Chapter 5: It Came from the Sky
By: DragoonMen
'Human Thinking'
"Human Speaking"
Technique/Jutsu Use
'Bijū/Non-Human Thinking'
"Bijū/Non-Human Speaking"
Published: 01/Aug/2020
Pre-Chakra Era Arc
19 Years Before the Chakra Event (BCE)
Nigth of the Ōtsutsuki Arrival to Earth
Chapter 5
—Land of the Ancestors—
Kinpu Mountain Range
Four Years Later
High up in the mountains that overlooked the countryside of So no Kuni and hidden between trees and tall pines, there exists a monastery.
The people around these parts said that the ancient building was constructed in the time when the Elemental Nations were still forming so no one knows with confidence how old could the complex be since everyone who knew is long dead and has been for a decent amount of time.
Regardless, there are those who made their home in this isolated part of the world. Far away from the reach of any civilization, from any influence of the exterior.
The people who chose to inhabit these lands were a certain group of monks.
This ancient order of monks was devoted to their god, Buddha.
This organization of men had decided willingly to pursue a life devoid of any pleasure, riches, or status and instead opting for a simple lifestyle where they could grow internally and tend their mind and spirit just as their idol.
Obeying the teachings of Buddha, this religious order has segregated themselves from the outside world to seek —as they say— the Nirvana and transcend into the great beyond just like their god had done in the ancient days.
But there were some monks that still were receptive to these facts, those who did not have a strong faith or were not as fanaticals as the great majority in their order. One example of these men was standing at the top of a peak, the clouds below at the same height of the mountain's skirts, covering most of the view of the outside world from his eyes.
The man sat on the edge of the peak, he wore black pants and an orange saffron that covered most of his body except his head but leaving only his right shoulder skin exposed to the elements.
His legs were intertwined with each other with both of his hands touching his knees. His back was straight and his eyes closed. The lotus position.
His long ponytail waving in the slight breeze and the wind blowing at his form.
Jigen was in a state of deep thinking, as usual. He meditated on everything ranging from his life, his actions, his past, and the present. Everything.
Opening his eyes, he saw an ocean of white. The clouds literally clouding his view of the environment below his new home, except for one thing.
Far from his position, there was a tree, a humongous tree. It was as tall as their mountain.
Jigen wondered how old did a tree have to be to grow that much, he had heard stories from some of the most talkative monks around him which were very few that the tree was alive. They say that the giant tree killed anyone who entered his roots.
All kind of crazy stories like this he had heard but it was just that, rumours that could not be proved in any way.
Jigen allowed himself to relax once more, enjoying his peace and quiet, the thougths of the tree leaving his mind.
'Why didn't I become a monk a long time ago?' Jigen asked himself but there was no reply from his mind.
Unfortunately for Jigen, his peace would not to last if the hearing of footsteps coming into his direction were anything to go.
Jigen stood up when he felt a presence behind him and turned around to face whoever was coming from the steep stairs of stone that led into the Mountain Peak.
He was welcomed with the image of a very familiar brown-haired man.
Jigen allowed a smile to cross his face, the man seeing that Jigen alredy was waiting for him raised his hand, acknowledging him. He continued to walk until he stood some feet away from the raven-haired monk.
"What is going on, Saburo?"Jigen broke the silence.
"Nothing much, not like anything interesting happens in this place." The man named Saburo replied with a shrug, crossing his arms behind his head in an nonchalant way.
"Then you have come to rob me, huh." The twenty-two years old man responded jokingly.
Saburo frowned at the remark which made Jigen grin. He knew Saburo didn't like to be reminded of his past self, the same as him.
Saburo was a thief, or at least he used to be. He used to stole from town to town until guards from So got a track on him.
The — by now— former thief managed to catch wind of those rumors and went into hiding before the law could find him, and consecutively execute him.
He had successfully evaded the authorities by a long shot after he traveled to the mountains and asked for asylum in the Buddhist compound.
The monks were kind of forbidden from rejecting strangers. It was an unspoken principle that anyone did not talk about.
All people from all walks of life were accepted here and welcomed, it didn't matter how horrible a person you were in the past, in this place you were free to begin a new life and start again. Have a second chance at life.
"Hahaha, very funny comment coming from a stray dog." The former burglar commented and gestured Jigen to follow him.
"Anyway, Brother Daisuke wants you to meet him, so come with me." Jigen pointed at him to lead the way and started walking back into the complex that made up the monastery.
Walking down the same steep stairs carved in the mountain rock itself, they manage to made it into the main building.
Jigen watched as several monks walked in silence in different directions, a great bunch of them practicing Yoga while a few of them took care of the gardens and some others were meditating.
Everyone making themselves useful one way or another.
