Sealkeeper: He Who Binds
Chapter 164-A "Harem?"
Patron Release 2022.09.05
The cave, as it turned out, was not at all flooded and much to Akishi's relief there was a distinct lack of insects too. Of course, that didn't derive from the presence of any insect-eating animals because as Naruto had predicted there wasn't any life within the mountain's wound.
It was also much cooler here than the humid swamps that surrounded Numa no Kuni's central mountain range but unfortunately the slight chill was anything but pleasant. Like a film of freezing oil the air here stuck to your skin to drain away your warmth and rob you of what little feeling of cleanliness you may have maintained in your journey through the swamp. It was distinctly unsettling and Akishi actually found herself missing the warm, insect-filled air of the outside world within a minute of entering the cave.
Naruto seemed unaffected by it entirely- or at least showed no sign of being affected if he was- as he pressed further in without a glance behind him, trusting that Akishi and Katsuri would be following him. Katsuri, on the other hand, couldn't quite hide the way she hunched for a moment and rubbed her upper arms. Whether that was in a futile attempt to warm herself or remove the oily feeling that had permeated her uniform Akishi couldn't say for certain.
She wasn't sure if having it soak into one's clothing- assuming it did, in fact, have a physical presence and wasn't just a sensation brought about by their proximity to this demon Naruto was seeking- was worse than feeling it directly on your skin but she certainly commiserated with the woman.
She also would very much like a bath or, better, a soak in some hotsprings. She wondered if they would have the opportunity while journeying with Naruto and slightly regretted not taking more time to enjoy them during her stay in Yu no Kuni. At least they would be waiting for them when they returned home, no matter how strange it was for her to be thinking of anywhere beside her shaded cave on Mt. Aogi as home.
Perhaps the human world was growing on her or maybe- and more likely- she was coming to terms with the fact that she probably wasn't going to be returning to Aūgoku for the duration of the High-Priest's lifespan. Akishi had a feeling that would probably exceed the expected natural lifespans of regular humans by quite a bit, too, so she was in it for the long haul.
At least, she looked on the bright side, that time would be spent beside the High-Priest. That wasn't so bad at all.
The trio continued deeper into the cavern for what felt like an hour and the unsettling feeling only seemed to grow with every step. By the time Naruto led them into a large, open cavern the sensation had settled over the shoulders of Akishi and Katsuri like an iron blanket.
"Here." Naruto announced, glancing back to his companions who tried to hide the burden of the malignant presence of the cave. His gaze softened slightly, noticing their struggle, but his faith in them allowed him to continue with the task he'd been given. "Katsuri, I need you to take a post watching the way back. I don't suspect anyone will stumble upon us here but I cannot afford any interruptions, make sure we are not disturbed."
"Hai, Tsukuyomi-Sama."
He turned to Akishi as he unsealed an assortment of jars from a scroll. "I need a ritual circle painted over the entirety of this cavern." He gestured to the slightly depressed floor in the center of the natural room. Unlike the cave it was within, this was obviously done by something living and, based on how level it was and the fact that it made a perfect circle, they were obviously possessing at least some modicum of intelligence. "Use my blood, I trust that will suffice?"
Blood of the High-Priest? Of course it would suffice, there probably wasn't a more holy substance here in the mortal world as far as the Golden Serpent of the Sun was concerned. That was good, because this was going to be a very large circle and the amount of blood that would be necessary would lend further strength to..well, whatever it was Naruto had been instructed to do.
"It will, High-Priest. Was there a specific ritual circle you needed?" He seemed to consider it- or perhaps he was speaking to the Father even when within the darkness of the cave- before he was able to provide an answer.
"Sunrise," He provided. "But southern-facing. We're invoking the light in banishment. We'll add the marks of the Fifth House, too, to account for your assistance in the creation of the circle."
"O-of course, High Priest. I'll see it done." He had to be speaking with the Father, then, because there was no other way he would have heard of those elements otherwise- she hadn't ever brought them up- and he certainly wasn't experienced enough to know how to combine them. It did tell her that he was looking to rid this place of the demonic presence, though, that much was obvious but it had been likely since he had explained it was here in the first place.
Well, he could have been retrieving the source of the demonic feeling on behalf of Aū, she supposed, but that hadn't crossed her mind at all earlier and his need for a southern-facing circle went against that.
..Unless they were just banishing a demon that was connected with something he was retrieving, that was still possible though she wasn't likely to know until their business here was complete. Even then, there was no guarantee she'd ever know exactly what was happening.
As she set about preparing the Sunrise Seal for the High-Priest's ritual circle she decided it didn't much matter in the end. She was here serving the High-Priest and he was obviously doing the work of Great Aū. All was right in the world.
The Chagakure Genin looked up at the Youthful Wolf- Wakamono Betsumei, according to the proctor- in terror as they stepped up to the table. The rest of his team had already passed the first round of Kumogakure's Chūnin exams with the utmost ease but they looked…normal- relatively, at least- while Betsumei, well, the Genin had the utmost confidence in saying this was a fully grown man. Even the proctors seemed to eye the man with no shortage of suspicion but he had the paperwork that said he was a part of Otogakure's Genin team so they'd allowed it.
He really wished they hadn't.
Placing his elbow on the table he did his best to repress a wince as Betsumei's iron grip encircled his much smaller hand and he couldn't help but notice how ridiculously muscled that arm was. He couldn't believe his chance at becoming a Chūnin was about to end so soon into the exams. The black eyes that stared back at him from beneath a featureless white mask held nothing but absolute focus and determination.
Why did he have to be the one to go against this freak and, probably the more important question, why in the ever-loving fuck was the first round an arm-wrestling competition?
There was something seriously wrong with the greater hidden villages.
