On the Nature of Kami
As their prayers crescendoed, the constellation overhead began to shimmer and pulse with an unnatural light.
Emperor
Cloaked in shadows and fear, Uzumaki Naruto grows up on whispers and lies.
Timidity was his shroud, hiding him from the world's eyes. A dead man's voice, others' dreams, echoed in his soul; a specter of what he might become.
An Uzumaki by birth, although he doesn't know it then, he is entwined with the threads of fate, bound to a legacy he did not choose.
His destiny, like a storm at sea, was full of tumultuous waves and tempestuous tides.
A child, and an unknowing vessel for a fox of immense power. His spirit housed a force nature itself trembled before. He carried the burden of a thousand dreams and the expectations of a thousand souls.
His journey, a path paved with blood and tears, the loss of innocence, was lined with trials meant to break the strongest of men.
Yet, each challenge he faced, he overcame. Every hurdle, he leapt. Every obstacle, he outsmarted.
Becoming an Emperor was not his ambition, not his dream.
As a child, his wish was a simple one, if not particularly easy in his circumstances: to be left alone. To prove himself, not to the world, but to himself.
As a man, his wish was still simple, but much more difficult: peace, an end to the never-ending path of war. Peace, for those he loved.
Yet destiny, ever the crafty weaver, spun him a tapestry grander than he could have ever dreamed.
Or perhaps the blame, or credit, lies solely with him - this, he's never quite sure of.
An Emperor's crown sits upon his head, and he stands at the pinnacle, not alone, but in the comforting company of those he treasures.
And Uzumaki Naruto, who has long risen above shadows and fear, will stop at nothing to maintain this cherished status quo.
IN THE WAKE OF BUTTERFLIES
One month after Amenonuhoko's use.
Gama struggled through the waves.
Usually, traversing a few kilometers of water was an easy task for him.
There was something off, here, and not just the near absence of natural energy. Although this was egregious on its own.
The sea seemed to be fighting against him, its waves larger, its undertow stronger. As though there was a latent wrath in the water, a furious, almost vengeful turbulence.
Was it that man…?
And why did the deep waters look so clear, so bright here…? Weren't they in the middle of the ocean…?
No matter.
Gama had realized, halfway through, that people generally did not bother walking over the water to cross the distance between the islands.
No, they either glided on these pale vehicles, cutting through the violent waves, or just hovering over them altogether. Even this early in the morning — dawn hadn't risen fully yet.
Gama didn't trust anything Emperor-made, so he relied on what he knew well: his strong body and his keen intellect.
So he walked.
The walk across the choppy sea, the raging heat as well as the long day before all that… led to Gama feeling entirely too sweaty once he reached the palace's steps.
They looked… strangely imposing, in a way he had never really realized steps could.
As he glanced up, nearly blinded by the sun shining off the towering white edifice, Gama felt pretty small.
Gama hauled himself onto the bottom step, sea water dripping from his soaked clothes and pooling around his worn sandals. His chest was still heaving, as though his heart wanted to break free, and he tried to convince himself it was because of his exhaustion.
Gods, must the sun be so damn harsh…?
The palace truly seemed to be reaching toward the heavens, now that he took another look. The white spires seemed to pierce the blue canvas of the sky.
And he was more or less coming here uninvited.
"Don't sweat it, Gama!" Kage had laughed. "As long as you carry my talisman, you'll be fine!"
He felt a bit like a leaf in a storm.
Not that he was a leaf and that man was a storm, of course, that was just an unrealistic comparison that didn't even really fit their personalities—
A ball nearly hit Gama in the face.
He glared at the kid, who just stared at him back, before running away.
With renewed resolve, Gama continued to ascend the stairs, unsure why it felt as though each of his steps echoed.
Upon entering the palace, stepping in the middle of intricate pillars that could not possibly have been man-made, hushed stillness hit Gama like a wall.
His soaked clothes clung to his skin, but the air was pleasantly cool, inside. Perfect temperature, even. It felt like seals, but he knew of no seals who could do such a thing on a large scale.
He could feel it, however — the pulsating energy of countless bindings working in unison, just to maintain the pleasant conditions. Gama knew of no shinobi who could create such—
He knew of one.
Gama scowled.
Inside the palace, Gama's eyes darted around, taking in the grandeur of the interior. White marble as far as the eye could see, interspersed with majestic columns, arches and intricate carvings, on each wall, each ceiling: it was like stepping into a work of art.
The people within barely spared him a glance. They floated through the corridors, their movements too graceful, too unnatural.
Shinobi, many of them. Strong ones.
No wonder. Amongst them, too many bore an unsettling resemblance to Orochimaru, their aloof demeanor and creepy eyes making Gama's skin crawl.
His dirty sandals echoed on the polished floor, which felt both soft and hard at the same time, prompting Gama to wonder: if he were to trip and fall, would it cushion his fall like a cloud, or would it be as unforgiving as rock?
Knowing that man, he wouldn't be particularly surprised if he had made it hard only for Gama.
They were rivals, in a way.
The sound of his footsteps, which left no tracks, magnified in the vast corridors, as the chatter of the people did. Each echo was a reminder that he was alone in a world so different from his own.
In a world where the strongest man likely eyed him with distrust.
With each step, Gama ventured further into this place, dodging the gathered crowds. Plenty of civilians, here. People were eating, laughing, and if the sand that had clung to his boots was any indication, dust, crumbs… or anything deemed useless was simply vanished as it hit the floor.
Gama headed up the stairs, where he had been warned the Emperor would likely be.
The layout of the place was a fair bit different from what Kage had said, however. There were more floors, more rooms… and more people, too. Was Kage's memory this unreliable… or had a few things changed around Umigakure?
Gama stood in front of heavy-looking doors, and his stomach felt about as tight as that time he had swallowed the Eye.
Was this such a wise move…?
That man likely hated him, by now, the very peculiar way you hated something that reminded you of yourself too much.
Staring at the huge doors, Gama wasn't entirely sure if he should open them.
He was spared this dilemma, however. They glided open smoothly, and Gama's heart beat out of his chest. A man was leaving.
