It was over four thousand years ago when Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was born, her father, Reitan Otsutsuki was the emperor of fire country and he did so by discovering the god tree and using its power to control the masses, he also used it as a deterrent against any would-be usurpers. Reitan Otsutsuki was a large man with a long white beard. He ruled with an iron fist, taking what he wanted and executing anyone he didn't like. His wife's name was Shinsetsu Otsutsuki and she was an offering from one of the many villages he would tax, she had long brown hair and black eyes.
His daughter, Kaguya had long black hair and onyx eyes, she was a princess first and a child second. She always did what her father told her to do, even if she didn't like it.
She feared her father and rightly so, he killed her mother when she tried to leave their home when Kaguya was nine. He was never the same afterward, he was angrier, colder, and more distant. When Kaguya was seventeen her father had grown ill, he didn't trust his daughter to rule the fire country alone so he arranged her for marriage to an old friend of his, Ishiki Momoichi.
Kaguya ran from home to get away from such a fate, she carried nothing but the kimono on her body and a necklace from her mother. Kaguya walked for three days before she collapsed on a farm in the middle of the night.
The owner of the said farm was a young man barely older than her, Tenji was his name. He saw her on a rainy night in her elegant white kimono in his fields, Tenji was a gentleman so he walked up to her after putting the animals away for the night. "Excuse me miss, you shouldn't be out in the cold. You can get sick." Tenji said.
She turned around to reveal she was sobbing, "I'm sorry, I just don't have anywhere to go to." She said in between sobs. Tenji felt like he had to do something, "You can come to stay at my home if you'd like." Tenji offered.
Kaguya was surprised by such kindness, she nodded but continued to cry. He lead her to his home on the other side of the field, it was small for a home, it wasn't like her grandiose estate. It was just one building with a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a sitting room.
He brought her to the sitting room and grabbed a towel for her from the bathroom, "Thank you, sir." She said as Tenji handed her a brown towel. "It's just Tenji, there's no need for fancy talk. I'm just a farmer." He said bashfully.
"I am princess Kaguya of the Ōtsutsuki clan, but you may call me Kaguya."
Tenji began bowing and sweating profusely, "I'm so sorry your highness, I didn't know it was you. I'll do better than to speak out of turn, please don't kill me."
Kaguya just giggled at the farmer boy, "There's no need to apologize, you did nothing wrong."
Tenji stopped Bowing, "But people have died for less?" Tenji asked confused.
Kaguya made an exasperated sigh, "That was my father's outlook, he is a man driven by ego. I don't wish for another's death, everyone is the same on the inside. No matter what status they have."
Tenji agreed but there were still doubts in his mind, "You wish for peace, a fine goal to be sure but it's just a fantasy."
Kaguya knew that he was half right, "Maybe, but still, I have to try. Everyone deserves happiness, that I am sure of."
Tenji smiled, "May I show you your room for the night, Princess?"
"Yes, I'd like that," Kaguya replied. She followed Tenji to a hallway with three doors, "The door at the end of the hall will be your bedroom for the night, the door closest is my bedroom and the door in-between yours and mine is the bathroom." He walked into the room at the end of the hall.
"This was my parent's room, but it's yours for now as they won't be using it. If you need anything, feel free to knock on my door, but if you don't then please, have a nice night, Hime." He said as he left the room and into his bedroom.
There was a large-sized bed with two pillows, a closet, a wooden nightstand with two candlesticks, and a painting of three people. Kaguya picked the painting up, it must've been Tenji and his parents, they looked so happy compared to Kaguya and her family portrait that hung in the common room of the main house. She wished her family was likewise, but no one can change the past.
Kaguya took her kimono off and placed it on the foot of the bed to dry, she pulled the covers off the bed and hopped in. Kaguya struggled to fall asleep as she feared that her father would find her in her sleep, but she forced herself to sleep as no one likes a sleepy princess.
