CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Retrieval part-5
Mikasa stood speechlessly as she heard Kaguya speak. It all felt like a cruel joke to her, all the years she had spent preparing for her arrival, all the souls she took …and now she was learning that the being she went through everything for simply wasn't interested in possessing her body.
"Husband?" Mikasa asked, still in shock from the news.
"Multiple centuries ago, my husband, Otsusuki Shibai, awakened several divine trees belonging to different realms, as I have also done. But instead of sharing the power of the tree's fruit with the inhabitants of those worlds, he consumed them for himself and gained immense power as a result."
"Father was an ambitious man" Isshiki chimed in.
"I was unable to reach into his soul and get him to stop his unreasonable quest for power, and he continued his work. World after world, drained for their energy and transferred to him."
Kaguya paused to look at Mikasa. "Until one day, he disappeared"
Hinata raised an eyebrow. "Disappeared?"
"One day, I was unable to detect his presence in any of the realms any longer" Kaguya bowed her head, a tear running down her cheek. "To this day, I have searched endlessly for my heart, but I still can't detect his presence."
"So why are you here?" Hinata asked, stepping closer. She almost wanted to console Kaguya but stopped herself. She had started to find herself growing warmer feelings towards Kaguya, but she didn't know how or why.
Kaguya rose up in the air, looking down on the duo of Mikasa and Hinata.
"To take back from this world what is rightfully mine." She declared. "My subordinates failed to guide you humans to a path of peace and cooperation, instead you use my power to cause more pain and suffering. So I am here to rescind my gift, and use that power in the way I was supposed to"
Mikasa's eyes narrowed with the realization of what Kaguya was implying. "You want to take back your chakra? And what will become of us when you take everything back?"
"This world will die" Isshiki sternly replied. He gestured towards Hinata with his hand.
"IF, she does not carry out the task that will be assigned to her successfully"
Hinata was taken aback by his words. "Me? What am I supposed to do to stop everyone from dying?"
"The Tenseigan is a tool for utmost precision in controlling the flow of Chakra." Kaguya replied as she stepped closer to Hinata, the bulging veins at the corner of her eyes indicating her Byakugan was active.
Studying the Hyuuga carefully, she continued. "It grants it's wielder absolute control over the essence of Chakra"
Kaguya beckoned for Hinata to come closer and to her surprise, the Hyuuga felt herself moving towards the Otsusuki, unable to act otherwise.
As she stepped closer to her, Kaguya placed her hand on Hinata's forehead , her dojutsu still active.
"Release"
Hinata suddenly found herself engulfed in immense pain. She collapsed on the floor, groaning in agony as every chakra point in her body felt like it was on fire and her eyes felt like they were about to explode.
Mikasa looked at Hinata writhing in agony and raised her gaze to meet Kaguya's. "What did you do to her?"
"The Tenseigan is a treasure of the main branch of the Otsusuki. I merely released the seal restricting it's power" Kaguya replied coolly.
Eventually, the pain Hinata felt resided and she carefully got back on her feet, rubbing her eyes. As she raised her head to look at Mikasa, her eyes had taken a different colour and form all together. Replacing the pale lavender was a hue of cyan, with a floral pattern covering her iris.
"So this is…." Hinata struggled to come to terms with the rush of energy she felt flowing through her. She felt like she could detect the flow of chakra on the atomic level, and she was able to see things she was unable to detect before, even with her Byakugan.
"You are in servitude of me, Hyuuga. You will help me to completely strip away this world of all it's chakra"
"Servitude?" Hinata asked, confused. "I don't serve anyone"
Puzzled, Kaguya turned to Isshiki. "Did Hamura not tell her why he passed on the Tenseigan to her?"
"I never spoke with Hamura" Hinata stated.
"Hamura was my subordinate in the side branch. You possess the power handed over to him, therefore you have been chosen to carry on his task, which is to serve me." Kaguya explained.
"The power that can change the world…." Hinata mumbled to herself. "Is this what he meant by…" With a confidence she didn't know she could muster, she snapped at Kaguya.
"No! I refuse to serve you! I am no one's pawn!"
For the first time that day, Kaguya frowned at Hinata. "You have no choice"
Suddenly, Hinata felt herself engulfed in pain once again. She collapsed to the floor and fought to control herself over the agony spreading from her forehead.
The caged bird seal?
"The Tenseigan is my property and by extension that includes you, Hyuuga Hinata" Kaguya declared, releasing Hinata from her turmoil. She extended her hand, manifesting a yellow glowing sphere that seemed to slowly siphon away all the chakra in the room, causing everyone but the two Otsusuki to collapse on the floor.
"I do not need your power to take back my chakra from this world. But I do not wish to eradicate life on this planet for my own personal goal. Unless you want everyone you love to die in the process, you will assist me to separate chakra from every being with the precision required to ensure your realm survives the extraction." She paused to look longingly outside the window. "You will assist me to reunite with my Shibai, in whatever realm he has found himself in"
Hinata positioned herself on her hands and knees, panting with exhaustion. To her side, Mikasa picked herself up and spoke to her.