Katsuri had done many things she considered difficult throughout her life. Mostly centered on her training for the Root program, she'd also been a Wolf for years in the service of Tsukuyomi and participated in his war against Kirigakure. Well, the rebels who had become Kirigakure, anyway, though the physical Kirigakure had also been caught in the crossfire.
What she was finding more difficult than anything else, however, was remaining focused on the way out of the cave instead of glancing back to see what was going on. Golden light seemed to flicker past her, surrounded by deep reds that cast malignant shadows across the ceiling, and she knew whatever was happening her lord was currently at the center of it.
"Vile seed of the Accursed, son of Aū'Khan-Ajare, your presence upon this world touched by the Golden Light of Aū is an affront to the father. Hear me and my voice, know I speak with the authority of the Sun, and shrink back in your shame. For the revealing light shows you only your wretchedness, a twisted mockery of the forms granted unto the children of Great Aū."
Naruto's voice reached her ears, again tempting her to turn from her duty to satisfy the burning curiosity that continued to grow within her, but she managed to stay strong- barely. The red light cast upon the ceiling seemed to shrink back- for some strange reason she thought it had to be some sort of reflection from Naruto's blood but that was absurd- while the golden glow at her back only increased in intensity until she found herself wanting to close her eyes when she wasn't even looking towards its source.
"By my words, I declare forbiddance. By the Laws of the Sun, I declare forbiddance. By the will of Great Aū, I declare forbiddance. Thrice forbidden, Mōryō of Aū'Khan-Ajare, you have no place within the earth that warms under Aū's grace. Burn in his radiance and begone, false descendant."
The intensity of the golden light increased further still until all Katsuri could see was a blinding white. Even her shadow was burned away from the cave floor, such was the brightness, and the air was disturbed by a shrieking that had blood trickling down her ears. She did her best to ignore both and when the smell of burning octopus greeted her nose she ignored that too. Chakra on her feet allowed her to stay standing as the entirety of the cave shook- in fact, she was sure the whole mountain was at least trembling- but it was only a supreme force of will that let her resist the temptation to turn around to see what was happening.
After a matter of minutes that felt like years each, the screeching gave way to still air and the burning lights reduced until her vision returned. The smell was no longer recognizable as anything more than char, any hint of what exactly had been burning washed away by a fire she had not witnessed.
It was Naruto's voice that broke the new silence and it carried with it such an air of finality that she knew her task was finally finished.
"...By the will of Aū, so has it been done." He muttered. Katsuri looked back at him and was greeted by a gaping hole in the center of the cave, out of which poured a thick black smoke. She couldn't see the bottom from where she was standing and she had a feeling she wouldn't have been able to see it if she was standing at the edge and peering down, either.
Akishi was directly behind him, her upper body clinging to his back as if to protect her from whatever he'd been doing and her tail encircling his feet to spread out. Perhaps it wasn't as much for protection as she was trying to provide stability to the 'High-Priest' as he worked whatever the hell that had been.
Really, it was most likely a bit of both. Katsuri would put money on that.
Akishi was still clinging to his back when he turned away from the hole and headed towards Katsuri. The Wolf was vaguely aware of the Ak'Gyun's tail moving out of the way so he could walk unhindered because most of her attention was on Naruto as he reached back to rest his palm gently on the grip of his blade and the way he smiled in satisfaction after a moment.
It was only a few minutes later, as the trio were on their way back to the entrance of the cave, that Katsuri realized that the oily chill had completely vanished. In fact, while the hard earth around them was still dark it felt warm and comforting like a summer afternoon.
Far away, at the center of a modest palace in Oni no Kuni, lavender eyes snapped open in bewilderment. Never before had the line between dream and vision seemed so blurry and she almost didn't dare to hope.
Kin shifted her weight to her other hip, her arms crossed over her chest as she tapped her foot impatiently. Her entire team had passed- no surprise there, they'd passed the first time with Zaku back in Konoha and this time not only were they much more well trained but they had a Jōnin-level teammate.
Technically, much to Dosu's amusement, 'Wakamono Betsumei'- and wasn't that just a horrible fake name? Well, she hoped it was fake…- wasn't actually a registered Shinobi. He, like all Wolves, was actually a civilian. A trained civilian, but still a civilian. The entirety of the House of Wolves was a trained civilian force, seeing as they weren't registered Shinobi- and never had been- in any village.
The closest was actually her current 'Sensei', Mitarashi Anko, because she'd been a Tokujo for Konoha.
….Now that she thought about it Anko had mentioned the Slug Sannin and her former apprentice, too, so maybe there were several registered (or at least formerly registered) Shinobi among the Wolves these days. In any case, Wakamono Betsumei wasn't one of them.
Dosu thought it was the greatest joke he'd ever heard and Kin had to admit it was slightly humorous to know a civilian could probably take on any of the proctors in this room but that really didn't help stave off her current predicament- boredom. Her team may have passed just fine but the first exam was still going, mostly because two of the Kumo shinobi had been locked in their arm wrestling for the last twenty minutes and neither was budging a millimeter.
They were so evenly matched that she would have believed they hadn't started yet, so it looked like it was going to be a battle of attrition rather than pure strength.
Unfortunately they seemed conditioned for endurance, too, so this might go on for a while longer.
It was strange, though- and not just Kumo's choice for their first exam- because while Iwa often avoided sending Gennin to the Chūnin Exams when Konoha was hosting she'd never heard of them missing the exams hosted by anyone else yet there wasn't a single Iwa Genin present.
From the corner of her eye she watched as a tall man in greed spandex entered the room and gestured for a trio of Genin to join him. He shared a look with one of the proctors who shrugged and made a few marks on his clipboard.
Kin eyes narrowed as she observed the group leave without making it too obvious where her attention was. That was the Konoha team, she knew that as soon as she saw the green, but why on earth were they leaving when the whole team had passed?
