A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN
The atmosphere inside was tense.
The assumption had been a journey without lapses, a seamless transition between worlds. That idea was shattered quickly. The Ark trembled violently, as if hurled into a maelstrom of jagged stones.
The stillness that had once filled the cabin evaporated, replaced by a palpable tension.
Ino's stomach lurched. "…I think I'm going to puke." She said. Naruto, next to her, just rubbed her shoulders in shared pain. "Are you sure this is safe?"
"As safe as can be." Orochimaru stated, unconcerned. "We have run as many tests as possible."
"I don't have much faith in your tests, you—"
"No name-calling." Karin intervened, before bringing her hands back to her mouth. "Please." She too looked as though she was going to vomit. Her bucket was next to her, floating.
Toru glanced at Hanabi, who seemed to be doing just fine, even as the shaking ship warbled around them.
He didn't ask, because he knew the sort of dumb answer he was likely to get.
(Something something pride something something as a former Hyūga something something now Uzumaki something something pride something something)
He stared at Naruto and Sasuke, instead, and began glaring at them. "You won't do it this time."
The two shared a look, seemingly confused.
"…Do what?" Sasuke asked.
"Leaving me behind."
Naruto squinted, as though trying to make sense of his words. Hanabi shook her head: 'not worth it.'
"I don't get it." Sasuke admitted.
"Oh, yeah? Really…?" Toru asked, scowling. "You guys must have had a great little bonding moment, last time."
Naruto and Sasuke stared at each other again. Ino sighed and looked away from them. Orochimaru continued to ignore them.
"Yeah, act like you don't get it." Toru nodded. "Going off and saving the world while I wasn't around."
"…Do you mean Nagato?" Naruto asked slowly.
"No." Toru rolled his eyes. "I'm talking about any of the countless villainous versions of me scattered across the multiverse."
"…We didn't meet any." Sasuke said.
"Exactly!" Toru snapped, and he snapped his fingers, too. "Because there are none — In my case." Blank looks. "Of course I was talking about fucking Nagato."
"You were dead." Sasuke deadpanned.
Toru paused, not at all appreciating Sasuke's comment. "I don't care. I wanted to fight Nagato too."
"But you fought him—" Naruto began.
"That was after, completely different thing." Toru said. "It's about the odds. Man's… woman's desperate quest to jump the insurmountable hurdle."
Karin wanted to roll her eyes, but she also wanted to puke.
Ino huffed. "Well here's your chance, then." She said. "I really hope you're confident in your bargaining—"
"I'm no Kage, unfortunately, but I'll manage—" Toru began.
"—To get yourself annihilated." Hanabi finished for him. "Hopefully, you won't take us with you."
He gritted his teeth. "…Are you trying to lift the mood?"
"Are you?"
And then, there was a rustling sound. A hiss.
The Ark had struck a hard surface, burrowed into it… and stopped moving…? The surface had given way under them.
They had landed. Karin finally vomited.
Once that was done and they were all ready to go, they exited the vehicle, which disappeared back into its dedicated pocket space, split in parts that each of them held.
They took a long look around.
It looked and felt like a fever dream.
They were in the middle of a frozen waste, and the Ark had broken the first layers of ice.
The sky above was pitch black, with no clouds, and snowflakes fell from the void lazily. Winds twirled and breezed, leaving silvery trails in their wake.
When they stretched their chakra, gleaming lights in the sky, like stars but not, filled their awareness.
In the distance were mountains. North. South. East. West. In every direction.
Karin extended her senses further. "…This place feels big." That was all she said.
"Massive." Hanabi confirmed.
Orochimaru looked around, as well. He made a motion, as if to attack Naruto, and was satisfied when he was stopped entirely. He opened his hand, and snakes slithered out of his sleeve, curling into small white beads that then flew away.
"That should be it." Naruto said, looking at the sky, feeling the sheer sense of otherworldly around them. "We're here."
"I don't like this place." Toru stated.
"Because you feel cold?" Naruto asked.
Toru shook his head. "Because it's not cold."
Naruto paused. "…Now that you mention it, it's true."
"I don't get what's wrong with your body for you not to even feel it in the first place, but…" Toru gestured at the place. "It should be cold, but it's not."
"It is not a normal sort of place in any way." Orochimaru stated, as though it were obvious.
"Oh?" Naruto asked sarcastically. "Been there before, have you?"
"Certainly not, but I have enough common sense to fill in for you." Orochimaru said, ignoring his former student's sigh. "Please. Avoid using any more chakra while we ignore the implications of its use."
"That's going to be complicated if we intend to find a specific place, a specific kami." Hanabi remarked. She hadn't powered down yet, her eyes were still gleaming blue.
