The Headmaster looks over his people with a confident smile. His people were thriving, and he relished every second of it. A male with light blue hair, his right-hand man, came in his room.
"Headmaster, I bring news to you."
"Have our agents return from Iwa?"
"No, it's not about them. It's about Yui."
The Headmaster raises a brow. "Oh, has she been found?"
"Yes, Headmaster. A shinobi from Konoha calling themselves 'Ghost' has her in their custody. She wants us to rendezvous in a village near the Land of Sound."
"Splendid, we'll make our way to the Village." The Headmaster grabs his gear, preparing himself for the trip.
"Sir, what if this a trap by Konoha?"
"No need to worry, Hisame." The Headmaster stabs a kunai with a strange symbol writing on it as a dresser. "They'll never catch us."
"Sage Art: White Extreme Attack!"
Brilliant light and powerful vibrations hinder both Vigilantes. Kabuto performs the ox hand seal beginning to breathe life to the ground. But before he can command the earth, webbing pierces his chest. The technique ends by returning the environment to normal. Megami and the Vigilante rise to their feet, dazed but still awake.
"Looks like my guess is correct. You are a superb sensor." Kabuto indicates.
Murmurs of laughter bounce in the wind. Golden webs surround Megami, and from above Spiders glide across the air. Although they were tiny, their words could be heard throughout the outskirts.
"Child of the Singularity dancing with a snake."
"A Sinner…"
"Why does she play with her prey? Didn't he taught her any better?"
"She hesitates. Clinging on to her humanity."
"Shut up," Megami demands. The Spiders laugh once again.
"She seems agitated." One spider chuckles.
"Angry. Angry. Angry!"
"You're above them. Don't waste your time with these wannabe gods."
"Stop showing mercy."
"No more mercy."
"Show cruelty."
"Yes…"
The Spiders repeat the word, chanting yes amongst themselves. Hinata was apprehensive; the Spiders never acted this way. Megami stood still reflecting her options. Kabuto breaks free from the strings, and he remained in place observing Megami. The Rōnin places the sword in her waist as a typical samurai would. Her sluggish mannerism gone.
"Get the Hybrid." Megami orders Hinata.
"But how am I going to get past him?"
Webs wrap around Hinata's wrist and throw her high, over Kabuto and across the forest. Kabuto could sense the Vigilante clashing down to earth. He looks at Megami; she took a fighting stance, ready to start a fight.
"(It looks like the whispers got to her. I need to be more careful.)" He thought to himself.
Both fighters stand their ground. A cloud moves to the side, revealing the glistening full moon. The night breeze was the only thing that could be heard.
Megami disappears in a blur of speed surprising Kabuto. She attacks Kabuto engaging in a battle of taijutsu against him. The Rōnin gets in multiple blows while successfully blocking counterattacks. Kabuto chakra scalpels had no effects on her since it couldn't cut through her flesh. Megami hits an open palm strike to the chest, sending him across the field. Kabuto regains his footing and stops himself.
"Damn…" Kabuto had blood running down his mouth. "(I can't face her head on. I need to take her down from a distance.)"
Golden threads emerge wrapped around Megami's fingers and along came the spiders.
"The snake lost his touch." They mocked.
"Do your master a favor and execute him!" They told her. Kabuto heard enough.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Animation"
The ground came to life moving as large waves in the ocean. A massive wave of earth propels forward moving towards Megami. She swings her arms utilizing the strings to cancel out the attack; the earth shatters into small rocks and dust. Megami waited for the dust to settle when suddenly bones sprout from the ground, hitting her on the stomach.
The surprise attack didn't pierce her skin, but it left Megami laying on top of the bones blades. After the bones had settled the once flat field had turned into a land of bones. The bones reach high into the sky above the orphanage and even the trees of the forest. Kabuto emerges from one of the bones and observes the outcome of his technique.
"(No signs of damage on her. What is she made out of?)"
Megami recovers, she stood balancing on the bone. Her hand placed on her sword. A black aura exudes from her body, causing nearby bones to crumble.
"Water Style: Giant Waterfall"
Kabuto fires a giant ball of water directed at Megami. Without waving hand seals, Megami expels a giant ball of earth to counter Kabuto's attack. The two techniques clash with Megami's overpowering Kabuto's. Megami's strike continues its momentum forward, while it begins to change shape and coagulate. It forms into a large, humanoid creature composed of rock.
"The stone golem technique!?"
Kabuto exits the bone and jumps up in the air. The Golem lands front first on top of the bones and couldn't get back up. The Sage lands on the Golem's back with ease. Using the strings, Megami wraps it around the Golem's limbs and propels herself forward. She lands on the Golem's back facing Kabuto up close.
Megami blocks any Kabuto of his strikes and counterattacks with her owns. Like the gentle fist of the Hyūga clan, Magami strikes back with her knuckles. Once hit, her Knuckles produce a golden web string that pierces Kabuto's body and exits the other side. Kabuto was hit twice, once in the abdomen and the other on his thigh. He goes for a strike at Megami's mask, but she dodges and uppercuts his forearm with her knuckles.
