Another chapter is here!
Enjoy!
Naruto was up next after Karin had finished with the Priestess' mask. To say that it was a shock that his mother had been involved with the keeping of the masks was an understatement. But he was grateful all the same since it meant that he could get to know her a little better through the shared memories within the mask, along with what Kakashi told him and what he could ask Jiraiya when he got back from wherever he was.
Once summoned, the pair of monks explained their ability to create a barrier had more depth than Naruto expected. When they were alone, they could only affect a small area or individual targets. But when they were together they could increase the radius and then dictate how that barrier interfered with the world outside of it—creating a territory where they dictated what entered and left.
That was their fragment of power inherit from their Divine God—the manipulation of space, the distance between things. Supposedly, while donning it, Naruto could dictate the laws of space within the domain under his influence. He could make right be left, up be down, or stretch the distance of something that was three steps away into three thousand.
That left the Reaper, who he was now sitting opposite of for the first time since that fateful day in the woods. It floated in the air motionless, scythe held down as its clawed fingers were laxed. The mask it wore, which resembled a skull with three eyes, peered down at him in an unsettling manner as its mental voice began to reverberate.
"State thy wish, bearer of Uzumaki blood," it asked.
"I want to know what you and the Divine God mask that you serve as the messenger of are capable of."
"I am the Reaper of that which is born of the melding of the physical and spiritual, that which is known as Chakra." Its mask tilted downwards slightly and it raised its scythe to a horizontal pose. "That which harbors it can be stripped of it and given to another. It is a modicum of the capabilities possessed by the one I serve—the God of Death whose domain is that of Souls and balances Life and Death on its blade."
Naruto felt a lump forming in his throat at that. The domain of souls, life and death. Did that mean he could use it to bring back his parents and meet them for the first time?
Swallowing the lump that rose in his throat, he asked the question. "So that means, if I were to put on the other mask, I would be able to bring back the dead?"
"Do not entertain such folly," it warned, its grip tightening on its scythe. Hostility similar to when they first met bled off it in waves.
Naruto raised his arms up to pacify it. "You haven't explained everything yet, so I was making a guess. Am I wrong?"
Its grip on the scythe loosened slightly. "Life and Death are intertwined. To interfere with the Pure Lands, to deny the dead their rest and meddle with such a thing that distorts the natural order, is a sin most grave that the God of Death does not take likely. To harbor such intentions, to intend to use it for such a method while wearing the mask, would spell the end of you."
"Okay, so if you attempt to use it to bring someone back from the dead it'll make the god in the mask mad."
"Which is why those that seek to house the God of Death within them must transcend the that desire," it stated. "They must accept that all who live will die, and the God of Death does not play favorites. It comes for all in the end. Only then may they bear the mask to become Death itself. You may perceive the souls of others through whatever protection they have in place, determine the time someone has left, project your own soul from your body and commune with the dead in Purgatory, help a restless soul find peace or seal it away, and so much more."
Basically, it lets you do things with the soul except for resurrect the dead, Naruto pondered with his lips pursed and his hand on his chin. The other masks dealt with things in the physical plane, but this one dealt more with spiritual affairs and was easily the most difficult to use compared to the rest of them.
Anyone who wanted to use it would no doubt do so in order to bring back someone they lost. If you had to overcome that desire when the ability to do so was there, then wouldn't it be nearly impossible? Was it really meant to be used at all then?
"Naruto-kun," Narue said through the speakers, stirring him from his thoughts. "The chakra readings are getting low from the last seal. If there are any more questions you want to ask, then do so now."
"Right." Giving it a bit more thought, he found there was a single question left he wanted to ask. "Is it possible to use the mask to find someone who's missing?"
"So long as they live and you know their name," it said. "The name ties into the soul and is thus engraved into it."
"Okay, thanks." Naruto gave it a slight bow of the head. "You can rest now."
The Reaper went docile at the command, returning into the mask. The mask fell from where it floated and would have clattered onto the focal circle had Naruto's hands not shot out and grabbed it. He rose from his seated position and exited the observation room, where Narue and Karin were waiting for him.
"Nice work both of you," Narue said as he handed over the Reaper's mask. "We've got it all recorded. Now all I have to do is submit it to the Hokage and we can see where to go from there next."
"Do you really think there are gods within the other masks?" he asked. If there was anyone else there qualified to tell them, it would be the person overseeing the research.
"Who knows?" she said cheerfully. "Given that seals can be used to actually seal things within objects, it's not unfeasible that there are actual spirits or gods within the masks. It's not the like there isn't precedence."
He suspected that she was referring to what was sealed inside of him.
"All the same, they could just be artificial constructs created through the crafting of the different layers of seals." She paused to tap her chin in thought and smiled. "Actually, that would be more impressive. Could you imagine what it would be like to create something artificial yet on par with actual gods that could breach the borders of life and death?"
For some reason, Karin looked uncomfortable as she took a step back from the woman and changed the topic. "Either way, I don't think it's safe to use those sets of masks right now."
