BORUTO'S MASTERS – A MASTER'S SHAME
The Camp
Sakura watches Tao Ma's face for a reaction, but it's no good. His crazed expression is permanent, as if painted on by a great artist. The darkness that has descent upon them has made it no better. She notices as her focus fails her how cold it is for the first time, she shivers as she takes note of the soundless wind, undetectable in spite of everyone silently awaiting Tao Ma's response.
Sasuke is no better a position. He doesn't feel the cold, his arm dangling outside his cloak as if it were the middle of summer, but he cannot judge Tao Ma's reaction either. The man would have been a great gambler if he hadn't set his mind to mass murder. Still, a game face alone won't be enough to weasel his way out of this. Surely Shikadai has him cornered.
Tao Ma chuckles, his voice slightly quieter than usual.
Shikadai doesn't like that.
"Shikadai, do you mind if I ask how you managed to work this out?" Tao ma asks, "I'm willing to answer, but I too am becoming suspicious of those around me. Did you just suddenly realise that I was different, that I was insane?"
Shikadai resists the urge to smile, the edge of his lips creaking a little. Tao Ma is clearly brilliant, more so than he is letting on, to have kept up a lie like this for so long. However, if he wants to get into a game of mental chess, he has picked the wrong opponent. It's time to show Tao Ma just who he is dealing with.
"Tsunade has been experiencing headaches recently. She has shown pain induced by mental anguish, a symptom of her brain being reconfigured," Shikadai explains, doing his best to quote Sakura. "I'm not expert, but there are no techniques from my world that can do that, nor any disease that Lady Sakura has ever encountered. Perhaps the only thing that could do that would be a divine ability. Only someone without chakra could have a divine ability amongst us. The only person without chakra here, is you."
Sakura balls her hand into a fist as she is overcome by rage. However, she resists the temptation to attack Tao Ma straight away. If Shikadai's prediction is correct, then Tao Ma has a grip of Lady Tsunade's neurological functions, perhaps he could kill her on the spot. Attacking him is dangerous, the only one who could do it safely enough would be Sasuke. If Boruto or Hashirama were to get in the way though, there is no guarantee that Sasuke could save Lady Tsunade. She's powerless at the moment, despite her incredible strength.
"Very well, I admit it. I'm a Homeworlder."
Tao Ma's confession is shocking. It is shocking to Sasuke, shocking to Boruto, but especially shocking to Shikadai. Perhaps it is part of an elaborate plan to fool them, perhaps he will lure them deeper into his spider's web with his sophistry, but they cannot see how he intends to do it. Coming up with a plan to trick them in such a short time should be impossible.
"Why did you lie to us?" Boruto asks.
"I lied because I was ashamed." Tao Ma admits.
Shikadai laughs, turning from Tao Ma and walking in a small circle, shaking his head all the while. He was ashamed, it will be interesting to see how he plays that character in his current state.
"I saw what my people did to the pocket worlds, how we treated pocket worlders like dirt," Tao Ma continues, "I took my arguments to others but none of them would have it. Nobody from Homeworld came to the aid of the pocket worlds, nobody but one person. I came to help you!"
"Do you believe this story?" Shikadai asks Boruto, pointing his finger aggressively in Tao Ma's face, "This is an obvious play to draw sympathy. You mean to tell me that nobody in all of Homeworld was willing to help us. What about General Clyde and his stories of the last emperor? Didn't Endou Akashi try to help us?"
"We don't know that Clyde's story was true," Hashirama counters.
Sasuke recalls the man who spoke of his admiration for Itachi. He once listened to the 3rd Hokage describe Itachi's credentials to be Hokage, then he listened to Hashirama speak of Itachi as a greater shinobi than himself. That Senju Hashirama was a man who trusted the people of the village, who believed in them above all others. The Nara clan have always been great allies to the Hokage, advisors in times of strife with minds greater than any others. That man would not have dismissed Shikadai's concerns as he is doing now.
"You doubt Shikadai?" Sasuke asks.
