**Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the quote below. I just own Sintary, and her children ^^ Also I do not own the other OC Kokuro or his children. They're my friend's.
I'm sorry I'm a day late, Ko and i got stuck on the path of life :). Anyway, here is part two of Meisa's Shinden! Update on the epilogue: we have reached a climax! The final battle is brewing that will be life-altering! but for now, we have the turbulence of Meisa Uchiha's life.
Please enjoy!
Part Two
"Now payback is a bad bitch
And baby, I'm the baddest
You fuckin' with a savage
Can't have this, can't have this (ah)
And it'd be nice of me to take it easy on ya, but nah"
-Sorry Not Sorry, Demi Lovato
It was dusk when another joined Meisa on the pier. Her kimono was wrinkled and still a bit wet, her hair frizzy from the lake water, and her mood dampened.
"I don't think I've ever see you this depressed by the lake." Her father's voice rang out quietly as he sat next to her.
The young girl remained silent as she stared at the calm waters.
"Dad?"
"Hm?"
"What's hidden in the Nara Forest?"
Itachi stared down at his only daughter out of the corner of his eye. She didn't meet his gaze, or look his way, but he could tell something was eating away at her.
"Why do you ask?" He countered quietly.
Her lips pursed as her eyes darted to find the right words in her clouded mind. "Because… because I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking when I was feeding the deer, and then, suddenly Shikamaru-sensei is escorting me out of there saying it's a restricted area and - and that there's a dark force only the Nara can guard." She exploded all of a sudden.
"Ah," Itachi replied as he looked forward. "Did you ask Shikamaru?"
An annoyed sigh emitted from Meisa's chapped lips along with an eye roll. "Yeess… and he refused to answer me. He just got really down and quiet… like… like this thing took something precious from him." Another sigh rolled out, but this one was less annoyed, but still a bit frustrated. "I… I just want to understand… what could have possibly caused him so much pain?"
The older man nodded softly to his daughter's words. "You know Shikamaru's official team, correct? Comprised of himself, Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi; they are the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho formation. They were lead by Asuma Sarutobi. I cannot tell you exactly what he meant to those three, but the bonds between teammates and their sensei are very strong, especially when they stick together for so long."
Meisa slowly nodded. "So, this thing or whatever, killed Asuma? But… you guys lost close ones all the time."
"Shinobi always sought retribution and revenge, and always will when loved ones are killed. That's our flawed default." Itachi told her. "They would have gone after him personally anyway to avenge Asuma's death. However, the shinobi who killed him was… unique in his abilities." The young girl watched as her father's face darkened at the recollection. A heaviness settled in her chest as he continued. "This… man took pleasure in killing; reveled in it. His need for bloodshed and death exceeded his need to breathe. He was a lunatic… an unhinged killing machine."
"But dad, that doesn't make him any different than these idiots we face now." Meisa protested. "What made him different?"
"He was immortal, Meisa." Itachi finally said, his voice deep and solemn. "He killed his victims by trapping them in a curse ninjutsu. He would take a bit of their blood inside himself, and form a symbol at his feet with his own blood. He always claimed it was the sign of his estranged god: Jashin, whom he worshipped above everything."
Meisa's eyes widened as the hair on her forearms and back of her neck stood up like a frightened cat.
"Dad?" She asked trying to keep her voice as neutral as possible. "What was the symbol?"
"Why do you want to know?" Itachi countered now turning to his daughter.
'Oh jeez… he knows. He totally knows. How could he not?' Meisa panicked inside. 'Think, think, think!'
"Well, who's to say there's not more like this man? People have done awfully crazy things to live forever." Meisa rattled hoping he bought it.
She felt her father's eyes roam over her, much like her sensei's did earlier. They both knew something was off about her - even more than usual. But neither had been able to pinpoint it yet. Innocent until proven guilty.
"It was an upside down triangle inside a circle." Itachi revealed turning back to the water.
Okay…. Great.
She had been drawn to a pendant that belonged to a sadistic psycho who killed her sensei's sensei which was the symbol of this guy's god, who was probably also a serial killer.
Yep.
That was her luck.
"Everything alright?" Her father asked, drawing her out of her thoughts.
"Um, well, I think you left some things out." Meisa started up again. "You said he formed this symbol and has some of his opponent's blood, and it's a curse jutsu, but how did he end up killing Asuma then? Obviously our sensei are not easily taken down and are unique in their own ways, and - and they have the Will of Fire! So, he must've fought really hard and probably gave this lunatic a run for his money, right?"
Itachi slowly nodded, his own expression neutral once more. "The man, Hidan…. His type of jutsu has never been seen before him, nor can it be replicated. Somehow, the blood he ingested from his enemy linked them together. Hidan became, what he called, the Grim Reaper. His body covered in mostly black with white markings on his face. He was the life-like version of a voodoo doll; anything you did to him happened to who he was bound to."
"But… he couldn't die." Meisa added quietly.
The older man shook his head. "No, he could not. Hidan took great pleasure in torturing his victims; making them suffer and beg for mercy. He claimed he felt euphoric when he finally sacrificed his opponent to his god."
"So… this Jashin person… He must be real then, right?"
Her father frowned slightly at that. "For all we know, he is just some made up person Hidan had conjured to justify his means for killing."
"Okay… yeah, but," Meisa stated also frowning. "How do you explain his immortality then?"
"We can't."
The dark-haired girl frowned some more, but decided not to push that one. "Then… then how did Shikamaru-sensei defeat him?"
"From my understanding, he trapped Hidan with wire and explosive tags. All of Hidan's body parts were severed from each other over a sealed pit Shikamaru had made, binding him under the ground."
Meisa slowly nodded. "That's why he's to protective over it…"
Her father said nothing, letting her think in silence for a while. Once the sun set, he spoke up again. "Your mother tells me you want to leave."
The young girl pouted slightly. That wasn't fair…. The way he said it. "Dad… it's not like I want to leave forever… I just… want to pursue my own path."
Itachi nodded briefly in response. "Why?" He questioned.
Meisa's head shot up as she looked at her father. "Why? I just told you why."
"Specifics Meisa," he chided. "Why do you feel you can't find your path here? What makes you think leaving here will satisfy your needs?"
She let out a short burst of air through her nose in a huff. "Did you guys question Kazuki like this before he left?" She responded instead.
