Moonchild
She was a whisper and she was a shout.
Trained in the gentle fist from the moment she could walk, she danced, she brushed, and she demolished.
Within the Hyūga, Hanabi, born the youngest of the clan's main house, refused to follow the tradition:
"They want me to lead the branch house to… assert our dominance." She proclaimed. "Who needs the other house the most? The branch house? They have never once asked for our help. And they do not live to fulfill our whims."
Her bold assertion earned her a brand, a symbol of the elders' disdain.
For a time, they forbade her from pursuing the clan arts. But Hanabi was a bit of a firestarter. And the elders couldn't afford to let such raw potential rust, especially in the void left by Neji. So, they imposed restrictions on her freedom, and ignored the resentment she buried beneath an appearance of obedience.
That subjugation became her strength. In branding her a servant, they unknowingly ended up crowning her an empress.
Years later, her departure from Konoha was met with resigned nods, a predictable rebellion mirroring her cousin's path.
The stir she caused upon her return, on the other hand, was anything but expected.
She returned not for her own validation, but to offer something to the branch house: the respect they were due.
Kagutsuchi / Nightrain
The group of three honed in on the chakra signatures Hanabi had located beforehand.
They appeared in complete darkness, on something that seemed to be moving.
"…Okay." Toru muttered. "Where the fuck are we…?"
Sasuke summoned a ball of fire wordlessly, and it lifted off his hand to light the place.
"This looks like a train's cargo." Sasuke noted. "…A large one."
"It is." Hanabi confirmed. "Larger than you think — This is quite peculiar, even. I thought this was planet Kagutsuchi."
"Kagutsuchi, huh." Toru said dryly. "I swear, Hanabi, if you brought us straight into a kami's realm—"
"I didn't." She said curtly.
"If it's another world in which they 'punched god to death' or just 'believed in themselves'—"
"Shut up." Hanabi snapped. "There might be kami involvement, though."
"Same fucking thing — Whoa! Did you try to bite me for real?!" Toru growled. "Who knows what sort of diseases you carry in that dirty mouth of yours?"
"Not anything that Naruto doesn't, I'd say."
"That's exactly what I'm saying." Toru scoffed.
Hanabi chuckled ruefully.
"…Can you tell us more?" Sasuke asked. "…About this world."
"I'm afraid I can't say much more than I already did." She said. "At least, not with the regular Byakugan. I just see this huge train, with walls layered in heavy metals, something that feels like chakra."
"I see—"
"However." Hanabi's eyes flashed blue. She spent the next moments scanning… something.
"Alright, I suppose you're all eagerly waiting for my report." Hanabi said, letting her eyes fade back to their normal color. "This train is named the Shinkai Senritsu."
She made a show of counting: "Lengthwise, it's almost... fifteen kilometers. The width is approximately two kilometers at its widest point. It's… more like a small, moving city rather than a train."
She paused for a moment, to emphasize her next point.
"The train's divided into multiple sections… residential areas, farming zones, utilities, command areas… it's all very efficient, and compact. Each compartment is separated by bulkheads, probably for safety reasons in case of a breach."
"Wait wait wait." Toru cut her off.
"Yes, there are farming zones aboard." Hanabi nodded. "You heard me right."
Turning her attention to the right, she continued.
"I see about… twenty-five thousand people living here. Very rough estimation, though. It's a bustling community… and well, let's call it closer to an ark than a train.
"The train's exterior and track are made out of a material that I don't know. Seems pretty resilient. There's also a fair amount of it stored inside the train. There's a section where they mine and refine it. It's also the glowing, pulsing core of this machine. It looks like what we're standing on, too, so that's likely one of these zones."
"Stone…?"
"Something else. Last but not least, there are these things that look like Mirrors scattered throughout the train. They are capturing some radiation and turning it into electricity… or power, I don't know."
Hanabi's eyes refocused, finally looking away from the far distance. "So, there you have it." She crossed her arms, her face dead serious. "Better get used to it fast. We have no idea what the kami will throw at us next. Or if they will at all."
