Meeting of the Multiversal Council
March 25th, Year One of the Unification
Projection Set In Imperial Palace's Heaven Room
Safe, R-Encrypted Copy
PRESENT
[…]
Arrivals:
Aruni Ulthran, from World #W40 (Shizune's Note to K,N: A world embroiled in a never-ending conflict, where the forces of the Imperium of Man, the Aeldari, the Chaos, Necrons, Orks, Tyranids, Votann and Tau clash relentlessly, consumed by unyielding warfare. High-technology levels.)
Roku, from World #13719 (Shizune's Note to K,N: A world formerly embroiled in a never-ending war, where this particular Uzumaki Naruto stepped up, becoming the Rokudaime Hokage at a young age.)
[…]
Tsunade (#07): I don't know where you're from, nor who you are. But where I am from, we show respect. I am Tsunade, of Konoha.
Aruni (#W40): I am Aruni, of Craftworld Ulthwé. I stand before you, having crossed the skeins of the warp, not out of choice, but necessity. Now. Respect, you say. A fascinating concept, especially considering the sheer[…] rudimentary nature of your civilization.
Orochimaru (Chair): And you should have seen the place before I helped the renovations along.
Uzumaki Naruto (Chair): You do not seem to like humans much, Aruni. […] Speak freely.
Aruni (#W40): Like is a strong word, young one. You Mon-keigh… are fascinatingly primitive.
Roku (#13719): Interesting that you'd call us primitive, long ears.
Aruni (#W40): Ah, a mon-keigh warmonger. I have known plenty of your kind. Their short lives usually ended upon our wraithbone swords.
Roku (#13719): Your words are sharp, alien. Their edge is sharper than your skill.
Aruni (#W40): You are not incorrect. I was not a warrior, this much is true. In the grand ballet of conflict, I was not in the orchestra of destruction.
Roku (#13719): I'm afraid I don't see a use for you, aside from shitty poetry.
Aruni (#W40): Your perception is limited by your desire for violence, mon-keigh. It is knowledge, not battle prowess, that I bring to this Council.
Uzumaki Naruto (Chair): Technologies?
Aruni (#W40): The arcane secrets of the Aeldari are not freely given, even less to mon-keigh. However, it is true that the snake mon-keigh saved my life. This has crafted a debt of honor.
Uchiha Shisui (#01): You said you wouldn't[…]
Orochimaru (Chair): I lied, Shisui.
Uchiha Shisui (#01): Explain.
Orochimaru (Chair): Perhaps later, should I feel like it. Now. A debt to me, you say? How interesting.
Aruni (#W40): Indeed, serpent. A life-debt is no trivial obligation. In repayment, I will attempt to elevate your paltry mon-keigh mechanisms to a more acceptable standard.
Orochimaru (Chair): How generous of you.
On the Nature of Kami
Most temples dedicated to the kami, particularly the larger ones, were steadily being disbanded.
One sanctuary stood in defiance.
Stirred by the ever-growing whispers of the butterfly god, its people began believing in its imminent return.
Far to the west, the most ancient temple of this deity stood proud.
A Hat of Fire
Much like his six predecessors, Uchiha Itachi often believes he isn't deserving of the hat.
Like the first two, he is a child of war. But where Hashirama was too gentle, like a leaf in the breeze, and Tobirama was too stern, as the river's relentless freeze, Itachi found himself in the middle.
Hiruzen, wise as the ancient trees, held the village in his heart, guided them through times of peace, times of war, times of rising independance from the Daimyō. He nurtured the village with the steadfast affection of a guardian. And his reluctance to draw lines in the sand left room for darkness to grow.
Then came Minato, swift as the wind. His reign, a brief, fleeting moment; a transient blink in the sands of history. His decisions, lightning-fast as he was, often struck true, but overlooked the subtler paths that only time could imbue.
Fugaku, the immutable bedrock of the Uchiha, bore an austere elegance. His inflexible character, while preserving the dignity of both clan and village, often cast a daunting, rigid façade that kept others at bay; enemies and allies alike.
Then, Danzō, the sixth, cloaked in shadows. A time marked by a chilling, somber command and a war. His methods, which kept them afloat, would have eventually threatened to choke the village's spirit like tightening sand.
