World #07 - On the Road.
"I'm hungry." Sarada said.
Sakura chuckled. How… childish of her. "That's ridiculous. You had lunch, didn't you?"
"That was yesterday."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "When I was on the road, I could go days without eating — water you do need, though. Want more, by the way? …No? All right. Also, you're a ninja. You should learn to make your own water."
"…I don't have a water affinity." Sarada said.
"You're half-Haruno."
Sarada frowned. "…Does it come with a water affinity?" She could not remember what her grandparents had said.
"Well, it sure did for me." Sakura laughed. "See… where fire is… what? The contrast between raging emotions and calm?"
"Something like this." Sarada muttered.
"Well, water is about balance, too." Sakura nodded. "You should try it."
"But I—"
"If you just try it, I'll get you some food." Sakura bribed. Kiyoshi had done the same to her, and it had turned out great. "Otherwise, I'll give you a very bland ration bar and you're going to have to hunt for more food — it's great practice."
Sarada nodded in grim determination and reached deep inside, searching for more.
Sakura smiled proudly.
Konoha.
"Lightning." Naruto called, sounding bored.
Boruto strained, pushing past his limit.
'I am Lightning, the thunder that guides through the night. My strength you cannot halt.'
With a crackling sound, a spark of blue light erupted. He felt some satisfaction—
"Nah… Fire." Toru contested, shaking his head.
Boruto shook from the effort. They were so different. He let go of Lightning.
'I am Fire, the all-consuming one. My light you cannot put out.'
A small flame flickered in his hand, bathing it in orange light.
Sasuke frowned.
(Lightning and Fire were his thing, frankly. But he was not about to agree with either of the two men.)
"…What of Wind…?" He muttered. "He's Naruto's son."
Boruto focused and felt like he was about to pass out.
'I am Wind, nature's whimsical child. My heart you cannot tame.'
Currents twisted around his body. Wind came a bit easier than the rest. Boruto breathed—
And fell to his knees, feeling entirely spent.
"Yeah, no. Wind's great…" Naruto shook his head. "Lightning is still my favorite, honestly. Very intimidating, too. You should know, Sasuke — it's kind of an Indra thing, I believe."
"…I still have no idea what this has to do with me." He scowled. "The Uchiha ancestor has been dead for centuries. Things changed a lot since then."
"Words of a man possessed. You just don't know it yet." Naruto shook his head.
"I say Fire." Toru frowned. "Yin is superior, of course, but fire is more flashy."
It may have sounded like the three were arguing about which elemental nature was the best to anyone else, but Boruto knew better. They were challenging him, pushing him to be better.
To strive for greater heights.
"How many…?" Boruto muttered.
"How many what?" Uncle tilted his head.
"How many…" He huffed, entirely out of breath. "How many elements did my dad train with when he was my age?"
"No idea." Naruto shrugged. "Me, I could only really manage Lightning, back then."
Sasuke scoffed — he could use two already — and Naruto ignored him with practiced ease, which made him scowl. Toru muttered something that sounded like teacher's pet, which made him scowl harder.
"Sarutobi could do three, I think — assuming he didn't lie. So you're probably doing great." Naruto finished.
"I don't know." Boruto frowned. "My dad is incredibly strong, so he probably…"
"Don't compare yourself to him." Toru put a hand on his shoulder. "He is the Hokage now, so he probably could do what…? Three, four elements or something, I guess? But that doesn't matter, Boruto."
"Yeah." Naruto nodded. "The only person you want to compare yourself to is… yourself."
Boruto nodded grimly. "You're right." He grinned sharply. "Whether I become stronger than my dad or not doesn't even matter in the end. I just have to overcome myself! So what if dad had mastered all five natures when he was twelve? I'm still me — Uzumaki Boruto!"
Sasuke wisely said nothing about Naruto's actual ability..
Konoha Hospital.
"I am terribly sorry for the injuries you have sustained, Konohasaru." Hanabi began.
"…" Konohamaru stared at her from his hospital bed. "Maru." He muttered.
"Who could have predicted that Hiashi would have reacted so badly to the whole situation…?" She frowned.
The last person in the room cleared her throat. Several times in a row.
This world's native Hanabi pursed her lips, and her hand tightened around the apple she had been peeling for Konohamaru.
