AN: Today... a Christmas double issue, here's the first chapter.
(xmas spirit... but mostly because it was written out already hahaha)
...Three Different Ones
Long ago.
Yoisen knew the Institution was doomed the moment she drew close.
She had traveled under the moon, and saw the building that protruded through the looming trees the same way a gnarled, twisted hand protruded out of the earth; when constant battle wore down the souls of men down too much for them to bother with a true burial.
The mists were heavy that night, almost impenetrable.
Sinister secrets awaited ahead, she was sure of it, now. Something that Indra himself would have declared no man should see. But Indra was gone now, had been for decades, perhaps more even. Which was both a boon and a curse, when it came to dealing with things like these.
Then again, trying times such as these could be seen as a test of her mettle.
She had been a weak, sickly child, once. The wonder that was chakra and belief, the primordial force had allowed her to separate from that. It had started out of hope, a flickering flame; one that could easily have been smothered by the feeblest winds.
How long did hope really last…? It was an initial trigger, for certain, but no living being was going to go on forever, powered by it alone. It was an emotion that came and went, and one she was very familiar with, by now.
Belief was different. There was the surface level of it; the one that kept people afloat against terrible odds. It could be exhausted, of course. Enough exhaustion, doubts and insecurities were pretty good at doing just that.
Then there was the belief that came from resilience. The one that didn't really care for doubt or the ever-present temptation to give up. Something that came from deep within. And she wouldn't shy away from what needed to be done tonight. No matter what it took from her — what little there was left to lose.
…Well, perhaps people called the Uzumaki stubborn for a reason.
There was a sound like a hiss, and Yoisen threw herself down to the muddy grounds. A sharp, needle-like appendage struck the lantern she had been carrying.
She let go of her thoughts.
A hunched creature loomed over her, its innumerable yellow eyes staring, but not seeing. Its insect-like wings buzzed angrily. But the mouth was clearly a man's.
Yoisen pursed her lips. She should have known that it was much too late.
Muttering a quick prayer to Amaterasu, Yoisen's hand went to one of the blades at her waist. She pulled part of the blade out with her right hand, and held it between her left hand's index and middle fingers.
When she drew the weapon entirely, Fire imbued it, and covered its length.
There would be nothing divine tonight.
…
"Well…?" Yoisen asked Orochimaru, pushing old memories away.
"I was but waiting for you." The man in a child's body answered.
Most of the Moon's exterior was barren, covered with craters and canyons and valleys.
It had a weak gravity, but was still able to maintain a breathable atmosphere. It still didn't seem like the sort of place people would willingly choose to live in.
Yoisen led the way, sword in hand.
World #323- The Cruise
Yugito woke up first.
Which was not much of a surprise. The third trimester — or was it fourth, now…? — was a time to expect insomnia and night waking.
It could be back pain, a full bladder, leg cramps, heartburn, the child moving… Strange dreams, too. But then again, growing up with Matatabi so close to her soul, that had been a given.
And then she was hungry.
Which was also happening too frequently. Was she going to give birth to a fully grown man…? This was taking forever. Then again, there were very few cases of jinchuuriki giving birth. And no case of both parents being jinchuuriki.
She stood up quietly, which wasn't so hard, as they all made sure to give enough room to… maneuver. She slipped on a Cloak, feeling too lazy to bother with anything else and left for the dining room.
She recognized the man Naruto had dubbed Gama, as well as someone who could only be Jiraiya of the Sannin. His wizened gaze was truly befitting of one who was Orochimaru's equal. The rumors about his habits really had been exaggerated, it seemed. There was also a new woman with them.
"You're Naruto's friends, aren't you?" She smiled.
"Naruto…?" Gama frowned. "I am Naruto, not him—"
"'Tis only a name." Jiraiya drank his tea, with the casual form of enjoyment that was only found in one who truly lived for the moment. "Let go of this attachment, too."
"I'd love to see you at it, you old coot." Gama grunted.
Jiraiya laughed easily. "You can call me whatever you want, Naruto."