Something had to be happening and she really didn't like not being informed.
"You know, this is really damn convenient." Sai commented as he took a seat at the table that had been created in the garden of Naruto's mind- and wasn't that something he never would have expected to seem normal- and folded his arms behind his head. A second later a frown tugged at his lips. "Though I was sort of looking forward to running off to Yu no Kuni to see the palace Mai's staying in."
A snort of laughter escaped Hana as she took a seat two chairs down from the young commander. "You just wanted an excuse to escape your paperwork."
"Escape? You can't escape." He scoffed before adding quietly; "I was just hoping to put it off for a bit longer." Hana's Inuzuka hearing picked it up easily enough and she sent him a wolfish grin that he couldn't decide was more predatory or amused.
"I don't think I'd be up for making it all the way to Yu no Kuni just to have to sit through a meeting." Keigo offered his own opinion. "Though being able to hit their famous hotsprings afterwards almost makes it sound worth it." Much like Sai, the first High-Captain had folded his arms behind his head but he'd also gone a step further and had his boots on the table so he could better recline in his chair.
"I don't know," Kakashi mused from behind his book at the other end of the table. "Might be nice to have a chance to stretch my legs. I didn't realize how much I missed field work until I was stuck in Konoha again."
"You could always train your team, Kakashi." Was Shizune's suggestion. While she sent a pointed look his way there was no denying the touch of amusement in her voice. "Not only would that give you something to do but eventually they'll get to a point where you can take them out into the field so you can get your walks."
Blinking his one eye, Kakashi lowered his book enough to see Shizune over it. "...Did you just call me a dog?"
Mikoto answered before Shizune could, dropping into the seat between the two carelessly but still somehow managing to project a sense of grace and elegance others spent their whole life trying to emulate. "Of course she did, what else could 'Inu-Oji' possibly be?"
Kakashi's eye narrowed at the last Uchiha. "When the Wolves use that it's respectfully, you make it sound like some sort of insult. I don't much appreciate it."
"Oh? An insult? However could it be taken in such a way?" She raised a hand to her mouth as if absolutely scandalized by the very thought but it didn't quite hide the sly smile that spread over her lips. "Certainly nothing like a dog among Wolves because you've been domesticated or perhaps just because you're an old dog past his prime when compared to the young, capable Wolves of the pack…."
"Exactly how much time have you put towards those words you old crow? You should have more than enough considering you don't actually do anything for the Wolves."
"Nothing for the Wolves? I take care of their lord, of course, I can hardly imagine a more honorable task to undertake."
"You and just about every woman he encounters, Mikoto." He shot back dryly. "You're not exactly special in that regard." He paused for a second and enjoyed the outrage that had twisted across the woman's face. "Why are you here, anyway? Shouldn't you be..ah, 'taking care of their lord'...?"
"He's busy seeing to things and Mai knew I was nearby so she sent a messenger to invite me to join."
"So you're not even taking care of him? You really are rather useless, aren't you? Couldn't cut it as a spy and now you can't cut it as a bedwarmer. Maybe Tsunami will accept you as a palace servant, I'm sure she could use an extra pair of hands. In fact, you could take up her duties so she can continue seeing to Naruto's needs…oh, wait, that's the role you think you have now. You know, the one she's been doing since she started managing his palace."
"Knock it off, both of you." A large folder smacked solidly into the back of Kakashi's head as Hanabi stepped up to the table and picked a seat. "Besides, what roles people hold falls to me and my team. I'll decide what uses everyone has when it comes to serving Tsukuyomi-Sama."
"I think that falls to Naruto." Kakashi commented as he reached back to rub his newest injury. "Unless you expect me to believe you dictate his relationships for some reason."
"At least we'd know who was behind the attempts to build him a harem, then."
"Attempts?" Hana looked at Sai as if he'd lost his mind, something copied by Shizune. "How on earth do you justify calling it just an 'attempt'? If anything they've succeeded, though I would have to say they've probably exceeded mere 'success' if that was the goal."
"Well until Naruto starts calling it a harem it's not really a harem, is it? A harem is established- official. Right now he just has a variety of lovers."
"Maybe if you use that definition, sure." Shizune conceded on that point alone. "But I don't think there's a better word for a large group of 'lovers', especially when a lot of them live under the same roof at this point."
"A gaggle?" Sai shrugged out his suggestion and Hana leaned along the table to smack him.
"We're not geese."
Sai blinked and slowly turned to her. "...We're…?" He asked.
As soon as it had left her mouth she'd realized how it might sound and obviously she'd been right. That one sentence hadn't just suggested things going on between herself and the Daimyo- which there weren't. At the moment, anyway- but it also succeeded in catching the attention of everyone at the table with the exception of Kakashi and Mikoto who were still glaring at each other.
"I meant it as women, women aren't geese. A group of us isn't a gaggle."
Hanabi raised one brow in a move so casually graceful Keigo wondered if she'd been required to practice it as the former Hyuuga heiress. "No one said anything about women, Hana. We were talking about a group of lovers."
"Yeah, but we were talking specifically about Naruto's lovers, and those are all women unless someone knows something I don't."
"That would depend on how technical you wanted to get." A representation of Orochimaru formed in the garden and took a second to observe those who had already arrived. "My apologies for the delay, I had to make sure my work was in a place I could stop so there'd be no accidents while I was away."
That was both understandable and appreciated, so they weren't about to say anything. There was also the little fact that it was Orochimaru and dedicated to Naruto or not he was still one of the most infamous boogeymen in the Elemental Nations, no one was going to be getting after him for not being earlier. And, as his words reminded the occupants of the table, he was also one of Naruto's lovers.
"Does that even count?" Hana asked, directing her attention to Shizune who could only shrug.
