The situation was dire, far beyond the realms of catastrophic. Two years had elapsed since the resurrection of Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Progenitor of Chakra, the Rabbit Goddess. The entire Shinobi Alliance remained trapped within the clutches of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, save for Naruto, who cradled the mutilated remains of his brother-in-arms, Sasuke Uchiha.
Tears cascaded down Naruto's whiskered cheeks as he held Sasuke's fading form, listening intently to his final utterances. Another precious life lost, another failure etched into his shattered soul, all because of her twisted machinations. His anguished gaze fell upon the smug visage of the floating goddess, her cruel eyes alight with smugness, taunting him with her every fibre.
Naruto's mind drifted back to the hellish two years of constant warfare against the unholy spectre of Kaguya.
Roughly two years ago
The resurrected Kaguya had emerged mere days prior, triggering a desperate struggle from them to free the world from the Infinite Tsukuyomi's grasp. Obito's sacrifice had proven a boon, granting Team 7 and Kakashi access to his techniques and prowess. Yet, despite their efforts, fate seemed intent on crushing their hopes, as the battles raged across six distinct dimensions.
Currently, they found themselves amidst a vast desert, the scorching climate sapping their strength with every laboured breath. Naruto and Sasuke stood as the vanguard, clashing head-on with Kaguya, while Kakashi and Sakura provided support from the sidelines.
Without warning, the dimensional fabric shifted, transporting them to Kaguya's mountainous realm, the nexus linking her myriad dominions. Team 7's eyes widened in horror as they witnessed the goddess's chakra levels replenishing, despite Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode siphoning every ounce of nature energy within reach.
Realization dawned upon Sasuke and Kakashi; within this dimension, Kaguya could recover swiftly, absorbing chakra from the victims of the Infinite Tsukuyomi at will. Panic gripped Naruto as he processed the grim implications – his trapped comrades were slowly being drained, their essence feeding the insatiable hunger of the Rabbit Goddess.
"She's extracting the chakra from shinobi trapped in Infinite Tsukuyomi, Naruto!" Kakashi's words cut through the tension like a blade.
Sasuke's grim tone added weight to the revelation, "Every Shinobi trapped will continue to lose their chakra and start to transform into Zetsu."
Naruto's eyes widened in sheer horror, his friends, and his family, were all trapped within the ultimate genjutsu, their lives ebbing away to fuel Kaguya's twisted ambitions. A primal scream of anguish threatened to tear itself from his throat, but he swallowed it, his features hardening with steely resolve.
"Kakashi-Sensei, Sasuke! What do we do now then? We have to stop this quickly!" Naruto's voice rang with a mixture of panic and determination, his fingers tearing at his golden locks in a desperate bid for inspiration.
Kaguya's smug smirk only seemed to deepen, revelling in their desperation, secure in her perceived victory. Yet, a glimmer of hope emerged as Sakura's voice cut through the tension.
"If we could somehow in our world cut the Shinju and Kaguya's connection and stop it from sending chakra here in her dimension, then we could stop her from regaining chakra, and also save the shinobi alliance from turning into Zetsu."
A flicker of understanding passed between Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi. If they could sever Kaguya's link to the Shinju, the divine tree that served as her wellspring of chakra, they could rob her of her advantage and potentially turn the tide.
However, a critical obstacle remained – how could they disrupt the connection when trapped within Kaguya's realm? Naruto's connection to the Sage of Six Paths had been severed during their interdimensional skirmishes, leaving them without a direct means of influencing the Shinju's state.
Sasuke's Sharingan locked onto Kaguya's form, his obsidian eyes narrowing in concentration. He couldn't afford any distractions, not when the goddess's attention was fixated upon him like a predator stalking its prey. A single misstep and their fragile defence would crumble, leaving them vulnerable to her unholy onslaught.
Turning slightly towards Naruto, he muttered, "Usuratonkachi, how much chakra do you have left?"
Naruto arched a golden brow, his whiskered features scrunching in contemplation. "About a quarter, Teme."
Sasuke's lips pressed into a grim line, his expression darkening. A mere quarter of the dobe's reserves wouldn't suffice, not for the audacious gambit he had in mind. Yet, they had no other choice, no alternative path to victory. They would have to risk it all, even if the odds seemed insurmountable.
"Even then, it wouldn't be enough," he sighed, his voice laced with resignation. "But we have to try anyway."
Without warning, Sasuke's Sharingan flared to life, the crimson depths swirling with hypnotic intensity. In a burst of chakra, he projected his thoughts directly into Naruto's mindscape, a silent exchange of ideas and strategies.
Naruto's eyes widened, his mouth agape as he processed the daring plan. "Can we even do that?" he blurted, his voice tinged with equal parts disbelief and awe.
A rumbling chuckle echoed through the recesses of his consciousness, Kurama's gruff tones reverberating with sardonic amusement. "Maybe, maybe not. You'll just have to try it and see, won't you?"
Naruto's brow furrowed, his mind racing to grasp the intricacies of Sasuke's proposal. "But how? This dimension is Kaguya's domain. Even if Sasuke has copied Amenominaka with his Rinnegan, it's still connected to her. Unless he can open a direct portal back to our world, we're stuck here."
Kurama's laughter echoed through the mindscape, a deep, rumbling sound that betrayed his amusement at Naruto's naivete. "You have no choice but to trust the Uchiha brat, for better or worse."
Naruto's features twisted into a flat, unamused stare, his eyes narrowing as he regarded the towering visage of the Nine-Tailed Fox. "You're trusting a Uchiha? That's new. Did you have a change of heart, or did you just lose your mind entirely?"
A feral growl reverberated through the mindscape, Kurama's tails lashing in agitation. "I did not have a change of heart, nor will I ever trust those accursed Uchiha," he snarled, his massive jaws parting to reveal rows of razor-sharp fangs. "I, the great Kurama, the mightiest of the Bijuu, would never debase myself by placing my faith in those wretched—"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Naruto interjected, waving a dismissive hand as he cut off the fox's tirade. Turning his attention back to the physical realm, he met Sasuke's penetrating gaze and offered a resolute nod, signalling his assent to proceed with the audacious plan.
Sakura and Kakashi exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes flickering between the two comrades as they struggled to decipher the unspoken exchange.
"Kakashi, Sakura, get behind me," Sasuke barked, his voice laced with urgency. "Usuratonkachi, let's do this."
"Hell yeah, Teme!" Naruto exclaimed, his fist pumping with renewed vigour. In a blur of golden light, he flashed towards his teammates, ushering them behind Sasuke's protective aegis.