The woman next to him simply smiled, as though she had known he would say something like this.
"Hello, I'm Yugito." She greeted.
"And I'm Yukiko — Pleased to meet you. I simply came to have breakfast with Lord Jiraiya and his son."
"Lord Jiraiya...? Besides, I'm his disciple." Gama grunted. "Don't make it weird."
"He is both." Jiraiya nodded.
Gama looked away for a moment, unsure of how to deal with this new man. "Don't make it awkward, man! What's gotten into you…? Look, I'm not enjoying… Orochimaru's shit either, but you have to snap out of it—"
"Snap out of what?" Jiraiya chuckled. "This is not a phase."
"That's what I said about that time I dyed my hair black—"
"Well, you were quite obviously trying to provoke me by imitating Orochimaru." Jiraiya said fondly.
"I didn't even know of him!"
"Even then."
Gama stared at him, trying to decide whether or not there was a workable angle there. But there was no heat to the man's tone and he was already back to reading. Gama chose to focus his attention on Yugito instead.
"So, you come here often?" He asked in his best roguish voice.
"…This is a cruise." Yugito snorted.
"Is that a no, then…?"
"It's a whatever." Yugito shrugged, attacking her plate.
"…I see." Gama nodded. He switched angles. "So, tell me — I've got to prove someone wrong. Are you really the Azure Flame?"
"…Is that how they call me, where you're from?" Yugito tilted her head. "I was called Yugito of the Two-Tails pretty often. Boring stuff, really—"
A newcomer.
"There you were." Ino smiled, sitting herself down.
"Oh? Up already?"
"Well, yes. I suppose we will get back today, find Matatabi—"
Yugito groaned.
"What…?" Ino frowned. "It's not even supposed to be my problem, really."
"I can help." Gama smiled. "Well, depending on what's in it for—"
"No." Ino rolled her eyes.
"Ah, come on, now." He tried. "We didn't even meet yet, if I'm correct."
'Perhaps he's not as bad as Naruto said.' Yugito offered.
Ino stared at her.
"Do you know what he's thinking, right now…?" Ino asked amusedly. "'A woman can't get pregnant twice—'"
Gama frowned. "Lies. And slander, too."
"…That's the lie." Yugito said. "Never mind, then - I guess he was right. And keep me out of your thoughts, please."
"Same for me." Ino nodded. "Thank you, Gama."
"I'm not-"
"Your son is a very... different sort of man than you are" Yukiko said quietly.
Jiraiya chuckled. "He is his own man, of course we are different. Naruto is young, still."
Gama bit back a scathing retort.
More people came to the suddenly crowded table.
"Ah, I see you have met two of our wives already." Karin greeted them.
"I'm not your—" Yugito began.
"Yet."
"Karin…" Toru chided.
"Leave her be." Akemi shrugged.
Hanabi gave Gama a glance; seemed pretty unimpressed. She moved on to more interesting topics.
"Naruto's coming — the real him, I mean." She said.
And true to her word, he was.
With both Orochimaru and Hebi. Jiraiya gave them a long look, but said nothing.
"…Did you have to, man?" Gama asked Naruto.
"Have to… what, exactly?" Naruto blinked. "Besides, I told them about reality-bending, and they're coming with us."
Gama groaned. Hebi glared at him. "You were not complaining about having someone keeping you company instead of drinking alone, yesterday night."
"I let my guard down and that's what I get for it?!"
"Hush, children." Orochimaru said.
Hebi glared at him. Gama glared at him too.
"Learn to get along." Naruto said. "We're all friends, now."
"…Look, Hebi is alright, but I'm not willing to overlook Oro—" Gama began.
"Your existence is something I'm willing to overlook." She said in return.
"This guy, for real…?!" Gama pointed at Orochimaru.
Jiraiya seemed to almost show a reaction. His eyes sharpened for an instant, and then it was gone.
"It's fine, Naruto." He said.
Gama blinked. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"He might truly not be the same man."