"Kazuki was always open to us about his feelings. He studied everything he could and kept questioning things we couldn't answer. He then showed an interest in Kok-Uncle Kokuro's work," he tripped over the honorific; even after all these years, he wasn't used to calling his best friend an uncle. "He started asking for your uncle to bring him books and other artifacts back from his travels, always asking what it was like in the other dimensions… It was when Kokuro's journeys started taking him longer as the twins got older that Kazuki showed the greatest disdain. While we could see it, he openly came out and told us how trapped he felt, even with his own missions and responsibilities. So, when Uncle Kokuro came back, we let him go."
Meisa frowned as she started searching for a response. "I feel incomplete… like I'm missing a piece of myself…" She started. "I always feel anxious, like there's something crawling in my skin. I'm restless throughout the night, unable to find any peace to sleep. I feel angry… and I don't know why. Then there's mom's blood ninjutsu. I've read all the books, I've practiced, but I still blank out during it. I can see why she was so scared; I mean, at least she was sorta aware of what she was doing, but I don't remember anything during the attack." She paused again, chewing her lip as she tried to formulate words for her emotions. "I feel like I'm trapped in a corner; that I'm permanently caged in a small space. I just… I can't function like this anymore. I feel like I'm going crazy here… that I'm going to do something that I'll regret… I don't want to hurt anyone."
She didn't even realize she was crying until her father moved to hold her. She could feel the wetness against her face, spilling onto her father's shirt. Meisa shook in his arms as her mouth remained in a grim line. She could feel his arms around her, his one hand stroking her hair while the other kept her close. The young girl found comfort in her father's arms like she always did. He smelt of a warm fire, the smoke permanently soaked into his skin, a trait all Uchiha had. He also smelt like a fresh rain and sandalwood, which was unique to her father.
"The Hokage has received news that Uncle Kokuro, Uncle Sasuke and Kazuki are coming back within the next few days. Can you hold on until then?" Itachi spoke softly, looking down at his daughter.
He had spoiled her from the start; all because he was alive to do so. He hadn't been able to be there for Kazuki in the beginning, and his mind automatically tried compensating for it with Meisa. It became even more apparent when Kazuki became a shinobi and traveled with their uncles. Itachi was very close to his daughter… and he couldn't fathom her leaving him, but he also couldn't stomach seeing her so distraught. He was so torn… but ultimately… he had to do what was right for her.
Meisa was ecstatic when her brother and uncles came home. She had spent the days training with the twins - the only ones she felt comfortable enough with. The anxiousness had carried with her through it; leading to lack of sleep, irritability and lots of aggression. Not knowing what time they would be in, the kunoichi headed to the training fields to practice with her squadmates.
It was early evening when Kokuro had arrived to the training fields. His chakra concealed with his comrade's as he watched them silently.
"Something's changed in her." He stated quietly. "There's a darkness that's present that wasn't there last time."
"Is it the same as mine?" Sintary asked her brother timidly; she was scared for her daughter.
The white-haired sage slowly shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. I can't pinpoint what's going on here… it's something I haven't seen before."
"Way to make me more worried." She sighed.
"I'm sorry, Sin," Kokuro told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But that's why she's coming with me right? We'll figure out what's going on and take care of her."
She nodded and hugged the taller male. "I wish you could stay longer. I miss you and Kazuki so much… and Sasuke, too, but his family misses him more."
"I know. Kiba wasn't very happy either, but Naruto needs us to check something out in Yugakure. Some girls randomly disappearing; he just wants us to see if it's Kaguya related."
Sintary rolled her blue eyes. "He could've sent Chuunin to look into that and then report to you if it was Kaguya related. I don't see why you have to go."
"Relax, Sin. It'll be easy. Plus, if it's just a Chuunin rank mission, I'll put Meisa on it." The pearl-eyed shinobi stated as he watched his sister's reaction.
"You are not sending my baby on a solo mission when Kaguya could be involved." She huffed at him.
Kokuro chuckled, "Easy girl. She's got the A Team with her."
"I thought you, me and Itachi were the A Team."
"Nah, we're the Dream Team." Kokuro told her smirking. "Anyway, she'll be fine. Spending some time with Kazuki will be really good for her. Plus maybe Sasuke will show her ways to vent her… unusually high aggression."
"And what are you going to do?" Sintary asked looking at her brother pointedly.
"I," Kokuro started with emphasis, "will be looking into what is going on with my niece."
The dark-haired female was going say more when two figures appeared out of nowhere and tackled the white-haired sage to the ground. She was more confused than worried.
"PAPA!" Arrekasu and Maikeru squealed in unison.
"My boys!" Kokuro cried back as he held their salt and pepper heads. "I hear you've been giving Shikamaru grief."
"We have, unintentionally though." Meisa told him as she walked up to the pile of family.
"Goddaughter," Kokuro smiled. "I'd hug you, but I cannot seem to get up."
"It's fine, godfather. It's just good to see you." She said as she smiled down at him.
"Likewise. Alright boys, let me up. We still gotta see your father."
"We don't have to get up." Maikeru murmured against his father's haori.
"What are you-" Kokuro's opaque eyes widened. "No, Arrekasu, MaikERU!" His voice echoed as the trio of Otsutsuki-Inuzuka's vanished in a black hole.
Meisa blew out some air, frowning. "Dramatic."
"They're teens just like you," Sintary reminded her daughter. "Now, come along. Your brother's waiting for you."
Meisa nodded and headed off with her, anxious to see her elder brother again. It took most of her left over energy not to break into a run. Her brother's presence stabilized her; he complimented her much like they're mother and father did each other.
The greenery in the training field quickly gave way to the brustling village. The young kunoichi dodged the civilians that roamed the streets; a maneuver she had grown very good at. Still, today it felt like there were just so many people; too many in her way.
"Meisa."
Green-blue eyes pulled up to the sound. She saw her mother standing on a rooftop. Understanding without words, the young girl leaped up to join her. Together, they sprinted towards the compound. Within minutes, red and white flooded they're field of vision. They had passed the gate into the Uchiha compound. However, there weren't just Uchiha present - or just they're cousins, the Otsutsuki. After the great war had ended and the destroyed houses were rebuilt, the two families had opened the rest of the properties to those who needed it. Given the Uchiha's large fortune, the people were provided with necessities, and through the help of the civilians in the village, were given help to get them back on track. From there they could chose to remain in the compound or move elsewhere. The orphans were provided access to medical care and the Academy and were offered the same choice when they felt ready to move on.
"It's grown since the last time I was here," a voice spoke up.
Meisa swiveled and gaped. "Nii-san," she cried out as she hurled herself at him.