The cut of the string was so severe that he was bleeding profusely. Megami goes for a high kick which Kabuto dodges. But the boot acted as a blade; it did not cut through his skin nor flesh but affected his bones. The odd attack slices his right clavicle and immediately disabled Kabuto. He slithers away and disappears in the forest of bones. Kabuto watches from the ground not letting his guard down.
"I can't… can't keep up with her. It appears this snake had lost his venom."
"Have you finally giving up?" The Rōnin exclaims.
"(Reinforcements should have arrived by now. Where are they?)"
Naruto enters his office seeking information at the situation in Iwa. There were multiple people doing paperwork. But to his surprise, Hanabi was there playing with a kunai. Hanabi greets the Hokage with her usual smug attitude.
"Well, it took you long enough." She said.
"Hanabi? What are you doing here?"
"Official Hyūga business. You're here to learn about the status in Iwa are you?"
"H-how did you know?"
"A couple of politicians are complaining about your absence. Including the Daimyō."
Naruto groans. "I had personal matters to attend to."
"I don't think the Daimyō cares."
Naruto facepalms. It appears as he was about to snap. Hanabi has never seen him like this. The Hokage had so much in his mind. He has to deal with the Academy, the possible Ōtsutsuki, his family, Mitsuki's condition, Yui, and now the Tsuchikage's well being. Hanabi went to his side, reassuring the Hokage.
"Easy there, bud. No need to break down. Everything will work out just fine, like what happened in the past. It won't-" Hanabi knocks on wood. "get any worse than this."
A snake brakes through the window, alarming Naruto and Hanabi at the sudden appearance. It slithers towards the Hokage delivering a message to him.
"I bring dire news, Warlord."
"Don't call me that."
"The orphanage is under attack."
"What!" Hanabi yells out in horror. "B-but I knocked on wood."
"I was just there!" Naruto was stunned.
"Lord Kabuto requires your assistance." The snake advises.
Naruto leaves in an instant heading towards the outskirts.
"Wait! Don't go alone!" Before Hanabi can reach the door, Naruto bursts in the room. He pauses, processing what happened.
"What just…" Naruto leaves the office, and seconds later he came back in.
"What's happening? Am I running in circles?"
Hanabi activates her Byakugan studying Naruto's chakra.
"You're chakra seems normal. Wait…" Hanabi opens the and looks outsides. "What's this?"
Hanabi jumps out the window with Naruto following behind. They jumped across a few rooftops when suddenly Hanabi stops. She looks around the village with the Byakugan; bewildered.
"Is this…? How is it possible?"
"Have you found what's wrong?" Naruto asks.
"It's like… a genjutsu placed on the environment and not the people."
"How? Is that even possible?"
"It's subtle. I can barely get a peek of this technique."
Naruto got an idea; he enters Sage Mode and senses his surroundings. All the Natural Energy warped and molded. He never saw anything like this. The natural energy was casting the genjutsu.
"Natural Energy is the genjutsu. But that's impossible." Naruto concentrates and looks further. He could feel faint traces of chakra within the energy like a spider's webbing.
"Who could perform such a feat?" Naruto wonders.
"Can you break it?" Hanabi questions.
"Possibly. It will take time." The Hokage deduces. "Let's hope Kabuto can hold on a while."
Naruto Sage Mode changes to the Six Paths state.
"If the natural energy was changed so drastically, then that means the one who performed this technique is a…"
Megami stood on the stone golem's head when the spiders returned to her.
"They discovered our trickery."
"Finish this. Now."
Megami scoffs. She knew they were right. So she prepares a final attack. The Rōnin uses one hand extending her middle and ring fingers; a hand seal Kabuto haven't seen before. String emerge from her back, hair, and sides. The webbing floats above the field of bones.
"One: Undoing"
The strings begin to spin similar to a vortex. The strings were destroying everything; the field of bones demolished, a chunk of the forest was shattered, and a part of the orphanage was hit. The strings disappear, leaving the filed once again flat.
Kabuto emerges from the ground effectively avoiding the attack. He uses his advance sensory to check on the children. They were unharmed much to his relief. Kabuto senses Magami falling to earth and observes her.
Megami claps her hands, manifesting three red torii that falls the sky. Caught by surprise the torii pins Kabuto the ground subduing him. The torii was imbued with natural energy preventing him from resisting. Eventually, his body went numb, Kabuto then chuckles.
"So, you're a fellow Sage." Kabuto calmly asks. Megami remains quiet as she walks towards him. "Why are you after the girl?"
Megami at first didn't answer but eventually replies. "There are secrets in this world that should not be revealed."
"I see… You believe she'll reveal those secrets."
A little girl runs towards Kabuto, and she tries to lift the torii of him. Megami observes while she tries to free him.
"Enough, Kagayaku."
"Please, Father! You have to fight back!"
"He isn't moving kid. Besides, he can't beat me."
"Then we have to take you down together!"
Megami smiles something nobody was expecting. "You're a determined little brat, aren't you? I'm not going to hurt him anymore, nor your family if that's your concern."
"Then why are you after my new sister?" The little kid barks.
The Rōnin smile fades. "Change. Change is coming, and I'm trying to prevent it."