He met dark eyes.
Uchiha Itachi.
One of the most dangerous opponents he had ever faced. And this one's chakra was even stronger. By far. That was not a fight Gama—
Uchiha Itachi gave him the tiniest hint of a nod, and proceeded to ignore him, walking around him entirely.
It took Gama a little while to understand what had happened in the first place.
Someone took notice of the artifact Gama was carrying, and he was allowed into the room. He took a seat at the table, as far away from the man in the leading position as he could.
Not any man. He was facing that man.
The feeling of doom intensified.
The ice-cold tendrils of dread crept up his spine. There he was. The Emperor, Gama's doppelganger, who thought himself a god among men.
He looked even larger than last time, and his very presence seemed to fill the room, as though the air around him pulsated with raw energy — …gods, it did.
The only saving grace, if it could be called that, was that the Emperor didn't occupy a high dais. Perhaps he didn't need a pedestal.
Around the room were representatives of different worlds, all wearing different garb, robes.
Some were fighters, soldiers like Gama himself; others were not. Some bore fine robes and resembled nobles Gama had met before. In attitude, if not in clothing. Some had features, or clothes Gama did not recognize.
They all had one thing in common, though. A look of deep gratitude in their eyes.
And stranger still, the room fell into an anticipatory silence as a woman in galaxy-inspired robes moved to the fore.
The clarity of her words rang through the room like a silver bell, and Gama had to check his ears, still.
She was thanking that man.
"—from chaos, you ushered us into peace—"
The serenity of her gratitude hung in the air, and Gama's stomach felt even tighter.
Another man stepped forward, with beautiful eyes, of swirling light.
"—we offer our gratitude, Emperor. You lit our way in our eternal night, you gave us dawn—"
Gama's stomach felt twisted.
This had to be a joke, another strange trick that man could play on his mind. A nonsensical game he played just to fuck with Gama. Or perhaps he had tricked them all into believing his shit.
Yes… this had to be it. He and his group were in possession of terrible powers.
Representatives from universes beyond count stood, one after another, their thanks a nauseating reminder of that man's reach. Gama watched, checking himself for a genjutsu.
The figure that was his less handsome mirror image, the Emperor, seemed to take it all in stride.
He bore the gratitude with the grace of someone who had done it for a long while.
An ease that made Gama's skin prickle with unease.
And he slowly understood it.
He wasn't the rival here. Only a challenger. He was outmatched, a mere shadow against a man who could take over entire universes.
So lost was he in this silent contemplation, Gama found himself walking out of the room with the rest of the congregation.
Once he realized he had left in the first place, he shook his head and stopped, waiting near the great doors.
That man came last, of course. Accompanied by the woman who had led Gama in.
Gama squared his shoulders, forcing himself to hold the Emperor's gaze. He had come too far to back down now.
He was a shinobi raised by the great Jiraiya, and the strongest man of his own world. His resolve hardened as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. This confrontation was inevitable.
Gama was ready to face his fears, to confront his destiny.
The Emperor glanced at the woman walking next to him. He spoke: "Why is that man blocking our path…?"
She readjusted her glasses. "I'm afraid I do not know entirely, but he did have the proper clearance to attend this meeting." Her cool eyes were on Gama, next. "I am Tanabe Mai, head of intel."
"Nice to meet you." Gama muttered. "I am here to… to speak with you." He said, eyes firmly set on the Emperor's.
"I see…?" The Emperor stared. "…Which one are you, again…?" He asked. "From world six hundred thirty three, ninety-nine…?"
The woman next to him squinted at Gama, and then she whispered something to her present company.
The Emperor blinked. "Oh, that means he's Gama, right?" He asked. "I remember you."
Gama stood there, mouth slightly open.
He… didn't even recognize him…? They had met several times, just a few months ago.
The Emperor seemed to pick up on it. "Sorry, there are plenty of Naruto who look exactly the same." He explained. "Do not take it personally."
Gama kept silent.
"So?" The Emperor asked, eyes showing a passing interest. He stepped closer and Gama felt a tremor of fear shoot up his spine. "Oh, it's Kage's."
"I—"
"Where is it you came from, without a talisman of your own…? Did your group need anything? Kage could talk his way out of a sealed paper bag, so I'm going to assume it's not firepower."
Up close, Gama noticed he had never seen the man look so tired. Whatever it was he had been up to recently… it had to be important. Or big. Or both.
Gama swallowed thickly — his allergies — and nodded.
"We… need help restoring order in a non-chakra world." Gama finally let out. "…No chakra at all, not like… whatever happened here."
The Emperor seemed to consider Gama's words for a moment. "Order, then…?" He asked, tilting his head slightly to the side. "What is the estimated threat level of this particular world?"
His purple dark eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to penetrate through Gama, leaving him feeling unnervingly exposed.
Gama swallowed, feeling the dryness in his throat.
"It's… complicated." He began, shifting uncomfortably under the Emperor's scrutinizing gaze. "The world itself isn't a threat. But it has been… ruined."
The Emperor's gaze never left him, seemingly probing Gama's soul for unspoken truths. Could he even do that…?
"Ruined?" He questioned, raising a brow. "By who or what?"
"They called it nuclear war."
"Nuclear war?" The Emperor echoed, his brow furrowing slightly as he digested the information.
Gama nodded. He had seen the aftermath of the devastation: it had been around two hundred years since the bombs had been used, apparently, but that world was still reeling.
"Yes. It's a type of weapon in their world… unimaginably destructive. It's decimated their societies, the environment—"
"Yes, yes." The Emperor waved his hand impatiently. "I know what nuclear war is. I simply didn't expect this to be one of these worlds."
"These worlds…?"
The room fell silent for a moment.
"And you believe I should send someone to deal with this?" The Emperor asked, his voice devoid of any particular emotion.
Beneath the surface, Gama could sense a simmering undercurrent, an alert readiness to respond to the crisis. The switch had been seamless.
Gama's chest tightened. It was still a long shot, asking that man to interfere in a world where chakra didn't even exist. What did he even have to gain there...?