Kazuki smiled very slightly as his little sister. He stayed passive, waiting until she got closer before raising his hand. In a moment, two of his fingers lightly collided with his sister's forehead. The action was so small, but it was enough to confuse her. In time, Kazuki's hand pushed her into him as he engulfed her into a hug of his own. Meisa's arms wrapped around his middle as her cheek rested against his chest.
"I missed you," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.
Kazuki hummed in response. "I missed you, too."
They're parents watched at a distance, letting the siblings enjoy the comfort that came with being with each other.
"I didn't realize he knew about that…" Sintary commented about the hand gesture.
"As far as I knew, he didn't," Itachi responded quietly. "That was something strictly between Sasuke and I."
"It must be in his genes… an innate instinct passed down by his father."
Her husband chuckled in response. "Kokuro must've said something. He's too sentimental not to."
Sintary sighed happily, thinking about their closest friend. "He does like his stories."
"He also likes watching people's reactions to them…"
"All three of us do, because we all know, despite how crazy and fantasy-like they sound, all the stories are true."
"And that's why there's nothing in the realm of the living that can surprise us…" Itachi told his wife as the rays of orange, red and yellow illuminated their family.
The waning moon hung high in the sky; the night well on its way. Still, despite the hour and the fact her family was complete, Meisa could not find rest yet again. She resumed her nightly routine; combing her hair, meditating, minimal exercise, anything to tire her. All failed as Meisa's head filled with noise again. Her stomach twisted as if she'd been punched, and her lungs burned like she'd released a fire jutsu.
With what little witts she had with her, the young kunoichi silently headed to her brother's room. He was her salvation, her light at the end of this dark tunnel, with him was comfort and acceptance.
"Kazuki?" Meisa whispered stepping into his room, closing the door behind her.
The young man's blue eyes opened with ease. "Meisa?" he replied. "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I can't sleep." She responded before signing: 'I need to speak to you, but mom and dad can't hear us.'
Kazuki slowly frowned as he sat up. 'Why can't they know?'
'It will upset them because they can't help.'
'Come here, I know a better way we can communicate.'
Kazuki criss crossed his legs so Meisa could join him. He reached for her hands once she was settled and nodded for her to close her eyes. His physical eyes shut as he opened his mental eyes. He hadn't created a genjutsu alternative given they're parents could easily sense that, nor had he placed them in the Tsukuyomi realm because he did not have the Mangekyou. He couldn't manifest another realm for just the two of them because that was strictly an Otsutsuki ability that couldn't be replicated. However, what he did, couldn't be replicated or sensed either. Kazuki had connected their minds. Here, they could speak freely without muttering a sound and to the outside world, it looked like they were meditating with each other.
The couldn't see the other, only a black abyss unless a memory was conjured to be shared. That was good, though, for they needed to listen to each other without any outside distraction or influence.
"I forgot you could do this…" Meisa started, her thoughts quietly echoing to him.
"I only really use it with you. It could probably extend to mom and the Otsutsuki family given they're previous experiences, but I've never tried it.' Kazuki explained.
The connection went silent before Meisa decided to try and speak up. "We went on a mission last week... Just some bandits causing trouble on the road to Suna. Our orders were to neutralize the threat by any means necessary. So while engaging in my opponent, I had a blackout. I didn't come out of it until the guy was sliced to pieces and Shikamaru-sensei is scolding me, saying there were other ways of dealing with the enemy. The twins did the same thing essentially, so we all got sent to the Nara forest like usual."
"That usually helps doesn't it?" Kazuki asked his sister.
"Usually, but like, it didn't this time…" Meisa responded solemnly.
She didn't need to explain further, the events poured through their connection like a movie. Her older brother felt the stress, the anxiety, the tension inside her. He saw her find the pendant and witness her encounter with the lunatic in the ground. He experienced the breathless whirlwind, the traumatizing chaos, the gut wrenching, silent, suffocating pain that existed inside of her.
Kazuki felt his own heart skyrocket as he gripped his sister's hands tightly in his own shaking ones. He could feel this presence surrounding Meisa, invading his space. It was a darkness that reminded him of his childhood demon: Orochimaru.
In that moment, the grown Uchiha saw wide, black-ringed, red pupiless eyes appear out of the darkness. The hair stood on its end all over his body and his gut violently twisted in his abdomen, begging him to flee. Shadow's casted over his mind as every fiber within him froze with cold fear. The glowing eyes came closer as power circled him, choking him so much that his breathes could only come out in short, pained rasps. Kazuki could feel a series of freezing gusts fall over him in short bursts; like huffing. It felt like he was running a high fever; ice cold, but sweating profusely.
His mind quaked as a rumble emitted from the pair of eyes. A dark, deep, demonic, male voice shook Kazuki so violently, he closed his eyes. "Do not ever compare me to a slithering, pathetic snake that is Orochimaru - unless you would like to suffer a fate worse than the Tsukuyomi."
Blue eyes opened as he yanked away from Meisa like he had been burned.
"Kazuki!" She cried out in a hushed voice. "What's wrong? What happened?"
Her brother's erratic breathing came out in short huffs, like he'd been kicked square in the chest. His eyes wide and filled with shock that Meisa had never seen in him before. She had never seen her perfectly composed brother so disheveled.
Kazuki looked at his sister, his brain going in a million different places. He saw the paling of her features, the dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. Then he looked around her and could see darkness around her. This thing wanted Kazuki to see its hold on his sister because a moment later, it vanished back inside her.
A chilling air settled around him again; dread and hopelessness for his little sister - for his inability to save her.
"You need to tell them," he managed to say, but it felt like cotton in his mouth.
Meisa's concerned look flattered; she looked crushed. "Kazuki, I told you," she whispered, her voice tight with brimming tear. "They can't help me."
Pale lips opened and closed again. She was right. Mom had Kaguya continuously giving her a verbal beat down to give into her destructive power, and Uncle Ko had developed Tsuki. Mom had tried to exorcise Tsuki from their uncle and that had gone horribly wrong. So really, their parents - specifically mom - had no idea how to truly handle this.
Kazuki stared off, trying to find answers within the air. What was the point of his journey for enlightenment if he couldn't use any of it to save his sister? His blue eyes widened as his brain slowly pieced together a plan.
"Fine, don't tell mom and dad. But you have to tell Uncle Ko,"
"Kazuki!" Meisa started to protest again.
He gripped her hands again, trying to calm her. "I know someone who could help, but she's not in this dimension. We need Uncle Ko to be on board in order to get to her." Meisa turned away from him. "Please, we can tell him after we already hit the road. Mom and dad won't be able to do much after that even if he decides to tell them - which I don't think he will so long as he thinks he can handle it."