"Don't hold it so tightly." Hanabi warned. "Otherwise it's gonna — See…? It exploded. Now you're going to have to pick up crushed apple remains off the floor." She rolled her eyes.
"Who could have said, indeed…?" Other-Hanabi gritted out.
"Oh, grow up." Hanabi rolled her eyes. "You had it easy — grandchildren really make that man too soft. A succession fight, really…? I had to make sure Hiashi understood who was calling the shots in my homeworld, and I can assure you it was an unpleasant process — for him. If I could just have beaten him up and called it a day…"
"…"
"Hey look. You're the Hyuuga Head, now. You're free to decide whatever."
And Konohamaru had promised to become the Head of the Sarutobi plan during their… meeting with Hiashi.
Hiashi had resigned after the debacle, citing that his own behavior, his loss of control was unfit for a Hyuuga. Mostly, he was done with this shit, and Hanabi was supposed to take over anyway.
"I don't care." Other Hanabi snapped. "Konohamaru—"
"I don't know why you're still complaining about that." Hanabi frowned. "His wounds aren't even permanent."
He was in a full-body cast, though. Who would have thought that Hiashi was more than willing to discard the more traditional Hyuuga style, when angry enough…? Or that he'd still be good enough to beat a Jōnin that was half his age…?
Other-Hanabi was about to say something. Hanabi sighed.
"…I think I understand, though. I would be pretty annoyed if Naruto was injured — not that it would happen. So let me help."
She stood up and her palm faced down.
"Summoning: Michiko."
A slug-like creature appeared with a squishy sound. Something that looked like Rinnegan eyes stared at Konohamaru, who just stared in horrified fascination.
"…What is this…?" Other-Hanabi asked tightly.
"She's a bit like the King of Hell, but less strenuous on the user and the used—… person." Hanabi nodded. Less efficient, too. But she wasn't about to admit she just wasn't that great at using the Naraka path anyway. "Step in, Konohasaru."
"I don't want to." He murmured.
"Why? It will heal you. When you go inside her mouth, you will be stored into its expanded stomach for a few hours. Michiko's stomach acids will soak over you and fix your injuries." She nodded. "I'm even willing to expend a little bit of chakra to help you along."
Both Konohamaru and Other-Hanabi stared.
"Come on now, step in." Hanabi urged.
Yugito, Ino and Himawari continued to look after Matatabi. To no avail.
On the Road.
Sarada vomited.
"Hey, look, now…" Sakura frowned. "You don't have to push yourself that hard. Also, please don't vomit inside my Susanoo."
Sarada stared at her, wiping her mouth.
"You said I wouldn't get any food otherwise."
Sakura sighed. "No, I said that you should try. It's not the same thing."
"Oh." Sarada felt very foolish.
"Well. Too late now. Plus you've earned your food — and spat what you still had in your stomach." Sakura shrugged.
The Susanoo suddenly dropped to the earth and Sarada shrieked. They crashed down, sending debris hurtling everywhere.
"Alright." Sakura nodded. "Time to go find somewhere to eat! We're close to a city."
Sarada was shaking like a leaf.
"…You okay, kid?" Sakura frowned.
"You could have warned me we were about to drop!"
"Huh…?" Sakura lifted an eyebrow. "Why? We would have dropped anyway."
Sarada gave her a cross look.
"One day you'll understand, Sarada." Sakura nodded in sympathy.
"There was nothing needed about that!" She said hotly.
"There's fire in you." Sakura said proudly, pulling her pipe out. "I can use that."
Sarada squinted her eyes. It almost sounded like a compliment.
"Well…?" Sakura asked.
"Well what?" Sarada grunted.
Sakura laughed. "I meant it very literally. Care to give me some light…?"
Sakura ruffled her head when she did so. It was still too close to the way one would pet an animal.
…
"You said you'd help me get my Sharingan." Sarada said, very petulantly.
Sakura looked at her keenly.
"Did I …?" She asked simply.
"Yes." Sarada gritted out. "You said, in these words — 'I'll help you activate it'."
"You're such a little ninja already." Sakura chuckled. "So willing to guilt-trip me. You will go far, Haruno Sarada."
"Uchiha."
Sakura blinked. "Yes, what did I say…?"
"…" Sarada pursed her lips. She ignored her altogether. "You said that 'Ino could do it.'"
Sakura nodded approvingly. "You really are good at this. Well, you probably know Ino already, so…"
"Was it all a lie and you really can't activate it…?"