"What kind of change?" Kabuto spoke.
Megami denies answering. "Secrets stays secrets."
The spiders once again appear over her head, speaking once again.
"They're breaking free of the illusion!"
"He is coming!"
Megami glances at the direction of the Village. She turns and walks towards the forest. Megami momentarily stops and spoke up.
"You've built quite a family, snakeskin. Enjoy it while you still can."
Megami walks towards the forest and disappears in the shadows.
Yui wakes up. She finds herself trapped inside a tree with her upper body sticking out. Yui yells for help, but no one responds. The ground starts shaking, silence her cries. A Chimera-like creature walks over and faces the terrified child. It roars at her face causing the whole cave to tremble.
"Enough, Nue." Sumire's disembody voice rumbles across the cave. Losing interest in the girl Nue moves on and lays on his bed.
"Let me go! Please!"
"No. Now be quiet." Sumire's voice was cold and heartless. Hearing her tone, Yui breaks down into a sobbing mess.
"Why… Why are you doing this? I-I only wanted to save my sisters."
"Sisters?" Sumire's tone of voice completely changes. It became of someone that was taken aback and wasn't expecting hear something like this.
"Our neighbors attacked us. I don't why but…" Yui chokes on her own words. "They told me to run. I didn't want to, but they told me to trust them, and I did. I don't know what happened to them and it's killing me on the inside. So please, let me save my family."
Sumire remained quiet, baffled by what she was hearing. She begins to doubt herself, questioning her motives.
"I… I can't… I need to do this. I need…" Sumire shoves it all away, focusing on her goal. Revenge.
[Hours Later]
Sumire had reached her destination. A small village near the Valley of the End where it was once said Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had a fated battle that reshaped the land. Why? No one knows. A group of refugees had escaped to this location, taking the destroyed area as their own. Rumors had circulated that these people are worshiping Naruto and Sasuke as deities, who can re-imagine the world and erase it as they see fit if they wanted to.
Sumire didn't bother to investigate these rumors. All she cared about was her plan. She started to get nervous. The Academy wasn't here, and she knew that the Hidden Leaf was behind her back. Sumire had time to rest and think since the Village was empty. She had successfully tricked the people into evacuating the Village with a bit of genjutsu and rumors. It was simple for her since none of them were experts on controlling chakra like the five main Villages. So she waited for the Academy arrival.
She heard footsteps behind her. Before she can react, Sumire was grabbed and slammed against the wall of a wooden house. The attacker presses her forearm across Sumire's neck, pinning her.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Sarada screams at her face. Sumire tries to break free but couldn't. Sarada had much more physical strength than her.
"None of you're business."
"Kidnapping? Assault? Abandoning the Village? You're already in hot waters for your past doings."
"Don't act like you care."
Sarada puts more pressure on her forearm choking Sumire. "Do you think Boruto would have wanted this?"
"Who do you think I'm doing this for?!"
Sumire begins to radiate dark purple chakra from her body. Sarada could feel it. As if the chakra of many others were blended. She could feel the despair, the hate, and regrets of many. Sumire teleports a distance behind Sarada escaping her clutches. Now cloaked in negative chakra, Sumire confronts Sarada.
"I'm telling you now, Sarada. Leave, while you still can."
"I can't do that Sumire. I have to stop you." Sarada activates her Sharingan and prepares for a fight.
They are wasting no time charging at each other and clash in the middle of the dirt road. Both exchanges blow, blocking attacks and trying hit one another. Sumire pulls out a kunai attempting to cut down Sarada. They're fist clash while Sarada grabs hold of the kunai.
"Hmph, I'm using this." Sumire forces Sarada's hand to form hand seals. Seeing what she was doing, Sarada rips away the kunai from Sumire and using Sumire's other hand forms hand seals of her own. Both skipped away, gaining distance from each other and took a deep breath.
"Water Style: Raging Waves!"
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Sarada uses the flamethrower variation to counter Sumire's water technique. The attacks clash and cancel each other out. Stream erupts from the chaos engulfing the road. Sarada rushes towards Sumire and grabs her cloak, she spins wildly and throws her down a slope. Sumire lands on her feet, trying to balance herself on the hill.
The Uchiha chased her down and released an onslaught on her. Sumire fights back hitting a couple of kicks that send Sarada down to the shore of a river. She tries to stand up but stumbles on some rocks and falls backward. Sarada rips her right arm warmer revealing a seal in her forearm. Summoning shuriken, she throws them at high speeds catching Sumire by surprise.
The negative chakra protects her from severe damage as the shuriken bounce off her. Sumire grabs Sarada by the ankle and throws her into the river. She jumps at Sarada continuing to beat down her down. Every time Sarada was hit a feeling of dread runs through her mind. Sumire lands a brutal shot to Sarda's gut, making her fall to her knees.
"This doesn't need to happen. Go back Sarada."
"Give me the girl…" Sarada coughs violently.
"What don't you understand? Leave me alone!"
Sumire goes for a punch but was hit from a sudden uppercut. The punch cracks her mask and launches her away. Sumire recovers and lands on her feet, glaring at Sarada.