"I can vouch for him." Naruto said.
"He cucked—"
"That's not the same man." Naruto chuckled. "He… did that to one Namikaze Minato."
"That's your dad too!" Gama roared.
"Nah." Naruto repeated. "Namikaze Minato died a long time ago. The one that was my father was not even the same as yours. The one from where they are from — from here, I mean — is another man entirely."
"Get used to it." Toru said helpfully. "Gama."
Gama glared at him. "Look, I barely even know who you are."
"I am Uchiha Toru."
"That's not a real thing." Gama snorted. "I bet you're a fucked up clone that Orochimaru created in order to harvest the Sharingan-"
"I can assure you, I am very real." Toru said helpfully.
"You know him, Hebi?" Gama asked.
"No, but—"
"See?"
Toru frowned. "I don't see what this has to do with… anything. Some worlds are a bit bleaker because of my absence, sure, but—"
"Look around." Gama scowled. "I know all of these people. Except for you."
"You don't know me, either." Yukiko frowned.
Gama shrugged. "That's different."
"…Where are you going with this?" Toru asked.
"He wants to fight you." Ino said.
"Oh." Toru smiled. "By all means, then."
"You probably shouldn't — his ego is quite fragile at the moment." Ino tried. Toru stared at Gama, tilted his head and thought about it.
"Maybe you're right." He said at last.
"…What are you implying?" Gama asked.
"I thought this was clear." Ino frowned. "Toru, please don't—"
Toru pulled a scroll out. Someone groaned.
"I've gotten decent at estimating a guy's strength, by now, I feel. So here's my new, improved scale."
"…I thought you stopped with that shit." Hanabi muttered.
"No, I improved it — that remark Naruto made about Sasuke rankled, last time. But he was right, in a way - it was kinda vague. Also, you should listen to me."
"Why?" Naruto frowned.
Toru ignored him. "Now… we're only concerned with a few of these tiers, so let me…"
His hand tapped a few categories, and the text under them was minimized. Naruto looked over his shoulder.
"You…" He said, pointing at Gama. "...are somewhere there - 7 or 8. Did you master the Nine-Tails and the darkness inside your heart yet?"
Gama frowned. "No, but I didn't need—"
"Did you defeat Nagato?"
"Yes." He said proudly.
"Was he in a wheelchair and calling himself Pain because of his trauma? That's a Tier 7, not a 4."
"Yes, but—"
"Did you defeat him alone?"
"No, with Jiraiya but—"
"Alright, I think this should be it. I put you guys in too." Toru nodded to himself, tapping the chart again. "Take a look."
He presented it to Gama, masking the irrelevant parts.
Tier 7: OVER THE KAGE TIER (28-30)
Kurama - The Nine-Tails (30)
Namikaze Minato (29)
Pain - Average Pain (29)
Orochimaru - Sage Mode - #323 (29)
Killer Bee - Gyuki Transformation (29)
Gama - Sage Mode - #327 (28)
Obito - Average Obito - Akatsuki (28)
Third Raikage (28)
The Other Bijuu (28)
Jiraiya - Sage Mode - #327 (28)
Tsunade - Sage Mode (28)
Tier 8: HIGH KAGE TIER (25-27)
Itachi - Can't believe our little Itachi did that -Akatsuki (27)
Kisame - Samehada Transformation (27)
Neji - Akatsuki (27)
Sasori - Akatsuki (27)
Sarutobi Hiruzen - Old - Third Hokage (27)
Onoki - Old - Third Tsuchikage (27)
A - Fourth Raikage (26)
Uchiha Fugaku - Fifth Hokage (26)
Gama stopped paying attention.
"What the fuck is this?"
"It's a Tier List I compiled." Toru smiled. "With data from other worlds, too, the Hokage's very helpful memories; Ino's digging— you probably didn't even feel anything — and a lot of hearsay, I have to admit — some things might move around. Which I can do just by 'grabbing' items." He said proudly.
"Don't blurt it out loud." Ino muttered. "I don't want to be associated with this project."