"What if he can't handle it…" Meisa asked quietly, fear tremorring in her voice.
Kazuki pulled his sister closer to him, hugging her quivering form against his. "Uncle Ko can handle a lot. He'll find a way."
The siblings fell asleep in Kazuki's bed and rose early that morning. They did morning warm ups together before heading downstairs to breakfast. Their meal was filled with quiet conversations, mostly catching up with Kazuki like last night. Her parents also went over their rules with Meisa before they were dismissed to pack.
When they were reading, the two Uchiha children came downstairs. Sintary and Itachi hugged each of their children, telling them how much they loved them and to be careful. They then headed to the gates of Konoha. The twins were present with Kokuro, looking defensive.
"Papa, why can't we go with?" Arrekasu asked pouting
"Yeah! Why does Meisa get to go?" Maikeru added throwing his arms up in the air.
"I have a whole year over you two. I am mature enough to join this journey." Meisa stated boldly stepping into the situation. On the inside, it killed her. The twins deserved time with their dimension-traveling father, but instead, she was going with him. She also hadn't told them the truth behind her journey.
"Get over yourself, Meisa," Maikeru shot in a rare display of anger, his eyes flashing red.
The young girl was taken back by his action. She hadn't anticipated such a response from one of the twins.
"Maikeru, that's no way to talk to your cousin." Kokuro stepped in, shooting his son a glare.
"Isn't it though?" Arrekasu stepped up besides his brother. "You've taken no one but both Uchiha siblings. We accepted Kazuki going because we were too young, but we're Genin just like Meisa! Why are you picking her over us?!"
"That's enough you two!" Kokuro snapped, his doujutsu activated with his elevated emotions. "We all walk our own paths, sometimes they cross with another's and other times they divert. We don't control when that happens or who we run into, it just happens. Meisa's pathway takes her outside the village now, just like Kazuki's did years ago. I am not choosing her to come with me over you two, my sons. Her path has lead her to me, while yours bids you to stay with your father here, in Konoha. Maybe one day your paths will lead you out with me, or mine will take me back to you permanently. But we follow what is laid out before us until then. Do you understand me?"
The twins looked down, tears wetting their faces at their own hearts breaking. Of course their father wasn't picking anyone over them. He loved them dearly. However, it didn't make their hurt any less painful knowing they couldn't be with him.
"You are my sons, my little boys." Kokuro told them, his eyes softening. "I don't leave you like this willingly. Every day that I am not with you, every moment that you are far away, I ache for you both and your father." His own eyes became wet, watching his boys openly cry. "You are my strength, my hope, my love. I miss you three more than words when I am gone. If I could have a path that kept me here, I would follow it blindly. But to keep you safe; to keep the village safe, I have to do this. My duty is to this family, and to the will of fire."
The silverite leaned down, hugging both of his sons.
"I love you both to the moon and back. Never forget that." He whispered.
Kokuro gave them one more squeeze before stepping back. He glanced over at Sasuke poking Sarada in the forehead, telling her "maybe next time," as he stepped away. Silver-purple eyes moved to his best friends. Sintary and Itachi stood, arm in arm, watching the scenes that unfolded before them. They had already said goodbye to their children earlier that morning so there was no need for any more fuss while they departed.
The days travel to Yugakure was tiring for a start; storms a harsh weathering clouds harried the group as they traveled. Roads were flooded and trees had fallen in the paths most traveled. Staying at small inns was the only semblance of respite from the maladies that assailed the Otsutsuki-Uchiha travel party.
They had chosen to split up, deciding they looked less formidable separate than together. Meisa wandered in and out of shops, looking at the different clothing choices and jewelry. Unlike the streets of Konoha, there were no weapon shops present here for her to window shop. They did have a dango shop though, which she happily bought.
Nibbling on the sweet treat, she got the feeling she was being followed. Her chakra was concealed as part of the disguise. She didn't wear anything that indicated she was a shinobi, but she was dressed oddly enough. Her kimono only went to the top of her thighs, she had spandex shorts and laced sandals on. Her hair covered her Uchiha marking and she had wrapped her sash to hide the Sacuna seal.
Deciding this might be an opportunity to figure out what was going on with these missing girls, Meisa stopped at a post with the missing posters. She quickly scanned for one and let her expression fall to a sad one.
"Oi, girl," the man stated almost on top of her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get in the way," Meisa said quietly, turning her head down in a submissive way. She then stepped aside for the man before looking back up at the girl's picture.
Nanami Himura. She could pass as relative of Meisa's with ease; their features making them nondescript and common. Nanami's face was soft and round, demure and feminine like most civilians. Meisa's face was narrower with aristocratic features that suggested upper class though she certainly didn't look like it now.
"Do you know someone on here?" The man asked breaking the silence.
Meisa's odd blue-green eyes glanced up at the man. He was about two feet taller than she was with spikey, wild ash brown hair that was buzzed on his left side. Meisa nearly did a double take at his striking red eyes which she had only seen in Uchiha members, but she saw soft, plain eyes instead of the Sharingan. His face overall was gently and friendly… ordinary even. His chakra felt like everyone else's around here; civilian and untapped. Why would such a man take interest in following her?
"My older sister, Nanami." Meisa told him looking back at poster. "Our father is a traveling silk merchant. We help manage the silk so often times we go with… we were staying in the Land of Fire when Nanami disappeared."
The man seemed to sigh sadly, as if he'd heard this story too many times. "All these girls are travelers actually. So many have a story like your sisters'. It's such a shame."
"There's so many…" Meisa stated, looking at the post. "Why are the authorities doing anything?"
"Ah," the man sounded as he nodded his head. "They are. But you see, we aren't a shinobi village, so there's only so much the police here can handle. We've reached out to Konoha and the Sound, but neither have come to our aid. So, it's up to us civilians to figure out where these poor girls are going."
Meisa looked at him with hope. "You said, 'us,' does that mean you're part of the group that helps find these girls?"
His face broke into a smug smile, but something about it made Meisa's skin crawl. "I'm part of a religious group, and we go looking for missing girls. We also have a prayer circle to ask our god for guidance."
"Can I join?" She jumped at the chance, hope beaming in her eyes. In truth, her heart was erratically pounding in her chest with anticipation. "I mean, I know I'm just a girl with no special qualities, but, um, you could always use an extra pair of eyes… or even another to pray to your god, right?"
He continued smiling down at her calmly. "Of course, the Lord welcomes you."
"When do you meet? Or, whatever you do?" Meisa asked.
"We have a meeting tonight." He told her.
"Where do you meet?"
