone. In the shadows of a tree.
''You alright?'' someone said, and when Hinata looked at him, she recognized him as Kiba.
As if to confirm, Akamaru went on to lick her face, making her giggle as she rose up. And Hinata saw that they weren't alone.
Everyone -who looked like their self as children, not that Hinata actually realized in her dream state- was there.
For some reason, a tear went down her face, something Kiba noticed.
''Huh? What's wrong?''
''Oh. N-Nothing! I... don't know why I'm crying?'' she wiped away that single tear as she walked away from her little spot in the shadows.
It was pretty sunny, today.
''Wonder why I was asleep.'' Hinata wondered aloud.
''You were tired?'' Kiba answered plainly.
Likely. Oh well, she'd napped long enough. It was time to join the others. Something Kiba and Akamaru both gladly agreed with.
The rest noticed her.
''Oh hey Hinata! Napped well?'' Ino said, her tone going almost teasing.
''Y-Yes...'' she answered, blushing slightly while the others kept speaking.
''So, any plans for later?'' Tenten asked. The first one to predictably answer was Lee.
''I will train of course!'' he said it so energetically everyone wondered how. Neji was the one to speak up next.
''I don't think Tenten meant it that way Lee. But I don't really have plans myself.'' Neji admitted.
''Well I have!'' Choji proudly proclaimed, ''I'll be going with my father to eat in that new restaurant.''
''Is all you think about food?!'' Kiba asked.
''What a drag...'' Shikamaru shook his head, which likely meant as a yes in this case.
''We shouldn't expect anything else.'' Shino said matter of factly before turning towards team 7, ''Have you 3 anything planned?''
''Well... Kakashi-sensei told us to meet up with him. Dunno why...'' Naruto said. Sasuke scoffed.
''Idiot. He specifically told us to-''
But Sakura suddenly interrupted, ''Actually, shouldn't we be going there already?''
''Who cares? Kakashi-sensei's always late.'' Naruto complained.
''At the risk of him being on time for once, I think I'll wait,'' Sasuke said as he walked away.
''Sure.'' Sakura walked away.
''H-Hey! Wait for me guys!'' and Naruto gave chase.
They all watched them leave. And suddenly, Hinata felt... tired.
''You alright Hinata?'' Kiba asked.
''I-I'm... yes. I just need to lay down for a bit,'' she said. Suddenly, dizziness took hold of her.
''If you say so...'' No one looked convinced.
Hinata stepped away and (why did it feel like such a mistake of walking away? Why. Why?!) laid down in the shadow. Just waiting for it to pass. It felt... soothing.
Her eyes slowly close...
...and her eyes slowly opened.
She was left confused as that dream slowly faded from her memory. Even more so when she had no idea where she was.
Last thing she remembers was...
Toneri!
She jumped up from the bed as the reminder that he was the one to knock her out. Although she had to admit, the bed was actually comfortable...
Forgetting that, Hinata looked at where she even was. The place looked rather... well kept. Not that it shouldn't, but it looked much cleaner than what she had expected.
But what caught most of her attention was the window. And what was outside. Was that...
''A floating island?''
''More than that. But yes.'' Toneri's voice suddenly spoke up as he walked through the entrance door, his puppets having opened the door for him.
He was there, and Hinata was immediately on guard. Her Byakugan turned on and...
She could see chakra pathways. She could actually see them on Toneri now. Which meant...
''You're actually here.''
''Yes. This time, it's not as a projection, but truly me in flesh and blood.'' he said earnestly, ''And now, no more loneliness.''
He was trying to be soothing, to keep her calm. Except she remembered vividly... the day before? How long had she been unconscious? She remembered far too clearly what had happened that night.
The Zetsu's... the humans... they...
''What... what even is going on anymore?'' she wondered aloud. All of this was...
''You've learned the truth of what the God Tree does to the trapped people,'' Toneri said, although he didn't sound quite as confidant as he did.
''You knew?!''
''No.'' he admitted, sounding ashamed of it, ''I didn't expect them to turn into Zetsu's to begin with. I did think they would remain forever stuck in there, but that seems to have been wishful thinking.''
She didn't answer. In her own thoughts, one single line kept repeating itself.
What was the purpose of her entire time to achieve power? It was all useless! Such power she gained was completely useless if she couldn't free them anymore. Worse, they turned all into White Zetsu's. There was... no way to reverse it, was there?
She... what was she doing?
Had she just... wasted her existence since then for something so... so useless?!
If it was all for nothing. If she had no one else to return to, then why was she still living?!