"I can't do that. For the welfare of Konoha, I will take you down." Sarada begins to mold chakra into her arm.
"Forget Konoha! Just let me fade away!" Sumire quickly waves hand seals. "Water Style: Water Shark Bomb Jutsu!"
A chunk of the river takes the shape of a shark, moving towards Sarada. With lightning enveloped around her hand, Sarada darts towards the shark. Sumire was surprised by how fast Sarada was moving.
"Chidori!"
Sarada clashes with the water shark, the shark staggers Sarada, but eventually, she pushes forward. She destroys the shark and with her Chidori still intact moves ahead. Sarada closes the gap between the two quickly, startling Sumire. She didn't want to kill Sumire, but she needed to hinder her.
A dark aura swallows Sarada, the surroundings change from a large river to an underground cave. Sarada's Chidori hits a boulder and shatters its sides. She was stunned by what just happened. Sarada clutches her hand, observing her surroundings with her Sharingan.
"You don't care." Sumire's voice echoes. "You just tried to kill me."
"No, I-"
"You put the values of the Village over any other." Sumire interrupts with evident anger in her voice.
"It's my home. I will do anything to protect it."
"You call that place home!? They turned me into a weapon, then discarding me claiming it was a second chance. I was alone. And that hurt me."
"Is that it? That's your plan? Steal Yui and delay Konoha progress?
"As much as I want too, no, not it. I hate the Academy much, much more. So I'm going topple their command in one fell swoop."
"So, you're facing the Academy all by yourself?"
"Not really…"
The ground shakes and rumbles, Nue has emerged from the shadows towering over Sarada. Sumire walks under Nue twitching and breathing heavily. The aura around had grown thicker and darker, causing her to become sick. Her cloak was gone, and her long hair was flowing freely.
"Sumire… What's happening to you?" Sumire didn't want to answer, but she did.
"The Gozu Tennō gathers chakra from negative emotions. Imagine how much chakra I could make after a terrorist attack."
"But I thought you lost that power?"
"I did. But I remade it after the attack. It wasn't easy, but I did it."
"Why? Why go through the effort of remaking such a revolting jutsu?"
"My father… was considered a genius. I saw him like a maniac. As for him, he saw himself as a loyalist. His goal, Root's goals, we're the most important to him. Not his family."
Sarada watches Sumire's movements with her Sharingan, waiting for an opening. While she listens to Sumire's story, her objective stayed the same, take her down and recover the Hybrid. That's all Sarada cared about it.
"When Root collapsed, he became demented. Obsessed with his work and blinded by his hatred. Everything got worse from there. We were forced to leave the village, and then, Mother fell ill. The next thing I knew, she was gone."
Sumire's begins to shakes violently.
"I lost everything. I was branded and turned into a weapon. Built for only one purpose, annihilation." Tears drip from her chin. "Boruto… He saved me. He gave me a second chance at life. But soon he was gone too."
Sumire was quickly filled with rage.
"They took him away from me! The only friend I ever had. So I'll destroy everything they love!"
A red glow emanates from Sumire's back. The Gozu Tennō forms on her back amplifying her powers. Nue roars, causing the whole cave to shake. Sarada tries to remain calm. She knew how dangerous Sumire could be. In her mind, she needed to put her feelings aside and act quickly.
"Fire Style: Hiding in Ash Jutsu."
After waving the hand seals, Sarada expels chakra-infused ash that blankets the area in front of her. The ash burns anything it touches and moves quickly across the cave. Nue was forced to step back, leaving Sumire open. Seeing the opening Sarada charges towards Sumire. Nue sees through this and swats Sarada away with its paw. Sarada collides with the wall with enough force to crack it. Sumire appears before Sarada grabs her by the shirt.
"Why do I bother telling you? You'll never know how it feels to be alone!"
Sumire slams Sarada against the wall repeatedly. She delivers constant punches to Sarada's body without any signs of tiring out. Sumire then throws her to the side, making her face hit the ground. Sarada tries to fight but was thwarted. The parallel power between the two was gone.
Sarada didn't understand how became so powerful. Was she holding back? Just like Team 10? Was she the weakest? All these thoughts run throughout her mind. She tries to fight back, but couldn't. Then, while fighting, she remembers a particular moment in her life. A moment that would shape her.
"Hey, hey, guys! Check this out!" A small boy struggles up the tree as to show to the rest.
Sarada was among them. She was eight years old and a student at Konoha Academy. A few members of the staff rejoiced upon hearing an Uchiha attending their classes. Others were concerned, after all the turmoil the Uchiha had caused in the past, they were afraid Sarada was capable of the same behavior. Sarada was too young to understand why, but it affected her nonetheless.
The boy reaches the branch posing to the others below him, and the kids marvel at him like he was some superhero. He looks down and points to the crowd.
"Who else can get up here? Come on! don't tell me your all scaredy-cats."
A few brave souls accept the challenge and start climbing the tree. Most of them failed, but there were a few that succeeded. One of them notices Sarada in the back and draws attention towards her.
"Hey, you! Get up here!"
"N-no, I'm fine." She replied.
"Aww, look at the chicken!" The boy started making chicken noises, which the rest of the class did shortly after.