"Incredible." Sakura grinned. "You're pushing every angle at the same time — your mother has taught you well... Your mother has taught you well."
"What are you even talking about…?" Sarada muttered. "I'm not doing anything."
"Now… I'm just going to warn you that the process might be a bit unpleasant first."
Sarada shrugged. "I'll take it." How bad could it be…?
"Also, you might not have the potential—"
"What!" Sarada blinked.
"I don't know how it works exactly, most Uchiha are kinda incestuous, so maybe that's for a reason…" Sakura frowned.
"B-But…"
"Worry not, little one!" Sakura smiled reassuringly. "I understand your fear quite well, which is why…"
"Why…?"
"Why I am more than ready to help you. I mean, worst case, I can just give you Obito's eyes." Sakura shrugged. Sarada frowned — likely because of the prospect.
"Who's Obito?"
"He's your dead relative — the one who ordered a few genocides, basically triggered World War Four in a few worlds, mostly over a dead teenage girl, she was around your age I think."
Sarada stared.
"…Please tell me you're joking." She said.
"Nah, I'm not. Also he fucked around with necromancy, so there's that."
"…"
"Don't be like Obito, Sarada."
…
The more Sarada learned about the Uchiha clan, the more she wondered if that was why her mother had never told her anything about it.
"…So what do we do…?" Sarada asked.
"Okay, so… Toru told me that when an Uchiha experiences intense emotions — which is always, these guys are either dramatic and/or bottling everything up…" Sakura paused. "Emotions are things like sadness, anger or happiness, in case. …Why are you looking at me like this? I'm explaining in case you're really stunted. Well… when that happens — emotion —, it releases a… special chakra in the brain that changes the color of their eyes to red. The iris, I mean… I'm not talking about crying. The more intense the emotion felt, the more that chakra is released in the brain, and the more the Sharingan evolves and gets stronger."
"So… trauma…?" Sarada asked hesitantly.
"That's right, trauma." Sakura smiled genially. "The big, bad t-word."
Sarada took a step back.
"Ah come on, now." Sakura rolled her eyes. "The process is going to be very straightforward."
"Are you going to make me go through terrible Sharingan illusions that will or will not even work…?"
Sakura paused.
"…No?" Sakura said hesitantly. "Of course not." She said, suddenly full of conviction.
That had been the plan.
But just now, it wasn't anymore, so that wasn't a lie. Besides, this sort of thing worked better if the victim didn't realize they were about to enter an illusion. And she wasn't about to play at mindwiper — memories were a finicky thing, and an amnesiac teenager raised too many questions.
"What are you going to do, then…?"
"Trigger your intense emotions, of course." Sakura shrugged. "Don't move."
"Have you ever done it before?" Sarada asked shrilly.
"Of course." Sakura said. "Of course. On me."
She put her hand to Sarada's forehead.
"Ah, our family forehead — you bear your clan name well. Should be around… there?"
She did something. Sarada felt the most intense disgust she had felt in her entire world.
It came without reason, encompassing everything. Nausea came with it, as well as the dizziness. It was a miserable experience.
"Nah." Sakura frowned. She let go of her chakra and Sarada's disgust faded away.
"W-what was that…?" She asked shakily.
"Don't worry about it."
Then came the most intense happiness that Sarada had ever felt.
She was feeling great! Why had she even been looking for more…? Everything was perfect as it was—
"Nope." It faded away as well.
"…What's happening?"
"It's a bit trickier than I remember…" Sakura muttered. She touched something again.
Then came anger. True, burning anger. Her temper rose.
"Look, if you have no fucking idea what you're doing — Oh gods…" Sarada sounded shaken. She felt entirely empty.
"Oh, that's closer." Sakura nodded. "And now…"
An intense sense of loss.
Something terrible. Like falling headfirst into icy waters. Things would never be alright again—
"There you go." Sakura grinned, removing her hand. "Brand new pair. I would have hated to raid the world for your dad's old pair."
Sarada blinked. The world seemed… clearer. Full of sense, now. Chakra rippled through the air like waves.
"See?" Sakura shrugged. "Told you I could. You can wipe your tears away."
Had she been crying…?
Huh. She had.