"Keep it to a minimum, then." Orochimaru sighed.
To Karin, this entire place felt a bit too much like Naraka — what little she could remember of it, half memories that were closer to another fever dream. Ino squeezed her hand comfortingly.
"Yes." Orochimaru decided. "If the legends hold true and the kami did create Earth, I suppose they based aspects of it upon their own realm."
Something of it also felt eerily similar to the Celestial Ring, where nature felt slightly too perfect, and it was kind of off-putting to people who had grown up on Earth.
"Is the geography similar to Earth in any way, Hanabi?" Orochimaru asked.
Her eyes, which were still glowing blue, stared into the far distance. "Not to any place that I can think of, no."
"Is this really the place, though?" Karin asked. There were barely any kami around, aside from curious little sprites in the distance.
"…Somehow, I doubt it." Hanabi admitted.
"What should we do, then?" Toru asked.
Naruto looked around. They could leave anytime. Hopefully. "We get out of here, first." He decided. "We're surrounded by mountains. Hanabi?"
She nodded and pointed at a spot in the far distance. "'Rivers' are flowing down from there."
"Let's go, then."
"Worst case, if we don't find our way out... we can just…" Toru began. "Summon that kami directly… or something, right?"
Naruto stared at him. "What happens if that's not the place? Or if it can strike us down, in the name of some divine justice. What if it's not bound by the same rules?"
Toru paused, shrugging. "I'm not certain. But it would solve the problem anyway, wouldn't it?"
"It really wouldn't."
"I'd rather not be obliterated." Orochimaru hissed.
They knew where they were going, at the very least.
And so they walked through the mountains.
Hours stretched into what felt like days, while days contracted to mere minutes.
The sky was now ablaze with stars, and there was no sun anywhere to be seen.
Little kami — luminous sprites of blue, orange, and green — darted about them like ethereal fireflies, their vivid hues defying the celestial darkness.
They progressed like that, ignoring the little sprites, inching toward that distant land carefully.
It was made tedious because of their choice to limit their chakra usage. Still, they moved away from the place they had arrived at, passing more curious little kami on the way.
When they finally paused for respite in a secluded cave, Karin broke the silence. "How long have we been on the move?"
Time felt strange here. It flowed erratically, as a mountain stream under a shifting bed of ice. Chaotic, whimsical.
"It's irrelevant." Hanabi's eyes gleamed with determination. "Takamagahara — if it's really not where we are now… is close. I can sense it."
They forged on, their resolve unwavering.
The journey was grueling. Steep cliffs rose around them, and snowflakes fell ceaselessly, blanketing the world in an ethereal white in a true blizzard. In this ethereal landscape, cold and warmth still remained alien concepts, even then.
Under Hanabi's guidance, they pressed on, holding firm to the belief that their goal was within their grasp.
Frozen waves of eerie texture rose as high as the very mountains, shifting into grain-like materials as they fell back into the nothingness of a barren landscape.
On what felt like another day entirely, while ascending a particularly perilous ridge, they reached a small torii gate standing alone amidst the swirling snow, atop a stone platform.
Its red lacquer stark against the monochrome winter landscape.
Beyond the gate, the air shimmered with incandescent light that spilled into the surrounding blizzard, its boundaries a blurred mirage.
Their eyes met, a silent consensus reached. They had come too far to falter now; Takamagahara beckoned, and they would answer its call.
They passed the gate.
…
A shaft of light; breaking through the dark sky, as though the heavens themselves had opened.
The most peculiar of rainbows fell from the heavens and touched the stone platform they stood upon.
The snowflakes that fell into the gleaming path transformed into glittering prisms, diffusing ethereal light in every direction.
Exchanging unspoken assurances through fleeting glances, they stepped onto the iridescent bridge in a synchronized motion.
There was a pause, a moment of tension, as though the world held its breath. Then the surface solidified beneath him, firm as the mountain rock.
They fell into position, one by one, stepping onto the rainbow bridge. Each color underfoot felt slightly different.
Red felt almost hot to the touch, while blue exuded a tranquil coolness. Yellow pulsed with life-affirming energy, and indigo radiated the austere chill of Earth's harshest winters.
They walked up, toward the heavens.
As they trod on the ethereal bridge, the harsh winter scene around them began to dissolve and the land down under seemed to change. To their eyes, at least.
The blizzard that had started lost its intensity, replaced by gentle snowflakes that danced in the air.
The relentless blizzard softened into a ballet of gentle snowflakes, and the barren landscape transformed into a garden of cherry blossoms, caught in the eternal tension between spring's promise and winter's dominion.