With the pressure on her, Sarada starts climbing the tree. The kids for a while waited as Sarada couldn't even hold a grip on the tree. She tries and tries but couldn't muster the strength to climb up. Even with the embarrassment, Sarada continues to work. In the end, she jumps at the tree but ends up falling to the ground.
The Kids laughs at Sarada and mocks her further. She laid on the ground with tears forming in her eyes. Then they mock for crying, which made her feel worse. Everyone was laughing at her, even her friends. That is what Sarada remembers the most. The laughter.
There were more incidents like these in her life. Sarada built a reputation of being a loner because of them, preferring to hide in a corner and watch others carry out their lives. Deep down, she wishes could join them. Hear their stories and troubles. Sarada notices Sumire; she was there, lost in her little world. They never talked or greeted each other. She was just a girl that Sarada knew existed, whose face she saw once in a while. Could've they become friends? Sarada pondered that question.
The laughter returns and warps into twisted echo. She could hear him. The one that beat her into the ground and killed her teammate. She refuses to listen to him. Her mind came back into reality, facing Sumire once again. Sarada was pummeled to a bloody mess, her clothes torn from the fighting. She rises to her knees and confronts Sumire.
"…You were always there…"
Sumire froze confused on what Sarada said. "W-what?"
"I saw you every day. Alone. I never once thought that I could've sat next to you. Hear how you're day went. Never asked what do you want to do in the future. You were a stranger to me. And I never bothered to meet you. But I guess it's too late now."
Sumire became conflicted. Sarada was opening up to her, and she didn't know why. She figured it was some trick. Sumire molds water into her index finger and compresses it. Her mask reveals her teary eyes, and they meet with Sarada's Sharingan. The tomoe in the Sharingan begin to move and traps Sumire in a genjutsu. Sumire now stood there almost lifeless. Sarada stands up and confronts Sumire face-to-face.
"I'm sorry…"
Nue from the sidelines roars, causing the wicked energy around Sumire to shift and warp releasing Sumire from the genjutsu. Sumire immediately focuses on Sarada with fury in her eyes.
"Dammit! Why!?" Sumire screams.
The water gun fires piercing Sarada's chest. She drops to the ground clutching the hole in her chest, trying to stop the bleeding. Her body went limp and then stopped moving. A puddle of blood forms beneath Sarada's body, reflecting a mirror image of Sumire. She couldn't believe she had done such a thing. She shook her head, denying what was in front of her.
"I… didn't mean too. I-I never wanted to hurt…"
Sumire breaks down and releases all her chakra. The cave shakes and shatters, causing rubble to fall from above. Yui prison falls apart, freeing her. She quickly jumps to high ground, surveying the situation. Knowing Sumire was her only way out Yui jumps down and confronts her.
"Calm down, please!"
Sumire jolts up facing Yui. "Get away from me!" Yui had nowhere to run, so she did something she never expected to do, stood her ground.
"No"
"No?"
"I'm sorry for what the Academy took from you."
"Sorry isn't going to stop me."
"I understand. But I want you to know that I'm here for you. You don't have to be alone again."
"D-don't show me kindness!" Sumire raises her hand to hit Yui but couldn't bring herself to do it. Yui smiles.
"My name is Yui Senju. And yours is? Sumire stood still, her feelings and ideal in disorder.
Sarada was listening to them. She couldn't move and was bleeding out. Her vision was blurry, and soon, everything went black. Sarada finds herself in the twilight forest. She could hear every memory echo across the trees as if it was the wind traveling among the soil. The memories were laughing at her, calling her weak and pathetic.
"I'm… not weak. I'm not."
The memories continue. Sarada began to cry, she curls up into a ball and hides her face. She hears footsteps come close to her when she looks up; it was her copy. The Copy gave her a twisted smile, but Sarada wasn't fazed.
"Not afraid anymore?"
"I'm not breaking this time. Not to you." Sarada lowers head.
The Copy chuckles. "But Sarada… I'm your best friend."
Sarada looks up. She sees Boruto with his usual smug smile. He opens his mouth, causing black water to fall out. Sarada scuttles away in shock and horror. Boruto follows her and grabs her arms pulling her close to his face.
"Come on you weirdo. I know you miss me." Every time Boruto opens his mouth, black water falls out; but it never made a sound. The water did not affect Boruto's voice; he continues to talk as usual.
"And I've missed you."
"G-get away from me!" Sarada pushes him away. Boruto sneers at her attitude.
"Your dying and you still put up that hostile behavior. What pathetic excuse of a Ninja."
"Stop. Stop messing with my mind!"
"Then stop holding back. I don't get it. Look what holding back got you. Face in the dirt in a puddle of your blood."
"They told me I couldn't go that far. That I'll become a danger to myself and my friends."
"They're not you. Your parents have no idea what you're capable of. They're cowards who refuse to see their daughter thriving. But I know you can overcome, turn this curse into a blessing. Just like the Kage of the past have done before."
"…Kage…?"