Jigen and Saburo finally reached the Inner Sanctum of the Kinpu Monastery. The human statues carved from stone decorated both sides of the entrance, signaling the location of the heart of the compound.
They proceed to enter through the huge doors and were welcomed with darkness.
A path of candles going straight into the Shrine of Buddha, and before the golden idol was an aged man in his knees praying with both hands joined on the floor and his eyes closed, giving humming sounds every now and then.
The elder monk sensed them and stood up from his praying position. Saburo often wondered if the ancient man had a sixth sense or something, if not then his ears were good for an old man if you don't mind his saying.
Bowing their heads, both young men greeted Elder Brother Daisuke, the leader of the Kinpu Monks.
"Master Daisuke, I bring you as per your request our brother Jigen." The flow of words stopped.
"Thank you, Saburo. You may leave." His wrinkled hand briefly gesturing to the exit.
"By your leave, Master Daisuke." Saburo bowed again and left the room. After the doors closed, silence prevailed in the chambers but not for long though.
"Jigen." The old man said in a slow tone. "I sensed something that troubles you. You have been here for a few years now..."
The elder monk stared at him eye to eye. "... yet you have never mentioned anything about you, your past, or your background." Daisuke paused and inhale sharply.
"All we know about you is that we found you in a riverbank wounded and left for dead..." The leader of the monks paused.
"... wearing the colors of the land of That." The ancient man narrowed his wrinkled eyes at him.
Jigen winced at his words. He still remembered how he first met elder Daisuke in a completely unconventional way.
His right hand touching his exposed right shoulder skin unconsciously. More exactly the surface of the 'X' shaped scar on his skin where an arrow had made it his dwelling some years ago.
OoOoOoO
—Land of the Ancestors—
Koetoi River
Four Years Ago
Daisuke was walking along with three of his fellow monks. They were returning from one of the neighboring villages. They have brought two oxes among them, both of them full of cargo and supplies strapped around the bovines muscled backs.
The reason for this journey was to resupply their monastery. Because of the high location of their temple, not many people would willingly walk all the way up to deliver them their supplies free of charge.
Daisuke and his fellow monks lived off the charity of the people. After all, pledging to never own any riches or earthly properties was the main reason for their dilemma so it was no surprise that monks like them were poorer than the beggar down the street.
Still, they were self-sufficient, living off the earth and everything it provided to them.
Daisuke and his brothers walked until they found themselves in the bank of the Koetoi River. The river that divided the other settlements from their home in the mountain range.
With no bridge to pass the river above they would do so by finding where the river floor was at its highest point like last time.
While searching for the high ground to cross the river, Daisuke spotted something odd.
On the other side of the riverbank, there was a marsh patch where green tall grass that has made their living there. There was nothing odd with that.
However, what was odd was the clearly human foot sticking out of the marsh.
Elder Daisuke at seeing this quickly alerted his fellow monks, swam to the other side and managed to reach said marsh patch on the river.
What they saw astonished them. The man at first glance looked no older than twenty years with his dark hair in a mohawk style. The hair sides of the unconscious man were cropped to the point that you could see the scalp of his head and he sported a long ponytail on his back.
The warrior wore some kind of armor with an intricate symbol on his chest plate but what stuck out the most from this unconscious young man was the arrow embedded on his right shoulder. The blood steadily oozing out from the wound.
So, Daisuke doing what any decent human being would do in a situation like this, he had placed himself next to the young man and started pushing both his hand palms into his chest.
Miraculously, the man started vomiting the water from his body, his lungs craving for air, and forcing him to take a deep breath.
"Fa... fath... father..." The unknown man said before losing consciousness.
Daisuke gave a single order to his brothers after looking back at the two oxes eating some grass on the other side. "Load him up."
He and his followers set to do the task, the dying man was lucky they were here.
'Just who are you, young man' The old man wondered.
OoOoOoO
Kinpu Monastery Inner Sanctum
Jigen snapped back to reality. He knew he would have to reveal his past sooner or later. After all, part of growing up is letting go of the past.
"You are right, old man." The former soldier of Ka no Kuni spoke. "I haven't been truthful enough with you so now I will tell you my history." He relaxed, closing his eyelids for a second.
"I was born twenty-two years ago during spring season in the land of That." Daisuke didn't look as surprised as Jigen thought he would be by the fact.
Either way, Jigen continued his explanation of his background. "My village name is Kōbe, the territory my people inhabited was once part of the land of This. My childhood and past were very uneventful with me being the only son of two farmers."
"However, everything changed when my country declared war on yours." He knew Daisuke would not be enraged by the historical fact. Most monks didn't hold allegiances with their country, counting themselves as a separate group of people. Trivial affairs such as wars were meaningless to them.
"I was conscripted at the age of sixteen from my village. As a citizen of Ka no Kuni, it was my civic duty to answer the call to arms of my Feudal Lord." At this point, Jigen voice turned grim and sorrow seeped into his words.