"How should I know?"
"He was Naruto's first lover and he is a man." Sai pointed out. A second later he seemed to think better of his answer. "..You are a man, right?"
"At the moment I am, yes."
"But he's probably never been one of Naruto's lovers while he was a man, so Naruto's never had a lover who is a man." Hana countered.
"But does he identify as male or female overall?" Keigo spoke up again. "If his physical form is fluid, what does he think of himself as?"
Orochimaru looked briefly puzzled. "I hadn't actually thought of that, I just figured I'd be whatever body I was currently in. The plan is for those to be female bodies, going forward, but I haven't swapped bodies quite yet."
"See? It's all about their physical gender which makes sense because the act of being lovers is a physical one." Hana looked smug at her conclusion but it was mostly because people seemed to have forgotten her poor choice of words earlier.
"I think we're looking at this the wrong way." Shizune borrowed her next suggestion in part from both Keigo and Kakashi's earlier comments. "Identification is good and all, but like Kakashi mentioned wouldn't this be something Naruto should be deciding? He's the one having physical relations with Orochimaru, regardless of what form that might be at the time. So does he think of Orochimaru as a man or as a woman?"
"You're just going to allow Naruto to decide what Orochimaru's gender is? That really seems like something only Orochimaru can decide for themself." Her goal had already been reached but at this point Hana had already established a position and she would hold her ground until the end. Sort of. Really, this only worked if Orochimaru didn't identify as a man but as he currently identified as his body- or so he claimed- then at the moment it aligned with her argument.
Or it would align in the future when he changed bodies? She was already having trouble keeping track of everything.
Orochimaru shared a look with Shizune before they turned to Hana in unison. "Absolutely."
That was a fair point, actually, Naruto's word wasn't just law, it was practically holy scripture as far as the Wolves were concerned and Orochimaru had been willing to turn into a woman for him in the first place….
Wait, on second thought Hana didn't know if that had been part of the plan or just a matter of timing as he took a new body for himself. Likewise, she didn't know if he was choosing the female form going forward because Naruto preferred it or because Orochimaru had enjoyed being a woman more.
Again, part of that enjoyment very well could have been because of Naruto, which would take his preferences into consideration so it really was hard to tell either way.
"Okay, fair, Tsukuyomi Tou-Sama gets what Tsukuyomi Tou-Sama wants, but in that case should we just ask him? I'm sure Karura can get his attention so we can sort this out."
Speaking of which, where was that racoon? Gods knew she loved company here in the seal so it was surprising that she hadn't made an appearance yet.
"Naruto is busy doing something somewhere." Mai did not sound happy as she announced that and everyone there immediately knew why from that sentence alone. "So we won't be disturbing him and I've already gone through the trouble of pawning off Karura and Isobu to Mito's supervision so we could have this meeting without interruption." Taking a glance at the table she gave a nod, satisfied that everyone she intended to be present had already arrived.
Normally she would have included Anko and Katsuri too, as they held enough authority within the House of Wolves to help direct it, but with Anko also gods-know where doing gods-know what Mai figured it was best to leave her to it because she managed to get into enough trouble without additional distractions.
As for Katsuri, that High-Captain was currently with Naruto and Mai wanted her focused on making sure he stayed both safe and out of trouble- or as out of trouble as was possible for the young Daimyo. She also wanted to decide how to proceed without any of NAruto's input- because that seemed to be what he wanted from her these days, for reasons she did hope she was wrong about- so having Katsuri as part of the discussion meant it was likely to get back to him during his trip and if he shared his opinion on the matter with Katsuri she was bound to provide that to everyone else.
He might also decide he needed to come handle things personally and while that would bring him back- and she'd know what he was doing- he'd just work himself ragged on something not all that critical and charge off to finish whatever the hell he was doing now, so there was really no benefit there as far as she was concerned.
Keigo raised his hand, still reclining, and waited for Mai's attention before he spoke. "Shouldn't Tsunami be here too? Tsukuyomi-Sama did give her the seal and she runs his palace, anything really important is bound to affect her in some way too."
"I did consider it, but I don't think this will bring any changes for Nami no Kuni directly. We can fill her in with what was discussed here so she can have some forwarning about things that may happen but I don't believe she needs to be a part of the meeting itself."
Keigo just gave a shrug and returned his arm to its position supporting his neck. "Sure, just thought I'd bring it up."
"Anyone else have concerns before the meeting officially starts?"
Orochimaru raised his hand and she nodded toward him to speak.
"Yes, will this take long? I found what I believe is a good place to stop for some of my…projects…but considering I've already managed to give the Shinigami a physical body and it escaped out into the Elemental Nations before I could start keeping track of it…." He trailed off before concluding; "Well, I was just thinking it might be best to be a bit more…cautious…going forward so the sooner I can go back to watching over them the better."
The rest of the table's occupants shared a look, not entirely certain they had heard what they thought they did but also knowing better than to doubt anything Orochimaru was claiming because of how outlandish it sounded. Even Kakashi and Mikoto had paused their battle of wills to see if they had heard correctly.
"...You gave the Shinigami, the same Shinigami used by the Yondaime Hokage to seal the Kyuubi no Kitsune, a physical body and then let him loose?" Shizune didn't want to believe it but it was also exactly the sort of thing the infamous Orochimaru would end up doing, even if it didn't sound like it was entirely on purpose.
Huh. Maybe that's why Naruto and Orochimaru got along so well.
"Her. They stole one of my future bodies." Nevermind the fact that he'd been planning on sacrificing that body for the sake of being able to continue his experiments, it hadn't been meant for the Shinigami. He quickly reviewed the rest of her accusation and added; "And I didn't let them loose. She broke through the wall of my warehouse."
"And you didn't try to stop it?"