When Kaguya awoke she could smell something cooking, she got out of bed and put her semi-dry kimono on, and followed her nose. It lead her to the kitchen where Tenji had finished cooking eggs and heating tea, he noticed the princess still wearing her kimono from yesterday, he would have to tell her about his mother's clothes.
"Good morning, princess," Tenji said with a smile.
"Please, Kaguya will do for now."
"Of course princess," he said jokingly.
He pulled out two wooden plates from the cupboard and two cups, he set them down on the table in the common room. Tenji returned to the kitchen and grabbed the tea kettle and poured some into both cups, he grabbed the skillet with the eggs and flopped one egg onto each plate.
Before eating or drinking Tenji lit two candles and hung his head, Kaguya was unfamiliar with Tenji's tradition but respected it anyway. When Tenji finished he blew the candles out and took a sip of his tea, burning his mouth, "Ow!" He exclaimed. Kaguya just giggled at him, "You're supposed to blow on it first, then drink." She explained before demonstrating.
She sipped her tea like the lady her mother raised, Kaguya enjoyed tea time more than any other time in the day. Tenji felt foolish as he didn't drink tea very often since he started living alone, he mostly just drank water he carried from the well. "I guess I can learn a thing or two from you, princess."
Kaguya giggled at him once more, "It appears so, but you'll have to teach me some things since I am just a princess." She said mockingly.
Tenji blew on his tea and sipped it, "You're right, it is a lot better." His words made Kaguya smirk.
Tenji got up and grabbed a straw hat and turned to her, "Do you want to head into the nearby village with me? I need to go get some supplies for the winter." He asked.
"Of course, but I think it impolite to wear my wet kimono in public. But I've nothing to wear." She complained.
"You can try some of my mother's clothes, but I can't say for sure they'll fit you," Tenji said thoughtfully.
"It is worth a try, I suppose." She said as she followed Tenji into her bedroom, he opened the closet and revealed a side with women's clothes and one with men's.
"These are your parents' clothes, forgive me for I cannot accept," Kaguya said respectfully.
"C'mon my parents won't be using them anytime in the future, so someone has to," Tenji replied with a shrug.
Kaguya asked solemnly, "What happened to your parents?"
"My father was drafted into the emperor's army and killed in a war he did not believe in, but my mother was killed by some lowlifes for a basket of food. I don't resent your father, I believe that everyone is judged not by how they live but by how they die."
"I don't understand your meaning," Kaguya said confused.
"Only one's true self is revealed when confronted with their imminent death, some cower in fear and beg, some fight for survival and inevitably fail, but the greatest ones accept their death and confront it with courage and pride."
"I didn't take you as a philosopher, maybe you'd be my ethical ambassador someday." Kaguya joked.
Tenji laughed, "I might take you up on that someday, then I wouldn't have to be a farmer."
Tenji settled down, "Well I'll be waiting by the front door, take your time." He said before leaving the room. Kaguya looked through the clothes and one kimono caught her eye, a beautiful white kimono with purple and gold accents. It was the prettiest kimono she had ever seen, and she was a princess for Kami's sake.
She slipped her dirty kimono off and put the new kimono on, she walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked beautiful in it, she smiled and walked to the front door.
When Kaguya walked onto the porch Tenji smirked, "You look beautiful, princess."
"You know you're the first person to say that, I've been called many different things in my life, but never beautiful." She said with a bat of her eyelashes.
"You have a beautiful smile, so I can't understand why they wouldn't say anything." He complimented.
Kaguya blushed, "You don't have to compliment me, treat me as a normal person." She said sincerely.
Tenji just smiled, "As you wish my lady." He bowed.
They walked towards the village, the sun beat down on them heavily, it was a very warm day. Such contrast to the night before, the village was much bigger than Kaguya initially thought.
It had the main road and side roads branching out, the houses were made of wood and clay, and most of them were one-story though some were two.
They walked down the side roads, some of them with fruit trees on them, others with rice paddies or pastures for the village's livestock.
Villagers were going about their daily routines, many of them had greeted Tenji and were concerned that Tenji was with a girl.