Itachi wasn't gentle as the fluttering leaf, wasn't cold as the frozen river, and was more than willing to draw lines. And perhaps he didn't have Hiruzen's ancient wisdom or Minato's effortless charisma, his father's implacable solidity or Danzō's ruthlessness.
Uchiha Itachi is the Seventh Hokage, and that will have to be enough.
Amenonuhoko
In Umigakure, there was thunder.
It wasn't merely the common thunderstorms that had increasingly visited, speculated by some to be manifestations of the Emperor's displeasure.
No, there were bolts of pale light, erupting around the palace, fading into the water. And they were definitely the Emperor's doing.
Thanks to them, the last of the creatures that had shaped themselves out of mists faded away.
There were some who thought they heard the Emperor bark the order to "stay out" at something. But that was just rumor, and there was plenty of that.
Especially nowadays.
While most were fairly sure that Uzumaki Naruto wasn't behind the actual storms, they would be fools to ignore the fact that weird events were happening throughout the world, and the Emperor seemed to be at the center of them.
Eerie winds and darkness at the strangest of times, devastating cyclones and tidal waves.
Today started out as a miserable day in Konoha: the same winds, strong enough to cut through one's clothes.
Uchiha Itachi was a shinobi however, and this was nothing but a minor setback. Still, he pulled his cloak around his shoulders.
As he crossed the gateway and made his way through half the planet in less time than it took for him to blink, he came to regret that very same cloak.
Umigakure's weather, if anything, was even warmer than normal.
An unusually harsh sun brought about days of heatwave and drought. The night did not always bring comfort either, for it seemed strangely cloying, now.
Uchiha Itachi crossed the arching bridge over the water.
The paradox of this city became apparent to him once more as he entered the thriving city center of Umigakure, where traditional wooden structures blended seamlessly with glass structures and bright, sometimes neon, lights.
It was a world far removed from his more traditional shinobi upbringing, and the pace was as relentless as the sun.
Technology had grown to such heights, so fast, that even his Sharingan eyes struggled to follow.
Holographic and projected signs flickered with foreign symbols, smooth white devices periodically zipped through the sky, and people communicated through tiny jewelry. Beads, rings, bracelets and earrings… some of the people were seemingly talking, smiling to thin air.
Itachi was young, just in his late twenties.
Still, this sort of thing made him feel old.
The world was evolving in ways no one could predict, while he was doing his best not to stay steeped in the past, fighting ancient battles within his home village.
It wasn't that Itachi couldn't understand the mechanisms behind these technological advancements; his mind was as sharp as ever.
It was simply a reality he had never prepared for, a drastic shift from the ways of the ninja.
He supposed he felt a bit outdated, in a way, like an old relic struggling to find its place in this suddenly fast-paced world.
…Wherever it was that his number one source of headaches had gotten these technologies from, in truth.
Itachi ran his hand through his long black hair, and he knew he likely seemed exhausted.
And how could he not, when he had to gaze at the majestic white tower in the background, that seemed to part the clouds around itself…? He wouldn't be too surprised if Uzumaki Naruto had finally installed a gigantic throne overlooking the world in its topmost floor.
Well, in there or in Shade's Realm, where he apparently spent a 'fair' amount of time, according to both Mei and Anko.
So did Orochimaru, supposedly.
Whatever it was they were planning, Itachi was not feeling particularly relaxed about it.
As he walked through the bustling streets, Itachi couldn't help but notice how… healthy, for a lack of a better word, the people looked. Fit, and strong, too.
And was not entirely sure how it came to be.
He knew that Umigakure made extensive use of these augmented, virtual (illusory-based, in truth) training chambers, of course. They had spread to the rest of the world as well, by now.
In which projected illusions allowed ninja — and non-ninja, Itachi chided himself — to engage in intense combat training with zero physical risk.
Chakra manipulation itself was fine-tuned through the use of devices that provided real-time analytics of chakra flow and utilization, allowing for more efficient training and use of their abilities.
Not that physical exercise was limited to that, of course. And there were plenty of more traditional options, too. But no matter what the goal was, there likely was a simulation for it, if one wanted to make use of it.
This, on the other hand, could not be explained away just by physical activity.
Itachi passed a discussion forum, in which elderly people were paired with younger ones, and couldn't help but notice that people that old usually were not standing quite that straight. And they did not have this sort of vitality either.