By the time they reached the end of the rainbow and stepped onto another stone platform, they found themselves in a realm so different from their point of departure that it defied comparison.
The mountains that once loomed over them were now nowhere to be seen—whether due to distance or some other cosmic trick, it was impossible to say.
The rainbow bridge ended, gave way to a cloud-like surface, so plush it felt like a dream underfoot.
It was pure in color, a miraculous carpet of white. And firm enough to hold their weight; their footsteps left no trace.
In the distance, a stone path glowed with iridescent light, winding its way up a mountain and punctuated by a solitary torii gate, its red hue an incongruous note in this surreal panorama.
The torii seemed almost insignificant in scale, but Hanabi, ever curious, focused her gaze to unravel its true nature.
Her eyes glowed a brilliant blue before she recoiled, hissing in anguish. It was as if she'd tried to gaze into infinity, to capture eternity within a single, unbearable moment.
And if she hadn't progressively gotten used to such concepts already, there was no telling what would have become of her.
There was an entire world beyond here.
"Be careful." Naruto warned, a bit too late.
"What is this?" She hissed. "The true realm…?"
"Likely, yes." Orochimaru said.
"…I didn't expect it to be guarded, considering." Sasuke muttered.
Because it felt as though something was waiting near it. A guardian of sorts, they supposed.
"Neither did we." Orochimaru concurred, throwing a side glance at Naruto.
"Was I supposed to know?" Naruto asked. "This is all new to me as well."
They convened through thought before anything else.
A form began to coalesce from the roiling clouds, a manifestation of light and shadow — transitory yet palpable.
Naruto took a step forward, his eyes fixated on the enigmatic figure.
The guardian, a being in perpetual flux, silently acknowledged his approach with a subtle transformation in its form.
"We come in peace." Naruto began, his tone steady despite the unpredictability of the situation. "We seek to negotiate, not to intrude."
The guardian stirred. Its form pulsed with radiant light, and a voice resounded through the air, as if the very clouds had found language.
"Beyond lies the sacred depths of Takamagahara. Many have sought this realm, yet no mortals have gained entry. What distinguishes you from those who have tried before?"
There was no time to waste.
"We seek an audience with the kami of the sun." Naruto intoned with quiet clarity.
"According to what Yoisen and I know for certain…" Naruto began, and noticed Ino's face tighten. "There are three kami that might be more amenable to discussion. They would be…" He counted on his fingers. "…Hachiman-Yumi."
Ino stared at him. "…The dead one?"
"Exactly." Naruto said, with a tight smile.
"…Who's the second one…?" Karin asked.
"Amaterasu-Yoake." Naruto said.
Ino frowned. "The one whose name that woman used to call as a curse?"
"You remember that?" Naruto asked. "It used to be a widely accepted deity, back then."
"I recall much more information about her than I wish I did, yes."
"The kami of the sun, then?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes." Orochimaru said. "Said to be a powerful one, for what it's worth. But we will be on sacred grounds, of course. So it shouldn't be much of a problem."
"That one should not be too difficult to find, as far as kami go." Hanabi offered. "Shall we go for it…?"
"I would rather avoid it, honestly." Naruto said. "But—"
"Let's go for the last one, the." Sasuke said. "Though it's a strange time for you to get cold feet."
"No, we're still going for Amaterasu." Naruto shook his head. "That's what I was about to say."
"…Are you just trying to piss me off, now?" Sasuke muttered.
"Hardly." Naruto shook his head.
"Why not the third?" Toru asked.
"…"
"Who's the last one, Naruto?" Ino asked.
Naruto sighed. "… Because the third and last one would be Inari-Kitsune."
"That one…? Amenable?" Toru's head whipped around. "Are you fucking kidding me?!"
"I wish."
"That guy left me with a few months' worth of trauma!"
"I know it all too well." Naruto grimaced.
Silence.
"…Let's go for Amaterasu, then." Toru decided. "When it comes to that bastard, a fox hunt seems more fitting than negotiations."
Naruto's lips curled into a dark smile. "You took the words out of my mouth."
The reaction from the guardian was immediate.
It stilled, the undulating light halting as though time itself had paused, creating an eerie picture.
"Why should mere humans be granted passage?"
"Within us, we carry divine essence." Naruto said. "And that, in itself, signifies—"
"That is not enough."
The guardian's voice rippled through the space, its finality echoing in the silence that followed.
This was the abode of the kami, and their kind did not belong here, even as they were.
The group was silent for a little while.
In the uncertainty, Naruto's resolve solidified. To him, it was a sign that this place was as sacred as legends said. And where they stood, as a part of it, was too.
He exchanged a look with his companions, then met the guardian's luminescent gaze.