Kaguya thought about their conversation, she was very deep in thought when a young boy ran up to her and gasped, "Are you Tenji's girlfriend!?" He exclaimed.
"What?!" Kaguya said startled.
The boy asked, "Are you? I'm sorry, are you his girlfriend? He never talks about his girlfriend, and he doesn't have a girlfriend at all!"
"Haruki, stop pestering her. She's a friend that I'm helping out." Tenji said to the boy.
They walked for what seemed like hours, and they passed by many stalls, Kaguya admired the many necklaces and silks. Kaguya saw a yukata that caught her eye, "Tenji, look at this one." She said.
"That one's a bit too expensive, let's look at some others." He replied.
Kaguya sighed and followed Tenji to a different stall that had much cheaper clothes, she understood that Tenji wasn't rolling in money, he was a farmer and they scrape by with little to no money left. Kaguya settled on a pink yukata, it was much cheaper than the yukata she had eyed earlier, for some reason she thought it was cuter, maybe because Tenji bought it for her.
Tenji carried on to meet with the local butcher, "Taichi, I'm going to need some supplies for the oncoming winter." Tenji said.
The butcher was a very tall and large man, "The winter usual coming right up," the man walked behind a door and came out with a bunch of preservatives and a sack of meat.
"Thanks, Taichi," Tenji said as he took the sack of meat and left the stall. "Now are you ready to go back?" Tenji asked.
"I suppose," Kaguya said holding her new yukata.
When they got back to the main road, a wagon was parked on the side of the road with a group of people, some old people wore kimonos that were well maintained and there were more militarized men as their guards.
One was a woman who noticed Kaguya and Tenji, walking together, and she grabbed their attention. "Excuse me, have you seen a princess come by here? She goes by the name of Kaguya Osutsuki." The woman asked them.
"No, why do you ask?" Kaguya gulped.
"Because she's the emperor's daughter, he'll reward you handsomely if you find her." A guard spoke up. "We're one of many battalions out looking for her, we believe that she was kidnapped." He said gravely.
Kaguya's heart beat slowly, worried that Tenji would give her up at a moment's notice.
"Sorry, but we haven't seen anyone that could be considered royalty. Maybe try further towards the land of lightning, they are riddled with thieves and bandits." Tenji said.
The woman sighed, "Very well, carry on, but may I learn your names?"
"My name is Tenji and this is my sister, Kara. We're farmers."
"What lovely names, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening."
The pair continued back to Tenji's farm, Kaguya was quiet the rest of the journey and Tenji spoke his mind, "I didn't expose who you were because you don't want to go back, that you made clear."
It calmed Kaguya a bit, how there was a man so considerate and kind she did not know. "Thank you." She said.
"It's no trouble at all, your happiness is all that matters." He smiled.
They continued walking and eventually got to the farmhouse, a warm and safe place Kaguya was glad to be in.
"Unfortunately they will find you, your father has a lot of soldiers," Tenji said.
"I know, but maybe it's best knowing there's a timer on my new life," Kaguya replied.
"New life?" Tenji asked.
"I want to live as you do, teach me everything you know. I want to experience the work my subjects will do when my father passes." Kaguya said.
"You want to be a farmer?" Tenji asked.
"Yes," Kaguya said.
"Alright then, we'll begin tomorrow at dawn. But first, we'll cook some dinner." He said foaming a circle around his belly.
Kaguya lived with Tenji for almost six months, she was infatuated with Tenji during her time with him. Her emotions began to boil over and she told Tenji that she loved him, he reciprocated her feelings, and later that night they had an unforgettable evening.
Unfortunately, not everything lasts forever, the next morning when Kaguya woke up there was a knock at the door. Tenji was still sleeping, he deserved it after the intimate night they had shared. Kaguya put on a fresh yukata on and answered the door, she was greeted by someone she hoped she would never meet again. "My daughter, how I missed you." He said as he hugged her.
Kaguya was taken aback by the sudden embrace, "Father! Why are you here, How'd you find me?"