"Listen to her Hinata, don't try to fight it"
Closing her eyes, Hinata gave her response to Kaguya's decree. "As you wish"
The Otsusuki nodded in approval and raised her hands at her sides.
A force pulsed through the room, flowing through the entire building and beyond.
"I have lifted the veil shielding this building from the outside world. Your first task Hinata, will be to recover the beings you call tailed beasts, back to me, starting with the nine tails."
Hinata's eyes widened as she gasped silently. "Naruto-kun…" she whispered to herself.
Kaguya continued speaking. "With your power, you will extract the nine tails from it's host, along with his own chakra" She took notice of Hinata's distress and moved closer to her and raised her head, staring into her eyes.
"The jinchuriki of the nine tails took my son from me, but I have forgiven him. He was merely defending himself."
As she spoke, her eyes took on a dark hue, with a white iris in their centres, narrowed in concentration. "And I understand he is dear to you, Hinata….."
"How did you?..." Hinata asked, surprised. She noticed the different appearance Kaguya's eyes had taken
Is It this strange dojutsu?
"He is already on his way here. The life of the jinchuriki and everyone else you know is in your hands, Hyuuga. Your actions from this moment will determine their fates."
Kaguya floated to the side, entering a dark portal that had appear by her side with Isshiki following her.
And she was gone, leaving Hinata and Mikasa alone in the room.
"We're heading to the land of flowers"
Sakura addressed the group before her. They were returning from the land of woods where they had traveled to in search of their abducted comrade.
"We still have a lot of ground to cover, so don't give up just yet. Hinata could be anywhere"
"Then what are we waiting for? We better get moving as fast as we can" Konohamaru said.
Without Sai's bird summons which has dissipated, the team moved at a slower pace than before, meticulously searching every location they visited to find any trace of Hinata's presence. Another day passed and there was still no trace of her. The next morning came and the team pressed on, relentless in their determination to find her. That night, the team set up camp preparing to rest for the night. It was decided that Naruto and Sasuke would take first watch while the rest of the group rested
"How are you holding up?"
Naruto turned in surprise at Sasuke's question. It was unusual for him to ask after his well-being
"I'm doing okay Sasuke, thanks for asking" Naruto didn't look like he believed his own answer.
Watching him stare off into nothing, Sasuke knew he was hurting. Partly from his girlfriend's abduction and also from the danger the Otsusukis threatened earth with.
"The road ahead of us is an uncertain one" Sasuke said, settling on the tree branch next to Naruto. "I trust you will be able to carry out your mission regardless of whatever might happen"
Naruto faced Sasuke with a firm expression. "I will. I never go back on my word"
Without looking at Naruto, Sasuke spoke.
"Naruto, you should consider the possibility that Hinata has died"
Surprised, Naruto bolted upright. "Why would you even think of that Sasuke?!"
"Because we haven't found any sign of her for almost five days now" Sasuke coolly replied. "I can't say for sure what has happened to her, but you need to promise me to keep yourself together and challenge the threat of the Otsusuki if we have to come to terms with her demise"
Naruto settled back down, deep in thought. "I….I will"
Sasuke finally turned to face Naruto. "I can imagine how much pain you must be going through, but Naruto, you are still a shinobi."
"I understand Sasuke" Naruto replied with a sigh. For a moment he considered his friend's words. If the Otsusuki that took her was anything like the Akatsuki of old, he may have already taken what he wanted from her and Hinata could already be….
Shaking his head to rid himself of his negative thoughts, Naruto closed his eyes in meditation. He entered his sage mode and scanned his surroundings. It was something he did everyday, even if he knew deep down that he wasn't going to find her signature.
Focusing, he expanded his sensory reach as far as he could, trying to locate Hinata's chakra.
Then his eyes shot open.
"Sasuke…"
The Uchiha turned to his side at the mention of his name. "What?"
"I've found her"
"You what?"
"We have to move NOW"
Naruto sprinted for the camp, with a slightly confused Sasuke trailing him. He barged into Sakura and Tenten's tent without thinking, thanking the stars both girls were fully clothed once he realized what he had done.
"Hinata is in the land of wind!"
Groggily, Tenten rubbed her eyes. "Didn't we already look there?"
"I sensed her there, we need to start moving now! She's in danger" Naruto repeated with a sense of urgency.
"But how did you-" Sakura found herself interrupted by Naruto.
"It doesn't matter, we need to leave as soon as possible!"
Sakura got up and reached for her hairpin. "Alright then, let's move out"
And so the team made their way towards Hinata's chakra signature, Naruto leading the way. As the moon covered the earth in it's light, casting long shadows over the rugged terrain; Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Tenten, Konohamaru, Moegi and Hanabi raced against time. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, feet pounding against the earth, hearts thumping with a mixture of fear and determination.
They were running to save one of their own, a comrade who had been unwillingly dragged into a situation she never asked for. Each step was a prayer, a plea to whatever higher power might be listening to guide them safely to their friend's side. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sending shivers down their spines. But they pressed on, their bond fueling their resolve.
[Author's note]
Alright, time to start rolling out the endgame battles and developments. If you've read up to this point, all I can say is thank you. I hope you've liked the story so far!