"Here, I'll give you something," the man said digging into his back pocket. It seemed to take an eternity for him to pull out whatever. Meisa was ready to start twitching with anxiety, but she forced herself to continue this charade.
Her heart stopped its fast pace seeing the object dangled in front of her. It was the upside down triangle.
'Of course this is all related,' Meisa groaned internally.
"Something the matter? You look a little pale?" The man asked looking at her concerned.
The young slowly nodded, swallowing. "Actually… my sister left that on her bed the morning she vanished." She said finishing it out of her sash. "This is what lead me to Yugakure."
His red eyes widened in shock and nodded. "The Lord has brought you to us to help your sister. This is a very good sign." He then grabbed hold of the pendant and his hand glowed black.
"W-what are you doing?" Meisa asked; as a civilian, she wouldn't understand chakra and would be nervous, but the black chakra also frightened her.
"It's like a beckon now. It will grow warmer when you're close to the meeting spot. It's a secret since a lot of people are actually against us." The man explained to her. "Use that to guide yourself after sunset tonight. I'll be waiting for you."
Meisa nodded enthausicastly. "I will! Thank you so much, um?"
"Ryuki." He finally revealed with a crooked smile. "Now, may I have your name?"
"Izanami." She gave happily.
His eyes lifted with amusement. "Such a divine name for a beautiful girl. I look forward to seeing you again, Izanami."
"Me too, Ryuki." Meisa said, clutching the pendant for dear life as he walked away. She stared back up at the poster. "I will find you soon, Nanami." She whispered before walking away herself.
Meisa walked the bright, hot streets a while longer before heading to their hotel. She checked in under the fake name before heading back. Kokuro and Kazuki were already present in one of the adjoining rooms. She coughed a bit upon entering, waving away the offending agent as her eyes burned a bit.
"Uncle Ko, smoke outside." She pleaded before she took in the scene before her. Her uncle was smoking without hesitation, but her brother also slowly blew out smoke, a cigarette between his fingers. Meisa slowly blinked, stunned and having a hard time processing what she saw. "Wha-"
"Don't tell mom!" Kazuki blurted out.
That seemed to pull the young Uchiha out of her haze. She frowned, her eyes narrowing as she placed a hand on her hip. "What do you mean 'don't tell mom'?! You're smoking!"
"I just got curious, and it's actually really relaxing." Her brother tried to justify.
"So now you're addicted?"
"No! It's only once in a while. I haven't had one in a few weeks."
"It's true," Kokuro stepped in shrugging.
Meisa shot her uncle daggers. "Mom is going to kill you both."
The white-haired sage blew out some smoke nonchalantly. "She's done worse, and I've had worse done to me, so, bring it on."
Her expression turned confused for a moment before shaking it off, settling her full anger on Kazuki. "You know how mom feels about it!"
"I do."
"You know she worries about her health given the clan history."
"I do."
"And you know what smoking does to the body."
Kazuki sighed. "Yes, Meisa. I've thought through it all a long time ago."
"So what? You don't care about mom's opinions anymore?"
"Cool it Meisa," their dark-haired uncle stepped in, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, so do you smoke too?" The kunoichi accused.
Sasuke rolled his one visible eye. "No, I don't participate in their vile addiction, but I also understand there's no talking any sense into them. They've accepted whatever harm comes from their actions."
"So you sit back while they asphyxiate themselves to death?"
"Hn. If that's how these two shinobi choose to go down, that's their choice."
"Hey, I'll have you know it will take a lot more than this 'vile addiction' to kill me. Oh wait, I've recently found out I'm an semi-immortal being so excuse me for enjoying an earthly pleasure." Kokuro stated flippantly, waving his pipe around.
"And what's your excuse?" Meisa asked her brother.
Said brother nonchalantly rose his shoulders and let them fall. "It's basically the equivalent to a fire style jutsu. Given that's my nature of chakra, it seems I was doomed from the start."
The young girl blew out an aggravated sigh, rolling her eyes up as she tried to search for something to use against her brother. "You know it would be an unfitting death for a shinobi." She tried.
That gave her no reaction. "Considering I'll mostly be retired and have lived my life as a shinobi, I'd be okay with that. Again, it probably would be my fate anyway."
Arms crossed over her chest, lips pursed as anger coursed through her little thirteen-year-old body. "I'm still telling mom."
The older dark-haired young man gave a short sigh. "Can I convince you not to?"
"Can I convince you to stop smoking?"
"No," Kazuki sighed again.
"Then you have your answer." Meisa said.
"Alright, so if you two are done with your squabble can we get back to the mission?" Kokuro asked his feuding niece and nephew.
Meisa sighed once last time before looking at her uncle. "Yeah, I have a lead," she said and pulled the pendant out of her sash to show.
She watched as her uncle's face became stone hard like she thought it would. He knew exactly what it was. "Where did you get that?" He asked, his voice thin.
"This guy, Ryuki gave it to me. He infused it with some chakra and it's supposed to grow when I get close." She told him, making up her mind.
"Who said anything about you going?" He asked.
Meisa's lip twitch. "I did. I made the contact, he's expecting me, I'm going." She said.
"Meisa, you don't know who you're dealing with," Kokuro warned. "If this guy is anything like our previous dealing, it is not safe."
"Uncle Ko, we are shinobi. Our lives are not supposed to be safe." The young girl stated defiantly. "We take risks to help people."
"No." He told her firmly. "We're not sending you. One of us will disguise ourselves as you. Hand it over."
"Uncle Ko -" Kazuki started, going to try and persuade him.
"I don't want to hear it." The sage almost growled.
Meisa stared at him harshly, her eyes openly showing her hurt. She slowly handed it over her uncle. But as she went to drop it in his palm, the chain wrapped around her wrist, clinging to her.
"Meisa, this isn't a game. Give it." Kokuro snapped, not playing around.
"I'm trying," the young girl shot back as she tried to undo the chain. "It won't give."
Sasuke reached over, being the closest, and tried to get it off his niece. His lips fell into a frown as he realized he couldn't remove it. "It's really stuck on her."
"Guess we have no choice but to send her then." Kazuki piped up, earning daggers from Kokuro.
"Then I guess it's settled," stated Meisa matter-of-factly, "I am going to investigate the meeting place and you bums can tail me. If things get too far out of hand feel free to jump in, but I am not going to give up on this lead. Besides, this charm is literally stuck to me. So, looks like we have a plan then." She received hesitant nods in response.