Naruto's palms pressed against Sasuke's back, and he relinquished control of his chakra, allowing the Uchiha to wield the full extent of his reserves. "Teme," he murmured, a silent acknowledgement of the trust he placed in his comrade's hands.
Sasuke's eyes widened, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of Naruto's chakra, a wellspring of energy that seemed to defy the boundaries of mortal comprehension. Shaking his head to dispel the errant thoughts, he seized control of the proffered power, his right palm extending towards Kaguya's floating form.
Chibaku Tensei
Kaguya's eyes widened in shock, her smug expression shattering as the gravitational forces took hold, drawing every inanimate object within range towards her. Naruto watched in awe, his features a conflicting blend of surprise and confusion as the rocks coalesced, forming a crude barrier around the goddess.
'At least that stopped her from regaining chakra from the Shinju,' he mused, his gaze flickering between Sasuke and the imprisoned Kaguya. Yet, even as the initial layer solidified, he knew it wouldn't hold for long. Sasuke had another gambit in mind, a desperation play that could either secure their victory or seal their doom.
Movement in his peripheral vision caught Naruto's eye, and he turned to find Sasuke's features contorted in agony, a trickle of crimson trailing from the corner of his left eye – the Rinnegan. Confusion morphed into bewilderment as a swirling vortex of obsidian clouds manifested before them, a dimensional rift that seemed to defy the laws of physics itself.
This wasn't Amenominaka, Naruto realized with a start. It was something entirely different, a technique beyond his comprehension, forged from the depths of Sasuke's ingenuity and the power of the Rinnegan.
As Sasuke ceased channelling his chakra, Naruto removed his hands from the Uchiha's back, his gaze fixed upon the growing rift. He took note of the blood trailing down Sasuke's face, a grim testament to the strain such a feat exacted upon his body.
The rift yawned wide, its circumference matching the portal Nagato had once employed to capture him back in Konoha. Yet, even as it expanded, it seemed to waver and distort, the fabric of reality straining under Kaguya's relentless assault upon the barrier.
Sasuke turned, his movements sluggish, and began making his way towards the portal, Kakashi and Sakura following in his wake. Naruto hesitated for a heartbeat, his mind struggling to process the audacity of Sasuke's plan, before steeling his resolve and plunging headlong into the inky depths of the dimensional rift.
Darkness engulfed him, a suffocating blanket of shadows that threatened to overwhelm his senses. Then, in the blink of an eye, the familiar landscape of their war-torn battlefield materialized before him, the twisted visage of the Shinju looming in the distance.
A strangled cough shattered the silence, drawing Naruto's attention to Sasuke's crumpled form. The Uchiha knelt upon the scorched earth, his hand clamped over his mouth as rivulets of crimson seeped between his fingers.
Sakura was already at his side, her hands aglow with the verdant luminescence of healing chakra as she tended to the ravaged remains of Sasuke's left eye. Kakashi's expression was etched with concern, his single visible eye narrowed as he assessed the gravity of Sasuke's condition.
"Cut the… connection," Sasuke rasped, his voice a mere whisper amidst the wet coughs that racked his frame.
Naruto needed no further prompting. With a Rasenshuriken blazing in his right hand, he sprinted towards the Shinju, his golden chakra form leaving afterimages in its wake. In a matter of heartbeats, he reached the divine tree's twisted roots, hurling the spiralling maelstrom of destruction with pinpoint accuracy.
The Rasenshuriken tore through the Shinju's trunk, cleaving it in twain and severing its malign connection to Kaguya's realm. A collective sigh of relief escaped Naruto's lips as the flow of chakra from the trapped Shinobi ceased, robbing the Rabbit Goddess of her primary advantage.
Breathing a sigh of relief as the tree stopped taking chakra from the captured shinobi, he looked towards the assembled Kage and Super Sage Gramps as they looked at him questioningly.
He turned towards The Sage Of Six Paths and with a sorrowful look explained everything that happened within the past 3 days of their battle. Hagoromo stayed silent and then released every other kage except Minato Namikaze to the Purelands of Souls. He watched as Minato and Naruto talked with each other and Kakashi and Sakura walked on the scene while holding Sasuke from both sides.
Sasuke's and Hagoromo's eyes met and The Sage Of Six Paths understood that Indra's reincarnation was smart. Very smart. The portal technique described by Naruto didn't sound like Amenominaka, which meant that the last Uchiha had created his very own Space-Time Technique, one that could bypass his mother's realm. That in itself was a commendable act and showed he had intelligence of the highest calibre. But looking at his condition, Hagoromo grimaced, Tenketsu points burned, chakra reserves bare minimum to keep himself alive and overall physical exhaustion.
Naruto turned towards his team that just arrived and started healing Sasuke as much as he could. He didn't even know what he was healing but let his chakra and intuition do the work. Seeing as Sasuke was slowly returning to normal, he let his chakra do whatever it was doing.
"Indra" Hagoromo slowly started while looking at Sasuke. "You, Sasuke Uchiha, have accomplished a great achievement by creating your own Space-Time Technique, one that can bypass my mother's realm, Congratulations." Sasuke just nodded along as he knew that fact while everyone present stared with wide eyes at him, surprised at the feat accomplished.
"But there is no time to rest, Even though you have disrupted the connection between the Shinju and Kaguya by trying to seal her within the base Chibaku Tensei Instead of Six Paths - Chibaku Tensei, she will eventually break free of the temporary prison and the battle would restart. You cannot also break the Infinite Tsukuyomi without the chakra of all nine Bijuu. All that you can do now is to regain your strength and wait for her inevitable return." Hagoromo finished with a serious tone while looking at both Naruto and Sasuke.
Naruto and Sasuke turned towards each other, similar thoughts running in their heads. 'We have to get stronger in the meantime, to the level of Super Gramps Sage/ Rikudou Sennin and beyond'
Hagoromo's lips curved into a faint smile as he watched understanding dawn upon Naruto and Sasuke's faces. At long last, his children would set aside their differences and work together towards a common goal, fulfilling his final wish. A sense of contentment washed over him, his heart swelling with pride at their growth.
Gathering his thoughts, the Sage of Six Paths prepared to bestow upon them one final gift, an invaluable tool to aid them in their impending battle against the dreaded Rabbit Goddess. "You two have performed admirably thus far," he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of paternal affection. "Stalling for time, preventing your comrades from transforming into Zetsu – your efforts have not gone unnoticed. As such, I intend to grant you both one last boon."
Naruto and Sasuke listened intently, their eyes alight with a mixture of curiosity and determination, eager to receive any advantage that could aid them in their upcoming clash with Kaguya.
"Come closer and present your marks," Hagoromo commanded softly, gesturing towards the emblems emblazoned upon their bodies – the sun and the moon, respectively.