"Now… Let me show you how to turn it off. I had to go through the same damn process you just did to even figure out that I could, because none of the Sharingan I use are technically mine…"
…
"Repeat after me, Sarada." Sakura said once more, frowning.
"…Do I have to?"
"Mnemonics are the best way to go about this for now. I just created this to help you. Say the words."
Sarada looked around, but no one was paying attention.
"Sharing-on…" She muttered. "Sharin-gone. Sharing-on. Sharin-gone…"
Sakura grinned.
World #323 - The Cruise - Evening.
"Huh." Naruto mused.
"What is it…?" Karin asked. Both of them were sitting in the ship's restaurant. Along with… Basically everybody else.
(Sakura was still on the run, she was saying. From what… was a bit unclear.)
"Look at them." He answered.
"Who? …Where?" Karin asked.
"Through my ability, of course." Hanabi said.
"…Are you sure you should be here at all?" Karin asked.
She shrugged in answer. "Who's going to stop me? Besides, they don't check if more people came aboard during the trip. Big security flaw."
"…I get the feeling you just didn't want to miss out." Karin muttered. "Or let us enjoy a nice evening."
"And why should she…?" Ino asked. "I, for one, always wanted to go on a cruise, but since someone didn't want to…"
Naruto sighed. "We're not doing this again, Ino."
"I mostly came for the food." Yugito admitted, happily munching on sauteed sweet prawn, covered in sauce.
"…Seafood, really?" Naruto muttered.
"I am a grown woman. Pregnant or not, this is fine." She retorted.
"I really thought you guys were actually doing something important." Toru said.
"Don't be so disparaging". Akemi cut him off. "It's not like we're doing anything… critical."
"Training Boruto counts." Naruto nodded.
"…You're not even there." Ino frowned.
"So?"
"I don't like to say it, but at least Toru actually goes there himself." Akemi rubbed her chin in thought.
Toru took it with quiet grace.
"I don't remember inviting either of you… Toru, Akemi." Naruto frowned. "It would be a shame if… someone were to warn either of the waiters about stowaways."
"Toru will just Genjutsu him away." Akemi nodded.
"I don't use genjutsu on civilians." He declared.
"…It's not that much better to use it on shinobi." Ino rolled her eyes.
"They're called chakra-users, now." Karin chided. "Be more inclusive."
"Shinobi is just easier." Yugito mouthed.
"Gods…" Naruto sighed. "And here I thought I could have a relaxing evening with my darling wife…"
"What did you say…?" Hanabi's head whipped around. "Are you implying things are not relaxing with us around? With me around?"
There were several stares on her. Nobody said anything. Toru was especially silent.
"Silence is assent." Hanabi finished. "Food's good. It was somewhat better—"
Both Toru and Naruto interrupted, in high-pitched voices.
"-back in the Hyuuga clan—" Toru began.
"—that I left, mind you—" Naruto added.
"—but this will do just fine in a pinch." Toru concluded.
They shared a grin.
"…I don't speak anything like that." Hanabi scowled. Particularly at Toru. "And I wasn't about to say that."
"What then…?" Karin asked.
"They're trying to provoke you." Ino appeased. "Don't listen to them."
"I really don't." Hanabi shrugged.
Yugito leaned back. "But no… We didn't find Matatabi. I contacted her, but I think she doesn't want to be found right now. Probably feeling playful."
"…Playful?" Akemi squinted.
Yugito shrugged. "She likes games."
"As any cat does." Naruto nodded.
"Don't." Yugito muttered.
Naruto smiled. "I don't even know what you're talking about, but what I wanted to say is—"
"That your new friends are not killing each other." Hanabi concluded.
Karin finally peered through the seeing-arrows and blinked. "Huh."
Gama and Hebi were eating together and… They really were not trying to injure the other. They were… talking. Somewhat animatedly, too.
"…How did that happen…?" She asked.
"They probably found some common ground." Naruto shrugged.
"Like what?"
"My bet is they're complaining about their teachers." Naruto said.
"Maybe they just are more similar than they thought."
"Nah… The woman's okay — that Gama guy, though…" Naruto rolled his eyes.
"What's so bad about him..?" Toru asked.
"He's just obsessed with women." Naruto shrugged.
Toru stared at him.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "It's completely different, I just happen to love five women and they love each other."
There were several identical nods.
"It's a win-win situation." Karin said.
"Sure sounds convenient." He muttered. Naruto squinted.