None of the people seemed to suffer the heat quite the same way he did.
Whether that was because they had something to help against it, or that he was simply maladapted, remained unclear.
In the distance, Itachi could see, thanks to his nearly-peerless eyes, the slight blue sheen of the energy shields around Umigakure.
The barriers were said to be a masterpiece, and were also something he never had the chance to examine in detail. Similar ones had been put around Konoha and most cities, of course, but as of now, he did not understand them fully. No one did, aside from Uzumaki Karin, it seemed.
His thoughts were disrupted by the sound of the sea, and its rhythmic dance drew his attention.
Leaving the bustling streets of Umigakure behind, Itachi approached the eastern dock, where a sleek boat awaited him.
The boat's keeper, a tanned man of casual demeanor, greeted him with a simple nod and a grin, his hand effortlessly steering the vessel to life.
The wind was favorable today, and a great sail unfolded out of nowhere, letting them speed across the azure waters, towards the white marble palace in the distance.
Admittedly, it was a majestic sight.
It stood tall and defiant. Even from afar, its grandeur was evident. The shimmering white stone, nestled in between the cerulean sea and the vast open skies, was a thing of timeless beauty.
Upon arrival at the dock, Itachi disembarked from the boat, eyes trailing up the lofty tower.
He blurred forward, skipping over the many steps in a single, long one.
Itachi paced through the refreshingly cool grand entrance, his footsteps echoing in the hallowed halls that were abuzz with people.
They were like veins coursing with life, bustling with a variety of individuals, plenty of them he had never seen, even in the last month.
From obvious shinobi deep in discussion, to scholars engrossed in their studies, to children sprinting past him in their enthusiasm, the palace was teeming with vibrant energy.
…And there were even more alternate versions of Orochimaru than last time. Itachi closed his eyes, and let out a sigh. He had nothing against the man(child?) himself, but some of these others… he had had the displeasure of meeting.
Hopefully, they were nothing like them. And Itachi thought he spotted more people from other realms, too.
The walls of the palace were adorned with intricate murals that seemed to illustrate their world's long history. These murals coexisted with holographic images of notable figures, landmarks, and even ongoing research projects.
When he passed the Tomoe room, Itachi could hear the hum of conversation, the tireless buzzing that came from this room in particular.
Itachi went on. He climbed the winding stairs, pushed past the heavy — in appearance only; they were very light — doors and entered the Earth room quietly.
Compared to Konoha, his presence barely made a ripple in the discussion.
There were only a few people in the room.
Uzumaki Naruto, Kaitaro. Tanabe Mai. Shizune — who gave him a sheepish hello. Uzumaki Naruto and the Raikage's son — who could apparently walk now, as early as it seemed to be.
The others, Itachi didn't recognize. He sat down and reached for the cup in front of him, that had been kept warm.
"I wouldn't drink from this one if I were you." Uzumaki Naruto said, while the others were conversing.
They were the first words he addressed to Itachi, prompting him to notice how tired the younger man seemed.
"And why not…?"
"Because Yūshirō has the bad habit of chewing things up and drooling them back down in cups." Naruto said. "Don't trust a drink you can't see through."
Itachi pushed his cup away from him.
Naruto took a sip of his own.
He spat it back with a wince.
"Yeah." He said "I think he got mine. I should listen to myself."
…
The atmosphere in the Earth room shifted perceptibly as the latest issues were brought to the fore.
The Emperor's brows furrowed as the litany of calamities were recounted.
Naruto was silent, thoughtful, a clear indication of how seriously he took the situation. His eyes betrayed his concern, certainly… but the spark of anger in his eyes seemed equally personal.
"Fox spirits, as well?" Naruto asked Itachi.
"No. Rice plants are growing out of control, however — I do not know if these are related or not."
Naruto sighed. "They are." He said darkly. "Inari just happens to be a bit out of touch with the importance of rice in the modern world, I suppose. Or it just focuses on what it can do."
Itachi frowned. "What they can do…? What about their manifestation…?"
Naruto, who kept his tone matter of fact, offered him a smile devoid of joy.
"Can't claim we've got everything under control, of course…" He said. "But lately, no kami has successfully breached our defenses. And we have a few contingencies in place, should they manage."
"Have they attempted to…?"
Just then, as though responding to the question, an alarm sensor rang out.
Conversation halted.