"Not at all, I doubt General Clyde," Hashirama answers. "I wasn't around to hear what he said back then, but I was there to observe the effects. The man who was trying to kill us three years earlier whispered some kind words into the ears of our naïve 7th Hokage. From the moment he did that, the Leaf found itself at the whims of that maniac. Naruto believed his every word without question. I don't believe Clyde, I believe Tao Ma, because he didn't hurt the people of our village."
"That's not true."
Boruto looks to the side to see that Mitsuki has offered up his opinion for the first time.
"It was our darkest day when you were taken from us Boruto, you too Lord 1st. He may not have harmed anyone directly, but for Tsunade, for Sarada, that day was harmful enough."
"Bringing Sarada into this is a cheap shot," Boruto sighs.
"But not untrue," Mitsuki replies.
Boruto nods.
"My divine ability is called the Hive Mind," Tao Me explains without prompt. "It allows me to better coordinate with others when I fight, it allows me to pull them in, to share the power of their minds. With the hive mind's power, I understand 'death' more quickly than others, and it helps them too, but not without a cost. Sometimes I lose control of the ability, and that can cause things to go wrong. Usually this is no worse than a headache."
"So, that's where my headaches come from?" Tsunade asks.
"Yes."
Shikadai looks at Boruto and shakes his head, a gaze that speaks a thousand words. He doesn't believe a word of this, surely Boruto can't either. None of the others have ever spoken of headaches, none of the others have had their mind re-wired in the same way Tsunade has. Tao Ma has simply weaved a lie that cannot possibly be proven wrong. He knows that no matter how much doubt there is over him Hashirama will stick by him, and that's a problem for Shikadai, because Boruto is loyal to Hashirama.
"I'm deeply sorry for your headaches," Tao Ma chuckles, "You must accept my apologies Tsunade. However, I will not apologise for the assassination attempt, because that was not my doing."
Shikadai turns back to Inojin and ChouChou, he shrugs his shoulders and walks back over to them, out of the limelight. He has been defeated by the lack of absolute proof, and by his opponent's uncanny ability to lie on command. He has known a few practiced liars in his time, he was the one who worked out his cousin's lies when he was possessed, but never any like Tao Ma. It's practically automatic for him, as if being whispered to by the gods of deceit themselves.
"You can stop the headaches then," Sakura says.
"Oh?"
"If this is your technique doing this to her, your 'hive mind' or whatever you want to call it, then you can turn it off. Stop using it on Lady Tsunade. Her mind is not yours to do what you want with."
"I can't," Tao Ma admits with a shrug.
"What are the odds?" Shikadai asks sarcastically.
"She hasn't understood 'death' yet."
This shocks Sakura, she bickers with Tao Ma and while she does so Mitsuki stands in Shikadai's way, blocking him off from her protests. With not a single word exchanged, Shikadai can glean the message from Mitsuki's soul, from behind his eyes. The Nara clansmen is losing his temper, and Mitsuki wants him to calm down, to think.
Shikadai knows that Mitsuki is right. In this situation, if Shikadai can't find a way to make Boruto realise the truth about Tao Ma then eventually the four of them will die. Only he can pursue the truth here, only he can possibly outmanoeuvre Tao Ma. He nods to Mitsuki, making it clear that he has calmed down. The rage disappears from his face, the tension drops from his shoulders and he takes a deep breath. Shikadai will be the cold, logical machine that he needs to be. He will save them.
Sasuke notes Shikadai's change in demeanour, that is good, that is the only way he can survive in this situation.
"What do you mean about Tsunade not understanding 'death'?" Sasuke asks on Shikadai's behalf.
"It's a double transcendent element, can you imagine how rare it is?" Tao Ma chuckles, "Only odd balls end up with double transcendent elements, people like that freak Furst Jonas and your friend Uzumaki Naruto. The reason everyone here can use 'death' is because I share it with them. That is part of the hive mind's power."
"Then what about my master and I?" Boruto asks.
"I don't need to help the two of you, not anymore," Tao Ma admits. "You two are freaks with potential on that same level as the kings and queens. Your understanding has surpassed mine and I fear you will soon leave me behind altogether."
"But Lady Tsunade is different?" Sakura asks.
"Yes. Tsunade has this power because I gave it to her. That's why we reincarnated her as a sage mode user. That was the requirement for me to give her this power. A price I knew that she was willing to pay."