"We understand the sanctity of this realm." He began, solemnly. "But—"
"In your heart, you carry nothing but profound contempt for the kami."
Naruto thought he could feel Sasuke's eyes on his back.
"And yet, you would say that your intentions are sincere? That you respect this sacred realm?"
Silence fell once more.
Naruto could definitely feel Sasuke's eyes boring into the back of his head, now.
And it was unfortunately true. Naruto would have left any of the others to do the talking… Hadn't he been certain that they shared his feelings on the matter.
Orochimaru, perhaps…? He was neutral enough, usually, but…
Naruto took a deep breath before he spoke again, his voice firmer.
"It is true that I do not hold the kami in reverence. I… question them, and yes, I am furious with them." He admitted. "…As are most of us. It is because of it that we came here."
The guardian did not immediately respond, its shimmering form still in the cloudy landscape.
It seemed to consider the words' honesty, perhaps.
"That is not enough."
Naruto emitted a soft, almost bemused sound. "I feared as much." He said, his voice tinged with resignation.
His hand drifted toward the hilt of the sword which was strapped securely to his back.
With a swift, practiced motion, Naruto pulled the sword from its sheath.
Sasuke looked at Naruto's hand and then at Naruto himself, his eyes widening in horror. His own hand moved instinctively, preparing for a fight they would likely lose. This was classic Naruto shit—
But Naruto didn't move to attack. Instead, he displayed the sword in full view.
"We brought an offering in exchange for a brief audience with the concerned authority."
The blade gleamed in the light, its aura commanding immediate attention.
Sasuke recognized it right away, and he paused. Is that… Yoisen's?
Toru, well-versed in the fickleness of the kami and unwilling to take any more risks, quickly interjected.
"It is a sacred relic, originally belonging to Amaterasu-Yoake, according to legend. We… mortals were only its temporary custodians, providing the care and respect such an artifact demands."
Sasuke eyed Toru skeptically but chose to play along.
The guardian's form seemed to tighten, as if frowning in thought.
"An impressive blade, but not unique, even among Amaterasu-Yoake's sacred tools. Similar swords exist in many of your fractured realities, do they not?"
"True." Naruto acknowledged. "But it's not the uniqueness of the sword itself that matters; it's the context in which it's offered."
The guardian simply watched him, prompting Naruto to continue.
"This specific weapon was wielded in not just one, but countless realities. As such, it has absorbed energies from different dimensions, making it a living record of multiple realms. "It's not just metal and fire—"
The guardian seemed to shift, as though its metaphorical hand had risen, interrupting Naruto.
"A poetic argument, to be sure. But poetry alone doesn't grant an object any special consideration. Many weapons have seen countless battles, been wielded by numerous hands."
Eyes of sorts, ancient and inscrutable, bore into Naruto, challenging him to elevate his argument beyond the realm of mere eloquence.
There was only one, in truth. Arguing in circles would get them nowhere.
Naruto offered a flat smile. "The worthiness of this blade as an offering isn't for you to judge."
The tension in the room was nearly palpable, in spite of the lack of reaction.
Naruto continued, "With the deepest respect, I offer this relic back to its rightful guardian. Humbly, I request an audience with the divine Amaterasu-Yoake. We have no intent of intruding further. We await judgment here."
Though unsure of the exact etiquette for addressing a guardian kami, Naruto drew from fragments of knowledge and instinct as he spoke.
As he awaited the guardian's response, its form gave the closest impression to displeasure that one could read from swirling clouds. Considering the circumstances, Naruto took that as a fairly positive sign.
And so, they waited.
"You think the guardian will come back at some point?" Karin asked, eyes on the clouds in the far distance.
It had already been a long time since its form had shimmered out of existence. They still were unable to enter, of course.
"Well…" Ino said slowly. "The sword's still here, so I assume things can't be done by force here, even for them. That's something already." She turned to Naruto. "You never told us she had anything quite like that."
"It's a family heirloom she gave to me." Naruto replied, opting for brevity. "Significant to her."
And after dying and coming back to life, she had never bothered taking it back. He had asked, of course. And asked again about using it as a bargaining chip.
Yoisen, who had been — and could still be — a pretty firm traditionalist in a few aspects, had stated that there were occasions when practicality took precedence.
Sakura was one such case, apparently.
Ino didn't press Naruto for a more detailed answer, and she just nodded, letting it be.
Orochimaru, in the meantime, had let a few pale snakes slip around. The ones from before had returned, likely. Now, they were going through clouds, scanning whatever they could reach. Naruto didn't question it — he sometimes trusted the man's judgment.
"Do you think this will be enough?" Hanabi asked. "I'm afraid there's nothing in the Hyūga treasury that would make for a suitable offering."