Reitan stepped back, "I visited an oracle and she told me where you were, now come, you're still to be married to Ishiki." He turned to a carriage being protected by thirty men.
"No, I do not wish to be married to a man I've never met," Kaguya said.
Reitan turned around shocked by his daughter's words, "This is for your own good, it's the only way you can become empress. I want only the best for you my flower." He said sincerely.
"Then let me rule alone, I am your only heir."
"A woman cannot rule alone, you need a man's perspective."
"Then let me choose a man to rule alongside me."
"I can't allow you to choose someone unworthy of such a position, Ishiki is perfect, he has experience with ruling and he will treat you well."
"If that be the case then where is he?"
Reitan was getting frustrated by his daughter, she was stubborn and smart and it was going to get her killed someday. "Kaguya, I'm ordering you to get in that carriage now!" He barked.
"Father or not, you have not gained authority over me. Not since you killed my mother." She chastised.
Reitan had it, "I worked hard to be where I am today, you are lucky that you are of my seed, or else I would've had your tongue ripped out. Now you will get in that carriage willingly or I will raze this farm and village for harboring you, the choice is yours."
Kaguya gritted her teeth, she hated how cruel he could be, and stepped into the carriage. She looked longfully into the land she was now leaving, her father was saddened by what transpired but she forced him to threaten his hand.
"When we get back home I want to show you something," he said seriously.
Kaguya did not speak to her father during the whole trip, he had not gained her voice. She barely ate until their journey had reached its destination. Reitan and Kaguya entered the massive throne room, Reitan looked at the throne sorrowfully. He ordered his guards out of the room, "Kaguya for what I'm about to show you, you cannot show a single person unless it is your heir." He began moving the throne and a staircase was revealed.
As they were walking she worried about what would be at the end that warranted such secrecy, but when she laid eyes upon it, it all made sense now. "I call it the god tree, it is the creation of all things, life, death, and everything in-between. I found it as a boy with my brother, he died when he touched it. But because of him, I have a connection to the god tree and I've been able to use the god tree to manipulate the weather, nature, and life itself. But my mind is limited and my connection to the god tree is taking its toll on my body, I only hope you will not succumb to my same fate." Reitan said.
"What are you talking about father?" Kaguya asked worriedly.
"This tree can let you do whatever you want, you just need faith and willpower. I want you to use it however you see fit, the choice is yours now."
Kaguya didn't like her father but there was a weird feeling in her gut about what was to happen next, "Father, what do you mean?"
He placed his hand upon the tree and held his other hand out for her, "Come, place one hand on the tree and another into my hand."
Kaguya did as she was told and felt an overabundant amount of knowledge fill her head, she could feel the world around her, she could feel the people around her, and she felt at peace. "Is this how you feel, father?"
"Yes, it's a bit overwhelming. It took me a couple of years to get adjusted to my new abilities, but I think yours will be different than mine." He looked up and closed his eyes, he returned his gaze to his daughter and smiled.
"I haven't been the greatest father nor I a good person, I was a terrible husband and a horrible leader. I've made terrible decisions and wished I could take them back, but you were never one of them." He placed a kiss on Kaguya's forehead and pushed her away from the God tree, he put both hands on it and a white glow started to envelop him and soon enough he was being absorbed into the god tree.
Kaguya watched in horror as Reitan was fully absorbed, she cried not understanding what had just transpired. Kaguya was shocked as she could no longer feel her father's presence. She slowly regained her composure and returned to the throne room, she put the throne back on top of the secret entrance. When she finished she sent out notices of Reitan's death and soon came her marriage to Ishiki, she hated it but she now knew the truth behind her father's powers and she would do everything she could to preserve the god tree.
A couple of months later Kaguya began having an absurd appetite, she would eat anything she could, and then her belly fattened up. She was pregnant with Tenji's children. Ishiki was furious as she had the children of another man, Ishiki found out where Kaguya had been during her escape. He gathered several soldiers and burned down Tenji's farm and house, but they didn't stop there, they burned the entirety of the nearby village.