Kaitaro glanced at Naruto, and settled down.
In one fluid motion, Naruto clapped his hands together, causing the atmosphere to become nothing more than burning heat for a moment. At the same time, he shielded his son.
A wave of energy pulsed throughout the room, cascading through Umi's protective barriers, through the world's boundaries…
And something felt slightly different about the color of the sky for an instant. As though the time of the day had changed abruptly, before switching back to its normal pattern.
And just as suddenly, the alarm quieted.
A shudder passed through the assembly.
"…What was that?" Itachi asked quietly.
Naruto glanced at him, and gave him another mirthless smile. Itachi could see that he seemed even more tired.
"Avoiding trouble, of course."
…
The descent into the underground lab was marked by a stark contrast from the vibrant life above.
The translucent chakra platform, that was closer to a glyph than a mechanical lift, went down smoothly.
As Naruto and Itachi descended, the walls closed in around them, steel and chrome replacing the natural elegance of white marble.
This was something that the Uchiha could easily believe Uzumaki Naruto had been responsible for building.
"I can almost hear your thoughts, you know." Naruto said easily.
Itachi gave him a sideways glance, and there was a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It does remind me of parts of Kumogakure's mainland outposts. I suppose you managed to convince the Raikage to embrace some of these designs."
Naruto's laughter echoed off the metallic walls.
"Well, convincing Yugito is never an easy task, you know. But she came around."
"I suppose she did."
"How is Mei, by the way?" Naruto asked.
Itachi paused. "Did you not see the Mizukage recently…?"
Naruto gave him an amused look. "The Mizukage, huh. And no, that was Kaitaro."
The chakra lift came to a stop, revealing a vast underground laboratory stretching as far as the eye could see.
The hum of machinery and a myriad of digital screens pulsing with data replaced the tranquil sounds of nature that filled the palace above.
Here, deep beneath the Earth, lay the nerve center of the Umi's research teams.
As the two men stepped off the platform, the Uchiha found himself in the presence of three prominent figures from Konoha's history.
Although… two were not from this world.
Tsunade, the legendary Sannin and medical ninja whose contributions to the world of shinobi could not be understated. She had an even larger presence than tales said she did. Her strong eyes held the Rinnegan.
Then, there was Jiraiya, his brother's late teacher… Or another version of him, rather. He seemed entirely calm, in this way that to Sasuke, apparently meant only bad things. He had the Rinnegan, too.
Finally, there was this world's only native, Orochimaru. And he was still in a child's body, of course. Also, he had the Rinnegan.
Itachi was suddenly less impressed with Uzumaki Naruto gifting him its legendary power.
Naruto seemed to notice it too, if his twitching lips were any indication.
Tsunade's voice cut through the greetings: "I couldn't find any match." She said.
Naruto sighed, pausing beside a pillar, eyes drifting upwards to the sky.
"Well that's a shame." He conceded, before he resumed walking. "It seemed promising. Another dead end, then."
Jiraiya responded with a light, warm chuckle. His eyes held a tranquility that bordered on eerie, a calm that Itachi found unsettling. Was it trauma, then…?
"It seems like we're making a habit out of hitting walls, eh?" Jiraiya asked.
For a fleeting moment, Itachi suspected it was one of Jiraiya's infamous lascivious quips — the kind that always had his father sighing and reevaluating his decision to allow his second son's apprenticeship.
From the way Tsunade's eyes narrowed as well, she mirrored his suspicion. But she relaxed. Whoever it was she was seeing in him, that was not the person this Jiraiya was — at least not now.
"I suppose it is the essence of research." She said.
Orochimaru, who had been mostly silent so far, interjected. "Perhaps on your end." He said. "Our efforts, fortunately, have already yielded more… tangible results."
Tsunade glanced at him. Itachi suddenly wondered if the rumors of their competitiveness, when it came to scientific matters, held any truth after all.
"…Your weapons of… war, you mean?" She asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
Orochimaru clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Not quite. The technologies in question are leagues beyond your suggestion in terms of complexity and sophistication. What I was actually referring to were the modular habitats. The Ring, as you're well aware, is a multi-layered, fully functional, non-destructively expandable structure."