"Keep acting like that and I'll drop you down a tier, Ino."
"I'm not Sakura. I don't care."
"…Where's Hebi?" Gama frowned.
"In the next tier." Toru nodded encouragingly. He looked at her. "You have mastered the Nine-Tails, right?"
"Kurama is… mostly under my control." She admitted. Gama shot her an almost betrayed look. "I wouldn't say he's very cooperative, though."
Toru nodded. "That puts her at around… 33?" He looked at Naruto.
"…According to your new… unbiased scale, yeah. That fits." He said dryly.
"Which means she's dangerously close to getting into Tier 5." Toru said excitedly. "Damn!"
Gama clenched his teeth. "This is just a list you made. It means nothing."
"That is true — for you" Toru nodded. "But… There is one thing to take from it."
"And that is…?" Gama gritted out.
Toru shrugged. "I am not fighting someone who's at least five tiers below me. That would just be a bad look on me."
Gama lunged over the table. "Let's see you back this the fuck up, 'ttebayo!"
…
It took a single elbow strike.
"Do you want your teeth back?" Toru asked politely.
"…Yeah, please." Gama moaned.
"You should consider using Sage Mode, at the very least." Toru offered. "It might be less embarrassing — can someone put his mouth back together, it's really spoiling my appetite?"
Karin sighed.
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Naruto suddenly stood up.
Gama stiffened — which made Toru chuckle.
"I told you you were too abrupt about… things." Ino chided.
"Calm down." Naruto laughed. "We're almost there. Time to abandon ship."
Jiraiya nodded and stood up. He bade goodbye to a very emotional Yukiko.
"I will carry your lessons with me, always." She said.
"That is all I could ever hope for." Jiraiya laughed.
"It… It was an honor, Lord Jiraiya."
"Pleasure was mine. I must leave now."
"Will I ever see you again…?"
"No." Gama muttered. Inwardly, he was ready to bet that Jiraiya didn't remember her name. Or perhaps that was simply him hoping things hadn't changed that much.
"Perhaps." Jiraiya shrugged.
"…" Yukiko stared at him. "I… Do come see me — If you feel like it, I mean."
"Sure. Don't wait for me, though." Jiraiya nodded. He began walking away.
"I will talk to others about your teachings!" She cheered from afar. "It's a promise!"
Jiraiya didn't turn back, but he did smile.
"…Did you start a cult?" Naruto asked Jiraiya.
"A cult…?" He blinked. "I wouldn't call it that."
"Nobody calls their cult a cult." Orochimaru said wisely.
"You would know." Gama muttered.
"I do not recall having founded a cult."
"What of the Children of the Snake…?" Gama said hotly.
"Not this dimension, Naruto." Jiraiya shook his head.
"…Realm." Orochimaru corrected.
"Yes, that."
"I hate you, just so you know." Gama said to Orochimaru.
"You see me wounded, little Namikaze."
"Keep my father's name—" Gama exploded.
"He meant nothing by it." Hebi put a hand on his shoulder. Gama looked fit to explode. He let out a long breath, sighed, but relented.
"Well, you guys go and… stand over the water or something." Naruto announced. "Karin will stay with you."
"What…?" Gama frowned. "Why should we…? Where are you — Hey!"
Naruto had already disappeared, along with his wives - and Yugito -; the Uchiha and his partner.
"He's got something he wants to check out — he'll be back soon." Karin simply said. She leaped off the ship, landing on the open sea.
After giving Jiraiya a long look, but mostly once he realized that both Hebi and Orochimaru had already jumped, Gama followed.
The five of them stood over the water, bobbing on the waves, as the ship continued on its planned itinerary.
"…Aren't you mad?" Gama asked Jiraiya. "It's your money, after all."
"So?" Jiraiya blinked. "It's spent anyway."
"I really don't get you, today."
Karin was standing very still.
"What is she doing…?" Hebi asked.
(Clouds built up, high in the sky above her. She was chakra. She was life.)