"…Yes." He said, his voice barely more than a whisper. He met the Emperor's eyes. "And so do Kage and Roku—"
The Emperor's eyes were full of mirth, now. He slapped Gama's back in amusement, nearly sending him bowling.
"Of course Kage would!" He laughed. "But both of them…? Why didn't you start with that, Gama?"
"…What?"
"Don't worry about it, I'll send a few trusted people who can begin to reverse the worst of the damage, restore a semblance of order and ease the transition." He said. "Reshape the world a little bit. I suppose they have terrible leaders, too?"
Gama thought back of House.
"…I guess so." He muttered.
The Emperor shrugged. "A classic." He stated. "I'll send the Tree group over."
Gama heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching. One moment there were none, and the next…
"Leaving the palace, then?" A soft voice asked. "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Not at all." The Emperor smiled, and his voice held a note of warmth. "But we're not leaving right away."
Gama stared. She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, with long hair that was the color of pale ash, each strand like liquid silver; smooth skin, and burnt gold eyes.
She wore a dark red dress that hugged her graceful figure, accentuated by a gold belt at her waist. The dress contrasted with her light complexion, giving her an aura of regality that Gama found hard to ignore.
And… Gama finally recognized her. That bloodstained woman from Tokyo.
'Holy shit. This is a fucking mad house.'
Something else caught Gama's eye, once he was done with his silent swearing. Nestled securely in her arms, swathed in a small yukata, was a baby he had seen before.
Tufts of golden hair peeked out from under the soft fabric, looking almost luminescent under the palace's gentle light. A miniature version of the Emperor himself, albeit with an innocence that Gama thought the latter likely never had.
The little one's tiny hands lifted, obscuring his little face. Gama watched as the baby unveiled his eyes, which were darker than the man's own. The child beamed when his father did the same in return.
The Emperor shrugged.
"He… loves peek-a-boo." He said. "I think it's normal. Probably."
The woman smiled, too.
Gama couldn't help but watch, feeling a little bit lonely, perhaps.
…
"I think I will be going, then." Gama declared and thought he didn't sound particularly afraid.
He was also bored of fourth-wheeling.
The Emperor, who had been talking to that white haired woman — Gama thought he could recall that terrifying Sakura called her Six something —, glanced at him.
"There's no rush." He said. "Besides, I thought Kage promised you something."
Gama blinked. He had somehow almost forgotten about the Eye. He hesitated, but in the end, the idea of not actually being stuck in Tokyo forever… or stuck at home won.
"…Yeah, that's true." Gama admitted.
"Come with me, then." The Emperor nodded. His eyes sharpened. "It's going to be a limited version of the Eye, of course. Not the supposedly safe version Sakura gave to the kids. I don't particularly trust you, as of yet, so…"
Gama felt a stab of irritation. But it was true. He just nodded. "Fine."
The Emperor opened his mouth again. "I…" He trailed off.
An alarm sensor was ringing out.
The other people in the corridor stopped talking.
The white-haired woman glanced at the Emperor, picked up his son again. All Gama could see in her eyes was utter trust.
He couldn't remember the last time anyone had looked at him like this.
…Jiraiya, perhaps…? No. Not even.
In one fluid motion, the Emperor clapped his hands together, and the air around him became searing. His son, laughing, clapped his hands as well.
(For a second, Gama became deathly afraid that the child could already use chakra as well.)
And then...
Power.
It rose, thrummed, pulsed throughout the room, cascading through Umigakure's protective barriers, through the world's boundaries…
And the orange light of dusk became bright blue for an instant.
Before it settled again once more; dusk or dawn, Gama couldn't tell. Just as the conversation did. And just as suddenly, the alarm quieted.
Gama was afraid to ask, at this point.
The Emperor didn't care to explain, so this would likely remain a mystery.
"We have a new laboratory dedicated to creating and maintaining the Eyes." The Emperor said instead.
"Because the last one was destroyed entirely." The woman finished.
Gama blinked.
"The Eyes were safe, though." The Emperor said. "It's always the easiest thing to warp, of course."
Gama blinked again.
"…Does that mean that you have direct access to all of them?" He asked quietly.
The Emperor smiled slightly. "Not as dumb as you look, then? I already have access to you at any moment in time, if it helps. I don't see a point in using it, however."
"What…?" Gama hissed — not too aggressively, of course. He was just worried.
The Emperor went back to ignoring him.
"Well?" He asked, motioning toward another set of large doors. "Are you coming or not?"
…
The great lift descended.
Gama looked around himself, and found the silence nearly painful.
"…A lift?" He asked. "Really? Can't you just warp us down?"
"I could." The Emperor nodded. He smiled wryly. "But how else could I enjoy a stilted conversation with you?"
The white-haired woman stifled a laugh. Gama felt his face burn. "Very funny." He muttered.
"It's a lift, indeed." The Emperor said. "And I'd love to say something profound, like 'everything in this palace has a purpose, even something as mundane as a lift…' That it 'provides an opportunity for reflection, for exchange…'" The Emperor shook his head. "But no. Simply put, I didn't feel like putting a gateway there, nor warping us."
"And why not?"
The Emperor shrugged. "Yoisen here put a lot of effort in building this place from the ground up, and I took care of the underground part, so I thought people could at least enjoy the sense of scale from the Grand Elevator."
There was a trace of amusement in the woman's eyes, which made her look less like… an ageless being. "So you do have a sense of appreciation for the work of others." She said. "I never realized."
The Emperor smiled slightly. "See, we're making progress already. Who said lifts couldn't be fun…?"
Gama grumbled something under his breath and looked away.
"Also, additional safety reasons." The Emperor added.
Gama blinked. "…What?"
The Emperor strode off the platform and walked away. Gama, grumbling, followed after him.
They emerged into a sprawling laboratory filled with complex machinery and buzzing energy.
"Sumire." The Emperor called out to a woman who sat near the entrance. "Where is Kazuki?"
She glanced at a screen quickly. As though she had anticipated the question, or perhaps it was that the computer (Gama thought that's what it was, and pressed down upon his rising interest, for the time being) itself had heard the request and anticipated her next command.