Without hesitation, the two young shinobi obeyed, closing the distance and extending their marked limbs towards the Sage. Hagoromo descended, his ethereal form bridging the gap between them as he grasped their outstretched hands, initiating the transfer of his gift.
In an instant, a torrent of knowledge flooded their minds, a deluge of information that threatened to overwhelm their senses. Every ninjutsu, genjutsu, and fuinjutsu that Hagoromo had ever created, discovered, or mastered – the techniques, their purposes, their applications, their devastating potential – all of it etched indelibly into their memories.
The sheer volume of data pouring into their brains was staggering, a tsunami of information that brought even the stalwart Naruto and Sasuke to their knees, gasping for breath. Minato and the rest of Team 7 rushed to their sides, concern etched upon their features as they sought to aid their fallen comrades.
Naruto could feel the knowledge churning within his mind, a maelstrom of arcane secrets and forgotten lore, each technique vying for his attention. Beside him, Sasuke's eyes were wide, his obsidian depths reflecting the strain of assimilating such a monumental influx of data.
As the transfer reached its crescendo, Hagoromo's form began to flicker, his ethereal visage wavering like a candle in the wind. With a final, paternal smile, he addressed them one last time, "With this gift, I have aided you to the fullest extent of my abilities. May you emerge victorious against the looming threat, and may you safeguard the shinobi world, protecting the weak and innocent with the power I have bestowed upon your shoulders."
With his last words said his form flickered away from existence and vanished. Minato looked at his son with pride and sorrow. Pride for the fact they were acknowledged by the Rikudou Sennin himself and sorrow for the fact they had such a big responsibility on their shoulders. He knew of Naruto's dream to become a Hokage and the responsibility that comes with being a Hokage. But this, this was greater than being a Hokage ever would. And he was damn proud of it.
Suddenly his form also started to flicker, signally his time in the living realm was up and he was going to return to Kushina, his wife once again. He smiled sadly as Naruto stood up and looked at him with understanding on his face, trying with his every single bit of will to not let the tears forming at the corner of his eyes fall. He gave him a sad smile and started in proud but ended in a sombre tone, "I am proud of you, Naruto. For achieving what you have and what you will. Remember that. And you too young Uchiha, both of you have made me proud as a father and a Hokage, even though I was never there for either of you two. You both have a big responsibility on your shoulders, a responsibility greater than that of a Hokage." Naruto gave a sad nod, with others giving a single nod to his words.
'He grew up so fast.' Minato thought while continuing, "You now have a mission for yourself, defeat Kaguya Otsutsuki and release The Infinite Tsukuyomi. Give it your all to complete it."
Turning towards his son, he said his final words that were left to be said before he vanished.
"And Naruto," Said person looked up at him with curiosity filling in his eyes "Happy 17th Birthday."
He finished with a small smile as the final resolve broke and tears flowed down freely from his face. Naruto stepped forward and looked at him in the eyes, burning with determination to complete the mission and held out his hand with a fist.
Minato looked at the fist and then at Naruto, "Thanks Dad, and I will try my best to complete the mission." he said with resolve. "Take care of Kaa-chan for me and tell her I miss her too"
Minato gave a heartfelt chuckle and fist-bumped with his son for the last time, "Of course." Then giving a nod towards the rest of team 7 and receiving one back from Sasuke and Kakashi, he gave a final small one to Naruto and vanished from the plane of existence.
"Happy Birthday, Naruto-kun" Kakashi said with his signature eye smile. Sakura followed his lead and greeted similarly. Turning towards the Uchiha, he saw him giving a small, genuine smile.
"That's new for the Uchiha, and Happy Birthday as well, kit " Kurama Commented within the mindscape.
"Usuratonkachi," Naruto had an eyebrow twitching, Sakura and Kakashi gave him strained smiles at that. "Happy Birthday." Sasuke finished with a nod. Naruto looked at all of them and gave his trademark smile, "Thank You all of you, it means a lot to me. But we need to free the rest of the shinobi alliance." Kakashi and Sasuke gave a nod to the idea while Sakura looked confused, "How would we free them? We have the Rinnegan sure but we do not have the chakra of all nine Bijuu."
As if expecting that question, Naruto answered, "Sure thing Sakura-chan, but at least we can remove them from the Shinju's grasp. That way when Kaguya returns, she would have to rely on her chakra only and would not have any backup chakra to use. That way we get the Chakra advantage, too. Since Sasuke can escape her realm and I have Superior chakra after we remove the Shinju, she would have no choice but to fight here in our world where the odds are in our favour." A look of understanding spread across her face and all of them nodded at his plan.
"Very Well, then Sakura will look after Sasuke and heal him up while I and Naruto get on the field and start clearing it off Shinju." Kakashi relayed the plan and all of them got to work.
-roughly 2 years later, an hour before the battle-
The air hung heavy with tension as Team 7 exchanged their final glances, their expressions a canvas of resolute determination. Two years had crawled by, an agonizing eternity of preparation for the impending clash with the dreaded Rabbit Goddess, Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Sasuke's fingers twitched, his obsidian eyes sweeping over his comrades, mentally steeling himself for the battle that loomed on the horizon. Beside him, Naruto's whiskered features were etched with a grim calm, his cerulean gaze fixed upon the remnants of the Shinju – the twisted stump that served as their battleground.
"It's time," Sasuke murmured, his voice a low rumble that cut through the silence like a blade.
Naruto offered a terse nod, his golden locks swaying with the subtle motion. "Yeah, let's finish this once and for all."
Sakura and Kakashi exchanged a wordless glance, their expressions a blend of concern and pride. Two years had wrought profound changes upon their comrades – Naruto's once brash demeanour had given way to a tranquil maturity, while Sasuke's brooding intensity had mellowed into a more relaxed, easy-going disposition.
"Be careful, you two," Sakura cautioned, her emerald eyes shimmering with a mixture of worry and affection.
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in a subtle smile, his words laced with paternal warmth. "We'll be here, ready to support you when needed."
With a final nod, Naruto placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, and in a blink, they vanished – whisked away by the instantaneous displacement of the Hiraishin no Jutsu, leaving Sakura and Kakashi to stand vigil over the slumbering remnants of the Shinobi Alliance.
Their arrival at the Shinju's stump was heralded by a subtle displacement of air, the faint whispers of chakra announcing their presence. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his Rinnegan flickering to life as he scanned their surroundings, searching for any signs of the impending threat.
"She's here," he growled, his tone laced with a mixture of anticipation and dread.