All the others felt were two contradictory powers, gathered together. Something that made them feel very, very mortal. Power without end. Karin slammed her hands together.
"Yin-Yang Release: Creation of All Things!"
A large sphere of dense material appeared in midair. It slammed into the water, splashing all of them with cold water. Someone cursed. Karin grinned proudly at the bright red… thing.
The sphere spun as the waves' momentum crashed against it.
"Get in." Karin said.
"…I am not stepping into this." Hebi said. "Besides, there's no opening."
"Why? Are you sea-sick?" Karin asked. "I am, too — don't worry, the inside platform is separate from this entirely, you won't be spinning around all the time. Besides, I made sure to find a way around motion sickness — not that there is much motion underwater. So, ready to go?"
Karin motioned for them to stand on top of it. Jiraiya came first and the others followed, slowly. The machine — if it could be called that was sturdy, strong.
Gama stared to the West. Nothing but waves. South. Same thing. East. The cruise ship was getting further and further away. He realized just how isolated they were, now. It had sounded like such a fun idea before. Even Orochimaru's lips looked more pursed than usual, for the gods' sake!
Karin's hand touched the watercraft, shining bright.
One moment they were standing on top of the strange, smooth structure… the next, they were inside it. Staring through the walls as though they were glass windows. Gama tapped them tentatively.
"I don't think you'll be able to break them." Jiraiya said.
"It's not me that I'm worried about." Gama retorted.
"Ah." Karin blinked. "So you felt it, too?" She nodded in approval. "I didn't know your senses were this sharp."
Gama stared. His stomach dropped. "Felt… what exactly?"
"Ah. …Uh." Karin frowned. "Never mind, then."
"Karin-san." Orochimaru began slowly. "What is in the water, exactly?"
"Don't sweat it, it's just some… aggressive fauna. Nothing that can break this trusty sub."
"Sub?" Gama asked, now interested. "Are you one? Really—"
Karin glared at him.
"…Sorry. I misunderstood." Gama backed off.
"Submarine…? Like… under-sea?" She asked them. "No?"
The four of them stared at her.
"Huh." Karin shrugged. "Well… whatever. Just don't freak out if you see a sea-dragon, it's mostly harmless."
"Mostly?"
And suddenly, they were entirely underwater.
…
It was getting dark quickly outside of the sub. A clear blue light shone inside it, allowing them to see still.
"They won't see the light from outside." Karin said.
"Who's they?" Hebi asked.
"Animals — whatever."
"How are you even directing this thing…?"
"With my hand, of course." Karin shrugged. She made an exaggerated motion to the left, and the sub went that way, smoothly.
It got darker and darker.
Gama envied Karin's calm; he was feeling a little cramped. A bit nervous, too. Both Orochimaru and Jiraiya sat in full lotus, keeping their senses on the outside world. Hebi… was looking even paler than usual.
"Sorry you got roped into this." Gama muttered.
She hissed a short laugh. "Don't be — that's on my father, of course. If he could just have held off gloating for once—"
"It is not gloating, Mitsuki." The man answered.
Jiraiya opened an eye. "You always gloat."
"I am terribly sorry, old friend." Orochimaru gloated. "I seem to forget my manners around my former teammates."
Jiraiya only grunted in amusement. "Bastard."
"...Imbecile." Orochimaru smiled.
"Oh, no." Gama muttered. "They like each other."
Hebi smiled, too. The descent in the depths continued.
Karin hummed an upbeat tune.
World #07 - On the Road.
"And that's why you're going to learn how to cast an illusion using your Sharingan. What better way to show people an image you have in mind?" Sakura asked Sarada. The woman was not paying much attention, as she was currently jotting down notes.
"It's a good idea — I think. I'm not that good at drawing."
"Perfect. So focus on your mental picture of other-me's older sister — No, don't show me, it would ruin the surprise… — and get ready to show people. It might take us a while if she hasn't been around, so be mindful of your chakra usage — a lesson that will serve you well, as a Haruno, I actually died because of it."