"Third floor west. A hundred thirteen."
The Emperor nodded and thanked her. He turned to climb a staircase, long robes flowing behind him. The group of four entered a long hallway lined with doors.
Gama thought he heard faint moaning coming from one of the rooms.
"…What was that?" Gama asked.
The Emperor didn't even bother looking at him, and continued to stride ahead. Gama heard panicked screaming from another room.
Yoisen dutifully covered the child's ears.
"What — was — that?" Gama repeated, in spite of his growing worry.
"No need to worry." The Emperor finally said, as if in response to Gama's confusion, not slowing his stride. "This is a research facility, not a hospital. Sounds can be deceiving—"
Another scream.
"THEY'RE INSIDE ME!"
Gama whirled around, eyes wide.
"And this?!" He asked, over his growing fear. That was Orochimaru's voice, he was pretty sure of it.
The Emperor, catching Gama's gaze, shrugged. "Energy conversion tests. Always a bit dramatic. That's the problem with most Orochimaru — they're a bit too… experimental about things. That's why these doors are layered with enough seals to resist the apocalypse they are likely to bring."
"I don't believe you." Gama hissed.
"Okay." The Emperor shrugged. "But why would I bring you to the place I do my evil experiments?"
"How should I know this?"
"You don't."
Gama, who was now grinding his teeth, tried to find a semblance of an answer in the Emperor's eyes, in the woman named Yoisen's eyes. He found none. And the child just chirped happily, trying to remove her hands from his ears.
"Do remember you are in the middle of our fortress of evil." Yoisen simply said.
As they walked, Gama could not help but observe the people in white uniforms scurrying about. Their eyes were focused, their movements methodical and precise. There was a sense of order, a rhythm that these people seemed to intuitively follow.
Even though most were Orochimaru.
Gama really was in the snakes' den, this time.
They reached a junction and took a right. Gama could make out a sign above a door at the end of the corridor. It read: "Dimensional Transportation."
The Emperor touched the door, and it gleamed before he slid it open entirely.
"Kazuki. I suppose Sumire warned you about this already." He said and the man nodded, greeting him back. "I need an Eye, calibrated for worlds 327… 7570…" He cast a glance at Gama. "…And 1, too."
Gama wasn't listening, however.
His world had come to a halt: he froze inside the door frame. He was caught in another's gravitational pull.
Gama could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Why…? He wasn't nervous. Still, his eyes couldn't leave the woman clad in the same white uniform, who was standing with her back facing him.
It was her.
His vision was tinted with a haze of red, a dangerous throb at the corner of his eyes.
But she held no power over him. And even if she did, he would not allow it. So she held no power. None at all.
He saw black hair, with a slight reddish tinge, fall down past her shoulders, most of it pulled into a tight bun.
Gama thought he saw her stiffen.
With an almost imperceivable shift in his posture, Gama braced himself to face the inevitable confrontation. He stepped further into the laboratory, crossing the floor towards the woman.
"Hebi." His voice rang out, breaking the continuous hum of the machines around them.
She turned around, face entirely impassible. "Gama." She acknowledged him, her voice steady, devoid of any warmth.
At the sound of the nickname, that felt more and more like his actual name, he stiffened. A perceptible shiver ran down his spine. There was a moment of silence, both of them trapped in a stalemate of unspoken words and past grievances—
She turned away from him, as though he were entirely worthless.
"You require an Eye, then?" She asked the Emperor, cutting straight to the point. Her tone was entirely professional.
Following a barely perceptible nod from him, she turned and began to navigate the lab, moving towards a sealed container.
Gama watched her every move, his mind teetering on the precipice of the abyss—
"Please, do not try summoning the Nine-Tails within this building." The Emperor said dryly. "There are safeguards in place."
His voice felt distant to Gama. Perhaps it was about being ignored, dismissed.
"I am perfectly calm." Gama hissed. Being angry felt all too natural, in fact he had never felt so damn good—
The Emperor snorted. "You're bleeding Bijū chakra like it's a confetti cannon exploding at a surprise party."
Gama blinked, the absurdity of the comparison momentarily dispersing his anger. "…What?" From the amused smile on Yoisen's face, it had been done on purpose, likely.
The Emperor shrugged nonchalantly. "You two had sex, I remember that. Get over it." He shook his head. "It's just that. I thought you… or Hebi, of all people would get it."
"You thought what…?" Gama seethed, his venomous tone barely concealing his frustration.
Hebi stepped forward.
For Gama, she only had another indifferent gaze. He wanted to make her look at him—
"The Eye is ready." She declared curtly, nearly thrusting the device into Gama's hands.
And then she left abruptly.
Again.
Gama was left standing in an uncomfortable silence.
The device, a sort of jar, was cold against his skin, a stark contrast to the heat bubbling through his veins.
The Emperor watched the display with a slightly amused gaze. "Are you finished?" He asked.
"Yes—"
The Emperor moved so quickly that Gama didn't understand what had happened right away.
When he looked down there was no eye in the jar anymore, and his chest felt as though it were on fire. His chakra system was gleaming, too.
"…Wha — What have you done?" He managed to ask.
The Emperor shrugged. "Plugged the Eye in, of course. You can leave the jar here when you leave. Welcome aboard."
…
"…What now?" Gama asked.
His stomach felt a bit strange. It felt a bit like the Nine-Tails, and it didn't, at the same time.
It wasn't from the Eye.
The Emperor stared at him. "What do you mean?"
Gama didn't answer. He felt a bit lost, and perhaps the other man noticed it. In any case, Gama hated what he could see in his eyes: it looked too much like pity.
"You're free to go back home." The Emperor said. "Or to Tokyo." His eyes were set on Gama. "I had people over there confirm it, you lived a pretty… normal life. If you want to go there, that's on you. Or you can stay here, even. Although…"
Gama hadn't really considered the option. He had wanted to see Jiraiya, somewhat, but that was about it.
"Although what…?" He asked, in spite of it. His stomach was definitely feeling off.
"Although things might become a bit more dangerous." The Emperor said. "Let me tell you. I wouldn't have anyone come here without knowing the full risks involved, and…" The Emperor paused. "Gama…? Are you alright?"