As if on cue, the dimensional fabric warped, reality itself buckling and twisting as a familiar figure materialized before them – the dreaded Kaguya Otsutsuki, her alabaster features contorted into a mask of unbridled fury.
Naruto's lips curved into a feral grin, his fingers flexing as he prepared to unleash the full brunt of his power. "Been a while, Kaguya," he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "Miss us?"
Kaguya's fury knew no bounds as she witnessed the audacity of these mere mortals, daring to imprison the Rabbit Goddess herself. Her alabaster features contorted into a mask of unbridled rage, lips curling in a snarl of contempt.
'Fucking cowards,' she seethed inwardly, her mind seething with indignation. 'Well, they do call themselves shinobi. They don't fight fair.'
Their transgressions mounted each offence a fresh kindling to the inferno of her wrath. First, they had destroyed her nursery, her precious Zetsu army was reduced to cinders. Then, they forced her to squander precious chakra to escape their pitiful prison while they grew stronger in the interim.
And now, they dared to stand before her, smug and defiant, as if victory was already assured. She would show them the true might of the Rabbit Goddess.
With a contemptuous flick of her wrist, Kaguya took to the skies, unleashing a torrent of her most devastating technique – the All-Killing Ash Bones. The lethal barrage converged upon Naruto, and the majority of the assault concentrated on his form.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his features hardening into a mask of grim determination. In a blur of motion, he vanished, the Shunshin no Jutsu whisking him away from the deadly assault.
Sasuke, ever the stalwart guardian, awakened his Susanoo, the spectral violet flames coalescing around him in a protective aegis. The Yata no Kagami, a gift from his fallen brother Itachi, materialized before him, deflecting the onslaught of bones with its impenetrable defence.
Kaguya's eyes widened in disbelief as her strikes glanced harmlessly off the ethereal shield, her mind reeling from the unexpected development. 'Such a thing should not be possible,' her thoughts seethed, her distraction momentarily breaching her guard.
In that fleeting instant, a blur of golden light flickered beneath her, the faintest brush of contact against her feet sending a jolt of realization coursing through her veins. Her gaze snapped downward, locking onto the visage of a mildly blushing Naruto, his whiskered features twisted into an impish grin as he regarded her from within his Rikudou Sennin Mode.
Realization dawned upon her, igniting a conflagration of anger and embarrassment that threatened to consume her very being. The insufferable brat had stolen a glimpse of her undergarments, his shameless audacity defiling her divine presence.
A rumbling chuckle echoed through the battlefield, drawing Kaguya's furious gaze towards Sasuke. The Uchiha's obsidian eyes danced with mirth, his lips curved into a rare, genuine smile as he processed the unfolding scene. His laughter erupted, uninhibited and rich, the very embodiment of his newfound ease – and his Susanoo mimicked the display, the towering violet avatar cackling uproariously at the Rabbit Goddess's expense.
'They dare to mock me?' Kaguya seethed, her anger reaching a crescendo as the implications of their actions crystallized within her mind. Something was amiss, a subtle shift in the fabric of reality that she could sense, yet could not discern.
The blond pest had done something, of that she was certain, but she could detect no loss of chakra, no tangible damage to her divine form. 'What did that infuriating blond bastard do?' her thoughts raged, her mind struggling to unravel the mystery even as she renewed her assault, raining down a relentless torrent of bones upon her adversaries.
Naruto danced through the maelstrom, his form a blur of evasive motion, while Sasuke's Susanoo weathered the onslaught with implacable resolve. Yet, with every passing moment, Kaguya could feel her chakra reserves dwindling, the strain of combat steadily sapping her strength.
Her opponents, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the chaos, their expressions alight with a maddening mixture of exhilaration and amusement that only served to stoke the flames of her fury.
A growl of frustration rumbled in her throat as she registered the blond pest's interference, his presence denying her access to the surrounding nature chakra, every droplet greedily absorbed by his insatiable form.
In a flash of inspiration, her features brightened, her gaze shifting towards the twisted remnants of the Shinju – the stump that served as the wellspring of her power. A triumphant smile curved her lips, confident in the knowledge that the divine tree would replenish her reserves, granting her the edge she needed to crush these upstart mortals and reassert her dominance over all creation.
Seeing her retreat towards the remainder of Shinju, they both rushed at her to stop it. Kaguya's fury burned hotter with each passing moment, her attempts to regain power thwarted by the insufferable duo. As she retreated towards the twisted remnants of the Shinju, desperation clawed at her mind. If she could only replenish her chakra from the divine tree's stump, the tide would turn in her favour once more.
Naruto appeared beneath her in a flash of golden light, his fingers clamping around her ankle with a vice-like grip. Kaguya's eyes widened in surprise at his speed, mere feet from her salvation. With a snarl, she unleashed a barrage of bone projectiles, but the blond pest hurled her towards Sasuke, evading the lethal assault.
Sasuke dropped his Susanoo, engaging Kaguya in a deadly dance of taijutsu. Fists and feet blurred, feints and strikes interweaving in a lethal choreography. Despite two years of arduous training, Sasuke found himself evenly matched against the progenitor of chakra. Bones erupted from Kaguya's body, forming a shifting armour to blunt his relentless assault. Yet, he adapted, his strikes seamlessly transitioning to exploit every fleeting opening. For a time, they remained locked in a stalemate, the Uchiha's stamina waning while the goddess's regenerative prowess kept her defences pristine.
A silent nod passed between Naruto and Sasuke, and in an instant, the blond's hand caught Kaguya's punch, intended for his raven-haired comrade. A guttural growl rumbled in her throat at his audacity. The dance resumed, faster and more ferocious than before. Sasuke's mismatched eyes drank in every movement, pride swelling in his chest.
'The dobe surpassed me,' Sasuke marvelled, his lips curving into a rare, genuine smile. 'He's become stronger than anyone alive.'
So entranced was he by their lethal waltz that he failed to notice the black ooze coalescing near the Shinju's stump. Naruto's eyes widened as the familiar chakra signature registered, his gaze snapping towards the writhing mass that took shape – Black Zetsu, the will of Kaguya made manifest.
'What the fuck is that Uchiha doing?' Naruto's thoughts raged as the abomination launched itself at Sasuke's unprotected back. "Sasuke! Behind you!" he shouted, but it was too late. The zetsu had already reached Sasuke by the time he turned around, its hand plunging into his abdomen and bursting through his back.
"The scene looks familiar somehow," Kurama idly commented, peering through Naruto's eyes.
Naruto's gaze was fixed on Sasuke, his worry for his brother's well-being causing him to overlook the lethal barrage of bones hurtling towards him. Sasuke seemed to notice, his Sharingan spinning wildly as he realized Naruto hadn't moved from the path of the projectiles, pinned down by Zetsu's grip.