The group waited for the sun to set before the made their way from the village. People gave them wary stares because they were all heading in. The young girls of the village had long since been ushered off the streets into homes or inns. The only sound was the crunching of the gravel beneath their feet and the gentle thrumming of the countless hot springs that dotted the mountainside. Meisa took point and traveled ahead of the group, making several stops along the way to make it seem like she was a tourist to the area unaware of the curfew. She kept up the ruse until she made it to the base of the mountain.
The pendant in her hand began to resonate and revealed a hidden trail, almost lost in the mountainside. The base of the path was guarded by two statues of tengu, each of them fierce and holding the same pendant as her. Meisa took a deep breath, and then set to walking on the hidden pilgrimage path.
Meisa made her way through the winding trail, the pendant illuminating a small string of kanji, each resonating as she passed through them. Tall shinto gates marked her way as she treaded along, the tree leaves falling and swirling around in the moonlight. The edges of the mountainside were steep and the crumbling steps made for slippery footing. Seals and sacred rope marked the gates as she started reaching the peak of the climb.
Meisa froze, and out of the corner of her eye she saw something, a person, no people. She flitted into the trees in a flash. The people were marching, dressed in purple and crimson robes; they were monks. The air filled with a subtle chill as they walked by chanting, the murmur of their voices calling out to her as she observed them. Komuso monks followed, each of them either carrying on the chant or playing a melody on the flute. The sounds, though faint, seemed to chill Meisa to the core, like deep rooted fingers calling out to her very blood.
Then they were gone.
As if the very umbra and moonlight had pulled them from the ground.
'What the hell is this place?' She wondered.
Meisa dropped from the tree and moved along, avoiding the light, and stopping at the small shrines along the way. She wasn't overtly religious, but something about this place had her on edge. She then reached a small shrine that froze her. In deep red was a gate surrounded by what must have been upwards of a thousand Jizo statue.
Children; this was a graveyard.
Stumbling back, Meisa tripped and fell to the ground. The same symbol, the circle and triangle was traced upon the heads of the statues, all of them in dried blood.
"I need to find the hostages fast." She whispered to herself, trying to keep her mind focused.
Leaping up, Meisa broke out into a full sprint, taking to the trees. She was like a panther, her movements swift and silent. Then she found it, the main temple. It rested high above the ground on stilts, it was overrun with moss and ivy. The walls bedecked with warding seals, and grime. Quietly, Meisa focused her chakra and scaled one of the walls, the window was locked.
'Not a problem'. Meisa spit a little on the edge of the window, "Water style: water shuriken."
The spit formed a small throwing star and began to spin rapidly. In seconds the latch was cut open and Meisa clamoured her way into the building. Immediately something was off, the very air seemed stagnant like decay and rot.
Meisa drew out a small needle and pricked her fingers.
Sacuna style: Crimson Fangs.
Jagged crystalline daggers formed in her hands and she hurried down the hall. She could her voices, but the sound was a murur, almost like a dying breath being exhaled. That is when she heard a scream.
She flew, racing down the halls, keeping to the shadows.
Ryuki.
He was being impaled, a ragged figure had run him through with a broken piece of wood.
"Stop that," shouted Meisa as she threw the pair apart. Ryuki on the ground sputtering and the figure sobbing. That is when Meisa noticed the figure was a girl, tears streaming down her cheek. Other girls behind her, all of them cowering.
"We need to run," the girl sobbed.
"Who are… what is going on?"
"NO, WE ALL NEED TO GO!"
Azure.
Flames lit the room, braziers bursting to life to claim the shadows. The hall was a room, a temple to buddha, dessacrated. The statues were all run through with pikes and the symbol was inscribed on their chest. Each and every one of them, decapitated. In the center of the altar was the grand idol: its hands brandished the severed heads, all of them twisted and distorted, weapons donned others, scythes, daggers, sable pikes, its own head resting in its lap, the face that of an ogre, fangs and twisted tongues.
From around the room the komuso reappeared.
"I am so glad that you could come to our little prayer vigil. I was hoping that we could covert another to our caused."
Meisa turned and watched in horror as Ryuki rose from the floor, his body slowly undulating and straightening, his head finally rolling into place, his eyes cold and his face bloody. He was grinning widely, his face like that of a hungry wolf. Blood spattered across his face.
"Now I think we should-"
Meisa was across the room in a flash, crimson daggers resting at her side. Ryuki's head spiraling in the air.
"Shit, got some blood on my clothes." The kunoichi muttered bitterly.
The komuso jumped, stumbling back in shock.
"Now," turning to address them all, daggers pointed at the masked foes, "You are all going to let these girls go, then you are-"
"Are what Izanami?"
Meisa tensed and turned, "You are supposed to be dead."
"And, you are supposed to be just a normal girl."
"Well, I lied, I tend to do that to creepy men."
"Well, it seems that we both have some secrets. Now, I suppose that you have some questions on why I brought you here? Our Lord's will? The reason I am still breathing?"
Meisa rolled her eyes and smirked, "Nah, not really."
She dashed forward, biting out with her daggers, slicing his achille's tendons. Then flipping over his shoulders, she placed a bomb tag on him. Then she was gone only for a flash. Ryuki never saw the kick coming; Meisa was under him, sending him flying with a rising kick.
Sacuna art: Briar spear.
Meisa threw out her hands, a flood of blood formed in front of them before hardening into a lance. Effortlessly the kunoichi speared Ryuki to the ceiling.
The bomb tag went off.
Kokuro knew something was wrong.
"What is it Uncle Ko?"
"The temple… I can't seem to see into it now. It is like it is not there." Kokuro teleported around the grounds, "Not a single place around the grounds gives me a vantage view, not even with the Byakugan."
The group gave each other a concerned look before taking to the ground to move on the temple.
"Shit," hissed Sasuke, "Kokuro, we have company."
Around them the ground enveloped in a sickly miasma. The pale light of the moon setting off the deep sea of black fog with streaks of azure and blood red. Fissures began to form and the ground itself burst as hundreds of skeletal and decaying hands burst forth. Masses of corpses began to rise from the ground.
The bodies of women, children, and even monks crawled forth. Some of them rotting away, others long since buried, some even looking fresh and preserved. All of them brandishing the same symbol carved into their foreheads.
"Fire style: Phoenix flower Jutsu," roared Kazuki as he unleashed a rain of fiery hell upon the corpses. The flames greedily licked at the rotting skin and dried cloth of the carcasses. The oldest skeletons bones cracking and splintering in the raging heat. The air filled with the scent of putrefaction; the sickly sweet aroma of death and the smell of burning flesh.
Kokuro and Sasuke moved in tandem, their eyes bleeding red, as they encircled a small area around them.