Kaguya was filled with rage and sorrow at the news, she descended to the god tree and in her rage and sorrow created a fruit made up of parts of the god tree. Once she ate it, it changed her skin to pale white, her hair ghost white, and her eyes to a pinkish white. She found Ishiki and didn't just want to kill Ishiki, she wanted to make him suffer as she suffered. Ishiki was tortured for three years straight, Kaguya separated fingers, toes, hands, arms, legs, teeth, and ears. He was merely a husk by the time she was done making him suffer.
Soon enough she gave birth to twin baby boys that would never know a father, she named them Hagaromo and Hamura. They shared her new pale skin and eyes, they were very much like Tenji than she cared to admit.
But Kaguya still ruled fire country as its lone empress, as the boys grew older, the more dangerous humans were. The people of fire country had deemed Kaguya unfit of her power and tried to dethrone her but they were unsuccessful, Kaguya merely blinked and any would be usurper became a red mist.
She found out that her eyes could see a pathway of spiritual energy, which she called chakra. She looked at herself and compared her chakra to that of her servants to be that of a pond to her ocean of chakra.
But humans being who they are, began fighting amongst each other, Kaguya wanted peace but with each passing day after she ate the chakra fruit her mind was breaking, she couldn't think straight, and with the ever-growing greed of man she was inching closer to go to war herself.
Her sons could use this chakra energy much like herself but they had different abilities than her, Hagaromo was the one to develop more and more, he was a natural.
Kaguya met a talking toad and he taught Kaguya a special ability, sage mode. Whenever she was in sage mode she grew horns and her hair grew longer.
Hogoromo also learned sage mode from the toad, but he was imperfect when he finally utilized it, it took him another year to master it. When Hagaromo and Hamura turned eighteen they noticed their mother had begun rounding people up like cattle, she was trapping them in cocoons and using them to fuel the god tree for a new utopia.
Kaguya was sick and tired of pesky humans fighting and dying because someone wanted power or money, she had devised a plan to create a new utopia. A world without fear, anger, sadness, or pain. She would create a new race of beings using human sacrifices, on the ashes of old will a new utopia be built.
Unfortunately one of the sacrifices she used was a girl Hagaromo was in love with and he unlocked a new power, that of the Sharingan. Hagaromo and Hamura wanted to stop Kaguya from killing any more people and Hamura confronted her first, she trapped him in an illusion and ordered him around like a puppet. She didn't want to fight her children, but they just didn't know any better.
When Hagaromo confronted Kaguya she ordered Hamura to fight him, Hagaromo was able to break Hamura free from Kaguya's control and Hagaromo unlocked a new set of eyes, the Rinnegan. Together the two worked to defeat their mother without killing her, they created a seal that used the sun and the moon to seal her into the god tree. But before Kaguya was sealed she gave her very first perfect being a mission to unseal her from the God tree no matter how long it would take.
After Kaguya's defeat Hagaromo traveled the world while Hamura guarded the god tree to prevent any fools from using its power for their own gain, Hagaromo taught people around the world about the art of ninshu. Then when Hagaromo grew older he had two sons named Indra and Ashura.
The two brothers fought about almost everything, it was like water and oil. They were taught the ways of ninshu like many others but they had the chakra of their father, Indra was gifted the Sharingan and Ashura sage abilities. Indra was extremely gifted but had the mentality of might makes right. Ashura was horrible at everything besides making friends, it's a wonder how he even completed his sage training.
When the time came to select a successor Hagaromo chose Ashurafor he inherited his kind heart, Indra was not pleased and made his disappointment in the decision apparent. If Indra was a lesser he would have thrown a fit and fought his brother for the seat, but he wasn't and respected his father's decision.
As the two brothers grew older they created their own clans, the Senju clan being Ashura's clan, and the Uchiha clan being Indra's clan. Nearly a hundred years after the founder's deaths the two clans were engaged in war due to conflicting ideologies, thus initiating an eternal feud that would span nearly three thousand and eight hundred years later.