"I'm well aware." Naruto said, a smile beginning to form on his lips. "It's hard to forget the long weeks spent in Shade's Realm, toiling away on it. And if you'd prefer her not to bring up those laser weapons every time… well, perhaps you shouldn't have introduced them to her in the first place."
Orochimaru's face mirrored Naruto's amusement. Itachi had never seen the expression on his face, or at least… not in an honest way.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have, then." Orochimaru said.
Tsunade rolled her eyes, a hint of mirth sparkling in her gaze. Jiraiya responded by clapping her on the shoulder, his laughter echoing through the room. She let him.
"What do these technologies allow for?" Itachi asked, keeping most of his curiosity from bleeding into his voice.
Orochimaru's lips curved into a slight, inscrutable smile at the question. "Shisui!" He called out.
Naruto chuckled quietly. "Perhaps you should clap your hands for him whenever you need him."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, thinking. "Perhaps I should."
"I can hear you two, you know." Shisui's voice was frosty when he appeared from a side corridor. He stepped in confidently, and then noticed Itachi; he smiled in fond relief. "Cousin."
Itachi smiled back.
"So." Shisui said. "What have you dragged me into now?"
Orochimaru just waved his hand. "Oh, just a small demonstration." He replied, that slight, inscrutable smile never leaving his face.
Sighing, Shisui led them away.
They passed many rooms, each of them devoted to a different purpose. There were more Orochimaru, of course, and they seemed to be dutiful scientists.
A shiver went down Itachi's spine.
He was unsure what it had taken to get all of these to work together towards a common goal. And he was equally unsure whether or not he truly wanted to know.
Shisui exchanged quick words with some of them, and it was clear that while he answered to one particular Orochimaru, the others seemingly answered to him.
They entered another room. Shisui gestured towards a small, complex-looking device on a nearby table. It was clearly of foreign origin, its alien design contrasting sharply with the familiar surroundings.
Shisui gave Orochimaru a quick glance before approaching the table.
He activated the device. A soft hum filled the room, the device glowed, and then… nothing. Everyone in the room exchanged puzzled looks. Just when they were about to question it, a small robotic figure, no taller than a foot, manifested from thin air.
The room fell silent as they watched the tiny automaton scan its surroundings, its movements precise and methodical.
After a moment, it turned towards Shisui, its gaze steady and unblinking. "Greetings, Master." It said in a clear, synthesized voice.
Orochimaru was watching the scene, clearly satisfied with Itachi's reaction.
Tsunade merely raised an eyebrow.
Itachi looked from the robot to Orochimaru. "These technologies…" He began, looking back at the tiny automaton as it waited for Shisui's command. "They allow for creations like these?"
"And much more." Orochimaru confirmed with a nod. He glanced at the tiny robot and then at Itachi. "That's just the beginning."
The tiny robot turned its gaze towards Itachi, its mechanical voice echoing in the room once more. "Do you require assistance?"
Orochimaru turned to Itachi, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"Isn't it fascinating?" He gestured to the small robot. "You see, Itachi, the beauty of this piece lies in the exquisite fusion of Mechanicus and shinobi tech."
"…Mechanicus?"
"...And dear Aru's help." Naruto muttered.
Orochimaru continued, as though he hadn't heard the question or Naruto's comment. "The Mechanicus, with their advanced technology, provide the basis, the core, of course. A complex network of data storage and processing mechanisms, capable of housing and interacting with vast amounts of information. But, in its original form, it's rather… unapproachable to most people."
"…Since when do you care?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.
Orochimaru ignored him, too. "As I just said, hardly user-friendly, and quite lacking in personality, wouldn't you agree?"
Itachi shrugged.
Orochimaru chuckled lightly. "So, I — as well as my other-selves — added a touch of our own work to the mix. Chakra-infused circuitry to give it autonomy, a physical form. It's no longer just a storage device… it is an interactive servitor."
A smile spread across his face. "By combining the two, we have a tool that is not only capable of storing incredible amounts of data but is also capable of interacting with us, of learning and evolving. It can appear and disappear at will, and best of all, it can follow commands. And we are not limited by the weakness of the flesh."
Shisui, nearby, let out a shudder. "Yeah…" He muttered. "I heard that one before."
"You freaked him out again." Naruto stated, looking at Orochimaru. Shisui glared at him.
Unfazed by their reactions, Orochimaru continued to extoll the virtues of the servitor, giving it a fond look… almost like a parent watching a child.