"…Akemi, I think Toru is trying to escape your clutches again." Naruto said.
She turned upon him. "Is he?"
"Of course not, I just said that—"
"I could smell the jealousy, really." Karin shook her head. "Shameful."
"Karin, don't encourage—" Toru began.
"I was saying… Gama is obsessed." Naruto smiled blandly.
Toru gritted his teeth. "Yeah… I agree. That guy is terrible."
"Was that so hard?" Naruto chuckled. Toru chucked a fork at him. Hanabi's hand lifted and the fork disappeared into a void, reappearing behind Toru's back.
"Little ass—" Toru threw himself to the side, and away from the table, to dodge it.
A waiter stared at him, mustering all of his disdain. "Is… everything all right?"
"Yeah." Toru muttered. "Sure."
The waiter gave him another long look.
"Please don't make a scene, Toru." Hanabi chuckled.
"There was a dress code, too. I believe." Ino said.
"Well, you never warned."
"I didn't expect either of you to come." She retorted.
"That's what Naruto said— Ouch! Not the head!"
Some time later.
Gama was crouching on the boat's railway, under the night sky. Hebi was not too far; hers was a more casual sort of presence.
He turned around when he felt two presences draw closer.
"Oh, hey, Gama." Naruto greeted absentmindedly.
"My name is not fucking Gama."
"Okaaay." Naruto chuckled. "Hey Hebi."
"Hello." She nodded.
"Don't let him fucking call you that—" Gama began angrily.
"It's not an insult." She said dryly. "And it is my name of choice."
Gama tried to say something, but found that there was nothing to say. It didn't stop him from trying.
"Whatever." Gama grunted. "I'm still not calling you Naruto."
"That's fine." Naruto shrugged. "Sir is fine, too."
"If you think I'm calling you sir, you're dead wrong." Gama chuckled mockingly.
"Do I need to remind you why you're only Naruto number two…?" Naruto laughed too. "I thought this morning's lesson was enough."
"…On second thought, perhaps we can find something that will satisfy both sides." Gama offered magnanimously.
"Alright, Gama." Karin nodded.
Naruto and Karin left, toward their cabin.
"I hate this guy." Gama muttered. He chuckled a bit. "He's like me, if I were a complete jackass."
"…Clearly." Hebi said, very dryly.
"You sound sarcastic — Hey look look look! I saw this guy before. The one with that Kumo woman." Gama suddenly exclaimed.
"The Uchiha looking guy…?" Hebi asked.
"Yeah, with the eyepatch — Uchiha Obito!"
"…That's not him."
He rolled his eyes. "Like you would know."
"…I would, yes." She said quietly.
"Huh?"
"That's not him. Besides, he was here at dinner, that's where you saw him."
"Ah."
"…Is this Yamanaka Ino…?"
Gama stared her up and down, in order to make sure that she was who Hebi thought she was.
"Damn— I mean, yeah. Looks like her." He nodded. "Change of style…?"
Hebi shrugged. "How should I know…? I don't pay that much attention to this sort of things. And I don't even live in Konoha."
"…Where do you even live?"
"In a hole in the ground, like any snake." She nodded.
"Wow, I just knew— ah, you're pulling my leg. Asshole."
"Gullible, frog-boy. Gullible…" She shook her head.
"…Why is Ino going toward Naruto's cabin…?"
Hebi stared at him. "Perhaps they're friends."
"You don't bring friends to your cabin on a cruise." He said.
"…Am I missing some sort of implication that has to do with being on a cruise…?" Hebi asked, frowning.
"Yes — Is this fucking Hyuuga Hanabi?"
"I think that's just regular Hyuuga Hanabi." Hebi nodded mockingly.
"That's what passes for humor among snakes…? Now… What happened to these two's chakra levels…? They're not supposed to be anywhere this strong."
"I guess the Hokage has them working hard…" Hebi gave him a side-look. "What's the current Hokage's name, again? It's on the tip of my tongue."
Gama laughed mockingly. "Typical. Even that long forked thing can't help you there, it seems. It's Maito Gai, of course."
Hebi looked at him with something that looked like a bit of derision in her eyes. "Ah, yes. Maito Gai. How could I forget?"
"Of course—" Gama paused. "Ah, fuck. You got me."
"You're just as dumb as you look." She shook her head. "…Somehow."