"…You… died?" Sarada asked dubiously. She probably meant it figuratively—
"Literally."
Sarada stared at her, nonplussed. Sakura still wasn't looking at her.
"Naruto has an agreement with the King of Hell — he picks his wives up if needed; yes, that includes Toru and Sasuke. Death is very relative anyway. Ask Uchiha Madara about it." Sakura chuckled.
"Who's Uchiha Madara…?" Sarada asked. At this point, she was almost afraid to do so.
Sakura finally looked up from the notes she was taking — was she writing a book…?
"Ah. That's another of your dead relatives — a bit older, though. He tried to destroy the home he created with Senju Hashirama because he didn't like it that much, in the end. So anyway, he came back with the Nine-Tails and no real plan."
"The …Nine-Tails, really? The one that's in Lord Hokage's belly?"
"Yup that's the one. So anyway, Madara failed, Konoha sealed the Nine-Tails away in some Uzumaki woman because… why not."
"That's… terrible."
"Wait, I'm not done." Sakura shook her head. "After surviving the First Hokage's very heavy-handed beatdown — Madara lost the will to live entirely, but some scholars say there was something more to their relationship and the world was not ready for it and that was why he was so depressed and same for the First Hokage; Naruto denies it —, Madara went into hiding. There, he spent decades plotting how to put the entire world in an illusion of his choosing. He kinda forgot that he could get out, lost his mind, gave his eyes to a random kid, corrupted another one in order to have someone accomplish his plan — by basically killing the girl he loved —, and tried to have the former kid get him back to life. When that didn't work out so well in our world, that was it. In your world, he forced the latter kid to bring him back to life. The kid in question died."
"That's horrible…"
"Well, the kid was Uchiha Obito, so it's kinda fine. He was pushing thirty by then. Also, he was still in love with a thirteen-something girl, so… Anyway. Madara did his best to become the strongest. I'm not talking about Edo Tensei stuff — and boy is that fucked. Necromancy, really…? I'm not even talking about becoming the Juubi Jinchuuriki with the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan, equipped with his Gunbai, his perfect Susanoo, able to control the Juubi because he had implanted Senju Hashirama's DNA within him. No, I'm talking real strong."
"…If he's so strong, where is he now?"
"It turns out that he too was being manipulated."
"…By another Uchiha, I presume?" Sarada muttered. Was this why they had all died…?
"Nope! Hard to believe, I know. Usually, if it's not an Uchiha problem, it's an Uzumaki thing — not here, though. Because it's actually both!"
Sarada closed her eyes. Sakura continued.
"It turns out that Otsutsuki Kaguya, mother of all chakra and great-something-grandma of the Uchiha and Uzumaki basically... put her will in a creature named Black Zetsu, who did nothing for close to a thousand years, all in order to bring her back. Then Madara got his hands on divine power, and then even more divine power. When that was done, this guy — Black Zetsu — stabbed him through the heart and this allowed Kaguya to come back to life."
"…So she was the one who saved the world?"
"Well, it turns out that the Sage of Six Paths — who is a real person — appeared and gave your dad and Boruto's dad some divine power. That's where this Sasuke got his magical brainwashing eye, I assume; and where this world's Naruto somehow taught your father the importance of friendship."
"Oh?… Did he miss the speech about the value of family?" Sarada muttered.
Sakura laughed, at first. Then she noticed Sarada's expression.
"Kid…" Sakura said, looking at her with what she thought might almost pass for compassion. "Well, I'm not about to defend your dad, but you should know that Uchiha are pretty stiff, most of the time — when they're alive, I mean. And I assume that he got kinda fucked, you know — what with his older brother completely losing it and torturing him for a week straight and all…"
"Yeah." Sarada said. "…Yeah."
"He still sucks, though. Don't get me wrong."
"You bet."
Sakura paused. The kid was still looking kinda down.
"Hey, cheer up, it's not all that bad." Sakura tried. "…They're not all that bad."