Itachi found himself somewhat unnerved as well.
…
"I'd suggest not minding Orochimaru." Naruto stated, with a dismissive wave of his hand, once they left. "He dug around, sure, but didn't unearth anything substantially helpful regarding the kami, so he focused his efforts on something that might just... Well. We are kinda running in circles — Whatever these cosmic gods he heard about there were… well no one he met knew how to deal with them."
Itachi offered a noncommittal nod, his eyes focused on the other man. Naruto held something out to him.
"Take this." He said. "This is the most recent artifact we've engineered specifically to deal with the… kami problems." He added, a hint of bitterness lacing his voice. "It should be effective against the winds."
Itachi nodded. "You have my thanks."
"Position it near the heart of Konoha, in close proximity to the barrier's core — it should integrate flawlessly. If there's any issue, don't hesitate to reach out. I'll dispatch someone to make the necessary adjustments."
A long sigh escaped Naruto's lips. "I think Chigusa might be coming here, too, then." He said. "They're dealing with their own shit, as of now. We're helping, of course. Whichever kami's blight it is they're dealing with, they're a crafty one."
As Naruto continued to talk, Itachi's attention was drawn elsewhere.
The air in the room grew heavy, with an almost tangible anticipation gripping Itachi's heart.
Something passed the door frame.
Each of its steps reverberated through the floor, with a weight that belied its sleek form.
Looking at it with his regular Sharingan on made his eyes hurt. And he didn't dare turn his Rinnegan on.
"…What?" He hissed, turning to face Naruto.
There was an air of grace about the sleek, white, hairless creature that couldn't be missed. As it moved, its actions embodied the elegance of the feline-like… thing it was.
Itachi almost hoped it was an android — or else.
There was something far too primal about it, however. Something that couldn't be overlooked.
And neither could the ten tails swishing behind it, almost lazily.
Uzumaki Naruto at least had the good grace to sigh.
"You are harboring the Jūbi under your village?!" Itachi asked, voice rising, in spite of the control he usually prided himself on.
"A Jūbi." Naruto calmly corrected him, and, anticipating the inevitable passive-aggressive response from Itachi, added: "What of it?" He asked. "I wasn't about to leave her alone. Also, she's pretty friendly, and we learned a lot about using incantations to enhance jutsu in her world. Fascinating topic, by the way…"
Itachi stared at Naruto, trying to grapple with the startling, casual revelation.
The monster of legend.
His mind raced with the possible ramifications of harboring such a… potent entity within a village, let alone the mystery that was the Jūbi.
To him, at least.
"Affable or not…" Itachi began, his voice calm despite his inner turmoil. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, something he seemed to be doing quite often when dealing with that man and the trouble that he brought with him everywhere. He thought of his youngest, latest brother, as well. "…You understand the risks involved, right?"
Naruto nodded, a serious expression on his face.
"I do, Itachi. Better than most. It's not a decision I've made lightly." He said, sitting down on the table. Itachi bit back a cutting retort. "We've taken precautions. When it comes to the kami, too… But the Jūbi here is different from most we've known."
"And how many did you—" Itachi cut himself off. The question hung in the air, unfinished.
Naruto cast a glance at him, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Once again, Itachi found his gaze drawn towards the creature.
The Jūbi, in all her dignified elegance, seemed unperturbed by their conversation. The weight of her gaze wandered around the room, ultimately losing interest. With an air of indifference, she sauntered out of the room, her tails swaying rhythmically behind her.
The floor seemed to shake as she landed.
"She goes by Yūgao." Naruto answered, the note of amusement in his voice obvious as he said her name. "She's been a part of Umigakure's defense ever since we came across her."
"Yūgao." Itachi said dryly. "…Another of them, then."
There was no question who he was referring to.
"Indeed." Naruto confirmed with a nod. "She's been instrumental in a myriad of ways — And Kaguya…" He added, with a note of firmness. "…Has been explicitly barred from any disruptive actions, of course."
"…How did you even stumble across her?"
Naruto offered a nonchalant shrug. "Toru found her, actually. He said a pet would do wonders for my humanity, but he had no hopes of finding a suitable one. That the Jūbi would have to do."
Itachi, now nurturing the onset of an impending headache of terrible proportions, decided not to prolong his stay in Umi past what was necessary.