"What? No, I was more focused on the soul I managed to summon. It was supposed to be the one to end up in my body, I really wasn't expecting the Shinigami to find itself within it or to still be in it when I summoned her again."
"...You summoned it again?" Hana was, rightfully, concerned.
"Well, yes, how else was I supposed to sacrifice a synthetic amalgamation of souls to invoke the spirit of some long lost relic into a spare body for my research?"
Mai pinched the bridge of her nose and released a tired sigh. "While this is as insightful as it is concerning, let's leave it for after the meeting. I've called you all here to discuss the recent reports of skirmishes between Iwa and Konoha on the north-western border of Hi no Kuni."
Hanabi had figured as much but a majority of the table was only just hearing about the issue. Keigo, Shizune, Hana, Sai, Mikoto, and Kakashi turned their attention fully upon Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi's right hand.
Orochimaru, however, was focused on other thoughts.
They did make sure all the current projects were on hold for the afternoon, right?
Sealkeeper: He Who Binds
Chapter 164 "Understanding"
Patron Release 2022.09.21
"So Iwa's making moves?" Kakashi asked. He was fairly certain he'd heard something about that back in Konoha but he didn't actually pay attention enough to be able to say for certain. Really, he was far too busy teaching ANBU operatives the Way of the Hip. It was more important than whatever Konoha was up to, he was sure, but if there was movement on a global scale then Hi no Kuni itself- and through their alliance Nami no Kuni- was likely to be pulled into things before too long.
"They managed to destroy a good portion of Hi no Kuni's already limited agriculture before Samurai forces were able to engage the Iwa Shinobi. As of the latest reports we've received from Ibiki, Konoha forces led by Shiranui Genma have managed to push Iwa troops back into neighboring countries but they're holding fast in Kusa and Taki." Was Mai's summary of the current situation.
"They got Takigakure?" Taking into consideration their alliance with Konoha, moving into Taki was already an act of war even if you ignored their actions within Hi no Kuni. Hana was slightly surprised Konoha wasn't already declaring war but perhaps they were hesitant to kick off the next Ninkai Taisen which was understandable.
"No," Mai scowled. "But they've cut it off from the capital near the border. They're holding it hostage and Taki itself is surrounded by Iwa Shinobi. If they try to fight their way out they'll expose the village and they're not willing to risk it. They've essentially been removed from the war already unless Konoha can make the push to them."
"Sounds like a war is inevitable, then. Is there any reason Konoha is delaying?" Asked Shizune.
"They're probably hoping Iwa eventually backs off so they don't have to escalate." Was Mikoto's guess. "That would be like them, to ignore a problem and hope it solves itself." Just like that whole mess with the Uchiha clan. While it was, arguably, probably one of the better things to happen to her in her life- or, at least, it had lead to some of the better things eventually- she was still more than a little bitter about what Konoha had done but mostly that they'd only dealt with the very same elders who were a part of the problem in their negotiations instead of reaching out to all those like her who wanted nothing to do with an Uchiha rebellion.
They could have saved quite a few Uchiha that way and she wouldn't be the last member of that clan.
Then again, perhaps it was for the best that her clan died out. With the history the Uchiha already had and all the trouble it had caused over the years, a fresh start was not an entirely unwelcome prospect.
"So if Konoha has them pushed back outside Hi no KUni borders and are just waiting in hopes they'll back down, how does that concern the Wolves?" Asked Keigo, not seeing any issues. If Iwa wasn't actually in their ally's territory and if Konoha was too busy keeping things that way to cause Nami any further trouble what was the problem?
"Because Hi no Kuni may still call on us for assistance," Hanabi shot the first High-Captain a look that made it clear she thought he was an idiot. "And it would likely be to the Wolves' benefit if we found a way to end the conflict before it escalated into a full blown war."
"But would it really?" It was Sai's question this time and Hanabi was already glaring at him before he finished expanding on his question. "With Suna under Konoha control and their partnership with Kiri, sure it might keep them busy but I hardly expect they'd need us in the end which means we can continue without having to worry about Asuma poking at us for a while."
"Kirigakure?" Hanabi cocked a delicate brow. "The hidden village Tsukuyomi-Sama reduced to dust? That Kirigakure? Exactly how much aid do you think they'll actually be able to offer Konoha and do you really think Asuma's going to be expecting to rely on it?"
"We're not waiting on Asuma's call for aid, though." Hana pointed out. "Do we have any idea what Iroh thinks of the situation?"
Attention turned to a frowning Mai. "No, we don't have direct contact with Iroh at the moment." And, on reflection, that was a rather large oversight. Why didn't they have some sort of ambassador or representative remaining in Kagayaku Machi to keep an eye on things and give them quick access to the Greater Daimyo of Hi no Kuni? She'd have to reach out to Naruto for more of his seals, that way any contact in Hi no Kuni's capital could be easily reached for information.
She'd keep the task of picking the representative, though, he didn't need to worry about that part.
"Well, even so it will probably come to a point where Iroh requests our help. He may not necessarily need it but if it solves the problem faster and costs him less resources I can't imagine him not making use of his alliance with Nami." The Inuzuka Heiress concluded. "We should be preparing to join."
There were nods around the table, they could all see the obvious benefit to getting their forces ready before Iroh called for Tsukuyomi's help. There was, however, more to consider as Mai immediately brought up.
"We will be getting ready, absolutely, the real question is if we should be making any preemptive moves to support Hi no Kuni before it's requested of us."
That's where things became a bit more tricky. It would look good for their allies, absolutely, which was never a bad thing, but it would also require them to commit to a conflict they may have been able to avoid for longer. If that led to Wolf injuries or- heavens forbid- deaths Naruto would be absolutely crushed. That was something they would like to avoid.
So, what were they supposed to be doing?