"I'm surprised you'd admit that." Toru remarked.
"I know." Hanabi nodded. "But do remember we are talking of a clan which tended to rely more on their own strength, rather than stolen tools." A pointed look.
Sasuke frowned. "That's not even—"
"You took enough from the Hyūga yourself. Remember the Chūnin exams? And not to mention, my sister."
Sasuke closed his mouth, deciding it wasn't the time for a debate.
Silence resumed.
More hours passed.
Ino sighed, drawing her arms around herself. "This wait is unbearable."
Karin offered a tight smile. "Tell me about it—"
As if prompted by their conversation, the sword Naruto had offered as a token suddenly lifted in the air.
The air seemed to fold upon itself, erasing the encompassing void. A sudden, intense heat washed over them, dispelling the lifeless chill of the clouds.
It wasn't the guardian.
A terrible radiant glow flared, pulsating with an almost blinding fervor. A figure emerged from this brilliance — or perhaps it was the brilliance incarnate.
Majestic and awe-striking, it dwarfed any comprehension of beauty and terror. Commanding and humbling.
Standing with a poise that defied mortal understanding, it was an ethereal figure of cascading light and dancing flame, yet an intangible femininity seemed to inform its presence.
Its eyes were twin novas that pierced the very fabric of reality, locked onto Naruto's humble offering. Its expression was an unreadable mosaic, the unfathomable gaze a weight upon their souls.
This was Amaterasu-Yoake, the kami in its full, unbounded glory.
Karin was transfixed, her breath stilled and her eyes dilating as if encountering the divine for the first time — again. Her words died in her throat, replaced by a palpable sense of awe.
It was a true kami that they were facing. Just like Agehachō-Yosei had been.
A sanctifying silence descended upon them. All previous squabbles and uncertainties were devoured by the sheer brilliance.
The kami wasn't hostile, yet a palpable tension lingered.
Amaterasu-Yoake extended a hand, its palm turned skyward.
The sword, seemingly compelled by a will greater than any earthly force, floated into its grasp.
The kami's fingers, delicate and otherworldly, closed around the blade, contemplating its essence in a moment of hallowed stillness.
Shivers went down each of the humans' spines.
But once more, there was no time for hesitation.
"How about lending us your ear first?" Naruto broke the silence.
The kami's eyes suddenly found their way to the group.
A weighty stillness stretched across the gathering, punctuated only by the unspoken question that lingered in the air.
Time seemed to elongate, the silence evolving into a palpable force that pressed against them.
Suddenly, it spoke.
Its voice was a cascade of harmonious notes, like a celestial orchestra echoing throughout the cloudy realm.
Its words were concise but carried a resonance that penetrated their very souls.
"Speak." It commanded.
Naruto met the kami's gaze.
"We are grateful for your audience, Amaterasu-Yoake." Naruto began.
"Spare me the formalities." The deity interjected, its voice a dissonant chorus. Clearly, it had little patience for the conventional deference. "What is it you want, human?"
"Very well." Naruto relented. "We come to propose a bargain." His eyes shifted. "Toru, if you will."
With a nod, Toru stepped forward, clearing his throat. Well, he had asked for such a thing, had he not…?
…
"Uzumaki Naruto, under the title of kami of storms and change, as well as select warriors of his… entourage, hereby extend a challenge to Susanoo-Arashi, fellow kami of storms and change." Toru declared loudly, his words slicing through the silence with the precision of a well-honed blade.
"We propose a singular test of supremacy. Our terms for engaging in this contest demand the immediate and safe return of Haruno Sakura. Furthermore, we insist that Susanoo-Arashi refrain from employing trackers, traps, or any similar tactics, and from encroaching upon any mortal realms until the day of the challenge. Additionally, we request that Susanoo-Arashi make a sincere endeavor to encourage other divine beings to similarly abstain, until the competition is held."
"If Susanoo-Arashi fails to deliver Sakura unharmed, the challenge will be null and void. Should Susanoo-Arashi interfere with mortal affairs before the day of contest, the challenge will be similarly nullified. On the other hand, if Sakura is returned unscathed and the mortal worlds remain free of divine tampering, the contest shall proceed. For Uzumaki Naruto and the non-divine warriors he will choose, there will be no backing out, no terms for withdrawal. The only escape from this fated clash lies in Susanoo-Arashi's hands, by failing to meet our conditions."
…
That was the wording that would be issued to the mercurial Susanoo, should Amaterasu accept.
As Kakashi used to say: "A few pointed words can often strike more decisively than the keenest shuriken."
They'd aimed to provoke the notoriously prideful Susanoo-Arashi, gambling on its arrogance and ego.
