For a moment, it's as if I've stepped into the past. All them are so obviously from antiquity that that the gathering of so many makes the world seem strange. The clothes, the hair, the tools, all of it in such an old style...
But then the Shinigami's presence falls on the World, and all of them simply vanish, pulled away into their rightful afterlife, and all that's left is a ruined place bearing the scars of the battle never seen.
As well as myself and the Shinigami, of course.
The mere presence of the Death God lends the world a sense of peace. Death is not an end, it is a new beginning, a healing and a cycle.
I denied the Juubi that. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and the God Tree are not just dead, they've completely ceased to exist.
I let myself fall backwards, flopping on the ground. I can't find it in myself to regret doing it.
I hear Shukaku take a breath, preparing to say something, but then the Shinigami drifted into view and his mouth shut immediately.
"Did you want her?" I asked.
"No." The Shinigami denies. "There was never a Death for her. No time, nor disease, nor violence, would claim her life. Her fate has been, and was always, to be sealed away."
"I see." I said. "I hope I did not cause any problems."
"You did not." The Shinigami confirms. "The World does not care that much for fate. It prefers that others make their own destiny."
I nodded. I'm not exhausted, but I don't really feel like doing things right now. I just want to relax...
And yet I can't. There's still all those other Zetsu to hunt down, as well as the Akatsuki, and... a whole bunch of other things.
Like Shukaku, Isobu, Son Gokū, and the Yin half of the Kyuubi.
Who... are currently a little apprehensive, at the presence of the Shinigami. The last more so than the rest of them.
Well, whatever. He's the God of Death and I literally just killed the Juubi, so not wanting to say anything is an entirely reasonable response.
Nevertheless... the conversation that is about to come is not one I want them to hear. But, seeing as they're currently in my pocket dimension, that's an easy fix. I shift my Darkness just so, and it's done.
"A question, if I may? It's one that's been bothering me for a while now.".
"What is it?"
"Chakra is a power born from the wish of this World, isn't it?"
The Shinigami blinks, turning to regard me with a curious look. "Yes." The Shinigami agreed. "What brought you to think that?"
"A while back, I sensed Naruto make peace with the Kyuubi." And hadn't that been a distraction? "And, shortly afterwards, I sensed them connecting with each other."
Ninshū, the Memories of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki whisper. Her son's philosophy, spreading her Chakra to let the mortals connect with each other. Foolish, disobedient boy.
Tch. I'll have to purge them. Useful information it might be, the thoughts and feelings inherit in them cannot stay. As it is, for the moment, I just gather all that remains and shove it deep down.
"Ninshū." The Shinigami unknowing echoes.
"Chakra serving as a bridge, connecting Soul with Soul and Heart with Heart, bonding two beings together so that they can understand each other on the deepest level." I noted. "And in that moment, I had to question; how did a power such as that come to exist? Chakra is integral to this World, connecting Life with Death, Spirit and Soul, Body and Mind... I figured that the World must have had something to do with it."
"In the beginning, in the earlier points of time, the World knew War." The Shinigami began. "Its inhabitants, across the universe, and across the dimensions, fought and conflicted with each other. The World did not want this, and so, from the blood-soaked ground of of the battlefields, God-Trees were born, and with them, a power that could end War."
"A power that could end War..." I considered it. "And prolong it."
The Shinigami nodded, gravely. "The first beings to acquire Chakra were known as the Ōtsutsuki clan. They misused the power granted by the World, and instead of bringing peace, they travelled between many planets and dimensions in order to seek more God-Trees and devour their Chakra Fruits so they could increase their own, personal power. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was an Ōtsutsuki who came to this planet in order to monitor its God-Tree, but she became attached to certain people of the planet, and so she took the Chakra Fruit for herself and used it to bring an end to War. At first, all was well. Eventually, however, that power corrupted her, and she became increasingly paranoid, ultimately locking most of the planet into an unending illusion that she used to produce Zetsu."
Damn it, this really is the Infinite Tsukuyomi all over again.
"Why does she need the Zetsu army?" And damn it is so useful to be able to just ask someone for answers.
"She feared that other members of her clan would eventually come and steal her Chakra." The Shinigami explained. "The Zetsu army was there to distract them as she fought back against them. Her fears were not misplaced; the act she commited was not sanctioned by her clan. Even now, her long period of silence has drawn the attention of other Ōtsutsuki."
Great. Just... great. Another thing I'm going to have to deal with.
I shook my head. "I'll have to deal with that later then. In the meantime, I'll just deal with the Zetsu. Got to keep that promise, after all." I paused. "Can you point me at them? Because that would be a lot simpler and super helpful."
"More than a few have already made their way to me." Huh? "Just look for the War. You'll find them easily."
War?!
I turned, eyes piercing the barriers between dimensions. I see... Ninja, of all five great nations, fighting armies of Zetsu and armies of Edo Tensei Zombies. I see Naruto, a lot of him, and goodness his Chakra is spread thin, but the real one is there, sitting...
Right on the edge of a battle between Sasuke, Sakura, four Jinchuuriki, Hiruzen, and Onoki against the Akatsuki, among whom is... Madara? Fuck, that is Madara.
Fuck! This already started?!
"I got to go." I summoned the Proof of Courage, leaping to my feet. My Darkness twists again and the Bijuu can hear us both.
"Goodbye." The Shinigami said, entirely too calm, but I was barely paying him any attention.
Never a break for us, huh?
I swung the Proof of Courage. The dimensional barrier, no longer able to be reinforced by the Juubi, opened immediately.
My first instinct was to head straight to the Akatsuki and fuck them up, but...
That army of zombies and Zetsu needs to be dealt with, post-haste. Casualties were already mounting on both sides, and if those forces are reduced, then that's more Ninja who can re-directed elsewhere.
Not the decision I want to make, but damn it... It's the right decision.
I move.