'Shit! This is going south fast,' Sasuke's thoughts raced. 'We can't die here without defeating that damned rabbit.'
Kaguya's lips curled into a triumphant sneer, revelling in the brothers' foolish attachment to each other – an attachment that would cost them their lives. With a casual flick of her wrist, she redirected the closest bone towards the raven-haired nuisance, the remaining projectiles embedding themselves in Sasuke's back as she reached the stump, greedily absorbing its remaining chakra.
Sasuke coughed up globs of blood as Naruto pumped senjutsu chakra into his body, attempting to negate the effects of the bone impalement. But there were thirteen lethal spikes buried in his back, and their corrosive effects were spreading rapidly. Tears streamed down Naruto's whiskered cheeks, falling onto Sasuke's ashen features as his abdomen and lower half disintegrated into ash, the necrosis creeping towards his upper body.
'This is the end of the Uchiha,' Sasuke mused, a dry chuckle escaping his bloodied lips. 'Seems like the Senju won in the end.'
"My body moved on its own..." Sasuke murmured, his fading gaze locked onto Naruto's grief-stricken expression. More tears spilt forth, the weight of their shared past bearing down upon the blond jinchuuriki. All because of her. Naruto's glare bored into Kaguya's smug visage as she floated above them, fully replenished by the Shinju's power.
-flashback end/the present time-
Within the seal, Kurama was a conflicting whirlwind of emotions. Distress gripped him at the impending loss of the Rinnegan, yet a part of him was relieved, happy even, that the accursed eyes would finally be no more. He had forged good memories with the last Uchiha, an unexpected bond that left him saddened by Sasuke's fate. The fox didn't know which emotion to focus on.
Raising his rapidly disintegrating hands, Sasuke poked Naruto's forehead with his index and middle fingers, like Itachi often did to him in childhood, offering a pained smile. "Become the Savior, otouto. You are the only one capable of doing it." With those words, the Uchiha clan was no more. All of them are dead. His brother, gone, all because he wasn't fast enough, because he didn't–
"Shut the hell up, gaki."
Kurama's gruff voice echoed through Naruto's mindscape, shattering the suffocating stillness. The Kyuubi's crimson eyes narrowed, his massive jaws parting in a snarl of frustration.
"What you did or didn't do doesn't matter right now," the fox growled, his nine tails lashing with agitation. "Kaguya has returned to her previous chakra level before the fight. Sasuke sacrificed himself and gave you the greatest gift of the Uchiha. Make it count."
Naruto flinched, his whiskered features twisting in anguish at the reminder of Sasuke's final act. The weight of the Rinnegan, now embedded within his own flesh, seemed to burn like a brand, a constant reminder of the burden he carried.
Kurama's tone softened, tinged with a rare hint of sombre empathy. "My siblings are still locked within her, Naruto. You have to fight. Fight for your brother, fight for mine, defeat her and take revenge for what she took from us."
Those words ignited a spark within Naruto's soul, a flickering ember that smouldered with righteous fury. His brother's sacrifice would not be in vain. Clenching his fists, he steeled his resolve, channelling the anguish that threatened to consume him into a blazing inferno of determination.
Kaguya, sensing vulnerability, seized the opportunity with ruthless efficiency. Hundreds of lethal bone projectiles erupted from her form, hurtling towards Naruto's crouched figure with unerring precision.
Yet, even as the deadly barrage converged upon him, Naruto remained motionless, his head bowed in solemn contemplation. A subtle shift in his chakra signature caught Kaguya's attention, her brow furrowing as she sensed the profound change unfolding before her.
Where once Sasuke's chakra had been a frigid, yin-infused presence, Naruto's now burned with an icy intensity, tempered by the lingering warmth of his yang essence. The harmonious fusion of opposing forces coalesced around him, igniting a violent maelstrom of violet flames – the spectral manifestation of the Susanoo, its ethereal aegis deflecting Kaguya's assault with the impenetrable Yata no Kagami.
Kaguya's eyes widened in disbelief as Naruto slowly raised his head, his gaze locking onto her with an intensity that sent a shiver coursing down her spine. The Rinnegan, its violet depths swirling with nine tomoe, burned with an otherworldly radiance, while Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan pulsed with raw strength, a testament to the ultimate sacrifice of the last Uchiha.
'Thank you, Sasuke,' Naruto's thoughts echoed, his lips curving into a grim line. 'I would forever, until my death, cherish the gift you have given me.'
Rising to his feet, Naruto faced his opponent head-on, a solitary tear trailing down his whiskered cheek as he spoke, his voice laced with a chilling mixture of sorrow and resolve.
"Kaguya Otsutsuki," he intoned, his words carrying an air of finality. "Let's dance for the last time."
Within the confines of Naruto's mindscape, Kurama's tails lashed with trepidation. 'Oh shit, oh shit, not a Madara, do not become a Madara, Naruto.'
The Kyuubi no Kitsune genuinely feared the return of Madara's ruthless determination in the form of his partner. For the first time, he bore witness to Naruto's unbridled fury, an all-consuming rage directed towards his opponent. The fox could only dread the aftermath of this final battle, for when an inferno of wrath consumed one as powerful as Naruto, the consequences were bound to be cataclysmic.
-At the capital-
The unsettling dread gnawing at Sakura's gut refused to abate, her restless pacing betraying the turmoil that gripped her soul. "Why do I feel this way?" she muttered under her bated breath, chewing her lower lip in consternation. "They'll be fine. Naruto and Sasuke-kun are strong. They've been training relentlessly for this moment."
Yet, even as the reassuring words tumbled from her lips, Sakura couldn't quell the unease that clawed at her heart, a primal foreboding that chilled her to the core. Her emerald eyes widened in shock as a colossal figure materialized on the horizon, a golden nine-tailed fox clad in spectral violet armour, wreathed in flickering black flames.
"By the Sage..." she gasped, her knuckles whitening as her fingers clenched into tight fists. "What the fuck is that?"
Beside her, Kakashi's visible eye narrowed, his brow furrowing beneath the slanted hitai-ate. "Did the Susanoo-armored Kurama become even larger?" he murmured, his tone laced with disbelief.
Sakura swallowed hard, her throat constricting as she struggled to process the staggering sight. Naruto and Sasuke had indeed merged their colossal jutsu in the past, but this... this defied all comprehension. The towering amalgamation dwarfed even the loftiest peaks, its silhouette stretching towards the heavens in an act of brazen defiance.
'How the hell did this happen?' Inner Sakura raged, her mental voice a shrill screech of bewilderment. 'This is beyond insane!'