"…What now, then?" He sighed. "Are you going to tell snake-dad?"
"Perhaps later." She shrugged. "He suspects it already, so it's not urgent."
"So… should we fight or something now?"
She frowned. "…Why? It's a nice evening."
"…Whatever. I don't care any way." Gama said, quite petulantly.
"Hey." Hebi frowned. "That's Kumo's Wraithclaw…? Isn't it?"
Gama chuckled. "Of course not, silly. The pregnant chick? That's the Azure Flame."
"…Are you doing this on purpose…?"
"Doing what?" Gama frowned.
"That's Nii Yugito."
"That's what I said — I know that much." He shot back.
"…She's also headed toward their cabin."
"…Hyuuga too." Gama finally noticed.
"Yes."
"…I have to know."
"What?"
"What the hell they're actually doing in there."
"…Maybe you shouldn't."
"Why do you say so…?"
Gama extended his senses. He paused.
Gama tasted ash.
"Because… I think you were right." Hebi finally said, not meeting his eyes. "About them. Not quite so… friendly."
Gama stared.
"So he wasn't… lying?"
Gama stared.
World #01 - Umigakure.
There was a sudden rush of air.
"I have returned from the Moon." Yoisen greeted Orochimaru.
He hid his surprise well — and no dagger flew from his sleeve.
"…What did you find?" Orochimaru asked.
"The Ōtsutsuki presence you have felt might have been two different ones, in the end — there was a colony there, but no signs of life, besides…" She began. "There was a man guarding the shell of… something."
"A… man?" Orochimaru squinted.
"Yes."
"…Do go on."
"Ōtsutsuki, by the looks of him. He rambled about a Byakugan princess, which I assumed to refer to one of Naruto's hypothetical future daughters, so I disposed of him."
Orochimaru stared.
"You… killed an Ōtsutsuki?"
"I did not; I do know how unprecedented this sort of meeting was." Yoisen said. "So I sealed him up and stole most of his chakra instead."
"I… see." Orochimaru said at last. "And about the chakra…?"
She knew that he wanted it, of course.
"I don't believe this one is meant for you necessarily." Yoisen mused. "It was not part of our agreement, was it now?"
Orochimaru sighed. "No, it wasn't. The chakra is yours."
Besides, if this woman ever managed to reach Naruto and the others, he would likely get his answers. What sort of secrets did this man hold…?
"It is mine now, indeed. But do not fret." She said. "I shall give you a piece of it, still."
Orochimaru frowned. What was she playing at…? She had been at this immortality thing for much longer than he had been. She undoubtedly had some long-lasting plan in the works.
(To Yoisen, it was something akin to winning points with her future in-laws.)
Yoisen extended a vial to him, one that was filled with a colorless liquid. He took it gracefully.
"Now, there is more, of course." She said. "As I told you before, he was watching over something."
She paused.
"It might sound strange to you, but I have seen something similar happen before." Yoisen reminisced. "There was an old institution of learning, whose name is best forgotten. They studied the depths of human knowledge. It might have been hundreds of years ago, but they made surprising advances."
Orochimaru's curiosity was piqued.
"I assume it did not end well." He said wryly. As any self-respecting mad scientist, he knew that history was filled with stories of trying to play with things best left alone.
He ignored the warnings, usually.
She smiled slightly. "Not exactly." Yoisen paused. "You already know of the beings that lie beyond this world."
"Yes." It hadn't been a question.
"I saw the marks on Naruto's body." She said wryly. "An… interesting choice. Using this method, I mean."
"You mean to say dangerous, do you not…?"
Yoisen laughed. "Yes. But the very moment you began carving them, there was no way to backtrack anymore. Now… You were not the first ones to discover these beings."
"I did not assume so. People have venerated specific gods for eons, it had to come from somewhere. The very same ones bore different names through the years… But according to tale, they possess similar characteristics. Too similar to be mere coincidence."
"Indeed." Yoisen nodded. "They are higher beings, compared to most of the… things that come through planes."
Orochimaru waited.
"Man discovered their existence." Yoisen said. "And through them, of course… They saw a way to ascend."
"Uzumaki, among them."
"Of course." She laughed mirthlessly. "My sister's descendants have always been… reckless. Some managed to commune with these beings directly."
"Nothing quite so divine, I assume…?"