"The Uchiha are not that bad?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course not." Sakura grinned, crossing her fingers behind her back.
"Tell me about the good stuff they did, then…?"
Sakura stilled.
"Uh."
Sarada sighed. "Nothing, then…?"
"They're good at enforcing the law, I think…?"
"…"
"…They have very impressive festivals, great pyrotechnics, uh… Our Sasuke and Toru are pretty nice. Overall."
"Yeah." Sarada muttered. "I guess."
Sakura smiled. She was not that bad at cheering people up, in the end.
World #01 - The Moon
"Careful." Yoisen warned, gliding down to the lower levels.
Orochimaru simply used the ladder.
This temple was larger than either of them had expected. It stood inside a natural cavern, bearing artificial winds. Down in its abyssal depths, stones and altars painted tales of the ancient race that had elected to live on the moon. The strange paints they had used did not fade or crumble away, and the flame that floated close to Orochimaru's shoulder revealed all of their forlorn glory.
Yet another tunnel was crossed, and steeply descending steps brought them even lower. Their footsteps echoed; Hidan, who had been getting louder and louder… was very quiet.
"No more wisecracks from you, Hidan…?" Orochimaru asked softly. No answer came.
"Do you miss this man's unpleasant voice?" Yoisen asked.
"Hardly." He smiled. "I simply have gotten used to it. He is a constant companion, truly."
"…I didn't want to come here." Hidan muttered. "You could have left me back home — Please don't get closer to it."
Orochimaru blinked. "So you do feel its presence. Are you scared?"
Hidan grew agitated. "Of course I do — I'm not scared — You wanted to come here, that's enough reason for me to want to leave!"
"So." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "Tell me. What do you feel, right now…? I am afraid these eyes prevent me from truly appreciating what is happening."
…
Hidan stared at the heavy doors in front of them.
(hidan)
There was something, seemingly grasping for his brain, like a siren song. It was soft, beguiling. Tempting. Just like Jashin could be.
(open your eyes)
Hidan closed them.
(didn't you promise)
"I promised nothing. The only god I serve is—"
(OPEN YOUR EYES)
Orochimaru put Hidan's head on the ground, almost gently. Something was reaching out to him. Like tendrils of darkness.
(come close come closer come closer)
"That would be it, then." The white-haired woman said. Her blade fell with a sizzling sound upon the shadows, severing them. The pull receded. "Shall we go, then…?"
Hidan was unceremoniously picked up by his hair again, like a particularly disturbing lantern.
"I will make a jar for you." Orochimaru said. "This is pretty inefficient."
"How is this your only—"
"I see that you're not as affected as I had thought you would be." The woman said. "Perhaps it is your… deity's influence." It sounded somewhat mocking when she said it.
"What would you even know of it?!"
"Hush, now." She said. "But do not look away."
Orochimaru pushed the great doors open. They swung without a creak.
The large chamber was dark. An arching ceiling loomed high above them; it was a very old-fashioned design, something you were more likely to see in a state of ruin.
"Illuminate." Yoisen called.
Three spheres of flames spread across the room, bathing it in red light.
There was a woman with long white hair suspended in the air, arms held up high. But that was not what made Hidan freeze. Rather, it was the thing, the creature that hovered around her. A… grotesque jumble of decaying tendrils and otherworldly flesh hanging in loose pouches under it. It seemed both dead and bizarrely alive; riding on the wave of encroaching madness the way a bird glided on the wind.
The eyeless thing was grinning, its black lips pulled back into a mockery of a smile.
And it revealed rows of things you could call teeth, like a horrific perversion of a hell-hound. The monstrosity grew louder and louder; a sound halfway between a shriek and a whir. Its presence… reminded Hidan of Jashin — which was something he would rather not dwell on right now.
The great beast soared toward them with an air-rending call. Hidan shrieked.
Orochimaru laughed and threw him away. A gleaming sword was pulled out of his throat in the same beat.
Hidan tumbled, rolled down the room's length. He saw Fire; he saw Wind.
He saw three monsters.
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