"I did a lot of things that I am not proud of, we killed people... innocent and defenseless people. I stood by idly as my brother-in-arms committed several atrocities. I don't like to share this with anyone, is not something I want to be associated with anymore." The dark-haired man finished his story.
"I hope you understand me, Daisuke-sama, the reason why I was not enthusiastic about talking about this. I just want to leave that stuff behind." Jigen waited for the old man to respond, he got his response when he felt a hand rubbing his back. Jigen looked at Daisuke.
"Don't worry, boy." The old monk offered him a smile. "None of what you did is on you. I just wanted to make you come to terms with it, if you didn't want to tell me I would have understood. I appreciate the trust you have placed on me, son." He finished. The old man was kind, too kind but Jigen would not have him any other way.
"How do you feel now?" The older male between them asked with curiosity.
"Like a weight have been lifted from my shoulders. Thank you, old-timer." He replied cheekily. A tick mark could be seen visibly in Daisuke's forehead.
"Good. Now I can talk about why are you here..." Daisuke crossed his arms over his chest.
"Wait a minute." Jigen stopped whatever Daisuke was gonna say. "You mean that what just happened wasn't the reason you asked for me?"
"Nope." A sheepish grin appeared on the old man's face. "The reason I asked for you is that I need you to go to the village of Nanao to resupply the monastery. Your home." Daisuke gave special emphasis on that word.
Three years ago, after the war ended in a truce, Jigen —now healed back then— decided to leave the monastery and return to his hometown.
He had thanked the monks and old Daisuke for taking care of him in his hour of utmost need, saying that one day he would find a way to repay them.
Jigen left that day with only a satchel on his back, walking down the stairs of the mountain and into the horizon.
Two months later after he left, Jigen suddenly returned to the monastery.
When he showed himself, Elder Brother Daisuke noticed that the young man didn't speak. He was always in a somber mood but Daisuke could see through him. The elderly man noticed that Jigen eyes were red, hinting that he was grieving constantly.
After confronting him with his sudden appearance, the former soldier talked.
Apparently, his village has been razed to the ground. The proof of this was the item Jigen showed him, he had carried it back secretly on his satchel.
Presenting the article in his hand was an arrow. It would look quite simple if it wasn't for the orange rhombus symbol painted on his tail fin. The arrow belonged to the land of This, they were the ones held responsible for the transgression.
Since then, Jigen has been living in the Monastery.
"I have alredy told you of this, old man. What if they saw me?" He gestured to himself. "I killed their former Daimyō. Several people saw me do the deed. What if one of them live in Nanao? If they remember me, I am a dead man." He said with a serious face.
"Now, I know you may or may not be a wanted man. I understand you don't want to go for fear of being recognized by former soldiers of So." The monk doubted that people would truly remember him and he believed that Jigen was just overreacting.
"But you have to. Everyone has a role in here." He might as well said to Jigen they don't do freeloaders.
Jigen wanted to continue arguing but it was futile. Daisuke was right about him, he had to make himself useful some way. Finally, he relented but asked. "Who I am going with?" His deadpanned expression did nothing to sway Daisuke.
"Saburo-kun."
"And when are we to depart?" He asked once again.
"Tonight. So gear up."
OoOoOoO
—Land of That—
Daimyō Palace
In the northern section of the Capital City of Ka stands proudly the Daimyō Palace. The residence of the sovereign of the nation and the seat of power in the country.
This intimidating building that practically radiates power overlooks all the Capital lands and its citizens thanks to the building having been raised in a former hill.
This magnificent specimen of architecture has housed all the Daimyōs of the land of That since the country had been erected.
Living among these large halls there is only a single person though. This person was an old man wearing noble garments for clothes.
Lord Oda was seen walking into his personal art gallery. Contrary to popular belief, Oda is the type of man that admires art but not the typical type of art that most may think.
The leader of Ka loved the beauty of war and all things related to it, so it was no surprise that his art gallery room would be filled with paintings and artworks exhibiting several battles and wars.
Most of the paintings here were drawn in what an artist would call the traditional way which meant that the battles illustrated looked almost as if children have decided to grab a paintbrush and decided to play to be an artist.
But Lord Oda was not there to see those sorry excuses of paintings that his predecessors called art.
He was right there to admire his newest addition —or acquisition— inside the gallery.
'By Kami, I could stay all night admiring this scene'
In front of the Lord of Ka was a unique painting. A true piece of artwork. A masterpiece. It was far larger than other portraits in the room, hanged on the wall.
The painting was protected from the elements with glass but what made this painting different from other was the realism it depicted on itself. The details and outlines, everything looked real, almost human. Like if what was transpiring on the painting was really alive.