That man was always like this.
…
As soon as they crossed the threshold, Naruto's countenance switched abruptly, his jovial demeanor evaporating like mist at dawn.
His features hardened, expression settling into a state of disquieting neutrality.
The transformation, while unnerving, was far from surprising.
Although their relationship could — under the most… generous of interpretations — be labeled as a budding friendship, they were comrades in arms, allies, first.
Guided by Naruto through the chrome halls, Itachi couldn't help but notice the sealed doors dotting their path.
The rooms, locked from within, suggested secrets that he wasn't privy to.
And, as was his nature, Naruto caught Itachi's fleeting glance.
"Don't worry." He said. "Nothing too grim is happening in there."
Some time ago, Itachi would definitely have taken it as a veiled threat for him not to ask for more.
"…That is likely the worst thing you could have said." Itachi murmured.
Naruto answered with a small bark of laughter. "I know. I mean it, however." He said. "…Besides, considering the current circumstances, I would allow more of these Orochimaru's plans, if it came to it."
Itachi knew how some of these men could be. And there had been too many causes of worry, today.
He gripped Naruto's shoulder, pulling him to face him. He found that he couldn't, but the taller man turned anyway.
"Please remove your hand, Itachi." Naruto said, softly.
In spite of the rising terror that these mere words instilled in him, Itachi continued.
"Do you recall what I said…?" He asked quietly. "Did Anko ever tell you?"
Naruto's eyes were cold, but he stared directly into his eyes. Purple into purple.
"I believe I do." He said evenly. "For as long as I believe Uzumaki Naruto's actions to be those that will lead to and maintain world peace, I, and Konoha, shall follow." He quoted.
"Are you still doing just that, or has all of this just become a pretext?" Itachi asked.
For a long, uncomfortable moment, Naruto said nothing at all.
"Aren't you supposed to have sharp eyes?" Naruto asked. "What do they tell you about my actions?"
"I can't make much sense of your recent actions. Are you still yourself?"
That he wasn't requesting for the Human Path's ability to prevent any sort of lie was a sign that signs had changed: that despite his harsh words, there was some trust there.
A shadow of a smile graced Naruto's face.
"As much as ever." He said. Then, realizing how ambiguous that was: "No kami has me under their thrall, and no mortal either. I am my own man."
"That is not my only concern."
Naruto smiled mirthlessly. "I understand this. And I can't blame you." He said. "I've often spoken against people getting too full of themselves, becoming blind because of their own power. Individuals like Indra, who start thinking they're untouchable. And yet, I've acted the same."
Itachi offered no immediate response, choosing instead to study him like one would a puzzle.
"I needed a kami's attack to yank me out of the carelessness I got myself into." Naruto admitted. "Just like Indra, I stumbled into the same traps. I got too confident, let my power fog my judgement. And I'm not the only one." He gestured vaguely, a broad sweep of his arm encompassing his unseen companions. "Most of us have."
Naruto then chuckled. "How could we not? We'd been fighting ever since we were teenagers, and that was all we knew. And suddenly there was no one else who could truly oppose us. And death… Well, death lost a lot of meaning, too."
"…Have you changed, then…? And have your goals?" Itachi asked. And if so, in which way…?
Naruto smiled.
Silence enveloped them once more. Itachi continued to study him, his dark eyes searching Naruto's for an elusive understanding, a hint of the logic that drove his actions and decisions.
He didn't get a full one. Naruto, however, let him see part of his thought process. His plans, and the reason behind the secrecy.
Itachi took a deep breath, eyes closing briefly before opening again.
"…Good." Itachi decided.
Whatever it was he had been searching for, he thought he had found it. He let out a relieved breath, and was willing to admit privately that the entire thing had been nerve-wracking.
"I almost expected you to try and punch me there." Naruto said, with a short laugh.
Itachi smiled slightly, as well.
"…I am not my cousin."
…
In spite of what the smallest Orochimaru was insinuating, the spar had been Itachi's idea.
Naruto and Itachi had a few onlookers, too, aside from that man.
Itachi was almost certain they could not see much of the spar — if you could call it that —, because even he had trouble. The time both of them had trained together and Itachi still could advise him seemed very far away.
Today, he had tried to keep up with Naruto at the beginning, and was paying the price for it already. He was soaked in sweat and breathing hard.