Kakashi's movements snapped her from her stupor, the Copy Ninja withdrawing two silver tri-pronged kunai from his pouch. One sailed through the air, embedding itself in the ground at Sakura's feet with a muted thud.
"Sakura," he addressed her, his tone grave and clipped. "This is an abnormal sight, even by our standards. A nine-tailed rabbit, its tails bearing the visages of the remaining Bijuu, locked in combat with that titanic Susanoo-clad Kurama?" He shook his head, his expression etched with grim determination. "I'm going to the warzone to investigate. You stay here and protect the others."
A flicker of trepidation flickered across Sakura's features, her mind conjuring vivid images of the apocalyptic clash unfolding on the distant battlefield. Yet, she nodded resolutely, her fists clenching with renewed purpose.
'I'm not the weak link anymore,' she vowed inwardly, her inner fire burning bright. 'I've grown stronger, perhaps the strongest kunoichi alive. I can handle this.'
Kakashi offered her a curt nod of acknowledgment before hurling the second kunai with pinpoint accuracy, disappearing in a blur of silver static as the Hiraishin whisked him away.
Sakura steeled her resolve, her gaze sweeping over the slumbering forms of the captive Shinobi Alliance, blissfully unaware of the cataclysmic battle raging beyond their borders.
'Please,' she prayed silently, her thoughts a fervent entreaty to any deity that might lend an ear. 'Please, let them be okay.'
Yet, even as the words echoed through her mind, a cold knot of dread coiled in the pit of her stomach, a grim premonition that her hopes would prove tragically misguided.
-At the warzone-
Nine colossal Yasaka Magatama blazed through the air, streaking towards Kaguya's towering bijuu rabbit form with blistering speed. A triumphant sneer curved the goddess's lips as she extended her palm, greedily absorbing the torrent of chakra. Replenishing her reserves even as Naruto drained them, she revelled in the continuous cycle, secure in the knowledge that her divine power would ultimately prevail.
Her smug satisfaction, however, proved short-lived as Naruto's massive avatar dispersed in a billowing cloud of smoke, revealing nine glowing clones, each wielding a distinct, revolving assault comprised of bijuu chakra. Kaguya's brow furrowed in consternation, her mind racing to process this unforeseen development.
'Absorbing the bijuu chakra should bolster my avatar,' she mused, her lips curling into a contemptuous sneer as she prepared a counterattack, intent on repelling the insolent blond pest.
In a blur of motion, Naruto's clones vanished, their forms flickering out of existence. Kaguya's eyes widened in shock as she found herself assailed from behind, each of her nine tails simultaneously bombarded by the revolving bijuu chakra attacks. A guttural roar of agony tore itself from her throat, the onslaught shattering her concentration and disrupting the flow of her technique, which rebounded upon her with devastating force.
Naruto's clones seized the opportunity, their fingers interlaced in a series of intricate seals as they initiated a desperate tug-of-war, vying for control over the bijuu chakra. The moment their feet touched the ground, they began draining Kaguya's power through the Rinnegan, the absorption process excruciatingly painful yet endured in stoic silence.
Kaguya shrank rapidly, her divine form dwindling as she lost her grip on the bijuu's essence, the chakra slipping through her grasp like grains of sand. Within moments, her towering rabbit avatar crumbled, the bijuu's chakra torn from her grasp and subsumed by Naruto's clones.
Panting heavily, Kaguya collapsed to her knees, her third eye – the Rinne-Sharingan – clenched shut as she struggled to maintain her composure. One by one, Naruto's clones dispersed, their purpose fulfilled as they transferred the accumulated bijuu chakra to the original.
'Kurama...' Naruto's mind reached out to his longtime companion, his mental presence manifesting within the mindscape. The towering visage of the Kyuubi no Kitsune greeted him, the mightiest of the bijuu straining to contain the chakra of his brethren within the confines of the Eight Trigrams Seal.
"This isn't working, Naruto," Kurama growled, his voice strained with exertion. "The seal wasn't designed to contain the chakra of all nine bijuu. The way the Shinigami bound us, only I can remain within this vessel."
Naruto's brow furrowed as the implications of Kurama's words sank in. A solution eluded him, their circumstances growing increasingly dire by the moment.
'Only you, right?' he mused, his mind whirling with possibilities. 'Then absorb them.'
Kurama's crimson eyes widened, his gaze flickering between Naruto and the roiling orbs of bijuu chakra he struggled to control. Realization dawned upon the fox, his tails lashing with a mixture of trepidation and resolve.
'He's right,' Kurama acknowledged inwardly. 'We have no choice. It's the only way.'
With a solemn nod, the mightiest of the bijuu steeled his resolve, and together, he and Naruto initiated the process of becoming the Juubi – the embodiment of the bijuu's combined might – and the Juubi Jinchuuriki, respectively.
Kakashi scanned the desolate landscape, his visible eye narrowing as he took in the sheer devastation. Huge swaths of land had been torn asunder, scorched earth and splintered rock serving as grim reminders of the colossal forces at play. Yet, no trace remained of his former students or their dreaded opponent, the elusive Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Biting his thumb, the Copy Ninja summoned his faithful ninken, the pack of tracking hounds materializing in a puff of smoke. Pakkun, the pug leading the group, immediately sensed the tension radiating from his long-time summoner.
"Yo, Kakashi," the canine greeted, his gruff voice tinged with concern. "Long time no see. Did Naruto and Sasuke win the battle?"
Kakashi's gaze swept across the decimated terrain once more before settling on his summons. "Same to you, Pakkun," he replied, offering a strained eye-smile. "But I don't know whether they won yet. I need your help to trace their scents and track them down."
Pakkun's brow furrowed as he caught the undercurrent of unease in Kakashi's tone. Without further prompting, the ninken began sniffing the air, their noses twitching as they analyzed the lingering scents.
Moments later, Pakkun's eyes widened, his expression grave. "Kakashi," he began, the weight of his words palpable. "There is only the scent of Naruto in the east. If Sasuke was here, no trace remains."
A chill ran down Kakashi's spine as the implications sank in. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he pushed aside the ominous thoughts threatening to cloud his mind. With a terse nod, he turned eastward and rushed towards Naruto's location, his ninken trailing close behind.
The scene that greeted them defied all comprehension. A once-towering mountain range had been reduced to jagged rubble, the earth itself seeming to groan under the weight of such cataclysmic destruction. In the midst of the shattered landscape, Kakashi witnessed a sight that froze his blood – Kaguya, her radiant form now diminished, lunging towards a motionless Naruto with lethal intent.