Naruto had audaciously claimed the title "Kami of Storms and Change," while barely divine, in order to incense the storm god.
Nor would the being appreciate being challenged publicly by what it considered to be such a lesser being, of course.
Amaterasu observed the offer, its expression as unreadable as ever. Yet Naruto thought he detected a flicker of something — surprise? curiosity? mockery? — in those cosmic eyes.
Whether it was because it was aware of their full reasoning or because of their sheer gall in provoking what might well be the most dangerous of kami remained unclear.
"That is indeed an ambitious request."
"We—" Naruto began.
"Why would Susanoo-Arashi, or any of the kami who heed its voice, for that matter, entertain such a proposition?"
Naruto met its gaze, his smile cold.
"The reason is simple. I'll give Susanoo what it can't resist — the opportunity to eradicate me. And as for the other gods, their fear of Susanoo will ensure their compliance."
Amaterasu's face might well have been carved out of stone.
Naruto's words seemed to echo in the ether, and he sensed that they were heard by more than just those present. His declaration wasn't just for Amaterasu; it was a message broadcasted to the divine audience he knew was eavesdropping.
He played to the audience.
"This confrontation is the sole opportunity for Susanoo-Arashi to erase me as it vowed, yet will otherwise fail to achieve. A victory would let it reclaim its lost glory and followers.
"Those devotees were once fully Susanoo's, though its feeble mind at last comprehends my influence grows where its own has stagnated, perhaps even waned. It believes I stole what was rightfully its. Yet it fails to realize that I nurtured that devotion where it failed, and will ensure it bleeds out if Susanoo refuses.
"This is our one offer. Should Susanoo decline it, I make this promise: I will slip through its grasp for all of time. That so-called god will never manage to find me again, and I will do everything in my power to orchestrate the slow decay of its influence over the next thousands of years. I'll see to it that it erodes to nothing."
…
Amaterasu-Yoake pondered, weighing the matter in the cosmic balance of its thoughts.
The audacity before it was almost laughable — yet almost compelling in its sheer folly.
Were it not entangled with Oaths and the interplay of divine entities, the wager would have been suitable tinder for a renewed celestial conflict.
Such skirmishes were the realm of lesser deities, those still unshackled by bindings.
And now, it seemed, humans were joining that reckless fray, one clearly beyond their station.
The chasms between the divine and the mortal, between most gods and Susanoo-Arashi, were not mere gaps but abysses, insurmountable in their enormity.
The mortal gambit they had staked all upon, the one which had resulted in the sundering of Agehachō-Yosei, was testament to it.
And another gambit had just been offered.
The life of the Usurper, and likely more of them, for a single human named Haruno Sakura.
It was recklessness incarnate. Self-annihilation.
Yet it had been heard by the many listening in, and would not go unnoticed. Susanoo-Arashi, ever volatile and prideful, might find such a dare irresistible.
Success for these mortals was a nonentity, a null concept. And even if such a notion were to manifest, Susanoo-Arashi's powers were leashed by divine Oaths, and these bindings were harsher than any other.
To attempt wielding them would mean embracing those very fetters.
Amaterasu-Yoake was devoid of concern for the outcome. If the mortals courted their own obliteration, then that was the path they had chosen.
Yet, the forthcoming clash between mortals and deity, the spectacle of this futile struggle could serve a divine purpose: it presented a ripe opportunity to disseminate potent faith across the boundless cosmos.
It would convey the challenge to Susanoo-Arashi.
…
"Is there more?"
"Almost done." Toru said. "There's one final condition to our proposal."
Amaterasu's voice was laced with a dryness that could rival a desert. "Of course, how could I forget? The timing, no doubt?"
"…The confrontation will take place in eight human years, as they were once calculated on Earth before its end." Toru clarified.
For a deity, eight years was a mere blink. And supposedly, a number they were attached to. They were likely to accept it.
"Do you really believe eight years will provide you sufficient time for your machinations?" Amaterasu's tone remained unimpressed. "Deception like the incident with Agehachō-Yosei will not occur again. Consider that a promise."
"We're under no illusions." Karin said, her voice steady. "We understand exactly what's at stake."
"Will you carry our conditions to Susanoo-Arashi?" Hanabi's voice tinged with subtle anticipation.
The divine entity paused, as if considering the cosmic implications. Should it decline, these defiant mortals would undoubtedly discover another pathway to reach Susanoo-Arashi — or even summon the storm deity themselves, consequences be damned.
It was true.
Finally, the god nodded.
"Very well. On these terms, I will convey your challenge to Susanoo-Arashi."
And so, the weight of their decision hung in the air as Amaterasu-Yoake vanished, taking the sacred blade with it. The gravity of their pact, now irrevocable, settled upon them all.