The difference between Nami and Yu was readily apparent as soon as Yugao and her team had arrived. While the people of Nami had hardly spoken of matters pertaining to their Daimyo, the citizens here in Yu no Kuni seemed delighted to discuss the fact that their own Daimyo had invited Amaterasu of Hi no Kuni's Imperial House of Wolves.
Yugao had never heard of this Amaterasu- and no one else in her team had, either- but that also seemed to be the case for the people of Yu no Kuni. Rather than decreasing interest because the name had been previously unknown, the lack of information only seemed to spur the civilians' speculation farther.
Obviously if she had been invited here directly she had to be an important member of the Wolves- Yugao had to assume that too, which was a little annoying to be perfectly honest. Why was her current level of intel equal to rumors in Yu no Kuni's capital?- but that also begged questions such as how their Daimyo had even known of her in the first place.
There was some part of Yugao that wondered if all this interest in Amaterasu and their dealings with the Daimyo was very much intended for some reason. Whether that was simply to start disseminating Amaterasu's presence among the Wolves or to draw attention to happenings here while the Wolves were up to something else she really couldn't say.
Knowing Naruto- for as much as she'd like to believe she still knew him even after her rather substantial mistakes- she'd have to assume it was both. He wouldn't be keen on wasting an opportunity to do both but the questions still remained- what was he trying to hide and, most importantly, where was he?
Unless he was here and the distraction of having Amaterasu announced was to throw off people like her. He knew, after all- he had to- that Asuma would be trying to figure out where he was and he also knew that Asuma would go to her for anything that had to do with him. She was the one who had brought the Wolves' activities in Mizu no Kuni to his attention and the Godaime knew she had spent time over the years training with him. There was simply no better choice than an ANBU who knew their quarry to find him and that meant Yugao.
So if he knew she'd be the one looking for her had he used this to make her think he was somewhere else?
Of course, Kakashi should have passed on the fact that every member of her team would side with him over Asuma so even if they did come looking for him they wouldn't pass anything off to the Godaime if he told them not to. Then again, there was no way for him to know she'd be with her team and not assigned to aid another team in looking for him, so taking steps to avoid her wasn't completely without merit.
Unfortunately there was no way to tell what he was up to or where he was up to it which meant they were going to have to make absolutely sure he wasn't here before they could move on.
Maybe she should split the team? It would slow down the search but at least they wouldn't be tied down to one location and miss the chances to find signs of him elsewhere in the elemental nations. Hell, sometimes she was tempted to have the entire team go off on their own to find him just to cover more ground. Unfortunately that was a rather bad idea between Iwa's recent hostilities and the greeting they were likely to get from any Wolves they stumbled upon in their search for Naruto.
Two teams it was, then.
Now she just had to figure out how to split them.
A major factor ensuring the security of Mōryō's sealed state was the fact that details about it were kept very much secret. Even Mōryō's existence and the fact that Oni no Kuni's line of High-Priestesses kept him sealed away was kept strictly to those serving in the modest palace that had been constructed to ensure the safety of that very bloodline.
Even then, those merely at the palace mostly knew rumors about the High-Priestess's duties and instead focused on the more obvious way she was able to see glimpses of when people would meet their end.
As far as those in the know were concerned, that was for the best.
There was, however, a select group that was entrusted with slightly more knowledge than most who knew the truth of matters by merit of necessity. The details of Mōryō and the sealing could not be placed solely upon the shoulders of Oni no Kuni's High-Priestess lest it be lost with her. A prominent figure, she was the most likely target of anyone wishing to stir up trouble in the area so contingencies had to be made.
One such individual was a rather nondescript servant in the palace. He went about his duties with no more effort or vigor than was required to see them done properly. There was no obvious devotion to the High-Priestess as could be observed in some of the more zealous servants nor was there the laziness of those who believed their positions were secured because of relatives or friends who held more important positions serving the young woman whose word was law in their country.
He simply did his job to the level that was expected of him and kept to himself when there was nothing that needed his attention. As far as anyone else was concerned he was no one of any note.
Just as intended.
None of the servants would ever know he was one of only a few people to know the location where Mōryō's physical body had been hidden away all those years ago, nor would they suspect he was the figure dressed from head to toe in white as he rushed to check on Mōryō's body at the urging of his Priestess.
He didn't know why there was such urgency in confirming the body had remained undisturbed deep within Numa no Kuni but it was not his place to question, only to serve.
Purple eyes saw only a blur of white in the distance, heading in the direction he and his companions had come from, but he already had a good idea of what it must have been. A satisfied smile tugged at Tsukuyomi's lips.
Everything was progressing exactly as expected.
The amulet within his shirt grew warm against his flesh. Great Au was pleased.
With the trouble that had been sealing the Yonbi before it, Pein had taken extra steps to ensure the sealing of the Gobi would proceed much more smoothly. Mainly, that was to recall Kakuzu and Hidan so they could participate in the sealing in person. Between their presence and the addition of a returned Kisame to the sealing he expected much better results and far less downtime.
It was fortunate that despite utilizing him in Taki no Kuni Han was kept well separated from the rest of the Iwa forces, an arrangement that suited both just fine and Pein even more so. With the use of his paths the Jinchuriki of the Gobi had been easily neutralized before Iwa forces could come to his assistance. It really made him wonder why he didn't just hunt down all Jinchuriki personally but an aching pain in his true body was a constant reminder of the cost his Rinnegan extracted from his mortal shell. Had he stuck to his original body alone, he could have utilized his eyes more freely but the Jutsu he'd employed against Hanzo the Salamander had robbed him of his mobility and the proxy bodies that now served as his hands and eyes were not kind to his diminished form.
He should have known better than to draw upon the power of souls so strongly but he'd hardly been thinking of the consequences when he lashed out at Ame's previous ruler.