"…Yeah." Gama muttered. "I think I just need some fresh air."
"You really don't look like it."
"I'm fine… I'm fine…"
The Emperor paused.
His hands rose so swiftly that Gama did not see them move in the first place, just that they were up in the air, palms facing Gama.
And there were several layers of barriers around Gama. The Emperor's eyes tightened and Gama felt a jolt of true terror as a purple flame rose within them.
Not fear, the ever-present feeling of paranoia that shinobi lived and dealt with… but the ominous red veil, the primal instinct that made every other taste of it feel like a poor imitation.
Some of the barriers had come from the Emperor, some had come from Umi itself, it seemed, an automatic safeguard of sorts. And…
The Emperor's chakra was not carefully veiled anymore.
Gama had thought Pain to be powerful.
Gama had thought this world's Itachi to be unreachable.
Right now, every nerve in his body sparked as the other man's chakra washed over him like an unstoppable tsunami. His skin prickled, as though he were in the middle of a lightning storm, hair standing on end.
The power seemed to distort the very air around him, something that existed on a plane that was near impossible for Gama to comprehend.
He could sense the raw energy, immeasurably potent and ancient, flooding the room. It roared like the thunderous voice of an age-old spirit. The colors of the world seemed to warp, fluctuating between unreal hues as the chakra radiated outwards, twisting reality to its whim.
Gama was alone in a vast, cold ocean, the overwhelming weight of the water pressing from all sides, and he was suffocating.
And he did not understand why it had happened at all.
Red markings spread upon Gama's arms and he stiffened.
The Emperor's eyes burned with light, and he seemed ready to do something. What exactly, Gama wasn't sure.
"Inari." The Emperor sighed, and it was closer to a growl. "Again. When did you come in contact with him?"
Gama tried to answer, knowing full well he had no idea what the man was talking about. He found that he couldn't.
And thinking suddenly became very difficult as well.
The chilling grasp of Inari-Kitsune was not like the more familiar embrace of mortal possession. It wasn't simply a hand on the shoulder either, guiding a person's actions.
No, the god's possession was a complete transgression of the mortal boundary, a hostile takeover that reached down into the marrow of the bones and curled around the soul, squeezing until the person's will was nothing more than a faint echo.
And it was an ability that was next to useless, considering how obvious it was.
The possession was a harsh process, one that most humans wouldn't survive in the first place. And more importantly, although Inari had shown an affinity for this sort of possession, it left the kami unable to do much more than speak. None of its terrible power.
Still, right now, Gama was a puppet, with a kami pulling the strings.
His flesh became pale, and his eyes alight with a divine, cruel light. Each movement he made was too precise, too perfect to be of human volition. Streaks of silver, red and gold threaded through his blond hair.
When he spoke, his voice was no longer his own. The chamber fell deathly silent as Inari-Kitsune's voice echoed through Gama, chilling to the bone.
"Eons come and go, worlds rise and fall, and still, the endless dance of chaos never ceases to amuse me." Gama's voice echoed with detached delight.
Naruto had never heard Inari speak before he began using Gama as a mouthpiece. The cold indifference, the dark amusement was exactly what he had expected from that being, however.
Yoisen had gone with the others, including Yūshirō, at the slightest sign of trouble. As was his order. Still, her hand was tight around her sword as she went.
The fleeting joy of Inari's words was macabre , and something that made Naruto feel the same seething anger he was beginning to feel toward anything kami-related.
This game of cat and mouse had gone on for much too long.
But Naruto knew he had a part to play in this spectacle. His eyes, hidden beneath the shadow of his blonde fringe, held a glint of foreknowledge.
The amusement Inari-Kitsune derived from the mortal realm and its delights was obvious. It was a cruel game from a false god perched on its lofty throne, indifferent to the turmoil it sparked.
Or relishing in it.
Naruto's gaze returned to Gama's form, an unwilling puppet in this divine charade.
"Sit back and witness." Gama's voice resonated through the space, a mere echo of Inari's grand proclamation. "As the age of change descends. Lowly beings of your very own kind have been setting the stage."
Naruto held Gama's stare.
Inari's laughter rang out in the room, a ripple of divine mockery, setting the tone for the events to unfold.
"The twin kami of change. Agehachō-Yosei will indeed grace your world with its presence soon." It said with a knowing smile. "And Susanoo-Arashi has cast its gaze upon this, as well."
Did you really believe you would be able to keep us out forever…?
"Inari." Naruto said softly. "I'm sure your games are delightful. They won't bring you any closer to your goals."
The fox deity simply laughed. "Oh." It taunted. "And what would you know of my ambitions…? I have always enjoyed the journey much more."
Naruto smiled, lips drawn into a thin line. "Every journey has an end."
Inari-Kitsune simply stared at him through Gama's eyes, an unsettling smile on the human's face. "For you, perhaps. I would suggest giving in to Agehachō-Yosei. That one can be… rather persistent."
"And you would hate to lose a plaything, wouldn't you…?" .
Another eerie smile. "I would."
A pause.
"Well, you have been warned. The seeds of intrigue have been sown and the unsuspecting world has taken the bait." The kami observed, its voice holding a tone of wry amusement. "The cosmos is but a plaything in the hands of the cunning. Even you cannot deny the role you have played in setting the stage."
For a single, bone-chilling moment, Naruto thought Inari knew more than it should have.
And if that was the case, they were…
The moment passed, and Naruto let none of his thoughts show upon his face.
"Perhaps." Naruto conceded. He had to remain composed, and had to keep his thoughts to himself. "We are not as naive as you presume us to be."
"As you say." Inari-Kitsune intoned, a smile creeping its way onto Gama's face. "Heed my warning. In the background, the tempest stirs. Susanoo-Arashi, the kami of storms and change, senses the shift. Even I may not be able to tell when it is going to happen. A storm is brewing, and its wrath will be unforgiving."
'Storms and change.'
Again. Naruto had known. Or rather, had divined it, with Yoisen's help.