Toneri either could tell something, or simply had something in his mind, ''I don't imagine you'll like staying in this room forever, so how about you join me on a walk?''
What even is the use to do anything? She just... had nothing. Nothing left.
Her purpose that kept her running had died the moment the White Zetsu's emerged. She had nothing left.
Clearly, Toneri didn't think the same. Because he decided that since she wasn't moving, he'd drag her out. And with relative success since he was apparently stronger than her.
She decided to make both of their lives easier by just following him. And for that, Toneri seemed relieved.
They passed by several hallways filled with marionettes, keeping the maintenance of the palace. Eventually, they were outside. On a balcony.
''What do you think of this place,'' he asks once they're outside.
Hinata for a short second wonders if she should not answer. But what's the point anymore of doing any of that? So, she answers.
''It feels void of... anything. Even while those marionettes keep it animated and well kept... it's not the same thing.''
To her surprise, he nodded.
''That is rather accurate. Certainly, some of the marionettes I have here are capable of sentience, but at a limited extent.''
That caught her attention. Some of the puppets were capable of that? Then... well, she might as well ask.
''How do the puppets even work? They'd need some kind of energy course to keep working, but it doesn't seem like they have anything to... keep them working.''
Toneri didn't answer immediately, looking towards the rather lacking horizon before finally speaking up.
''What do you know about the full capabilities of your Byakugan?''
That didn't sound like something that was related to powering up the marionettes. But, the fact he brought that up had to be related somehow.
''Well, our Byakugans gives us a complete 360° vision. But outside of augmenting the distance we can see or focus points, our Byakugan can't exactly evolve further than what it already has.'' she didn't bring up that Sage Mode could enhance the Byakugan's capabilities. She was keeping that a secret.
''Yes. Well, it turns out that the Byakugan is capable of an evolutionary stage. Its power was rumored to be capable of matching even the power of the Rinnegan.''
That suddenly caught her attention. Only for it to die down at remembering that the power she'd worked for was all but useless now. What was the use of more power that supposedly matched the Rinnegan when she just had... nothing to return to?
Toneri either was oblivious to her train of thought, or simply ignored it.
''That very same eye is the very reason how the marionettes, and anything that uses power, works on. Our ancestor, Hamura Otsutsuki made sure of that.''
''But... how does one eye power all of this?'' she couldn't help but ask.
''That would be because it's not just one eye. Our ancestor implanted his eyes, the evolved Byakugan, as a core. As its fuel became our eyes.''
Hinata, who'd remained rather impassive up until now, finally showed her normal emotions. Distress at what she'd just heard. But then, a question formed at the contradiction.
''But then... how do you have eyes?''
He nodded, ''It's rather simple. I simply transplanted myself with a Byakugan.''
''A Byakugan. But you...'' but she stopped herself, Toneri spoke about this evolved Byakugan. But how would he know of its power? The answer seemed so simple.
''Your eyes are the evolved Byakugan?''
''Correct. They're called the Tenseigan.''
Tenseigan... supposedly a match for the Rinnegan. It caught her interest. But not as much as the blatant other sign.
''Who's eyes did you take?''
''From the short look I had. I would say it was... a relative of yours. I think her name was Hanabi?''
Hinata didn't answer. Not yet at least.
His words still had to register to her fully. Because she wasn't out of her despairing state. But then, when it did...
Her Byakugan suddenly activated as she charged straight at Toneri. Feeling pure wrath at the fact that Toneri had dared.
Her fist didn't reach him as he caught it by the wrist. He looked annoyed.
''That's not a way to treat the one who invited you.''
''Says the one who tried to kidnap me more than once.'' Hinata retorted back while Toneri scoffed as he let go of her wrist.
''Trust me. You are much better off here than back in that failure of a world.''
She'd have outright said something back, if not because she was caught off guard by what he said. Failure of a world?
''What even do you mean by that?''
''It's as I said. That world you lived on was a failure. The Sage of Six Paths had something in mind, but it returned as a failure. And as such, by Hamura Otsutsuki's celestial decree, the world of the sage of the six paths should be destroyed.''
She froze. Because she could not believe it. Destroy?
''W-Wha... How?!''
''By dropping the moon on the planet. The Tenseigan allows me to do that, if I so wished.''
He could drop the moon?! But... but it's sheer size alone would... it would deal heavy damage on the planet and make it unlivable. And that wasn't considering it might just outright destroy the planet if it all went down in one go.
And he had... he had that much power. He... Why didn't he do that sooner?
''Why haven't you done that then, if you could?''
How long did he have the eyes?
Toneri seemed almost hesitant to answer now.