The atmosphere tensed, heralding a new arrival.
Materializing with an air of arrogance tinged with contempt was the emissary from Susanoo-Arashi — a shifting amalgam of storm clouds and celestial light, its eyes sapphire lightning bolts, and its voice a resonant thunderclap.
An ethereal figure that seemed to defy the laws of nature, vaguely humanoid in shape, it was as if the whispering edge of a tempest had taken form to deliver a message.
"Susanoo-Arashi has accepted your challenge. An unbreakable Oath now awaits your acceptance." The emissary proclaimed, its voice as unyielding as steel. "Furthermore, Susanoo-Arashi guarantees that most gods will heed his advice and abstain from intruding into mortal affairs until the duel. Savor your fleeting days. For this reprieve, your downfall will echo across multiple realities, serving as a warning to others."
The die was cast. The terms of their wager had been met.
It didn't truly feel like a victory yet.
"…Cool." Toru said. His voice was casual, but his eyes reflected a suppressed sigh of relief.
It wasn't the response the emissary had expected.
"…Do you wish to proceed?" It pressed.
Naruto scanned the faces of his companions. Despite the various motives at play, their resolve was unanimous.
(Orochimaru likely felt this way because he wasn't bound to do anything at all, of course.)
"We accept." Naruto affirmed. "I and warriors of our choosing will meet Susanoo in combat."
"Ah, not necessarily these warriors?" The emissary's tone bore a note of intrigue.
"Not necessarily." Naruto repeated, eyes unyielding.
"As you wish. Quantity will not be your salvation either."
"We shall see." Naruto said evenly.
"Do you agree to the terms?"
"Yes. We agree to the terms."
A surge of golden light.
In that moment, a torrent of golden light surged forth, binding itself to him.
Instinctively, he knew it for what it was — an Oath, an ethereal tether that linked him to Susanoo-Arashi. It was a subtle, nearly invisible force, but it was as real as the air he breathed, inscribing itself onto the fabric of his very soul.
"An Oath has been taken."
…
The emissary vanished, leaving a profound silence in its wake.
Even as his jaw finally relaxed and he released the breath it felt he had been holding forever, there was only one thing on Naruto's mind: Sakura.
Naruto finally broke the silence, his voice steady but his eyes turbulent. "We've bought eight years."
And no matter what happened then, the Rings, at least, would stay secure. As long as at least one person held a piece of divinity, the place could theoretically continue to expand.
And they had no intention of bringing all of the bearers to the fight, of course. The risk was too great.
The other worlds were safer for that duration, as well. For anything more…
If they lost, the status quo would resume.
"And if we win…" Naruto's voice trailed off, pondering the unspoken promise.
Toppling Susanoo-Arashi would send a message so potent it could paralyze even the most formidable kami. It was a long shot, but the prize was nothing short of universal freedom.
Toru slumped onto the ground, releasing a deep breath as if deflating. "…Well, that was nerve-wracking."
Sasuke, looking equally frazzled, sat beside him. "You wanted high stakes."
Toru eyed him. "So, you've found your voice?"
Sasuke shrugged wearily. "I'm just here to make sure he doesn't mess up too much."
Naruto shot him a sidelong glance, his eyes still unsettled. "Keep this up, and you might just be the second and only warrior I choose for the duel."
"Good luck explaining that to my wife."
"If I must." Naruto's gaze remained on their surroundings. "Wouldn't be the first time we've died together."
"Whose fault was that, usually?" Sasuke bit back.
"Not always mine." Naruto retorted.
A reluctant smile tugged at Sasuke's lips. They were coping the only way they knew.
In contrast, Ino looked grave. "…Let's not fuck this one up."
Hanabi's eyes were unreadable, her voice a study in detachment. "The stakes are almost routine at this point. All or nothing. Once again."
Karin chose silence, her gaze focused but distant. Orochimaru seemed more intrigued by the passing clouds than the promise itself.
And then, a harrowing tearing sound pierced the air.
A ripple shimmered through the atmosphere, as if reality itself had been split by the crack of thunder.
The rift unfolded into a vista of a stormy, tumultuous ocean, its waves roiling under a sky choked with thunderheads.
Lightning lanced down, illuminating the tempest for a brief moment. And there, floating above the water, was the kami emissary they'd met earlier, suspended in midair.
It seemed to be waiting, contemplating the chaos below, but not finding what it was looking for.
This wasn't part of Takamagahara.
It happened in an instant.
Before it could react, a monstrous figure burst from the waters below, rising with supernatural speed. It looked like the spawn of nightmares—scales, horns, and red light glowing with malevolent intent.