But the fact that Inari was saying it so openly…
And Naruto found himself doubting again. Was the kami aware of their plans, of everything… or simply pretending?
It was scheming something that didn't involve the other two, likely. But the time for doubt was not now. Not when he had an impossible task ahead of him, still.
Inari-Kitsune's tone remained uncaring, yet there was more than mere amusement in its words. It was a sense of… expectancy? As though the god was looking forward to the oncoming clash.
"Submit or die; that's the choice you are left with." Inari-Kitsune said, the smile never leaving Gama's face. "Your people, on the other hand... Well. I am but the messenger."
Naruto clenched his jaws. He was done with the gods' games, had been done for a long while.
"Otherwise, that will be the end of it." Inari-Kitsune finished.
And then, just as sudden as it had come, the divine presence receded from Gama's body.
The man slumped forward, gasping for breath. The cruel light left his eyes, replaced by the familiar blue. The silver streaks in his hair didn't vanish, however.
It wasn't a sign of the possession, which was over already. Only of the stress it had put his body through.
The faint whisper of the kami's presence, so weak that it had evaded detection prior to Inari's short takeover, receded into nothingness.
…
Gama staggered to his feet, on heavy legs.
They were uncooperative, as though he had been dragged through a gauntlet of nightmares.
Or perhaps that was his mind. The presence that had commandeered his body had receded, leaving him feeling like an empty shell, scraped raw from the inside.
Possession, he knew, was a violation beyond comprehension.
His mind was his sanctuary, the only space that truly had belonged to him, and to have it trespassed… and trampled upon... left him feeling exposed.
His fear-stricken eyes darted around the room.
Once he saw Naruto's own, his unreadable expression, Gama backed away.
dread
His breath hitched in his throat, coming out in harsh, raspy gasps. The very sight of those ice-cold eyes triggered a primal fear in Gama, his body instinctively recoiling.
Gama looked very much like a wounded, trapped animal, surrounded in barriers as he was.
"So…" Gama stammered, every ounce of his bravado evaporated. "That's it, then?"
The question hung in the air. His voice was barely above a whisper, fearful of the impending doom he was convinced was coming his way.
What a pathetic life.
There were so many things he had promised himself he would do.
He had dreamed of glory, of a future free from the chains of the past, of a life where he was no longer just a fool, a waste of space. Right now, those dreams seemed nothing more than a farce, a cruel joke on him.
Naruto's gaze remained unwavering, studying Gama's crumbled demeanor with a disquieting calm. For a moment, he was silent, the room humming with tension. Then, finally, he broke the silence.
"Inari chose to speak through you. Not to decide your fate, but only in order to deliver a message." Naruto said, his voice an unspoken command, demanding Gama's undivided attention.
Gama stared back, rooted, and unsure where he was going with this.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Naruto's hand flashed, and a sword materialized from thin air.
The barrier that had previously enclosed them vanished with a faint shimmer, leaving the two in nothing but silence.
Gama's heart pounded in his chest as he closed his eyes, preparing for the end he was certain was coming.
"If you want me to, I will kill you here." Naruto offered. "This is for you to choose. Your life, your death… I'd rather not decide about them, especially today."
Gama opened them again.
"I won't lie to you, saying you are stronger than your fears." Naruto said. "But if you want to live, you're going to have to be."
His words held no room for argument, no leniency for self-pity.
"You have the Eye, now. I will teach you how to prevent such an incident from recurring. As a bearer and a jinchūriki, it's a lesson you must learn."
Gama realized the words were a challenge, a demand for Gama to rise above his fear.
"We all have our demons, our gods, our battles." Naruto stated, with something harder than steel creeping into his voice. "It's how we face them that defines us."
Gama felt an unfamiliar rawness coursing through him. His fear, his uncertainty, his dread.
"So." Naruto's voice echoed once more, slicing through Gama's thoughts. "What will your choice be, Gama?"
On the Nature of Kami
The temple air was cool, heavy with anticipation, tinged with a dash of apprehension; silent prayers.
Stone columns rose high into the twilight, weathered carvings on their surface whispering tales of ancient pacts and divine interventions.
Gathered around the central dais, the congregation held their breaths, a collective heartbeat thudding in the silence.
In the center, the high priest stood stoic and resolute, his robes billowing gently around his frail form.
A hushed silence fell over the gathering as the priest lifted his hands skyward, his deep voice echoing off the stone walls, reaching towards the celestial sphere.
With a solemn expression, he prayed.
"O, Agehachō-Yosei, we beseech thee! We offer our devotion and sacrifice for your divine presence." His voice echoed within the stone walls, chilling the hearts of all present. "Bringer of transformation, we beseech thee!"
Seven volunteers, each bearing powerful chakra, stood quietly, their faces bathed in the ethereal glow of the lanterns.
They were dressed in pure white, the symbol of purity and sacrifice. A hushed silence filled the space as the high priest approached each of them, murmuring ancient prayers as he touched their foreheads.
The echo of the final chant lingered, and the high priest slowly moved away, leaving the eight in a semicircle.
Their faces held a calm resolve, the glee of their impending sacrifice reflected in their tranquil eyes.
As the high priest fell into a trance, an uncanny light radiated from him, seeping into the eight volunteers.
As if guided by an invisible hand, painted in ethereal hues, the eight moved closer. Their hands met in the center.
The eerie light seemed to bleed upwards from them.
It formed an ethereal bridge from the celestial to the earthly.
It surged forth from the West, as inevitable as the setting sun.
Inari had meant it quite literally, then.
Very soon.
Much sooner than Naruto had expected. He barely had the time to send messages to the others, warning them of the coming doom. They wouldn't have the time to come, he was almost certain of it.
It didn't matter. And it did make a few things simpler, too.
Naruto had known the kami would wait for as long as it took for an opening. Years, centuries, were nothing to them.
As for Inari... He couldn't help but suspect that the kami had only chosen to emerge now to feast on the depths of his despair, to relish in the moment when all hope was lost.
A feast Naruto hadn't been willing to serve the kami.
The entity was a kami, a divine force of such magnitude that it dwarfed any Naruto had previously encountered.