''Because... I required you to be with me. I wasn't going to do it until then.''
Something seemed... wrong with that answer. It didn't sound like a lie, but his initial hesitation told it all.
''There's something else, isn't there? If I was the sole reason, I don't think you'd have taken nearly as long to come for those visits.''
If she were in Toneri's place, she'd have done it as soon as possible. So why the huge intervals between them? There must have been a reason or what he just said wouldn't make sense.
Toneri didn't answer. In fact, this was the longest he remained silent and for a moment, Hinata feared he wouldn't answer.
''Let's have this conversation inside. Somewhere warmer than this.''
He spoke, and then he moved. Hinata's fears quickly faded as she followed.
Toneri had decided to make themselves comfortable.
Two very comfortable armchairs. Next to a fireplace along with a small table for the tea. Hinata actually could admit the place looked real comfortable. And there even was a small bird, somehow.
Didn't mean she wasn't tense about the whole situation. Yer a major part of her didn't find to care.
Toneri took a sip of his tea before finally talking.
''What do you know about the Sage of Six Paths.''
He started off with a question. Odd, but she'd answer.
''He's known as the founder of Ninshu. Practically known as an almighty god in our eyes.'' and considering the power the ten-tails gave upon becoming its jinchuriki. Hinata knew for a fact he likely was some sort of god.
''A rather accurate statement. But did you know that he had a younger brother?''
As he spoke, they were suddenly engulfed in a sphere of some kind before the walls displayed images. Hinata could clearly see a pale figure with horns, but more notably, he had the Byakugan.
''Hamura Otsutsuki, the founder of the Shinobi of the Moon. Your Hyuga Clan, now you as the sole survivor, inherited his blood.''
She listened. And now, she learned of the origins of the Byakugan.
''The story goes back many eons. Several millennia, in fact. The sage of Six Paths, the elder one, had misgivings.''
The image shifted from Hamura towards, she imagined, the sage of six paths. The older brother. Though how Toneri knew how he looked like was beyond her.
''He feared that the Ten-Tails. With its massive Chakra and immeasurable power would bring calamity to the world.''
And it did. In the end, the ten tails had been brought back, and they had all failed to stop it as Madara Uchiha became its jinchuriki.
''So, the sage of six paths extracted the Ten-Tails Chakra and divided it among nine tailed beasts in order to weaken its power, something I believe you are familiar with due to the War. The husk of the Ten-Tails whose chakra was extracted, namely the Gedo Statue, was hidden away and sealed on the moon. So that the Ten-Tails would never be revived.''
Except it was. Hinata bitterly thought about how it all went downhill after that was brought back.
''Hamura decided to live on the moon to guard the Gedo statue. The Sage of Six Paths became the founder of the Shinobi of Earth but Hamura was skeptical of the world his elder brother was creating. So, if the world created by his brother went astray from the Shinobi way, he entrusted his descendants with its destruction.''
''Though the millennia that has passed, something you're likely very aware of, fighting between Shinobi has not ceased. They continued to use chakra as weapons. Ultimately, The Gedo Statue was stolen and even the Ten-Tails was revived. Worse, Madara Uchiha went on to use its power and an even worse case scenario happened.''
That caught Hinata's attention. Even worse case scenario? What did he mean by that.
''Our Clan has reached the conclusion that the Shinobi of Earth will destroy the world's peace and order. The world that the sage of six paths created is a failure. So, in accordance with the Celestial Decree of Hamura, I should destroy the world of the Sage of Six paths.''
If Toneri had said this at any other time before she learned what happened to the rest of the humans, she'd have been staunchly opposed to this. But now that she had nothing? Now, she couldn't quite fully think that way.
''This pure Byakugan that was your sisters, now turned into the Tenseigan by synergizing with my chakra, will allow me to pick up the ashes of Earth and create a new world.''
''Then what's stopping you?''
''As you know, the victor of your war was a man named Madara Uchiha. Having taken into himself the ten-tails, he was by all means, the strongest man alive. And yet, he's not the problem.''
He wasn't? She'd have expected him to be warry of him, considering his power. But if it wasn't...
''Who is it then?''
Who else but Madara? He was the reason all of this started, and she doubted he'd ever let the moon crash down on Earth without putting up a fight one way or another.
Suddenly, the sphere they were in changed from it showing Earth, to showing a woman. Notable traits were her eyes that looked like Byakugan's, Horns but the one that stuck was the Rinnegan on her front. A rinnegan with 9 tomoes, no less. Just like... the moon when the Jutsu was cast.
''I will admit, I don't fully know about her either. But from what Hamura left as a warning, her name would be Kaguya Otsutsuki, their mother.''