Silhouettes of Kage of the past emerge from the fallen leaves, towering over the trees. The Kage wonder across the Twilight Forest using their powers to expand its form. The Mizukage bless the forest with water creating rivers that span the landscape. The Raikage combine their lightning and throws them into the sky, forming gentle clouds, The Tsuchikage was divided raising mountains from the earth at each corner beyond the forest, The Kazekage blow winds took the dead leaves of trees and made them dance in the air. The Hokage picks up seeds near the oldest trees and plants them in the soil so that they can grow; once grown, the trees will bear beautiful fruit and repeat the cycle.
"Remember all the stories you read about the Kage? You wanted to be just like them. An outcast that shines above the rest. I remember those days. Your dream. Do you?"
Sarada laid back, watching all the Kage creating something beautiful. She started to tear up.
"…shut up…"
"The Kage did what they had to. That is what made them Kage. You can do the same if just let it all go. If not for yourself then for the Village. For me."
Sarada remained silent; she closes her eyes and breaths. Sarada wakes from her coma coughing up blood. Sumire and Yui gaze at her shocked that she was even moving. Sarada stands up with the hole in her chest gone, and she stares at Sumire with a cold look.
"No matter what happens… to you or me… I will protect the Village… Anyone who tries to harm it, whether they are my comrades, friends, or my own family…"
Sarada's Sharingan shifts and morphs, transforming into something else. Her eyes had evolved into a higher state, a sensation that both Sumire and Yui could feel. Sarada's Sharingan pattern had changed, resembling more a rose being viewed from the top. Sumire senses Sarada chakra rise to new heights, becoming darker, colder, grotesque. Sarada's red eyes never leave Sumire's.
"I won't forgive them."
Sumire could feel it, Sarada's killing intent. It projected into the surroundings and towards Sumire. She was paralyzed from fear, shaking, and sweating, she wanted to kill herself to end the suspense. Sumire started to see visions. Visions of her being ripped apart by Sarada.
"(T-this terrible bloodlust… She is going to kill me. She is going to kill me…)"
Sarada right eye glows attracting the vicinity to it. The chunks of earth and wood were reduced to particles then absorbed into the eye. Once done, the right eye stops glowing, and the left eye begins to glow. The earth and wood emerge from her body, ripping apart her flesh. Her skin becomes thicker, and her hair grew longer. Two horns sprouted from her forehead, with a blank brown mask forming on her face.
Sarada glares at Sumire, her transformation complete. Sumire and Yui were horrified; they see a monster in front of them. Sarada gave a sickening chuckle.
"I was going say 'Tell Boruto I'm sorry' but let's be honest, you're not meeting him, you'll be burning in hell."
Sarada jumps forward slamming her fists at Sumire. Sumire pushes Yui aside and catches her arms, as the ground shatters putting Sumire down in one knee. Sarada was using a lot more strength now. She kicks Sumire in the gut launching across the cave colliding against the wall. Sumire tries to recover but was struck with multiple punches pinning her further in the wall. Sarada grabs Sumire's leg slamming her against the floor repeatedly. A roar erupts from the cave and in came Nue charging towards their caretaker. Sarada escapes its clutches gaining as much distance from it.
"Damn mutt will be problem… Wait…" Sarada using her eyes begins to decipher Sumire's power. She laughs. "Is that it? The Monster is the source of your power?"
Yui observes from a distance, unaware of activating her Sharingan. "D-did she figures it out?" She asks herself.
"That Monster gathers the negative chakra for you to use." Sarada infers. "It transfers chakra to you which is why it stays idle in the side. If it fights, then you be wasting chakra. But that brings up a question. Why are you holding on to endless amounts of chakra?"
Nue growls but Sumire steps in the way. "Don't, Just make sure she doesn't reach Yui."
"How cute. But it won't mean anything in the end!" Sarada waves hand seals and takes a deep breath. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu"
A giant fireball flies through the mask and collides with Nue forcing it to retreat. Sarada gained confidence with attack barely noticing Sumire running towards her. Sumire was able to land solid punches to Sarada's face slightly making her tumble backward. Sarada chuckles, she stood there unfazed. The strikes had little effect on her.
Sarada grabs a chunk of the earth and rips out the ground throwing at Sumire. Nue sends more chakra over to Sumire, giving her enough to develop a shroud protecting her from the impact. She catches the boulder stopping its momentum. Sarada tears into the, grabbing Sumire on the other side.
Sumire was beaten down and dragged across the ground. Her clothing began to wear, and blood drips from her mouth. Sarada slammed her into the ground and stood over her with satisfaction coursing through her veins. She stomps on her mask, driving into the floor. The mask breaks reveling Sumire's face.
Sarada lifts her with a craze look in her eyes. She punches her repeatedly in the stomach each hit more brutal than the last. Sumire knees Sarada on the mask, making her let go. But Sarada recovers quickly and grips on Sumire's hair. Desperate, Sumire pulls out a shuriken cuts her hair freeing herself. Her hair now only reaching to her shoulders.
The hair on the floor begins to glow, wrapping around Sarada's feet immobilizing her. Finally able to take breather Sumire crawls away from her. Sarada snarls.
"Do you think this will hold me?"
Sumire glances at Sarada. "What… are you?"
"I'm the one who is going to save the Village."