Still, he should be able to aid with another JInchuriki or two safely without risking his abilities too much. He'd been tempted to grab the Nanabi while he was in the area but he hadn't wanted to push too far and risk losing the Gobi in the process. Besides, she was usually kept separate from her village anyway and the continued hostilities between Iwa and Taki would provide ample opportunities for her to be captured in the near future- especially now that Han was out of the picture.
Taki would be able to mount a proper defense against Iwa now which should keep them all occupied for quite some time, something that wasn't certain with another, more experienced Jinchuriki in play. That had probably been the only reason Iwa had bothered to drag the man into the mess rather than reserving him for the conflict against Konoha in Hi no Kuni. It helped that, like in the case of Taki, Konoha's Jinchuriki was also rather young and inexperienced.
Iwa likely thought he would be able to handle both and as such had posted him near the conflict for when they made their appearances. Pein was still hoping they would now that Han was gone because having them come to him was always much easier and the chaos of the battlefield was an excellent opportunity to obtain some of the Biju his plan so desperately needed.
He would need to look into recruiting more Shinobi into Akatsuki, too, if he ever wanted his plan to succeed because there were still far too many Biju unaccounted for and they were missing too many members for him to be confident that they would be collected in a timely manner.
Of course, if Tsukuyomi was also gathering Biju- which seemed entirely possible after Kirigakure- then that might make things much easier for Pein.
After all, what was a single Daimyo against the might of God?
"He's restless," Remarked Naruto as he gazed down at the old stone that formed the entrance to the mountain shrine. He wondered if there was some significance in sealing both the body and the soul beneath mountains- perhaps the weight of the rock above them was supposed to enhance the binding? If the spirit of the mountain was invoked- or even just a general spirit of earth- that could certainly explain it. A small smile tugged at his lips to show faint amusement. "Perhaps he isn't as sealed away as they thought if he knows we're here."
"He could just be reacting to the loss of his body." Akashi suggested. She didn't know how Naruto could tell the spirit of Mōryō was restless because she didn't feel anything from outside the shine as they were but she also knew better than to doubt him.
"If that's the case, he really wasn't fully separated from his body, was he?" Was Katsuri's question. She had never considered herself a very spiritual person and she really didn't understand the full scope of what they were doing- or how, for that matter- at these shrines but she did understand that it had something to do with a demon- a genuine demon, she had been under the impression that there hadn't been any demons since before the era of the clan wars, back when the Rikudō Sennin had hunted them down and banished them from the mortal world- and that the demon in question had been split into two parts in order to rob it of its full might. By that logic, she was pretty sure it shouldn't have any connection to its body left or it wasn't truly separated.
"Not necessarily. It might not have its body anymore but it would still feel an echo. I understand you humans sometimes feel phantom pains after losing….limbs." It took her a second to remember the word she wasn't used to speaking of despite the fact that she now possessed two of her own. Before anything else, she still thought of herself as a snake and millennia of living with that mindset was going to take time to overcome. "This would be something similar."
"So if he knows he's lost his body could he be intending to try something to protect his spirit?"
"He is." It was Naruto who answered, gaze never wavering from the shrine entrance or the multitude of stone warriors arrayed before it. "But it will hardly matter." In the space of a second a clone popped into existence to either side of him. "Katsuri, you'll aid my clones in keeping his forces at bay while Akishi and I perform the rites within the shrine. You'll know we're done when they crumble."
"As you command, Tsukuyomi-Sama."
"And Katsuri?"
"Yes, Tsukuyomi-Sama?"
"If the priestess arrives do let her in, will you?"
There was a knowing look in his eyes and the amusement that continued to play at his lips made it clear that he was up to something more than either of the women could currently see.
"Of course, Tsukuyomi-Sama." Whatever his plans, though, Katsuri would do everything in her power to ensure they proceeded smoothly. His orders were all she really needed to know, everything else was of little consequence. "I'll make sure she can follow you in." That confirmed the fact that she'd be taking up a position in the entrance to the shrine rather than trying to draw the stone soldiers away but she'd already suspected as much. She could hardly imagine Mōryō wouldn't have them go after the people entering his shrine if he was worried about what they might be doing, that would be beyond foolish of him and while he may have been successfully sealed by mere mortals she wouldn't assume the demon to be lacking in either mental or physical ability until she confirmed it for herself. As a general rule, that was a good stance to take for any opponent. Underestimating your adversaries was the same thing as being overconfident and that never ended well.
"I know you will." He gave her a nod, fully trusting in her capabilities, and turned to Akishi. "Come, we still have work to do and I expect he'll put up much more of a struggle than his slumbering body."
"Yes, High-Priest. Sunrise of the Fifth House again? Southern-facing?"
"No, we'll create a circle of Solar Noon as a Solstice to account for his resistance. North-facing to call upon the spirit of the mountain he's encased in and with signs of the Third House in memory of Ahkra. I understand that he was elementally aligned with the earth."
If there had been any lingering doubt that the High-Priest was currently communing with Great Aū those words had completely banished it. Ahkra, devoured by Aū for his failure to ensure Ashun did his duties to the High-Priest and established a connection to the Golden Serpent, had never been mentioned by Akishi and she highly doubted any of the other serpents had mentioned it when he wasn't dealing with them directly. Admittedly Akishi felt no small amount of envy at the High-Priest's ability to be constantly connected to the Father and even greater disappointment that she couldn't feel the interactions between the Sun and his High-Priest despite the fact that she was serving as a bridge between the two.
Was it too much to hope for the warmth of Au's light to fill her scales as the two spoke? Perhaps it was or, maybe, that warmth was withheld because she had no business knowing when and if Aū was speaking with his most favored servant.