It wasn't Susanoo-Arashi, certainly, but it was the strongest kami Naruto had ever felt in person.
Agehachō-Yosei.
The rune of change burned, along his spine.
It wasn't just powerful; it was power incarnate, a celestial juggernaut unfurling its cosmic presence. It was a deity that could warp reality to its whims. Another one.
With the kami's arrival came its domain, the sphere of its influence manifesting alongside it, an otherworldly realm imposing itself onto the earthly plane.
This domain, now superimposed on their world, erected an insurmountable barrier, blocking any of his Rinnegan-bearing allies from re-entering this reality.
They others were as unreachable as the distant stars, their path back shrouded by the kami's seemingly omnipotent will.
And the barriers didn't only block his allies.
Other kami too were now barred, their paths of materialization into this plane cut off by this divine blockade. Few things could go through such a barrier.
Naruto stood and cracked his neck.
…
Gama stood there, in utter disbelief.
He had felt the terrible kitsune's nature, its cruelty and its malice. Now, this.
There were more of these beings.
Why were there more of them…?
And this one…
He couldn't truly see it. It was thousands of kilometers away. And yet… he did.
A monstrous butterfly — an old man — a young woman — a newborn — a corpse — many, many more. At the same time.
It loomed large in Gama's mind, a horrifying, demonic being that cast an ominous shadow over his reality.
Gama's legs buckled, and he dropped to the ground. His back hit the wall, which felt cold against his overheating skin.
He slid down until he was huddled in a tight, compact ball, knees pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around himself.
His body quaked with an all-encompassing terror that seemed to consume him from within. It was like a horrifying echo of the possession, tearing open the barely healed wounds in his psyche.
He saw his adoptive father, Jiraiya — a man with kind eyes and many words, never unkind, but perpetually unreachable. A constant, spectral figure, fading in and out of his childhood like a ghost, always there but never entirely present.
Gama remembered memories of cheery distance, an affectionate arm around his shoulders that was never quite firm enough to make him feel secure. Eyes that seemed to see someone else when they looked at him. Someone that Gama felt he never quite could measure up to.
He remembered toads taking care of him when Jiraiya was away. A rusted playground on Mount Myōboku.
The tumultuous battlegrounds where he had lost more than comrades, too. Where he had left pieces of his soul scattered amongst the rubble and bloodied sand.
The solitude that made him seek refuge in the arms of strangers. A desperate search for connection, an attempt to fill a gap he couldn't explain. The growing sense of isolation, a reminder that he would likely never understand genuine intimacy.
The ghosts of his father, of war, and of his own disconnectedness combined into a storm, a torrential downpour of emotions he had spent his life holding at bay.
With a choked sob, he finally let himself crumble.
Gama allowed the tears to flow freely.
Someone spoke, and Gama heard the words clearly, even through his choked sobs.
"Have no fear."
That's what the Emperor… Naruto said, with serene assurance.
'How could I not…? How can you even…?'
"Don't." Gama muttered. "You might be… strong, but…"
"It's not about strength. But you're right."
Gama let out a choked laugh. "It's going to swallow you whole."
"Perhaps. I have been at about half strength ever since this morning, what with these constant assaults and the rest of it…" Naruto said evenly. "I'm going to have to... forcefully restore myself before it comes to it. So that I don't get blasted to bits just by its presence."
Gama stared, unblinking.
Half strength. He had been sensing half of the man's full power…?
"But first…" The Emperor said. "…Comes something else."
Naruto brought his hands together in an odd configuration by his right hip. It was as though he were praying, in a way.
And perhaps he was.
"Ten binds, celestial sight, unchain earthly ties!" He invoked.
A wave of ethereal blue, human chakra emanated from him, washing over the room like a soothing tide.
It found the barrier, melding with it before shooting across the land like an aurora.
Gama, sensitive as he was to chakra, felt echoes in response. So many.
Many of them.
Many of them.
Many of them.
They were other people.
And the closest ones, he recognized. Orochimaru. Many of them. Other Naruto. Uchiha chakra, Uzumaki… Senju. Others. An impossible number to compute.
Their chakra rose in harmony with Naruto's, connecting.
In every other city where the barriers had been set, and a white-gold marble sphere had been buried, the same phenomenon happened.
Clones. Shadows. Leaders. People of this world. People from beyond.
Their chakra rose, too. An unparalleled spectacle of unity. It was... Ah.
It was the most beautiful thing Gama had ever felt.
"Hear the echo of my command, the resonance of the universe! With the south's heart, north's eye, west's finger, east's foot, converge in the cosmic dance!"
Something reacted.
The rumbling was subtle at first, barely more than the mild murmur of a distant train.
Gama's stomach dropped not in fear, but in sheer awe of the spectacle unfolding. The sensation was overwhelming, breathtaking, as if they were rising… because, by the gods, they were.
By the gods, they were rising.
Gama could see the sweat pearling upon Naruto's forehead. His white-haired partner, Yoisen, had returned, unnoticed till now, joining the channeling, aiding in this monumental feat.
"Ironclad fireflies, radiant as stars, ascend from mundane grasp! In the symphony of cosmic winds and divine rain, rise, mighty cities, on my decree. Harness the power of six, bifurcate light, let the terrestrial ascend to celestial!"
They were not just rising from underground.
The reality hit Gama as the corridor's wall, previously thought solid, revealed itself as a window.
It had been obscured, the view hidden while they were beneath the surface. Now it unveiled the marvel unfolding outside.
Gama's gaze fell on the vast sea below, its surface shifting and splitting to form chasms. The islands, till now placid… trembled, as though stirred from slumber.
From their midst, a gargantuan structure emerged, a monumental plateau lifting from the ocean depths, connecting all the islands in a majestic show.
No wonder the waters had seemed shallow: they had been sitting in the largest artificial basin he had even seen.
The city, an intricate blend of natural beauty and architectural genius, rose from the Earth's heart, illuminated by the dawn's soft glow.
The dome of chakra that was the barrier shimmered, became nearly opaque, holding all of it together, from the distant islands to the water itself.