With a snarl, the creature thrust a taloned arm through the emissary, impaling it with a speed that made it impossible for the emissary to comprehend its fate.
A scream of pure energy emanated from the creature, a sound so terrible it felt as though it could rip the soul from one's body.
Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the creature ripped its hand out, letting the lifeless form of the emissary fall into the abyss below, sinking into the frothing sea.
Then it crushed the shimmering orb it held in its clawed hand.
The creature's red gaze then shifted toward them.
The creature jumped through the rift, and landed on the sacred ground of Takamagahara.
As the light receded, the figure became clearer…
And here was an Ōtsutsuki.
Feminine in form, yet she possessed an otherworldly stature that dwarfed many in the gathered assembly. Twin majestic horns, reminiscent of crown-like structures, jutted elegantly from her forehead. And enormous wings unfurled from her shoulder blades; their soft pink and fuchsia shades imbuing her with both grace and might.
Her pale hair, a stark contrast against her radiant form, flowed ethereally behind her, each strand flickering and dancing like the tongues of a wild, yet entrancing flame.
She let out a mighty exhale, and her breath came out as steam.
The wild look in her eyes made it clear that she was about to attack them.
But this was a sacred realm for a reason. She remained still, and her intentions remained that.
No one moved. The air pulsated with a weakened but unmistakable chakra.
Jūbi became woman again, and Haruno Sakura's unmistakable form revealed itself. To no one's surprise but her own.
She stood there, bewildered, her jade-green and blood-red eyes were wide and brimming with confusion.
Her pink hair cascaded around her face, and it looked frazzled, as though she had gone through a static field; specks of ice and dark material clinging to the strands.
Her hand was shaped into a claw at her side, the glow of her chakra faint but discernible. She looked a bit too thin, her lips too dry. Every exposed inch revealed corded muscle, through her torn armored garments.
Her eyes met theirs — bewildered, intense.
"Sakura?" Naruto broke the silence, stepping forward as if drawn to her.
Recognition in her eyes. At last.
"Sakura!" The cry came from Ino, heavy with both relief and concern.
"Sakura." Karin stepped forward worriedly.
"Hey there." Hanabi chimed in, her face a mix of relief and anticipation.
Sakura blinked, the fog in her eyes gradually lifting.
Her red eye looked unnervingly dim, and the thought that she could overuse a Rinne-Sharingan was unsettling. She looked at each of them in turn, and the glint of recognition in her eyes was clearer now.
"You're not saying anything, Sakura." Toru said softly. "Are you—"
"Wait." Sasuke said, holding up a hand. "Let her breathe, all of you."
A multitude of emotions seemed to play across Sakura's face, her lips parting several times as if to voice them.
She could have said a great many things:
"What took you so long?" — An accusation wrapped in relief, challenging her friends for their tardiness but eternally grateful for their arrival.
"What year is it?" — A question that would reveal the depths of her dislocation, showing how far adrift she'd become in the ocean of time.
"Am I still in some twisted dream?" — A doubt-infused query that would encapsulate her struggle to distinguish between nightmare and reality.
"Who else is out there?" — A paranoid thought, perhaps, but a relevant one; signaling her awareness that even in a moment of relief, danger could still be lurking.
"I missed you all so much" — An unvarnished statement, laying bare the ache that gnawed at her every time she thought of their faces.
"Thank you" — An expression of gratitude for their presence, an acknowledgment that they'd journeyed far and faced peril to find her.
"I'm sorry" — An unneeded, unwanted plea for forgiveness for whatever burdens her disappearance might have laid upon them, for causing them to worry.
"I don't even know where to begin" — An admission that her feelings were too vast and complex for mere words to contain.
"Is everyone okay?" — A moment of selflessness, her immediate concern diverting to the well-being of those she loved.
"I love you guys" — A simple declaration, a blunt statement that pierced through the darkness, revealing the emotional bedrock upon which her world was built.
But of all the things she could have said, she chose one.
"I'm going to kill Susanoo!" She snarled, her voice echoing off the clouds.
"That's… the spirit?" Sasuke replied, visibly taken aback.
"Sakura!" Ino cried again, rushing to her friend's side.
"I'm good, I'm good — Never doing this shit again." Sakura reassured, although her voice was raspy. "Took you fuckers long enough."
She swatted at the fussing hands, finally dispelling her intangibility fully.
"Let's get the hell out of here — Enough with the touching — I'm sensitive. I've been using Kamui non-stop for what feels like days, or weeks. And that's without even talking — Cool it, you animals—"
lensdump
i/qrHngD : That Place
Encountering some problems with the FFnet alert system - as usual, I posted a chapter last Fri, in case, and a very short OS, too