"You had no right."
"No right to grant power?" Tao Ma laughs.
"Lady Tsunade had to die for that power. She died and became absorbed into your hive mind and you kept that from her."
"Does it matter?"
"Does it matter?" Sakura parrots sarcastically, "Her mind isn't her own anymore, she goes through so much pain and that's your fault. If you had told the truth she wouldn't have felt this way."
Tao Ma laughs, "Surely you are not that naïve."
"Who are you calling naïve?"
"Do you believe that if I had warned Tsunade of this cost, that she would have rejected the power I offer? That she would have turned it down because she wanted to be free of pain. I thought you were supposed to understand Tsunade, but it seems you don't understand her at all."
"I understand perfectly-"
"He's right Sakura," Tsunade interrupts her student.
"Lady Tsunade?"
"The way I felt before, it was the worst. My life was bathed in death and failure, in loss and pain. I followed the path laid out to us by Naruto and your daughter, but it did not bring me any relief. I couldn't find happiness no matter how hard I tried, not unless I was making a difference."
"You don't have to fight to make a difference," Sakura says.
"I'm the 5th Hokage, but during my time I had yet to assume that title. Of those of us from the past, only Kakashi and Naruto were the same. Kakashi grasped his 'lightning' energy, and Naruto is Naruto, leading the charge as always. I was the only one who hadn't earnt her place here, I was the only one who didn't belong. Don't tell me a Hokage who can't fight is worthy of coming here. Frankly, I have been useless to Sarada."
"Don't try and tell me that you've been useless."
"It's true."
"You saved Naruto's life! That's what you told me! That's the truth. Those are skills passed from master to student and back to master again. Those are our skills. You can tell me a lot of things Lady Tsunade, but you cannot tell me that what you taught me was useless, because I don't buy it for a second."
Tsunade doesn't answer Sarada.
All along Shikadai has been watching Tao Ma and Hashirama for their reactions. He is unsurprised by Tao Ma's lack of response to this, but what does surprise him is Hashirama's passive attitude. Tsunade his granddaughter, someone very precious to him. For him to hear of Tsunade's pain like this and say nothing, that is unusual, especially for Senju Hashirama.
"I'm sorry Shikadai, guys," Boruto says, "It looks like Tao Ma can explain everything. We still don't know who is behind the attempt on your lives."
Inojin and ChouChou look to Shikadai, as does Mitsuki. He's cooled down now, what arguments can he offer, how can he change Boruto's mind and make him realise the truth? How can he save them from the next attempt on their lives? He cannot protect them forever after all. Mitsuki fears worse consequences still; how will Boruto change when there is nobody left to expose these lies.
"Are you really OK with ending it here?" Shikadai asks Boruto, "Do you look at this man Tao Ma after all he has said to us today and still count him among your friends? Do you trust his judgement more than mine, more than your own? I've known you many years Boruto, in the past you would have trusted my instincts."
"It doesn't make sense Shikadai. Why would he want you dead?"
"We're the only people here who don't use 'death'. You've just heard all about his hive mind ability. We're the only ones here who he can't touch."
"He can't touch my master or Sakura."
"They weren't here when he arranged the assassination. They saved our life because you are too stubborn to see the truth."
"That isn't proof!"
"Then why ignore all the evidence pointing to him!" Shikadai asks, "The reality is that you're becoming a coward Boruto. Your new master has become a toxic influence upon you. You're so intimidated by Lord 1st's presence that you're not you anymore."
Boruto questions if that is true. He looks between his two masters, first to Sasuke and then to Hashirama. He wonders whose judgement he fears more between the two of them. In the past he never feared such judgement, he pursued his own path and not one set out on his behalf. Either way, the reason for his thinking doesn't matter, the fact that Tao Ma has not been proven guilty is a fact.
"I won't let him hurt you Shikadai, you have my word."
Shikadai shakes his head. "You're walking down his path, following Lord 1st and Tao Ma. You're watching the scenery, a baron landscape where no crops can grow, each second descending further into hell. When you get the end and don't find what you're looking for, it will be too late to come crying to your friends. Let me help you Boruto. Turn around and follow us back to your own path."