Kakashi's hand moved on instinct, hurling a tri-pronged kunai towards his former student with pinpoint accuracy. The blade embedded itself mere feet from Naruto's unmoving form, and in a blur of lightning-induced static, Kakashi flashed to his side, Chidori crackling to life in his right palm.
Yet, even his famed speed proved inadequate as Kaguya's strike found its mark, her hand tearing through Naruto's abdomen with sickening ease. Kakashi's Chidori severed the offending limb, but the damage had already been inflicted.
Time seemed to slow as Naruto's eyes snapped open, trailing from the gruesome wound to Kakashi's horror-stricken visage. A small, triumphant smile curved his lips, a silent reassurance that belied the gravity of his injuries.
Kakashi's breath caught in his throat as he watched Naruto levitate, his golden locks fading to a brilliant white. But it was the sight of his eyes that left the seasoned Jonin truly awestruck – a crimson Rinnegan with nine swirling tomoe in the left socket, and a violet counterpart adorned with six in the right.
Naruto's gaze swept upwards, locking onto the moon hanging in the heavens above. With a simple raise of his hand, he unleashed his chakra in a blinding surge, a wave of power that swept across the entire world, dispersing the oppressive atmosphere left in the wake of Kaguya's machinations.
As Naruto descended, his radiant presence dimmed, the Rinnegan in his right eye fading to reveal his familiar cerulean hue. Yet, his left eye remained closed, the crimson Rinnegan still burning with an otherworldly light.
"We won Sensei," Naruto declared, his voice laced with a quiet sense of triumph as he approached Kakashi. With a casual flick of his wrist, he discarded Kaguya's severed hand, steam hissing from his gaping wound as it knitted itself back together.
Relief washed over Kakashi, his shoulders sagging as the weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders. A weary smile tugged at his masked lips, gratitude swelling within his heart – he would not have to mourn another student today.
Yet, their moment of respite proved short-lived as Kaguya, her form sizzling and distorted, seized the opportunity presented by their lapse in vigilance. With a burst of preternatural speed, she crashed into Naruto, locking him in a vicious headlock before sinking her teeth into his left eye with savage ferocity.
Naruto's scream of agony tore through the air, his chakra surging involuntarily into the Rinnegan as Kaguya's fangs penetrated the delicate orb. A blinding flash of light erupted, forcing Kakashi and his ninken to shield their eyes.
When the brilliance faded, the scene that greeted them was one of desolation – Naruto had vanished without a trace, his chakra signature utterly absent from the realm.
Kakashi's gaze snapped towards the smouldering remains of Kaguya, her expression twisted into a smug sneer as the first rays of dawn crept across the horizon. Seizing her by the tattered remains of her regal kimono, he roared with a voice laced with unbridled fury, "What did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO?"
-at the capital-
A deafening silence permeated the sprawling encampment, the eerie stillness enveloping the slumbering forms of the Shinobi Alliance. Suddenly, a collective groan shattered the quiet, a cacophony of stirring bodies and rustling fabric echoing through the cavernous space.
Sakura's emerald gaze swept across the awakening masses, her brow furrowing as the oppressive chakra pressure that had blanketed the area dissipated, the atmosphere slowly reverting to its natural state. Her lips parted, a sharp intake of breath escaping as realization dawned upon her.
Shinobi from every corner of the encampment rose to their feet, bewilderment etched upon their faces as they surveyed their unfamiliar surroundings. The Konoha contingent exchanged puzzled glances, their memories resurfacing – the mission that had led them to the Fire Capital, the inexplicable lapse in time, and the jarring transition from their daily routines to this encampment.
Sakura's voice rang out, clear and commanding, silencing the murmurs of confusion. "WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE!" she proclaimed, her tone laced with a mixture of relief and triumph. "THE INFINITE TSUKUYOMI HAS BEEN RELEASED. YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING! WE HAVE FINALLY WON THE WAR AGAINST THE AKATSUKI AND UCHIHA MADARA!"
A hush fell over the crowd as the weight of Sakura's words sank in. Realization flickered across their features, the fog of the genjutsu's illusion lifting as recollections of the Fourth Great Shinobi War flooded their minds. They had been trapped within Madara's ultimate technique, their consciousness ensnared in a realm of false dreams and fabricated realities.
A resounding cheer erupted, a thunderous chorus of elation and triumph that shook the very foundations of the encampment. "WE WON! WE WON! WE WON!" The refrain echoed endlessly, a joyous affirmation of their hard-earned victory.
Amidst the raucous celebration, a nagging thought emerged, a lingering query that seemed to hang in the air, unspoken yet palpable. They were not on the battlefield, yet Sakura had proclaimed their triumph. Sensing the unvoiced concern, Sakura raised her hand, commanding silence once more.
"Yes, you are currently in the Fire Capital, Hi no Kuni," she explained, her voice carrying a reassuring lilt. "Sasuke-kun, Kakashi-Sensei, and Naruto are at the battlefield, where the final confrontation occurred. They will be returning soon, for the opponent has been defeated."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, the identity of their adversary remaining a mystery, yet the promise of their comrades' imminent return offered solace. The victory was theirs, and soon, they would bask in the glory of their hard-won triumph, reunited with their brothers and sisters-in-arms.
However, the celebratory atmosphere was shattered as a solitary figure flickered into existence, the unmistakable crackle of the Hiraishin heralding his arrival. Kakashi's visage was a mask of anguish, his visible eye haunted by a pain that defied words. As the gathered Shinobi fell silent, their jubilation extinguished by the weight of his sorrow, a single thought echoed through their collective consciousness:
What had transpired on that distant battlefield?
-previously at battlefield-
The smirk etched upon Kaguya's distorted features was one of smug satisfaction as if she had orchestrated the entire ordeal from the very beginning. Her alabaster skin sizzled and melted, her divine form devolving into a viscous, slime-like substance that oozed across the scorched earth.
"Activated his Rinne-Sharingan and pumped up the chakra within to launch a random technique," she rasped, her words laced with a mocking lilt. "Did a good job of terminating his existence, if I say so myself."
Kakashi's hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles whitening as he struggled to contain the maelstrom of emotions roiling within him. Rage, grief, and a sense of utter helplessness battered his psyche, threatening to shatter the carefully constructed facade of composure he had cultivated over the years.
His single visible eye swept across the desolate landscape, taking in the stark contrast between the vibrant beauty that had once graced the region and the barren, lifeless wasteland that now stretched before him. Shattered rock and splintered earth bore silent witness to the cataclysmic forces unleashed during the battle, a grim testament to the sheer magnitude of the conflict.