"True, but you can't fault me at the thought of communing with the ancient sealing experts who made them in the first place. So many mysteries could be solved that way…" She sighed wistfully. "Anyway, I'll compile all of this and then get to them to the Hokage. We'll probably be in touch later on to see if we can glean more from them."
That said, she gave Naruto the extra slips he wanted and then escorted them up and out of the building. The sun glared down on them from above as they stepped into the light, having been down there for a while now. It was maybe around midday if he had to guess as they walked together down the roads that were busier than before.
Naruto was still lost in thought over what he'd learned when he felt a slight tug on his sleeve. Pulled from his thoughts, he turned to look at Karin. "What's up?"
"When you asked the Reaper about using the mask to find someone…" She hesitated for a pause to bring herself to say it. "That wasn't for Anko-san, was it?"
"Yeah," he admitted. "It doesn't sit right with me that she had to stay behind for us to get away. And I remember what you said about how you felt that it was your fault, so I figured if we can use it then we could find her and bring her back."
"…Thank you, Naruto." She brushed back her hair and smiled softly before changing the topic. "So, what will you do now?"
"I've got to go talk to Sasuke," he said, intending to keep his word to Sakura.
"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked.
"Nah. He'll be grouchy enough as is because he's stuck in the village. I shouldn't bring someone else." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his key. "Go ahead and get a copy of this made for yourself."
She took the key from his hand delicately before leaning in close and giving him quick kiss on the cheek. The pleasant touch of her lips spread through that side of his face and left him blushing as she pulled away. "I'll pick up some groceries for dinner and see you tonight at your place."
"S-Sure," he muttered as she waved and then turned to leave down the streets. It took him a few seconds to snap out of it before he sighed to himself and went towards the Uchiha district.
[-oOo-]
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
A trio of kunai nailed the center of the targets as Sasuke continued through his drills, training not only to be stronger but to quiet his mind. He was growing restless now that he had a way out of the village, ready to leave with a simple series of seals and be whisked away. But, at the same time, he was hesitating.
There were still things he could learn from Kakashi. But if they were working on a way to remove the Cursed Seal then he would lose that power as well. Was it worth the risk of staying just a little longer? Or should he disappear before anyone knew where he had gone?
He'd be leaving behind everything within the village that belonged to his clan in doing so—no, he'd be leaving behind the village itself that was established by the Uchiha. They were one of the founding clans after all. But the village itself would stand in the way of his obligations to his family, so it was a necessity in the end.
It's all Itachi's fault that its necessary, he thought to himself as he yanked the kunai out of the tree. Then he felt another presence closing in on him and twisted around, flinging it in that direction. "Come out!"
"Whoa!" Naruto emerged unharmed. Upset, but unharmed as he held the kunai between his fingers. "That was close. Do you just throw these things around when someone surprises you?"
"Yes." He caught it as Naruto sent it back his way and then crossed his arms. "Besides, don't you heal fast anyway because of that thing inside of you? As long as I didn't hit your head, you'd be fine."
Naruto looked shocked at that fact. "You know?"
"I'm not an idiot, I can see chakra, your birthday is the same date as the attack on the village by the Nine-Tailed Fox, and it wasn't that long since we dealt with Gaara," Sasuke pointed out. Granted, he'd only pieced most of that together last night, but Naruto didn't need to know that. "It makes sense that they'd have you talk to him since you'd be able to relate to him."
His former teammate seemed pensive at that, or almost apologetic. "So is that part of why you've been upset lately? That I didn't tell you?"
Sasuke scoffed. "I don't care about that. We've all got our reasons for what we do. My question is why are you here now?"
"Well, part of it's because I wanted to apologize because of what happened on my mission being the reason why you're stuck here in the village."
The mission Orochimaru was talking about, he reasoned. The Snake Sannin had been vague and no one else would give him details, but if anyone was willing to talk it'd be Naruto. "If you're going to apologize, then explain properly."
Naruto saw fit to do so and gave him the highlights. He'd been attacked by Mizuki and then went after his clanmate. From how he was describing the battle that came afterwards, the bone-user had definitely gone into a second-stage release with his Cursed Seal.
Sasuke's mind raced as he listened while leaning against the tree, putting pieces to the puzzle with what he learned from Orochimaru. The man hadn't even been all that subtle in his wording about being a hypocrite if he faulted him for taking whatever power he could regardless of the means. Most likely his means of resurrecting himself was tied into the Cursed Seal and their hosts, which was why he'd chosen to appear now.
Yet, at the same time, that same seal on the bone-user was enough to push Naruto further than Gaara did. He needed all the power he could get if he was going to kill Itachi. He couldn't let that fear of losing his body control him, could he?
"Anyway, that's how we ended up like this," Naruto finished. "So I think we're stuck in the village until they find where that creep Kabuto is and get rid of the Cursed Seals from you and Karin."