"Not really." Yoisen looked away. "The ones that have come to be considered gods over millenias can be considered more… benevolent. The ones that were willing to come down to the lower planes and were strong enough to do so…" Yoisen withheld a shudder. "Less so."
"What happened to this institution you mentioned, then?"
"Well, they called forth one of this more… malevolent sort of being." Yoisen said. "Oh, they realized its true nature soon enough, and what it was doing to their minds. But they could not push it away."
"So they decided to hunt it."
"Yes. They decided to hunt it." Yoisen nodded. "They took to arms and managed to kill the being, suffering heavy losses in the process. And they ate its flesh, afterward. But of course… This being… was not too happy about that. In its last throes, its essence corrupted the survivors, not only their minds… but their bodies, too."
"In which way…?"
"The humans there became… something else." She said. "Something twisted, something that wanted to become like the Fallen One. They… didn't quite reach and fell somewhere in-between. Pitiful wretches, with twisted minds and bodies."
(And the less said about these abominations, the better.)
"…Was something done? Or are these things still roaming the world?"
"I took care of solving this particular issue myself." She said.
"Oh…? How?"
"With Fire, of course." Yoisen simply said.
"So I assumed."
"It was what I knew best, of course." She said mirthlessly. "I was known as the Flame-Bearer, long ago. What else would I have done…?"
Orochimaru didn't really care about the specifics. He had done the same himself.
Yoisen continued.
"And imbuing oneself with these beings' essence is essentially what these ritualistic carvings were about."
"So I thought."
"It comes with its own dangers, but the process has been refined, through trial… and error." Yoisen said.
"What was it like…?"
"Failing…? Taking it too far, or not being able to withstand the process…?"
"Yes."
Yoisen shrugged. "Something similar to what happened in the School I mentioned. The essence of the being overtakes the recipient… and they lose themselves. Naruto has met one such person."
"Did he…?"
"Yes." She nodded. "The man in question had been a fisherman, once."
"…I do not recall this."
"Hasn't Naruto mentioned encountering what he described as a… sea-dragon, while at sea…?" Yoisen smiled grimly.
Orochimaru stared. "…That he did."
"Well, that was him. This is the sort of thing we're looking at." Yoisen nodded. "Not that the beings at the root of it are much better themselves, in this sense. But they tend not to meddle with our world's affairs, at the very least. Because it would also require them to expose themselves by appearing on the physical plane. They are much more limited otherwise."
"I do believe I have seen… something of them recently." Orochimaru said. And that had been a somewhat unpleasant surprise.
Nonsensical creatures that seemed to appear from time to time, peering at their world. Skittish things, really.
"That is caused by your eyes." She said simply. "Some beings are more… curious. They will sometimes peer through the realms. They have always been there, always will be."
He had figured out a similar answer, but it didn't sit so well with him. He was supposed to just… take it?
Yoisen noticed.
"I mostly made my peace with it." She said. "They don't care much for Earth itself. Some of the higher beings; such as the ones known as Amaterasu… Tsukuyomi and others do give humans boons at times, in exchange for expanding a little of their influence. They are sort of… territorial, in a way. Though that might simply be what it seems like to us — I do not claim to be able to understand their motives."
Orochimaru folded his arms.
"Be that as it may…" He said. "You said there was something like it on the Moon…?"
"Perhaps it is, perhaps it is not. There are remains there." Yoisen said. "And whatever that relic is… is trying to cause madness in whomever looks at it."
"Is this what happened to the Ōtsutsuki…?"
"Perhaps." She shrugged noncommittally. "Though the time alone likely did not help." She said wryly.
"…What of you?"
"I have taken precautions, long ago." She said simply. "I won't lose my mind from something like this."
(Romance, on the other hand…)
"It would be… unwise to bring something like this back, then." Orochimaru said.
"Quite." She said dryly. "But you should be able to see it for yourself."
"I prefer my mind as it is." Orochimaru rolled his eyes.
"The Rinnegan is more than enough here." She said easily.
Orochimaru thought about it.
…
In the end, his curiosity won, of course.
"I am coming with you… And I happen to have the perfect guinea pig to understand whatever is up there's effect on the human mind." Orochimaru said.
…
"Very well. Please take us to the Moon, Yoisen."
There was a muffled sound coming from the ball-sized rag he was carrying. They paid it no mind.
"Certainly." She nodded, holding her hand out to him.
They left together.
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