It was strange, though, because Naruto really didn't strike her as the servant of anybody- even Great Aū. Something about it just felt off, a puzzle missing a piece or, no, not missing a piece but with pieces of other puzzles among its own. They all fit together but she couldn't make sense of the picture she was seeing, it was simply beyond her understanding.
What, exactly, was the true relationship between the Man Who Reads the Moon and the Golden Serpent of the Sun?
And, most concerning, was Great Aū even aware?
She'd normally not dare to think anything so close to blasphemy but if there was anything Akishi had realized since first meeting Tsukuyomi it was that all lines and boundaries had a tendency to blur where he was concerned and answers that were once clear as a still pond clouded like ice in his presence.
It was as if whatever he read from the moon was guarded so jealously that he had to ensure nothing he touched could be read by eyes other than his own.
Once, that thought would have been absurd but the more time she spent in his presence the more she wondered if the Wolves' belief of his divinity might not be as outlandish as they first seemed. There was certainly something more to the young Daimyo than anyone knew and part of Akishi doubted they ever would.
Sometimes she didn't even believe he knew all the answers when it came to himself.
It was not a thought that brought comfort but it did instill her with a burning curiosity that refused to sputter out. In fact, the more she was around him the more that curiosity grew and she couldn't imagine being away from his side lest she miss some key piece to deciphering the enigma that was Tsukuyomi of the House of Wolves.
Perhaps now she was beginning to see why Great Au had been so insistent that he should be the one to take up the mantle of High-Priest.
Of course, those were thoughts better saved for another time- they had work to do. Almost against her will a frown crossed her face at his request. It was doable, absolutely, but what he was asking….
"That's not a simple Circle by any means, High-Priest, it will take considerable time to prepare even a small area in such a way. If it needs to be the same size as the Circle used for the body…." She trailed off. It didn't really matter to her if it took several hours for her to ready and she only cared for Katsuri's ability to maintain her vigil for that length of time so far as it affected the High-Priest's desires but the real problem came in the form of Mōryō himself. She did not have any expectations that he would sit idle as she went about her work and even as a spirit there were ways he could disrupt the delicate rites the High-Priest intended to perform.
"I am aware. I will be performing a Lesser Binding to strengthen the existing seal. Hopefully it will be enough to allow you to complete the Circle without interruption."
"Do you have a medium? I thought all of his body was destroyed, I'm not sure how you'll connect his spirit to your binding."
Naruto smiled and rested his hand on the handle of his blade. "Oh, I have something that will work well enough, Akishi, do have some faith in me."
"Ah, of course, HIgh-Priest!" SHe quickly backtracked with her words and bent at the waist despite being mostly behind him. "I did not mean to imply any doubt, I only intended to express my lack of understanding when it came to your plans. I am sure you have everything well in hand."
"At ease, Akishi. It is only natural to doubt that which we don't understand." The way he said it almost made her believe he was the millenia old spirit and she was the one who had only recently begun dabbling in matters of the spiritual. It was absolutely absurd. While she had been granted a physical form by the grace of Aū to serve his purposes here in the mortal world, she was a spiritual being and always had been. She'd been dealing with other spirits since before the world was inhabited by the demons who had eventually been banished by the Rikudō Sennin; of the three of them here she was the expert of spiritual matters.
So why did she feel like an ignorant child every time Naruto spoke? Even when he said things dealing with subjects she knew it was like she was learning it again for the first time. It was distinctly unsettling, like someone had stolen her understanding of the spiritual and given it to someone else….someone like the High-Priest of Aū.
…..Is….is that what had happened? She still knew things, that hadn't changed, but her understanding of those subjects seemed pale and shallow, a poor representation of an immortal lifetime existing in the spiritual realm. Was Tsukuyomi somehow drawing on her own experience and understanding through their bond or had Aū himself done something to aid his High-Priest more directly at cost to Akishi?
Almost as if sensing her unease- and it was entirely possible he did considering her very soul was tied to him now- he gave her a comforting smile, as if to reassure her that no matter what was going on he'd be there with her and they'd be able to get through it together.
It was…nice….she realized, having someone she could rely on, but it didn't completely ease her fears. She would need to find some way to speak with the Father so she could get some answers, if only to reassure her that this was something that had been done intentionally and that there wasn't something wrong with her memories. She'd have to make sure it didn't seem like she was questioning him or the High-Priest, because she wasn't, but she couldn't just ignore the mater either because if neither of them were behind it then she was missing something that could be vital in her role of assisting the High-Priest and that just wouldn't do at all.
Wakamono Betsumei - Youthful and Alias, respectively. Read together it's "Young Man", according to Google-Sensei. No idea how accurate that it but it certainly amused me.
Thanks to my Patrons for their continued support.
Lord Generals
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Lord Marshals
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Lord Majors
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Lord High-Inquisitor
Janus
Lord Inquisitors
Angel Morales, Brendon, Joe Schumacher, Michael Friede, Nilzor, Chase, Maroner, Forseeti, Carlos Campbell, Thanyx, Chace Gannon, Slip123, Godfrey Kawi, Nicholas Hoover, Nicholas Liu, Supernowy, Milton Pereira, YGO, Louis Lennin, OldManCain, Brandon Romero, MB, Brandon, LoneSaiyan, Para, Nekrull DeUmbrus, Jennifer carpenter, HKaz, Pantheras, MasterT941, J. G., Tyrell2000, Gobo, June Tai, james escobedo, Sebastiaan asselbergs, James, TheGreatBubbaJ, TheAbsoluteMonarch, Polo Pannini, JonCotterill, Zack Crum, SMatatabi, Theepicslime, Matthew Smith, Wrex, DamnedThrice, DualEquinox, Carl Confoy, James Fleming, Sivellan, Marin Dimovski
Until I next have your attention, I remain,
-Eyazahrid