BORUTO
ALTER
HIMAWARI'S SCREAMS filled the operating chambers. The young girl was surrounded by Sakura and other medical nin- each of them sitting cross legged as their chakras worked upon Himawari.
The girl's bellows shook candles that surrounded carvings etched underneath them all.
Sakura grimaced, sweat steadily dripping down her forehead. Chakra whipped outwards from Himawari, slashing against the floor with baneful howls.
Sakura pressed shaking hands together. Fingernails drew blood from her skin, cascading down to her wrists before pooling in a puddle at crossed legs.
This Chakra! It's..
Sakura, for a moment, saw not Himawari, but Naruto. She saw his frayed blonde hair standing up within a shield of discernible chakra.
Red eyes staring ahead, enraged as they lost recognition of friend and foe alike. Three tails snaked from behind him as a quivering body reduced itself down to feet and palms.
He crouched like an animal.
violent, evil chakra exploded from him.
When Naruto lost control.. he became something else.
Something inhuman.
But now..
Whatever is inside Himawari.. possess chakra worse than the Kyuubi's!
Their goal was to remove the bones from Himawari's organs- but not only that. They needed to repair her spine to a level where it could heal, and remove remnants of poisoned chakra that, in time, would corrupt Himawari's body. However..
A stretch of skin on Sakura's forehead ripped away. Blood instantly fell into green eyes as she lifted her head forward.
Due to my seal's interactions with Himawari's chakra network.. it has to be lessened! It's the only way for her to survive the healing process!
Another blast of chakra erupted from Himawari. One of the medical nin fell over, screaming as blood streamed from his eyes.
Other medical nin moved to help him-
"Focus! Don't you dare move!" Sakura yelled. She weaved hand signs, perfecting the flow of her chakra to maximize technique.
The chakra within Himawari had grown stronger. Sakura had expected that. But for the chakra to be of this density..
By my calculations.. we're only lessening the seal by three percent!
Another medical nin was thrown backward. Sakura saw him crash into the opposite wall in her peripheral vision. Multiple screams filled the air- all of them pained.
Sakura closed her eyes.
Hyakugo!
Sakura felt limitless energy well up from within her as wounds began to heal underneath a rain of hissing smoke.
A curling, snakelike tattoo spread across her forehead and down past her eyes.
The Hyakugo Seal.
A secret technique bestowed upon her by Tsunade..
Sakura continued forming hand signs.
This is the only way.
She stood as Himawari's chakra nearly rose to attack her, focusing its energy on the closest target.
"Lady Uchi-" One of her assistants yelled.
"Do not move!" Sakura shouted. Some of the medical nin were weeping.
Sakura stood above Himawari now. She unclasped her hands.
I'll have to realign the old seal, simultaneously creating gaps within it. Then, I'll have to form a lesser seal, a continuous feed of energy safe for Himawari to rely on without causing her death..
Sakura grimaced.
She thrust her hand into Himawari's chest. Blood gushed from the wound instantly. The girl roared. Chakra from her slashed at Sakura's back, ripping her clothing.
Sakura ignored the pain.
I'll have to match the very same chakra levels I had back during Himawari's birth.. while creating a more complex seal!
The legendary nin closed her eyes.
She saw herself standing within blackness. A wavering stream of white lines formed a visage of herself. It stared back at Sakura almost violently.
Sakura smiled at her inner self.
Ninja Art Creation Rebirth- Innate Balance Technique!
Sakura's chakra flowed about Himawari in a protective shell. It entered the wound created by the Kuinochi, instantly healing her as Sakura pulled her hand free, falling backward.
This technique was an advanced Creation Rebirth jutsu.. and the first of its kind.
It shared principles with Fuinjutsu, but further it was an evolving seal. It was able to instantly react to incoming chakra from within Himawari.. intercept it, then re-distribute it back to her body. It would allow her to utilize the foreign chakra to her benefit.. without immediately overtaking her body.
Sakura fell onto her back. She breathed haggardly as her heart thumped.
The technique was a costly one, however. By using Mitotic regeneration at the same time, Sakura guessed she had shaved away about three years of her lifespan.
"Well.. what did you expect me to do.." Sakura whispered.
Naruto..
Suddenly, her eyes widened as she heard medical nin stepping around Himawari.
She rose to a seated position.
"Don't move her! She'll die!" Sakura ordered.
"If you want to help someone, help me up." She said with a tired grin.
Two of her assistants came to lift her, aiding Sakura at her shoulders.
"Will she be alright?" One of them asked.
Sakura followed his gaze, seeing too the steady stream of blood that still came from underneath Himawari.
"She's healing right now. That's the trick of the seal. It varies its own strength, constantly adapting to feedback from Himawari." Sakura said softly. She felt dizzy.
Sakura nodded.
"Bring me out to them."
Naruto sat beside Hinata. Across from them, Boruto was seated. His arms were crossed, head lowered. Long black hair shielded his eyes. But Naruto knew Boruto was attempting to sense something- anything from what was going on in the chambers beyond.