Sumire stands up and runs towards Sarada hitting a solid punch to gut. Sarada stomach rips open, and a sharp piece of stone come outs cutting Sumire's hips. Sumire jolts back and lands on the floor. Sarada right eye glows absorbing the hair freeing her.
"How are you doing this?" Sumire asks. Sarada stops and answers.
"Since you explained your power to me earlier I'll explain to you mine." Sarada takes a deep breath, she didn't want to tell this anyone, but to her, it didn't matter telling secrets to a future corpse. "When Boruto died, I awakened the second state of my Dōjutsu, the Mangekyō Sharingan. With it a receive a power unique to me. It allows me to absorb anything, plus I have 100% control of my body."
Sarada shows Sumire her arm. Her fingers twists and bends, bones pierce her skin, wood, and earth grows further. The arm returns to normal as if nothing happened to it.
"It's repulsive," Sumire replies.
"But its mine. My father named it Shokuyoku. Seems fitting." Sarada grabs her by the neck and holds her up.
"You don't have to do this…"
"No, I need this. I'm tired of the world not caring about me. It keeps hurting me. But if I take you down, people will notice me. They'll no longer see me as another Uchiha, they'll see me as Sarada. Sarada! …I can become someone!"
Sarada strangles Sumire watching her gasp for air. Negative chakra flows through Sumire's body and on to Sarada's. The chakra consumes her forcing to let Sumire go. Sumire lands on her feet, immediately charging her hand with negative chakra. She lands a massive punch to Sarada's right sides cracking her ribs. Sarada didn't fall much to Sumire's dismay.
"That hurt…" Sarada coughs trying not to fall with her wobbly legs.
The negative chakra gathered from Sarada returns to Sumire. She could feel Sarada's suffering. Sumire then knew Sarada eyes were causing her to lose grip on reality.
"Stop… Those eyes are poisoning your mind."
"I don't care! I want you dead!"
Both exchange in taijutsu, trying to one-up another. Sumire aura protects her from Sarada supreme strength, while Sarada skin hardens, making it harder for Sumire to do damage. Sarada rams into Sumire's midsection, cutting her with the horns and her sending backward. She beats her down, stomping her head cracking the earth. Sumire's aura disappears, giving Sarada great delight.
Sarada opens her right hand, creating a powerful Chidori. It was stronger and darker in color, similar to black lightning. She raises her hand prepared to cut Sumire down when a stone hits her in the side of the head. She glances over her shoulder, spotting Yui. She had tears in her eyes, glaring at Sarada. The Uchiha growls making her way towards her, Chidori still intact.
"What are you doing?" Sumire mumbles.
"I'm tired of the fighting. So please, stop. No more."
Sarada was face-to-face with Yui. Her eyes meet hers. "You, it's because of you I'm in this mess." Sarada raises her hand with the Chidori. "You won't hurt me anymore!"
Sarada goes down to stab Yui when the negative chakra swallows her, with Nue's dimension shifting to the regular reality. The Chidori hits no one and collides with the river creating a crater. Surprise, Sarada was swallowed by the water and sunk into the hole. Sumire laid on the other side, watching Sarada fall into the water. She teleports Yui besides her.
"…Run… You deserve better…" She tells her.
"What…? No, not anymore. I'm not leaving you behind."
Sarada emerges to the surface. She laid the water exhausted, struggling to get up.
"Sarada…" Sumire mutters.
"She's run out of chakra," Yui explains.
Sarada eyes return to normal. The mask crumbles, revealing her face. Broken glasses fall into the river along with pieces of the mask. The second Chidori took a toll on her. She remembers what her father said to her when she was learning the Chidori after the Chūnin Exams.
"The Chidori consumes a large amount of chakra. It appears your limit is two. Don't worry about it. I had this limit as well when I was your age."
Sarada focuses back on Sumire. She had a massive headache, which makes it difficult to stand up.
"What happened?" Sarada asks herself. She then remembers what she did. "I… I broke my promise. No, focus on the task at hand."
Sumire stands with Sarada doing the same. Yui tries to Sumire, but she held aside.
"This is between her and me."
Knowing these two isn't going to stop fighting, Yui jumps to sideline witnessing the final clash between the two. Both were tired and weak; they stared at each other, not backing down from the fight.
"You have Yui, now leave me alone."
"Not after what you did. I'm bringing you to justice. You'll never have your revenge."
"I'm still not giving up, Sarada. I will avenge Boruto."
"And I'm going to stop you."
Both stood still letting the sounds of the river be heard. Yui climbs up the slope looking down at the two from the dirt road. For a moment, everything seemed calm.
Both Sarada and Sumire pulled out a kunai and charged at each other. Sarada activates her Sharingan now able to see. The kunai clash, emitting sparks. The shinobi went at each other, trying to strike the other down. Sarada jumps to the slope as Sumire begins to wave hand seals.
"Water Style: Raging Waves!"
Sumire spews water from her mouth, aiming at her target. Sarada runs across the slope avoiding the water. Sumire ends the technique and chases after Sarada. Both clash in the air with their kunai, with a force stop enough to knock the weapon out of their hands. Sarada lands a spinning kick that sends Sumire back into the river.