And right now, there was no sign of Naruto.
His monstrous chakra presence saturated the area, and using it to locate him was about as helpful as trying to locate a specific droplet in a full bucket of water.
The training field was entirely flat too, and there was no way he could use any visual signs to find him. He was also completely silent too, a fact that puzzled Itachi, as he couldn't quite comprehend how he managed to achieve that. Suppressing the sound around him as he moved that fast.
His Sharingan was of no help here, either.
Naruto knew as well as anyone how to fight around it. There were so many sights of possible attacks that predicting his next move was absolutely useless.
And this dance lasted for a long while.
Itachi felt a slight shift in intent. His Susanoo, previously simmering just below his skin, burst forth in a powerful display… but it was not swift enough.
Naruto had already tossed him over his shoulder.
The ethereal armor only served to cushion his fall, preventing a harsh impact with the ground.
Itachi let out a disbelieving grunt. Naruto, laughing, didn't even seem winded. He held a hand out to him.
Itachi took it and they went at it again.
From Beyond the Sea
Naruto stood alone in the palace's topmost room, staring out the window, far beyond the horizon.
Orochimaru and Shisui had left again.
There was a vicious storm blowing outside. Again.
It felt like a haunting, an ominous premise. But then, most days felt like this, now.
He had left the worldly leaders to discuss among themselves through a projection in the Heaven room. There was nothing urgent for him to deal with, with the latest blights under control.
Part of him was tired, as though the creeping fatigue clung to him. As always, there was so much to deal with. But for the exact same reason, he could not put the full burden on others, and that included Kaitaro.
Itachi had worried about him being genuine or having hidden motives. He could understand it, too — that was the problem with deception.
There were many days he regretted these old rituals to the kami from back then. Yet, he was aware that without them, he wouldn't have survived this long. And the world would be an entirely different place.
He sighed, a drawn-out, frustrated sound that did nothing to assuage his worries.
The room felt stifling.
His chakra flared; he became lightning. The next instant, he was on top of the roof.
The spry ocean wind blew harshly against his face, shaking his hair with a sharp chill.
Thunder cracked in the distance, and the tempestuous seas raged. There was nothing natural about the weather, from the searing heat of day to the fickleness of evening.
Something came surging out, far away from Umi. It was familiar. The bond flared to life. Someone had come back. And Naruto knew exactly who it was.
With it came a few questions.
Naruto went inside again, and he waited.
…
He sat at his desk, drumming his fingers.
Next to him, Yūshirō played with a stuffed doll.
It was a peaceful evening, and the storm had abated.
Yūshirō gurgled happily, and Naruto smiled, too. Perhaps it was nothing, after all. He had still warned Kaitaro to stay on standby tonight.
Naruto paused.
He was staring through the window, brows furrowed in confusion. Was this just his imagination…? Yūshirō, displeased at being ignored in the middle of their little game, pulled at his sleeve.
Naruto didn't answer.
Something was off. An unbidden image of Shade's Realm surfaced in Naruto's mind, a phantom of thought that bewildered him.
His skin crawled, tingling with a sense of impending danger, but none of their detectors had been triggered. Something lingered on the horizon, something that did not feel like even the kami did.
It radiated with a distinct resonance, an incredible concentration of a force that felt familiar and not, all at once. An ominous feeling, as if a volcano was on the cusp of a cataclysmic eruption.
If anything, it felt similar to natural energy.
If enormous amounts of it had been gathered in one place.
His Rinnegan blazed, the purple hues deepening as his vision tunneled, sharpening his focus on the unseen entity. What was previously concealed now shimmered into his perception.
The outline of a gargantuan spear.
Thrusting up from the inky abyss, heart of the ocean floor, and striving for the heavens. Its appearance was sudden, overwhelming.
Two resonating sounds echoed, bounced off the water surface, filling the air with an eerie harmony. One that seemed to beckon.
All Naruto could muster was a whisper.
"What the hell—"
He had less than a second to realize what he was dealing with, enough time for his heart to skip a beat entirely, and his hands to join together, as though he were praying.
Names.
It was a call. To the heavens, or perhaps to the depths below, to all who dared listen.
The world fractured.
The tranquil silence shattered with a blinding flash and twin deafening roars that threatened to drown out existence itself.
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i JQREyT : "Long Ears"