"Behold the path unveiled, reflect not on mortal dread, but gaze upon the vast firmament, and claim your place amongst constellations! By my power, unshackle from the earthly embrace, rise to cosmic grace!"
Whatever it was Naruto and his partner were doing, it was not entirely chakra based.
The air was nearly electric with the scent of the ancient and the new, the merging of epochs making Gama's mind spin.
The shape was intricate and grand, a city of marble and nature emerging from the earth's womb, glimmering in the dawn as it rose.
It was a miracle of architecture, a marvel of engineering that defied all understanding.
Towers of marble and a living material, closer to sacred wood than anything, erupted from the islands' hearts, ascending skyward in a dance of lights and reflections, like frozen lightning bolts captured in mid-strike.
They reached for other islands, connecting them. Atop each structure, intricate spires reached out, equally eager to touch the heavens, their pointed tops piercing the slowly dissipating mist. And the same thing was happening underwater.
Gama stood there, a solitary witness to the impossible, rooted to the spot in awe.
"Defy gravity's fall! Celestial Ring, heed my call, rise high, beyond earthly shadows, into the boundless night's cradle!"
As Gama gazed at the colossal city of islands reaching for the heavens, he felt humbled.
And then, something even more impossible, slowly rising as well, far below the island biome.
A large ring made out of the same white marble-like material rose from the waves under Umi, larger than the islands themselves.
No fucking way.
The air was becoming nearly impossible to breathe, full of chakra and heat as it was.
Naruto dropped to a knee.
Sweat dripped from his forehead, running in rivulets down his face and soaking his clothes.
Gama watched, spellbound.
Then Naruto took a deep breath, and there was ozone in the air.
The man accepted Yoisen's hand and stood up. His clothing, previously soaked in sweat… mended and refreshed, taking on a renewed radiance as if woven light.
His chakra, which had become a flickering flame, now grew and swelled again, fueled by the boundless reservoir of the Jūbi's power. It rose and rose, until it soared.
What the hell…?
Was he converting Jūbi chakra into his own...?
"There was no need to exhaust yourself that much." Yoisen chided, almost gently, and her concern for him was so obvious that Gama felt as though averting his eyes.
Naruto turned to her, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "I believe there was an example to be set, here. How could I ask the people to lend me their strength if I'm not willing to spend my own?"
"There will be plenty more of that, still." Yoisen said softly.
It seemed as though they were barely starting.
Gama took a deep, shaky breath. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his legs were still trembling. The visceral fear in his gut told him to run away, to hide.
He was not that man.
But...
But he held his ground. Gama stepped forward. If there was anything he could help with, he would do it.
"Are we… Leaving Earth…?" Gama hesitated. "It sounds like a good solution, from what little I've heard—"
Naruto shook his head. "Not exactly." He said. "Well… Yoisen and I aren't, at the very least. If this goes wrong…"
Gamat took in a sharp breath. He realized.
"…Are you going to fight it?" He nearly hissed.
He only got a mirthless smile in answer. "Believe it." The Emperor said.
Silence. In spite of himself, Gama chuckled. Low at first, then more of a barking sound, something that reminded him of his adoptive father. And he decided on something.
Because in this moment, he was not a waste of space, not a man ruled by his failings, his fears. Not just a messenger, a tool for a cruel kami. He was a man, choosing to confront his fear. Naruto saw it in his eyes and gave him a small smile.
Gama shook his head. "I can't believe the shit I'm hearing." He said, with a bit of renewed confidence. Something about that man made him want to believe it was possible, even though everything in him told him no. "...Do you think you're a god?"
"Of course not." Naruto said. His eyes were on Earth, down below. "But I'll see what I can do."
Silence.
"In that case..." Gama began.
"I do not believe that this is something you can help me with."
"So you're going to go in alone…?"
"Oh, no." Naruto glanced at Yoisen. "I am not alone." She nodded in confirmation.
"There has to be—"
"Go find HQ, if you want to help." Naruto said. "This method is… quite experimental." He admitted. "The kami have strong ties to Earth itself, and several other planets, no matter the world we are in. The cities—"
Gama, in his surprise, cut him off. "Several of them…?"
Naruto gave him an inscrutable glance. "You could say that." He sounded amused.
"Umigakure is one of several Celestial Cities." Yoisen added. "The others are rising, as well."
Naruto nodded. "They are a very recent solution. And a far cry from the planetoid-sized spacecrafts that are in the works. There are…" He sighed. "Many people down on Earth, still. If I fail…" He shook his head. "No matter. The cities should hold as is, for a while at least. The barriers will generate a habitable environment, and the expandable Ring, in the center of which they will gather, an even stronger barrier around them."
"…And if it doesn't hold?" Gama asked, afraid of the answer.
"What do you think…?" Naruto glanced at him, shrugging. "It would mean we're fucked. But then again, we're fucked either way. Same as always, really."
…
Naruto glanced through the window, as the city of Umi continued to rise. As the other cities continued to rise, according to the communications. As the Ring continued to rise.
As the kami was rising, too.
Its body was likely halfway formed, by now. Not physical enough to shoot them down, but that wouldn't be true for long anymore.
He had faith in Orochimaru's methods. His own, and several of the others. And their men. Or their greed for new knowledge, at least. Which was something they couldn't do if they were to be vaporized by an angry god.
And Naruto knew it would work.
It had to.
"Go and see HQ." Naruto told Gama again. "I'm certain they will have something for you to do. Ask for Aruni."
The words were nonchalant, but Gama probably detected the underlying tension in them. That's what Naruto thought, at least, but he was said to have a decent poker face. Gama found himself nodding in reluctant agreement. With a final glance at Naruto, he took his leave, leaving the pair alone.
Yoisen remained silent for a few moments, her gaze lost in the unfolding spectacle outside. She broke the silence softly.
"…Shall we go?" She asked.
"Well." Naruto said, with a grim smile. "We can't have the people down there believe we abandoned them, can we…?"
She smiled slightly. "No, we cannot."
His gaze hardened. "Besides, I think this kami is waiting for us."
lensdump:
i/QoaQPv : The Celestial Ring