Kakashi's gaze fell upon the crimson-stained kunai embedded in the ground, the very blade he had hurled to Naruto's side mere moments before the unthinkable had occurred. His throat constricted, a lump of emotion welling up as he fought to process the reality of the situation.
Naruto was gone, vanished without a trace, his chakra signature utterly absent from the realm. The weight of that realization threatened to crush Kakashi beneath its unbearable burden, a burden he had borne far too many times in his life – the loss of those precious to him.
A guttural growl rumbled in his throat as his attention snapped back to the viscous pool that had once been Kaguya. Anger seared through his veins, a white-hot fury that demanded retribution for the injustice inflicted upon his former student.
In a blur of motion, Kakashi's hands wove through a series of seals, his chakra coalescing into a raging inferno. "Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" he roared, unleashing a massive fireball that engulfed the slime, vaporizing it in an instant.
Yet, even as the flames consumed the remnants of Kaguya's form, Kakashi found no solace, no sense of closure or satisfaction. The void left by Naruto's absence yawned before him, a gaping chasm that threatened to swallow him whole.
With a heavy heart, he turned his gaze towards the direction of the Fire Capital, his mind fixated on the singular objective that now drove him – to deliver the news, however devastating, to those who awaited their return.
Chakra surged through his coils, propelling him towards the kunai he had discarded earlier. In a crackle of static electricity, Kakashi vanished, the Hiraishin whisking him away from the desolate battlefield, his thoughts a tangled web of grief and disbelief.
They had won, but at what cost?
(Authors Note 11 January 2023)
Since all of my readers are global I would try to write English alternatives for attacks and try to minimize Japanese usage. I have kind of learned Japanese and watched both the anime in subtitle form so I don't know the English alternative. I would try my best to give a glossary of all the Japanese references used at the end of each chapter.
GLOSSARY:-
-Kun =generally used by people of senior status addressing or referring to those of junior status, or it can be used when referring to men in general, male children or male teenagers, or among male friends.
-Chan = Chan expresses that the speaker finds a person endearing. In general, -chan is used for young children, close friends, babies, grandparents and sometimes female adolescents. It may also be used towards cute animals, lovers, or youthful women. Chan is not usually used for strangers or people one has just met.
-Ninjutsu = in simple words Ninja Arts. sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term ninpō, is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja.
-Genjutsu = literal meaning, Reality. Illusion Arts for this story
-Fuinjutsu = Sealing Arts
-Hiraishin= Flying Thunder God
-Chidori= a thousand birds
-Yasaka Magatama= Yasaka Magatama is a technique that Susanoo users can use it from any of its hands. Due to its structure, it acts in a similar manner to that of a shuriken when thrown by Susanoo - rapidly spinning towards the intended target - and results in an explosion upon impact.
-Susanoo= Susanoo is a gigantic, humanoid avatar made of the user's chakra which surrounds them and fights on their behalf, that has been handed down throughout all the generations of the Uchiha Clan. It is the strongest ability available to those who have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes
-Amenominaka= Using her Rinne Sharingan, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki replaces the world around her with one of her personal dimensions; everyone near Kaguya at the time will experience the same change of place. Unlike most space-time ninjutsu, where users move themselves to a destination, Kaguya moves the destination to herself. To relocate such large dimensions requires an immense amount of chakra, so much so that only Kaguya is able to do so.
-ninken= Ninja Dogs
-Hi no Kuni= Land of Fire
-Kumogakure no Sato= Village Hidden by Clouds
-Sunagakure no Sato= Village Hidden by Sand
-Shinigami- Shinigami are Kami that invite humans toward death in certain aspects of Japanese religion and culture.
That was all for the glossary. If you had trouble understanding something or have any questions, please leave a review so that I could respond and improve my writing skills.
Replying to:-
1) I am glad that you are satisfied with my writing, I truly appreciate your efforts to leave a comment.
And that's it for the intro. It was a bit longer and took me around 3 edits to actually post this chapter. Who knew expressing your imagination in words would be so time-consuming? yeah, no shit.
Btw I intentionally Replaced Fuck with Fork for pure amusement purposes. ;)
(Author's Notes 4 July 2024)
Damn, been more than a year since this chapter. Seemed like it was just yesterday when I was particularly bored and had the brilliant idea of writing this story, effectively kick starting my writing career? (can this even be considered of that?)
Either way, if you are here because of an update notification yet are not seeing any new chapter, this is the reason why. I explained in the author's note of the Hashira Meeting chapter that I would be rewriting the previous chapters to fix the amateur mistakes I made earlier and improve the general quality of the writing material. Initially I planned on rewiting just a select few but this chapter was the most criticised in the reviews, hence i decided to rewrite the damn thing. Now, those of you that have been from the start, I apologize in advance for my inactivity in updating this. I would probably just rewrite the entire thing, add another chapter to Saikyo until mid July and then go offline once again. Reason? I have to attend the last semester of My High school (I will be graduating in spring next year, yay!) and it's going to be hectic since I have to prepare for College as well (yours truly is a future STEM student). So yeah, sorry for the dissapointment.
I left the previous Authors note as it is, didn't feel the need to change it.
I'll be answering the new comments here for now, it may seem a bit weird to new readers seeing reviews for future chapters on the first one itself, you have been informed.
1)Grand Regent Thragg (chapter 8)
I believe you are referencing some other story. Unfortunately, I haven't read that one, so don't really know what you are talking about. Also, where is Kaguya in chapter 8? did you mean Kagaya Ubuyashiki? if so, why do you what him to die?
2) Gilgamesh50 (chapter 7)
I'll be honest, I am not a big fan of polygamous relationships, harem or otherwise. It just doesn't click? with me in most cases. Even if it did, I don't think I can write a harem with multiple characters properly and do them justice or even make sense of their relationship. All other great stories out their have either no romance, single partner or at max two partners of the opposite gender making a trio. You won't find any great harem stories because it isn't all it is cracked up to be as shown in a hentai plot. So with all that considered, I would steer clear of the harem route (skill issue majorly) because romance isn't really the main focus here, in this particular story.
3)EeveelutionLover8 (chapter 8)
that would be because I merged them into a single chapter, added a bit more content and published it as The Hashira Meeting instead of making three parts, edit them and update them individually (it's a pain in the ass to do that). It was supposed to make up for my absence in the last 8-9 months. So yeah, hope that cleared up your doubts. Don't worry, you didn't miss anything.
With that, I am done with this first rewrite. All of you who follow me can expect similar updates in upcoming days since this is what I'll be doing until mid July (hopefully) and maybe add another chapter to Saikyo (maybe).
Sorry to those who were expecting the continuation of the story because of the update notification but instead got this. I'll make up to you people soon.
Until next time.