Hinata stared at the form of the woman. At first, it was because of the red rinnegan. But then... somewhere inside her, it felt vaguely familiar... much more familiar than it should be.
Wait. If there was a mom, then there needed to be a dad... who...
Why was she even thinking about that?
She should be asking something else. Like for example...
''How did she show up?''
''Truth be told. I'm relatively unsure of the specifics. All I really know is that the vessel for it was Madara Uchiha himself.''
''The... vessel?'' had she heard that right?
''Yes. The man himself is the shell that was used to bring her back. How that works is unknown to me, but I doubt either of us could hope to use that as an advantage.''
''But... how did it lead to that? Last thing I knew, Madara was in the middle of a battle before he... before the Jutsu was cast.''
''It turns out that after that fight, something backstabbed him. I'm rather unsure what it is, but a black being made out an unknown substance did the deed,'' he explained and upon his words, Hinata went on to try and remember.
The only one who fit the bill was Black Zetsu. Who she hadn't actually seen make any sort of appearance since that time in the forest. Back when they were trying to give chase towards Sasuke.
''What happened to those four?''
She had to know. She had to be certain.
''They fought her for a time. But eventually, Kaguya transported them somewhere. When she resurfaced, it was without them.''
She should have expected that.
And yet, she had been hopeful for a moment.
''It's also because of that I was warry of either going or enacting the decree. She could show up anywhere, and I wouldn't know it. If she found me, then I was at risk. Thankfully, she doesn't stay all the time on Earth, so I always took those opportunities to come to you.''
She remained silent, not asking questions anymore before standing up.
''I will be in my room.''
It's all she said before leaving. Never looking back while Toneri looked thoughtful.
When Hinata arrived back in the bedroom, she immediately collapsed on the bed.
She didn't know what to do anymore.
She just... all she learned today made her question things. But even though she should be worried about this Kaguya, she wasn't.
Because what was at the forefront of her mind was the fact she was truly, the last human left.
She was... alone.
She was well and truly never seeing anyone ever again. All because of that damned Madara. And now, he was turned into Kaguya.
She felt her fist clench in complete and utter anger.
Because now, she didn't feel only loneliness. But wrath.
This injustice... never able to free them. And now, the best thing she could get would be payback against someone who wasn't himself anymore?!
She hated this. The impossibility. The fact she even felt that way to begin with...
This feeling of revenge that never even can be a possibility.
She slammed her fist on the matress in pure frustration at how she felt. Because she didn't like it. Not at all.
But what was she supposed to do?
Let Toneri go on with his plan of destroying the Earth with the moon?
(She realized later on he couldn't due to the same reason he came at such long intervals)
Why should she care now. There was nothing that mattered to her.
Nothing that mattered...
Nothing...
...
What...
What the hell was she thinking?!
Nothing that mattered?! Earth was her home. Like hell she'd ever let it be destroyed, no matter by who.
It was the least she could do, with her failure.
And the toads. Or all the others on the planet that weren't human. They didn't deserve that.
She failed the others. But them? No. She would not. She wouldn't fail any of them.
She swears she would not let that ever happen to them.
It was with that conviction that Hinata decided to rest and soon slumbered into sleep.
Hinata finds a new reason to keep going. After learning quite a few things. I admit, I wasn't sure if Toneri would reveal everything but then, I remembered that this guy literally explained the moon clan's story when Hinata didn't really ask.
A part of me wishes I hadn't done her moment of depression in just one chapter, but not only am I not good at this, but it would have felt too dragged out. So I hope it makes enough sense that finding a new drive helped her.
And yes, Kaguya is in this. Much as I like Madara and wanted to see a Byakugan VS Sharingan battle, this just isn't his place. Not since his plan was a success, at least.
Regardless, the fun fact. Unknown territory has a double meaning. Not only is Hinata in a literal unknown territory, but the knowledge she's receiving also is also her delving in another unknown territory.
Now, onto the comments.
Kitkat: You can say that again. Good thing she's back from it already, but that was a close call.
LB Cat: Yeah, and Toneri's to blame for that one. He literally just decided to bail away with her.
Guest 1: Thanks!
Guest 2: Muchas gracias! Me enquanta que puedas sentir estos emotiones quando lees mis capitulos (English translation: Thank you! I'm overjoyed that you can feel those emotions when reading my chapters)
Zifryt: The second chakra isn't Zetsu's. No, it's... something else entirely. But yeah, feels bad knowing all the time spent was basically for nothing.
impronin: Thank you for reading. Hope I won't disapoint.