I'll seal the room. You're not going to want to hear this, Sakura warned nearly six hours before. They also couldn't feel the chakra.. slight ebbs of it seemed to grace them with unease.. but they had no idea of the progress.
Naruto grimaced.
Hima..
Did he do the wrong thing?
He saw Himawari when she was just a toddler. She was smiling at him, running excitedly to him. Her blonde hair shined in the sunlight as he scooped her up, twirling her around as she giggled.
He remembered the simple conversations they would have as he carried her about his shoulders. Her instant rambunctiousness, her need for attention. Her desire to be liked and loved.
For all of that to be gone.. forever.. due to a decision Naruto made-
Please, Sakura!
Naruto prayed as tears threatened his eyes. He choked. Hinata held his arm tightly, pressing her head against his.
Suddenly, the chamber doors opened. Boruto immediately reacted. He jumped to his feet, standing but not moving to the door as smoke steadily whispered towards them.
Two medical nin shuffled Sakura forward. All three of them were splotched with blood.
"She's going to live." Sakura said instantly as the chamber doors closed.
"Sakura-" Naruto rose to his full height as Hinata cried silent, relieved tears.
Naruto lowered himself to his hands and knees, bowing to Sakura as he sobbed.
I thought I was prepared. Naruto thought within himself.
This system.. this world of Shinobi..
"Naruto.. you especially.. listen to me." Sakura began.
Naruto rose his head to meet her towering gaze.
"She will survive.. but.." Sakura paused.
She swallowed. She looked over to Boruto, who had remained silent but watchful the entire time. Then, Sakura glanced over to Hinata, who met her eyes.
Hinata nodded.
Sakura continued.
"The chakra within her.. whatever passed between your daughter and the nine tails.. it's different from the Kyuubi. It's denser. Far more volatile. Further.." Sakura dismissed her assistants as she shakily balanced herself.
"It's possible it may passively affect her emotions. Her thoughts. You will need to be watchful and patient with her. She's not instantly going to be the same. She will be frustrated by that."
Sakura's face softened.
"But she is alive. And she's going to survive. She has all of you." Sakura smiled warmly.
"You've done the impossible for us, Sakura." Hinata's white eyes began tearing once more.
"She will need more operations. But for now, she's far more stable. The successive operations won't be nearly as intensive. Most will be able to be performed with little chakra." Sakura nodded towards Naruto.
"The seal I placed on her will basically function as an improved version of your own healing factor. It will be determined by Himawari's current state, not an influx of chakra controlled by something else. That way, it won't affect her lifespan harshly."
"To do such a thing..Sakura.." Hinata began.
Naruto understood as well.
Like all powerful jutsu, this no doubt carried great personal cost to Sakura.
"Anything that you or your family needs.. we are indebted to you." Naruto said.
To Sakura's surprise, Boruto addressed her next.
"Thank you, Mrs. Uchiha," Boruto whispered. Tears sped down his cheeks as he clenched his hands into tight fists.
Sakura smiled.
"We're like family. And I'll be here for her every step of the way too."
YOSHIKA ITO.
Rank: Outer.
Yoshika breathed haggardly.
Of course I ended up carrying Kamimura the entire way..
He sat on an ornate floor. Painted flowers spiraled from underneath him, sprawling across a wide hall. Dark hallways snaked about in the distance, while stairwells twisted and turned into dark corners beyond.
Signs of damage scattered about at various places within Yoshika's gaze. Blood splattered walls, burn marks streaked against the floor. He could even feel the residual echo of violent chakra chuckling within dark corners beside him.
To his immediate left, Han Sifu stood.
Han's hands were hidden within his sleeves. The man's painted eyes stared ahead ominously, blind yet seemingly aware.
To Yoshika's right, Kamimura Goro still slept. He hadn't woken once during their trek to the palace of Rivers- a fact both he and Han Sifu were silently aware of.
Yoshika slightly distanced himself from Kamimura's slumped sprawl.
He ran a hand through short brown hair.
Yeah, he's definitely dead.
Almost as if on cue, Deepa emerged from shadows. The man was tall, pale and muscular. He wore a metal brace that covered his chest and traveled down his right arm while exposing his stomach.
His left arm was outfitted with a strange gauntlet consisting of a clockwork of interlocking gears that ticked incessantly. As Deepa walked, purple cheek length hair bounced beside triangle shaped tattoos underneath red eyes.
A half cloak was tied at his waist, traveling behind him like a rolling cloud.
"Lord Deepa," Yoshika greeted. He stood- then instantly bowed.
Han Sifu mirrored the motion.
Deepa's eyes instantly fell upon Kamimura.
Yoshika caught his Lord's glance.
"He.. hasn't woken since performing his teleportation jutsu to get us out of Konoha. He couldn't get us all the way back." Yoshika said plainly.
"Will he recover?" Deepa asked softly.
Han Sifu answered.
"His chakra levels are stabilizing. He may awake in about a day or two."
"And you have the scroll?"
Han Sifu nodded, his unblinking eyes unnaturally apparent in the dark.
"Of course, my Lord."
Yoshika felt the air shift.
Deepa was suddenly on top of Kamimura. He held Kamimura by the throat.