Amaterasu.
The black flames raged and created a barrier around the group separating them from the amassing army of the dead.
"This is why I was concerned," sighed Kokuro bitterly.
Sasuke sighed, "Fucking Jashinists."
"Jashinists?"
"They are a death cult," explained Kokuro, "Kazuki, these guys are not to be trifled with."
"They are just corpses!" exclaimed Kazuki unerved.
"No, Kazuki, this is their aftermath. This is the result of their religion."
"Shit," Kazuki spat, "Oh Kami, we have to get to Meisa."
"I know," hissed Kokuro, "Wind style: Devastation."
A blast of wind caught the flames, entangling with the sable hellfire. Sasuke taking point, moving to clear the flames so they could have a path to run. As they reached the temple Kazuki went to blast open the doors. His attack fazed right through as if it were a mirage.
"I can't get in. Something is wrong, it is like it isn't even here."
Kokuro's eyes closed and then opened again, pale white: Byakugan, "That is because it isn't."
"Is it genjutsu," asked Sasuke as he glanced back at the field of burning corpses.
"No, it seems that the cult has moved the entire place into another plane of existence. I am going to have to dimension hop just to see if I can find one that links up,"
A spear pierced the wall next to Kokuro's head.
"Uncle, it seems that the corpses are linked to it."
Kokuro nodded, "Yeah, so they can enter but we can't. They have the advantage, they are endless, and will keep coming until the temple is taken down."
"Kokuro, we need to make sure these things don't head down the mountain to the village either."
The silvertite sighed before letting his third eye open, "I have always hated the faith militant," and a blast of wind gouged out a deep crevice into the mountainside.
The dust cleared and Meisa watched on in horror as Ryuki pieced himself together as the komuso laughed. His body was a twisted mass of rotting flesh, grey and peeling skin dotted with holes. Centipedes and crickets flowing from his body almost like it was a hive. The skin untouched by moonlight reverting back to its normal hue.
"Now, I believe that I was trying to talk you ignorant bitch."
Ryuki appeared before Meisa and back handed her, sending her across the room. He was standing above her and grabbed her hands; as the pincers of the bugs coiled her and held her. Then he took one of the black pikes and pierced her hands in the middle of the Jashin pendant bound to her still, effectively pinning her to a statue of buddha. Her voice caught in her throat at the pain.
"Now, our Lord, Jashin, god of murder, decay, sacrifice, the scion of blood and destruction. He calls to us. You see, he wants us to murder to experience pain and all of the great exstacies of agony. But, we asked him for immortality; we sacrificed thousands upon thousands in his name, he calls to us even now, but it is this cycle, upon that of a divided moon, the light and shadow we can call upon him.
You see we achieved life unending but we cannot feel, we cannot taste, all of the sweet delicious pain of others sits hollow. We have become stagnant, rotted. The moon reveals us for our true pestilence, but now we will use the blood of mensis to call forth new flesh."
"You are sick!"
Ryuki smiled menichally his eyes glinting in psychotic glee.
"YES, I KNOW."
Meisa shuddered as she looked down. Ryuki had driven a pike into her abdomen, piercing just above her pelvis. Her world flooded black as the cultist laughed in the insanity. The last sight she could see was two rifts opening before it was all gone.
'Pitiful, just pitiful,' chided a voice. 'You chose the name of a goddess of death, yet you lack her power.'
Meisa's eyes flew open, taking in the void around her. The world was black save for a single ray of light illuminating the sea of blood before her. A large horned figure rose from the blood. The figure was skeletal and demonic; it possessed many arms and wielded scythes, its form was fluid as the very body was formed from the ocean of gore.
'I care not for you new champion, but it is time for a new scion of change. This wanton death sickening. What is one moment of blissful pain, sweetest agony to an unending season of torment. This age is sickly, an ancient poison, and elder fury, brought into a new life, sown in a pasture of blood. This is not the will of Our way, the way of Our light, Our Jashin."
The figure grabbed at Meisa, hoisting her into the air, pulling her arms taught.
'You are my champion, O' child of blood, you will bring new light to Jashin,' the avatar of the deity tilted his head to one side then the other, 'Meisa Uchiha, become the goddess you impersonated and let your judgement pass, carry Our will.'
The pain was immense as the blood seemed to flow into her. From the stab wound Meisa watched as her skin became black as night, and a skeletal pattern began to form in the darkness. Her eyes twisted, her Sharingan contorting until her very eyes bled, the pattern forming three entwined circles dotted with a tomoe.
Her charm of Jashin resonating with her very core.
'Pass Judgement.'
Meisa pulled herself from the statue; unfazed by the pain, almost reveling in the screaming of her palms, her wounds healing, and blood coiling around her, almost alive and serpentine in nature.
She slowly cracked her neck, glancing to two new people: her teammates. The twins froze see her form. Meisa had died, and her summoning seal had called them, but there she was.
"Maikeru… Arrekasu…" Meisa smiled as her new power taking over, her mind still almost trance-like, "it is time to… Pass Judgement."
The twins slowly nodded, grinning devilishly. They didn't know exactly what happened to their teammate, but they followed her lead. The very air around them begging to swirl and shift. Then they were gone.
Screaming was all that could be heard.
The twins lashed out, their eyes glinting with Sharingan and Byakugan. Maikeru was enminating bloodlust, his body surrounded by a swirling vortex. As he dashed around the room the very air would slice the ground. It was almost a dance as he ran across the walls. Inuzuka taijutsu made him animalistic, his nails claws as he lunged into a komuso. His hand inside the man as he smiled.
"Wind Art: Cyclone scythe." The komuso screamed for only a moment as the swirling winds gathered inside him. Maikeru turned away his hand behind his back like he was hiding a toy as the winds eviscerated the cultist. Staining himself and the walls with crimson. The air filling with a bloody mist.
His eyes glinted as he laughed, "Alrighty, who's next."
Arrekaus moved as well, mirroring his brother. His claws digging into the stonework as he dismembered the cultist grabbing at the prisoners. He lunged forward, cloaked in lightning, as he grabbed two of the komuso and pulled them through a rift, closing it halfway through slicing them in two.
One cultist lashed out, trying to slice at him with a wind infused staff. Arrekasu lazily dodged the blows as they came, his heightened speed taking advantage of the normal pace of his attacker.
Arrekasu heightened his chakra for a just a moment, and dove through his attacker, vaporizing his core. As he landed, he spun, shooting out a blade of bone from his palm and slicing through the komuso's neck before kicking his head across the room with a wind enhanced leaf whirlwind.