Sumire recovers her footing dodging a stab from Sarada. Using the seal on her forearm Sarada summons another kunai. Holding now two kunai, Sarada swings them at Sumire. Sumire catches Sarada arms and throws her over. Sarada rolls over, dropping both kunai and gets on her feet. Sumire punches Sarada in the face sending her further in the river.
Sarada stands more tired than before. Her eyes return to normal, but she reactivates the Sharingan. She had little chakra left, and the pain she was experiencing was becoming too much. Building chakra in her hand once more she creates small Chidori. It was much weaker than before and couldn't kill anyone in this condition.
"Its time to end this…"
Sumire channels negative chakra in her fist. A dark purple aura surrounds her fist as she looks at Sarada with a saddened expression. She hated this whole ordeal; she felt regret dragging Sarada in her plot.
Both ran towards each other at high speeds, leaving a trail of lightning and negative chakra respectively. When the two got close, everything slows down. Sarada looks into Sumire's eyes and Sumire to hers. Both recall what the other wanted, the purpose that moves them forward.
"I want to be someone."
"I don't want to be anyone."
Both punch each other on the face, sending a shockwave that pushes everything back. The water flies into the air, the pebbles on the shore were thrown upward, and the fallen leaves change direction. Both Sarada and Sumire were knocked out cold, landing into the water. Their bodies float down the river due to the water currents. Yui jumps in the river and saves them, bringing them safely to shore.
Yui sat there caring for both of them. Almost an hour goes by, and neither had woken up. Yui had placed them in front of a house where they would be more comfortable. Footsteps were hear waking Sarada up. She opens her eyes, and the first thing she sees is Naruto.
"L-Lord Seven…"
"Easy, easy. You've done enough."
"Wha- Are you angry with me?"
"No, no. What you did was reckless."
"B-but I had to stop her. She betrayed Konoha."
"No more talking." Naruto calmly said. "You need to rest."
The Seventh Hokage was along with Hanabi Hyūga and few other Jōnin. Naruto wasn't fond of this place but he had come here. They were busy with scouting the area. Yui was with Hanabi, and they got along quickly. Naruto sits in-between Sarada and Sumire. He looks over at Sumire with a dejected look. A girl that he knew, who was one of his son's best friends, had fallen so far. He held her hand tightly. This wakes up Sumire, and she notices Naruto. She broke down into tears.
"…I'm sorry…" Sumire said while bawling.
Naruto tries to keep his composer trying not to break down in front of his personnel.
"It's okay. It'll be alright."
"Um… guys?"
Hanabi draws attention to the group of soldiers arrived on the other side of the river. A man with light blue hair wearing a Konoha uniform was in front. Naruto steps forward, confronting the group.
"State you're business!" He yells at the other side.
An older man steps forward opposing Naruto. Sarada sits up, activating her Sharingan to see, and notices the older man. Her eyes widen and begin to hyperventilate; she pointed at him and started screaming. Everyone focuses on Sarada. She was repeating something.
"It's him! It's him! It's him! It's him!"
Naruto stares at the man, the wheels turning in his head. He concludes who the man was. It was this man that planned the attack on his Village, made the known Shinobi world a paranoid mess, and the one who killed his son.
"Naruto Uzumaki! It's so nice to meet you finally!"
The Konoha ninja prepares for a fight, as the Academy ready themselves. Hanabi directs a shinobi to her side. She whispers to him.
"Get kids out of here."
"Understood."
The shinobi grabs the kids and leaves the abandons Village. Hanabi speaks to Naruto, but something was off about him.
"Naruto, we-" Hanabi notices red chakra emanating from him.
Naruto was furious, a feeling everyone could sense. His skin begins to reveal a dark red layer of chakra underneath. He got on all fours as the chakra envelops him. A great deal of energy releases producing a crater beneath him. Skeletal structure emerges from his body like some armor. Six tails appear signaling the completion of the transformation.
"Now this just got a bit more interesting." The older man said.
Naruto roars sending a booming shockwave across the land. A form said to be the physical embodiment of the Hokage's wrath. Filled with pure and absolute rage, Naruto glares at the older man with one goal in mind. Kill his son's murderer.
A/N: The Chapter I had in my head for months is done! I'm pretty satisfied with it. And it's my longest chapter I've ever done, which I'm also proud of.
Sarada's Mangekyo Sharingan finally made its debut! I wanted to do something different with it, a power that's more in the physical side of things. It also explains the visions Sarada is seeing. I'll explain more of it in the next chapter.
I have been thinking of remaking the first chapter of the story. Gonna add and change a few things. It'll explore into the future and show my vision of the Naruto world in this story. A lot of worldbuilding will go into it. And love worldbuilding, so I'm excited about it. I'll maybe do it next or after part 2.
Now for the copy and paste outro! If you enjoy the story go ahead and follow and/or favorite. Feel free to share(recommend) the story with others. And please leave a review, it's the best way to know your thoughts on the story. Don't be afraid of giving me criticism too, there's no way I'll improve my writing if nobody says anything. With that out the way, have a fantastic day and hope to see you next time!