Here's chapter 18... and not much else to say, except enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto... or Boruto. Neither do I own Hinata... I'm somehow going to have Himawari included in this, aren't I?

Hinata stared.

Hinata thought.

Those two were the state of mind that Hinata currently was at. Stare and think.

What was she supposed to say? It felt obvious. But at the same time... a part of her knew how... how shady it sounded.

But what did she have to lose?

She practically had no one to return to. So she should take risks. All that would do was either make her succeed or meet everyone else in whatever kind of afterlife there was out there.

But at the same time. What kind of help would he give? Did he mean what he said, or did he lie? Was he as knowledgeable as he said, or was it all he knew?

But should she doubt this? Or should she go along with it and hope for the best? In the end, the answer didn't seem as hard anymore.

So, she stared right at Isshiki with conviction. All the while, standing up from where she was sitting, and with confidence, declared her words.

''I accept, Isshiki.''

He smiled at her. That typical smile kept making her uneasy. But then, he chuckled.

''Then, let us make sure this partnership is fruitful for both of us, Hinata.''

Would this partnership lead Hinata to greatness or ruin? Well... there was only one way to find out...

Isshiki stepped aside from this... vortex.

''Step through my portal. It is time we leave this place, wouldn't you say? Somewhere much safer and comfortable than here.''

A part of Hinata should be skeptical about what he said. But, if they were to be allies, she had to put trust in him. So, she nodded and walked right through.

Jigen didn't immediately head through, instead in thought.

''Let us see if you are worthwhile, Hinata.''

And then, he stepped through himself. The only traces they were there, a fire that would eventually be extinguished.

When Hinata stepped through with the portal, which she was sure was space-time ninjutsu, she hadn't expected to see... well, this.

The simplest term was a barren wasteland. Filled with only rocks. And the sky was clouded, darkened and... purple?

''This... isn't Earth.''

''Quite so.''

Jigen answered from behind her. She nearly jumped at the suddenness.

''Though this is the comfortable I was talking about. Look behind you.''

She did. Minus Jigen who was standing in her eyesight, she could see an illuminated corridor that led inside a mountain.

''I see...''

''Follow me,'' Jigen says, and she follows.

Deeper down the corridor, led them to what seemed like an entrance door. The middle of the room was in the shape of a circle, likely to make it look more welcoming.

Jigen went straight ahead for the entrance door, which he opened. She followed as they went inside, and once the door was closed, Isshiki spoke up.

''This is my home. It isn't luxurious by any means, but it is safe from Kaguya. There is free space everywhere, so I don't care where you decide to remain. All but my quarters, of course.''

Basic rules that Hinata could agree to.

''Get settled in, and then meet me in the dining room,'' he said and left her, just like that.

''That's fi- Wait. I don't know where the dining room even is!''

But by now, Isshiki had vanished from her sight. Hinata could only grumble to herself as she activated her Byakugan.

''Alright then, let's see what this place has...''

Isshiki's base was both big but relatively empty. He was the only one living here, but there was more than enough room for her to choose where to live.

She's rather certain she chose the room the further away from where Isshiki was, by pure coincidence as well.

But, she was rather happy. Now, if only she could find better clothes than what she was wearing. Still, Isshiki had said the dining room, and she saw where it was, so, she headed there.

Jigen was already sitting on the opposite end of the table. A plate filled with food, and a glass with wine. Her side had the exact same thing.

''Good to see you will join me with Dinner, today. Come, take a seat.''

He motioned for her seat, and she did as told. Sitting on the wooden chair.

And so, both of them had a talk while eating this Dinner.

''Taking down Kaguya will not be easy.'' is the first thing he says. Hinata doesn't say anything, simply opting to listen to what else he has to say.

''In this dimension, we will be safe so long she doesn't realize I am present. The moment she does is the moment we are all doomed.''

Well, that was nice to know. But considering she spent a good couple of years without her doing anything... she was confident.

''The only way for us to do anything against her, is either steal the Chakra Fruit the God Tree will eventually cultivate, or overpower her before that.''

Hinata stopped eating when she heard the former.

''Fruit?''

''Ah. I do need to explain to you why Chakra and Nature Energy are being drained by the tree. It is simply to create a fruit that upon a single bite, will make anyone who eats it stronger.''

That was the purpose of the tree? For power?

''It is what we, Otsutsuki's do. We cultivate that tree, and eat the fruit to become something bigger. To a higher plane of existence, if you would.''

The fact she's being told all of this is the only reason why she doesn't think it's a lie. Or that he's not genuine in the alliance. But what she learns makes her think.

''Why?''

He smiles at her, ''That, I will not tell you. You have no need to know why that fruit is so important.''

She'll do with what she has.

''Alright. How long do you think we have before the fruit is completed?''

''Under normal circumstances, it would take a matter of days for the tree to set root, and at most a month to fully absorb everything from a planet. But, that's under normal circumstances. In this case, it will likely take years for it to bear fruit, and even then, not of the same quality.''

That explains why the tree roots were absorbing nature energy.

''So... including the 3 years already passed, we should have up to 10 years?''

Jigen shook his head.

''No, at most, we have 7 years before the Fruit reaches the potency Kaguya is likely wishing for.''

So they had 4 years. Well, she could only hope that at that point, she'd achieve the Tenseigan.

But... were there alternatives? The Tenseigan wasn't her only option. There had to be more knowledge somewhere... more...

Orochimaru and his research...

That... she might need to actually delve into what he has discovered. Find what she can use for herself.

But... should she? Was it even an actually good idea?

Does she even have a choice? What if the Tenseigan doesn't awaken in time? Then, it would have all been useless.

Orochimaru's research... to think, she would need it.

''I have... a proposition. But for it to work, I need to head back to Earth on a regular basis.'' Hinata says.

''I'm all ears.''

''There was this-'' monster, ''-researcher who studied genetics, all sort of things related to that. He's been able to achieve quite a few things. I think we could use that research for our own benefit.''

It felt like poison was going inside her lungs as she said those words.

Jigen seemed thoughtful about the matter before he answered.

''So long it is of help, I will allow it. However, wherever could you find said research?''

''In his hideouts, laboratories. They're all around the World. It just needs to be found. Compared to the main villages... Kaguya wouldn't be able to find them without looking for them specifically.''

Jigen hums.

''Then, I allow you fully to head out, when you look for this knowledge. Let us see what you may find for us to use.''

Hinata felt both relieved and nauseous about the fact she could do this. There was no turning back from this.

''That isn't everything.''

''Oh?''

''I would also like to set up a sort of... workshop. If I do this right, then we won't be all alone here anymore. And won't need to do everything ourselves.''

It was time for her to use the marionettes for her own use.

And that's it for this chapter. Next chapter, we'll see how things go on between Jigen and Hinata during this time. Honestly, nothing much to say so onto the comments.

LB Cat: Isshiki might just be an even worse option than Kaguya or Toneri, but as of the moment, Hinata has no other choice. And if she can handle him... well, time will tell. Good that you like the plot. As for the Rinnegan bit, it's been shown in the show that Sasuke's Rinnegan made him immune to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, which makes sense for also Madara. Up until Kaguya shows up, we've followed Canon from the get-go. We know what happened to the Group from that point by Toneri. Up until they left this dimension. Afterward, they're assumed to be KIA since they haven't shown up since that day, which in the story, was about 3 years ago. Understandable reason as to why it's assumed to be KIA.

kitkat: Your comment only showed up by the time chapter 17 was already posted. So you have already the answer. Still, it's not any of them. Which honestly just makes this situation so much worse for her since she's basically, in the worst company possible.