To Yoshika's surprise, Kamimura's eyes opened.
Deepa smiled as he lifted his free hand, then struck it downwards onto Kamimura's waiting forehead.
Deepa continuously struck the man. Yoshika looked away as the sound of Kamimura's skull cracking open filled the hall. Han Sifu was silent as well, doing nothing as Deepa beat Kamimura to death.
Finally, the sound stopped. Yoshika tentatively turned his head back towards his Lord. Deepa was standing now, his fist dripping blood and bits of skull. Kamimura's body was limp. His head was completely gone- it was a pile of bloody flesh smashed against broken flooring like a plate of spilled food.
None of them spoke.
Then-
Wait!
Alarms instantly went off in Yoshika's mind. Deepa whirled around, his eyes crazed. Han Sifu twirled on black slippers as a figure approached from one of the winding hallways.
Chakra whirled about him. It was quiet.. but instantly apparent. There was something different about it too- it seemed almost as if it didn't even come from him.
Sweat began to form at Yoshika's brow.
The man actually appeared to be younger than Yoshika himself. He had dark skin, and dreaded locks that descended from his head down to his shoulders.
Two X's were tattooed on both of his cheeks. Narrow, black eyes met the gaze of Yoshika and the others in turn. He was dressed in a black kimono, while a shoulder length cape followed behind him, an odd sword was strapped lengthwise to his waist. It seemed to bear the shape of a katana, but it was entirely bandaged in sealing tape from hilt to point.
"You've finally arrived.. Subutai Ekei!" Deepa pronounced. Yoshika lowered his gaze.
Deepa is acting boastful.. but even he's scared! Is this one of the higher ups within Kara..?
Yoshika closed his eyes.
He hadn't seen Deepa use his full potential.. but judging from the chakra coming from Subutai, the swordsman was far, far stronger.
Yoshika swallowed.
Just who are these people? They're.. they're monsters!
"I apologize for my intrusion." Subutai said. He spoke politely and simply.
"The scroll.." Subutai began.
Han Sifu reached into his sleeve, producing the scroll.
However, Han did not move.
Yoshika scrambled forward, taking the scroll from Han and bringing it to Subutai with a bow.
Subutai smiled, taking the scroll softly from Yoshika's hands.
"We are comrades in the pursuit of the Divine Tree. I will ensure Lord Jigen is made aware of your personal successes. The progress made from this point is owed towards you." Subutai said.
Yoshika was.. surprised.
He's.. nice?
Yoshika stepped away. Subutai turned, returning to the hallway he had come from.
"Are you.. an inner..?" Yoshika called out.
Subutai stopped, answering without turning his head.
"I am an Upper." Subutai answered before resuming.
He's of lower rank than Deepa?! Yoshika thought in shock.
Finally, the man's presence was gone.
Deepa sighed.
"You're lucky Yoshika moved, Han." He teased.
Deepa turned, chuckling as he shrunk back to the shadows.
"Subutai was going to kill you. I felt it." Deepa laughed.
Yoshika watched his Lord until he couldn't see the shine of Deepa's armor. Then, he turned his attention to Han.
"We should probably get some rest too." Yoshika said.
He looked at Kamimura's corpse.
"Too bad for Kamimura, though."
Han still didn't move.
"Hey-" Yoshika reached for Han.
Han's head snapped towards Yoshika. He grasped Yoshika by the wrist with trained speed and accuracy.
"Tsk! It's me!" Yoshika shouted as he formed a jutsu sign.
Purple crystals formed around Han Sifu's head, pointed for his eyes and neck.
Han Sifu relaxed his grip, before finally letting go.
Yoshika broke free, backing away from the blind warrior. He dispelled his jutsu, crystals falling to the floor with a delicate crash.
"Sorry," Han said.
"Lord Deepa.. he's right." Han Sifu continued as Yoshika widened his eyes.
"... I couldn't move. I've never felt a killing intent like that before." Han said softly.
"I couldn't feel anything." Yoshika said.
Han Sifu smiled as expressionless eyes stared ahead.
"That's what makes such power terrifying." Han mused.
The two men retreated to their respective new chambers, each one reflecting on the realities of their own existence.
Kara would use them, then spit them out. But if they could gain their dreams.. survive until then.. it would be worth it.
A dream.. is worth everything.
SUBUTAI EKEI left the palace. He held the scroll closely to his chest as he walked.
Yes, this was truly the key.
Subutai could tell from the way his sword reacted to it.. the scroll was a relic from that time.
Subutai smirked. That Amado.. his assumption may have been true after all.
Otogane-sama would be pleased.
The answer to evolving Kawaki's body to a point suitable as a vessel..
Amado's prized project, borne from Otogane-sama's past.
Kashin Koji..
The Swordsman stepped into a swirling black pool filled with strange, pulsating eyes. The pupils and scelra were multicolored, and had swirling lines like the Rinnegan, in addition to three tomoe akin to a Sharingan. Subutai closed his eyes, sighing in relief as lady Otogane's chakra enveloped him.
NEXT UP: KIRIGAKURE ARC- LAND OF THE BLOODIED MIST!