"And you're okay with the fact that they sealed your second source of chakra away?" Sasuke asked. "That power was the only reason you were able to last against Gaara and the bone-user from the sound of it. Them sealing it away is the same as denying you a powerful tool you could use to get stronger faster."
"I couldn't control it and hurt Karin," Naruto pointed out. "I'd rather work on my other techniques and focus on getting stronger with Sakura and the others than rely on the fox if I can."
Sasuke shook his head. "That line of thinking will get you killed. You shouldn't be picky with the means you choose to get stronger with. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be. I'd master it."
Naruto took offense to that, his cerulean eyes narrowing and his voice growing heated. "You can say that because you don't know what it's like. Imagine being swallowed in hatred that wasn't your own, unable to think clearly and filled with the urge to kill everyone around you. The last two times I relied on the fox's chakra to that extent, I nearly killed Sakura and Karin. Would being stronger at the price of your friends and family be worth it?"
The last of the Uchiha opened his mouth to say that he would, but his lungs froze before the words could come out once his mind caught up to the hypocrisy. That would be no different than what his brother did in the end. Itachi killed his entire clan for the sake of gaining the next level of his Sharingan and intended on returning to claim Sasuke's once it was matured.
At the same time, Sasuke told himself moments ago that he would be willing to get his hands on whatever power he could, even if it meant leaving the village behind. If he truly believed that thought, Itachi had already spelled out a way for him to get stronger with his birthright. And it was right in front of him.
… The temptation pounded at his neck where the Cursed Seal was locked away, threatening to break free. They were alone. He had a way out of the village without being caught. Naruto couldn't heal himself quickly anymore and didn't have access to the Nine-Tailed Fox. If Itachi's goal was to capture the Jinchuuriki, putting Naruto down would be a hindrance to his plans as well.
He could sever those bonds that Itachi intended to in a few years prematurely and gain the next level of his Sharingan to use against his brother here and now. Naruto was so unguarded he probably wouldn't need the Cursed Seal to kill him. He could simply put Naruto asleep with the Eye of Hypnotism and make it fast and painless….
And the thought of it sickened him.
Naruto was annoying. Frustratingly so. But killing him now, like this… it felt wrong.
As much as Sasuke hated his brother and wanted power to surpass him, slitting Naruto's throat when he couldn't fight back like that would be no different than what Itachi did to his mother and father. And if he became the very person he hated the most in the world, there would be no meaning in living past killing his brother. Not when he'd have done the same thing he was condemning him for.
Not to mention that, if he killed Naruto here, he would be hunted down by others who would ask him the same question that he asked his brother that day he killed their family. Maybe it'd be Kakashi, or Sakura, or even that clanswoman of his. But they'd all ask why he'd done it, and he'd give the same answer as his brother.
Ignorant of what was going through his teammate's head, Naruto seemed to take Sasuke's silence as him being right and then continued on. "Anyway, Sakura's been worried about how you've been going back to how you used to be. That's the other reason why I'm here."
"And what was wrong with how I used to be?" Sasuke asked with a slight snarl in his voice.
Naruto held his hands up. "I'm just pointing out that you were kind of a jerk."
"And you were a buffoon who earned the title of dead last in our class," Sasuke said bluntly.
"Yeah, but now I'm a Chuunin."
"Only because you went first and my match was interrupted," Sasuke countered as he placed his empty hand on where the seal was and willed it to calm down, forcing the temptation down.
"Maybe," Naruto conceded. "But the point is that we've all changed for the better, so don't go back to how you were back then. We've gone through so much as Team 7, and we're stronger as a team like during the Finals. Don't throw that away by isolating yourself."
"...Let me ask you this, Naruto," Sasuke said to him. "What will happen when you face an opponent you need power to beat and don't have it because you denied yourself access to that power because you were afraid? Would you be fine with the results even if it cost the lives of those you were protecting or those of us fighting alongside you as a team?"
"That—"
"Think hard," Sasuke warned him before he said something stupid. "Because someday you'll have to make that decision for yourself. Will you remain weak and rely on others and risk getting them killed? Or will you do whatever you can to become powerful enough stand on your own, even if that method meant making everyone hate you, including yourself?"
Naruto shook his head after a moment and his eyes filled with resolve. "I'd focus on making it so that there was no need to fight. But it if it came down to it, I'd focus on making sure that everyone was strong enough to survive—not just myself."
"Tch… only you'd think of something that naïve." He turned and then started to walk away. "I'll think about what you said with Sakura, but I'd advise you to try mastering control over that demon within you. Otherwise you'll die without accomplishing anything because you were a coward."
He ignored Naruto calling for him afterward and headed back home to be alone with his thoughts. His obligation to the fallen members of his clan was not only to avenge them, but to rebuild his clan as a whole. It couldn't be rebuilt on the same foundation that Itachi had used to gain the next level of his Sharingan.
Besides, now he knew Orochimaru's plan. As long as the Snake Sannin remained ignorant of that, Sasuke could make his own plans in turn. By the time he had nothing left to teach him, Sasuke was sure he'd have a way of dealing with both him and Itachi…