Arrekasu smile to himself as the basketed head landed neatly in the corner, looking almost like a rubbish bin.
"How fitting, trash ass alive, still trash dead."
Meisa watched as her teammates tore through the cultist one by one, each of them covering one another in a deadly ballet of blood and storm. The prisoners, doing what they could to assist them, grabbing the pikes and attacking cultist as they freed one another from the bond of their captors.
"YOU WILL ALL SUFFER FOR JASHIN'S WILL," roared Ryuki as he licked the blood off of his hands brandishing the same marking as Meisa.
Ryuki whipped out a segmented pike as he glared at Meisa, "You're first bitch," and he laughed maniacally as he plunged the stake into his heart over and over again.
Meisa just stared at him, tilting her head from one side to another. Unfazed by the repeated holes forming and healing in her chest.
Ryuki screamed, stabbing and slicing more and more of himself, trying to hurt Meisa.
The kunoichi just walked up to him, slowly, the very air around her feet a deep mist of heavy iron, the blood still coiling around her.
"Sacuna art: Azalea."
Ryuki could feel as the blood in his veins strained, and he let out a pained scream as streams of blood shot out from his eyes, mouth, and ears. The crimson jets coalesced above him before hardening into hundreds of thin spikes.
"Pierce."
The needles shot forth impaling Ryuki in place halting his movements. His joints locked at the seems.
"Bloom."
The needles gathered a bulbous drop of blood at the tip before blooming into darkly beautiful crystalline flowers. Glinting in the pale light that filled the ruined temple.
"What are you?" asked Ryuki in abject horror, his eyes wide with terror.
Meisa kissed him, taking some of the blood off his lips, her eyes meeting his. "I am the Meisa Uchiha. I am the Hand of Jashin, and I will pass judgement on you."
Though she spoke in only a whisper, her voice resonated with the choir of legion.
The world seemed to darken for only the two remained in the bloodied rune of the floor.
Meisa could see of the man's sins before her, every wanton death, every murdered and raped innocent. Each and everyone of his terrible misdeeds. She could see the very strand that kept him tethered to immortality.
That would be his punishment.
Judgement passed:
GUILTY.
Meisa gathered her blood and forced Ryuki's sight to meet hers.
Tsukuyomi.
Ryuki begged for salvation though none would come, Meisa would make sure of it. She would seal him here, under the watch of Jashin himself, in her eternal nightmare. He would live being tortured by Jashin in his mind, reminded of his failings, feeling as his will and sanity fracture, but his body cold and rotten, unable to return or escape. Forever trapped in the prison of his mind, never to feel or experience light or life again.
Meisa watched as Ryuki went silent, trapped in his judgement. She stepped out of the circle and the markings faded.
She could feel as her body gave way to exhaustion, someone catching her. Nanami. She looked tired herself, but her eyes were strong and filled with a fire.
" I can't let you rest easy. You, your buddies, and the rest of us still need to get out of this hell hole."
Meisa nodded. "Mai, Arre, open a rift and get us the hell out of here."
The twins nodded and opened a rift to leave. The pair took turns leading the girls from the ruins through the portal. Meisa and Nanami being the last, the boys helping them through the rift.
Warm air and the morning sun greeted them. Meisa could feel her eyes adjusting to dawn's first light as they stepped onto the stone steps of the temple.
Skillful eyes watched them with mild surprise. He hadn't expected his boys to be there, but they there were, next to Meisa's side, covered in blood and gore. All three seemed unharmed; that their opponents clearly lost. Kokuro's voice called out after a moment, "By Kami is everyone alright? Boys, how in hell did you two get here? Nevermind that, how did you create a rift out? I couldn't get into the temple."
"It was easier to leave father," said Maikeru.
"Because we were already inside," finished Arrekasu."Aunt Sintary suggested that we have a seal placed on our squad mates so if anything were to go wrong, we could appear in a time of need."
"Aunt Sintary knows us," smiled Maikeru, "She knows that we tend to get into mischief and that we don't have the bond that you and her have-psychic mind and all that."
"I am just glad to see everyone is safe," Kokuro glanced overy everyone, his eyes examining their wounds and chakra. Meisa's chakra though still dark, seemed stable, something almost like a mixing of yin and yang, similar to Naruto. She had found a balance in her chakra, the unstable nature now stable and almost sonorous.
"MEISA," yelled Kazuki coming up the stairs and he knelt in front of his sister, examining her up close. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I am fine," Meisa told him, placing her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. "Okay, a little worn out, but I am definitely okay." Meisa could feel the stability in her, the harmony of her light and her dark. She didn't know it, not truly, but she would have to train to understand her newfound power, but that was her strength. "Besides, I told you guys I could handle this mission. I may be a little bumped and bruised, bloodstained at best, but you look like crap." Her green-blue eyes looked him over; gross, grimey and covered in what-the-hell-is-all-that, and soot. "I mean, come on brother, I get my butt kicked and even stabbed, and I still look better than you."
Her brother knelt there, stunned.
"YOU WERE STABBED!? You must be out of your damn mind if you think that you are gonna hear the end of this."
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I was able to stitch it up in the field with the blood ninjutsu." Meisa told him.
"Alright, everyone," Kokuro stated after he finished his conversation with his boys. "Maikeru, Arrekasu, help everyone down to the village. Kazuki will show you boys to the inn. Uncle Sasuke and I have to deal with this temple to end Jashin's control over the dead resting here."
The group complied, too tired to resist. Kazuki pulled his sister onto his back, securing her arms around his neck and his hands under her thighs. She gratefully rested against him as they headed down the mountain.
Sasuke slowly looked at the Otsutsuki once he felt the distance in their chakra. "You sense it in her, too?"
The silverette slowly nodded, sighing. "A darkness intertwined in her, deep rooted now."
,"It seems old…. Older than Kaguya even."
Kokuro's lip twitched in displeasure at the mention of his late mother, but Sasuke was right, this was something that surpassed even her.
"What is more ancient than the Otsutsuki?" He wondered aloud.
Sasuke's turned slightly and glanced at the building in front of them. "Deity."
A protective anger sparked in Kokuro. "You don't actually believe that gods and goddesses actually exist, do you?"
"Not particularly," Sasuke stated plainly, matter-of-factly. "But the only Jashinist we actually have information on is Hidan. Hidan was immortal according to Itachi and Shikamaru. The only other people with a similar ability is the Otsutsuki. This doesn't reek of Otsutsuki though."
Kokuro sighed, heatedly, reaching for his pipe. "Yes, unfortunately god-like beings aren't our only problem anymore."
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