The artist who had sold the painting to the Feudal Lord of That two years ago said that the type of artwork depicted on his work was called Realism.
The artist man who presented himself as Reiji claimed that he had served his liege Lord under his most recent campaign against So, even fighting on the siege of the Ancestors Capital alongside him.
The man told that he had inspired himself on what he saw during the raging battle.
Reiji was one of the soldiers fighting on the walls against the forces of Lord Matsuo, and he was one of the few people to see the Lord of So die that day at the hands of an unknown soldier from Ka. His artwork portraying the regicide he had witnessed on that day.
The painting illustrated Lord Matsuo's anguished face, all filled with distress and fear. His bloody mouth with little rivers of blood going down into his jaw and neck.
His wounded back on the floor, the blood pooling around him. One unseen hand supporting his upper body while the other visible one grasped his Katana. The rage captured on his eyes was unmistakable with his eyes staring straight into the unknown soldier.
The other man stood tall against the fallen Daimyō. His face showing no emotion, just like that day. His features were well painted. The dark-haired man with a long ponytail.
The soldier's black irises looked so serene in his diamond-shaped face with a visibly strong jaw.
His chest plate displayed the banner of Lord Oda and there was an almost imperceptibly scratch on the right side of the armor.
In his right hand, he grasped a wakizashi. The blood droplets shining in the blade thanks to the Sun rays aid.
There were men in the sidelines, all of them engaging in conflict.
On the framework, there is a golden plaque right under the painting.
Engraved on it, it announces the name of the painting, the artist, and some little context about it.
The Lord Slayer
Siege of the Ancestors Capital.
The demise of Lord Matsuo at the hands of the unknown soldier.
Painted by Reiji Suzuki.
'A true piece of art' The admiration was evident in the eyes of the land of That's Emperor.
Taking his eyes from the picture, he recalled what transpired after said scene bitterly.
He left the gallery room and headed into his balcony, to watch the city he owned.
After the failed siege on the Ancestors Capital, the country of Ka was on a rough spot. So no Kuni had allied secretly with Ko no Kuni. The land of This reason for allying with the —now— deceased Lord Matsuo was to reclaim the lands they lost to That in the last war.
But to Ko's dismay, Lord Tenji didn't want to continue the war his father would have happily obliged.
The son of Lord Matsuo wasn't anything like his father. He was an idealist. A pacifist idiot. The new Daimyō was avert to war, always trying to avoid it like the plague.
Oda would never admit it but if Lord Tenji hasn't been pushing for peace talks instead of continuing the offensive, he might have lost the war.
The soldiers from the land of This were already crossing into his country, laying waste to his outer regions and their most remote villages in the northern border.
So, it fitted him like a glove that the land of This became enraged with Lord Tenji's lack of deference to comply with them and broke the alliance, becoming neutral but the damage was already done.
The war ended in a truce. The land of That had done it again, they came out victorious like always.
Lord Oda reached his balcony to contemplate the night sky full of stars. Full of possibilities.
Some days ago, Oda and his council had devised a plan to finally conquer the land of the Ancestors in its weakened state. They had produced a fake document that states that the lake in their countries border belongs to them.
He had already sent two men that had proved themselves before him in the last war. Genbu and Suzaku will represent the interest of Ka as Ministers.
They were ruthless and cunning. They would pull this out, Oda was sure of it. They could be very persuasive.
His pondering time was cut to a stop when he noticed something in the sky. He might think that it was a shooting star but in reality, it was not.
'But two of them?' He scratched his jaw, watching the lights traveling through the dark sky.
The two lights continued descending from the sky until they disappeared in the horizon.
'Could it be a sign? An omen?' He asked himself, finding no answer.
Lord Oda decided to not give more thought to what he saw, it was a waste of his time to sleep.
Returning to his chambers, Oda had one last thing on his mind before he slumbered.
'Maybe it's a good sign. Who knows?'
If only Lord Oda knew better, that what would happen tonight would forever change the history of the Elemental Nations as they have come to knew it, shaking the foundations of humankind to its very core.
An event that would echo forever in the times to come.
End of Chapter
AN: So here you go. Another chapter. Thanks to my job I have a surplus of free time. So enjoy. Jigen is just inches away from meeting a certain someone.
The next chapter will come soon. Probably. Who knows. I am still trying to tie the loose ends before launching this into the Original Timeline.
So what do you think? Review and share your opinion. Bits of info are welcomed.
Also, I asked you my readers for a little favor. I would appreciate if you could number all the arcs of Naruto, even the filler ones in chronological order, and send them out to me. Movies included if you want. But please in order. Like I told you my work makes it difficult to research since we are always in open places. And there is no Internet. Period. So help me out, please. This is for you.
Stay tuned. There is more coming.
DragoonMen