Boruto pauses.
"I walk this path by choice," he eventually says.
Shikadai doesn't say another word, he has lost, totally and utterly. He signals to Inojin, ChouChou and Mitsuki that they are done for the day. The quartet retreat into the residence Hashirama provided for them, satisfied that help is still within earshot should they come under attack again.
Boruto feels sick, though he is certain that he couldn't have avoided that. What choice was he really given? He could ditch Tao Ma because of some lies he told, but he had good reasons to tell those lies, didn't he? Wasn't he protecting a friend who came to the rescue of their pocket world when Lara attacked? He could either refute one friend or reject another, a lose-lose situation as far as he is concerned.
Sakura has heard enough.
She approaches Boruto, purpose in her stride, her footsteps soundless yet powerful as she moves towards him across the sand and throws a powerful punch towards his face.
Boruto is shocked, so taken aback that he doesn't react to the attack.
Instead it is Sasuke who reacts, gripping Sakura's arm just in time to stop her from striking his student.
The rage from within Sakura calms when she looks to the side and her eyes meet Sasuke's. She was expecting to be met with the cold gaze of the rinnegan but instead his eyes are warm and kind. For a man who often accuses Naruto of being too soft in situations like these, he has developed somewhat of a soft touch himself. Right now, he has that look of absolute certainty on his face, one that very few people can see. A man who has spent so much of his life being angry, it symbolises his true sincerity when he is serene.
Sakura lowers her arm and turns her back on Boruto.
"I was really your master?" Sasuke asks.
"Yes, I learnt so much from you."
"Why did you seek me out?"
"Well, in the first place it was because of my father," Boruto admits, "I was chasing after him. I wanted to be acknowledged. That's why I had to become a great shinobi. That's why I had to learn from the best, that was you."
"I'm disappointed," Sasuke reveals.
"Huh?"
"You've grown powerful, more powerful than your father ever was back then. Yet it seems that you have learnt nothing from that man you were chasing after."
"From my father?"
Sasuke turns and walks away from the camp. Sakura joins him at his side, not looking back for even a moment. Together they don't need a destination for they are of one mind. This is not the same Hidden Leaf Village that they fought a war for. This is not the Hidden Leaf Village that the Hokage spoke of.
"Hey, what do you mean?" Boruto asks.
Sasuke stops for a moment and utters words that will echo within Boruto's mind for the rest of his life.
"As you are now, you don't come close to being Naruto's equal."
He and Sakura continue to work forward into the enormous desert in the middle of the night. With no bearing they step into the wide world to do what they should have done in the first place. They are leaving this terrible place behind them and they are going to look for Naruto.
Author Note
Hi All,
I'm sorry that not much seemed to happen in this chapter but it had to be written.
On the bright side, there will be another chapter tomorrow.
I also have to point out that this is chapter 200.
At the time of release this story has had 895 reviews and has 908 followers, so I would like to sincerely thank you for all your support.
The response to some guest reviews is below.
Let me know if you prefer this style of response, I can adopt it permanently if it's better.
Thank you,
Cbehrills
In Response to "Engineer's" Question
About the strength of elements
Healing transcends one level.
Strength transcends one level.
Of course, as Sakura uses dual elements, that's another "level-up" for her.
I can't comment on viridian energy without providing spoilers.
To anyone whose first language isn't English, viridian is a colour, sorry if I'm being patronising but I assume it's an obscure word.
In Response to "S's" Question
About my opinions on the Boruto manga
Bizzarely seeing as I've now written 200 chapters of what is essentially Boruto fanfiction, I've not read the manga.
I haven't even watched that much of the anime, just the first twenty episodes or so.
At this point I fear it might confuse me.
For example, in this story I have written Boruto to have the Tenseigan, whereas in reality I believe he has the "Jogan".
The reason for this is I started writing this story Apr 19 2017, less than two weeks after the manga was first released in English.
Basically, I don't want to pick up newly canon material and accidentally introduce plot holes in this story.
In Response to "Anon's" Question
About the nature of viridian energy
I couldn't possibly comment without giving away spoilers.