"This still paints a very incomplete picture." Sasuke stated.
"It does." Hanabi admitted, glancing around. "The train seems to operate on a continuous loop, and it seems we're in a loading car. This is where they usually store the mineral after it's mined and refined. That's why there's no one inside here. Outside is a different story."
She pointed towards the rugged walls. "Look at these streaks, these markings. They're the telltale signs of machines transporting them."
She moved her gaze towards the ceiling. "Besides, it also has these stone radiation shield panels installed. This train wagon probably gets a lot of exposure to radiation during loading, and these shields are necessary to protect the inhabitants from it. That's why it's vacant, to keep the people safe from any residual radiation during non-loading periods."
Toru stared at her. Sasuke did, too.
"…So we are standing atop irradiated stone…?" Toru asked dryly.
"...That's one way to see it." Hanabi acknowledged. "Let's get out?"
"Yes." Sasuke said, sighing. "Let us."
There was a flash of yellow light.
Namikaze Minato fell atop the stone, and struggled to keep his balance.
"Ah, Father." Hanabi smiled, and Toru closed his eyes in consternation, once more. At her, not at the man. "You made it — We checked the place, and it's mostly safe."
"Ah, thank you… Hanabi." The man nodded, still unsure how to address her exactly.
And of his role in this.
…
"Hello."
Namikaze Minato, Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure, looked up and nearly teleported away once he realized who he was facing. He blanched.
"Ah. I guess you remember me." Naruto's clone muttered. "You can hold on to that kunai if it makes you feel safer, of course. Please don't throw it at me, I just come here as a messenger."
Minato, who was highly skeptical, motioned for him to talk, because it would give him more time to figure out how to keep everyone safe.
"I am your son from another universe, and we're currently dealing with threats from beyond the Earth." He began.
"Extra—"
"Not aliens. Cosmic gods."
Naruto went on.
Minato's eyes kept going wider.
"So aside from the whole bettering other worlds thing, we need allies." He went on, his gaze firm. "Strong, smart allies."
A beat passed as Minato processed what he had just heard. Then he asked: "And if I refuse?"
"Ah… Then I'll seal a Bijū in your gut and force you to do my bidding, just because we happen to be related by blood." Naruto said dryly.
"…What?"
"I was only joking." Naruto said. "You know, to relieve your tension."
"…"
Naruto's expression softened. "I won't force you."
He shrugged and turned to leave — or to dispel, really.
Minato closed his eyes. "…Wait."
…
"Are you for real, dad—"
"Hokage-sama." Weasel corrected.
"Fuck you—" Boar grunted. Tiger made a fist. "Okay, okay, got it… Are you for real, Hokage-sama?"
Minato nodded. "I am."
"He smashed Sas—… Weasel's head against mine!"
"…Yes, I believe he was here." Weasel noted, quite dryly.
"And he even managed to escape you." Boar continued. "I know you probably gave him a super hard time, but still! That's a man who's like... a real flight risk!"
Minato didn't comment on the way it had actually gone, and neither did Tiger. Not much of a fight, really.
"He did all that." Minato nodded.
"Then why should we trust him, y'know?!" Boar exploded.
"Because he'll help us, too." Minato shrugged. "Don't worry, this is far beyond you, I'll take care of these matters."
"No way, old man—"
Tiger slapped him across the back of the head.
"Go fuck yourself too, Saku—… Tiger." Boar growled. "We shouldn't trust that guy. He's a bit like me, but without everything that makes me lovable!"
"…I'm right here, you know." The Emperor, Naruto, said through the 'soundproof' door, amusedly. Boar stiffened.
…
Minato nodded slowly.
"So you have an… assignment for me, then?" He asked.
The entire concept felt weird. As Hokage, besides the Daimyō, there wasn't anyone who could say they had authority over him — and even that one was dubious already.
"I do." Naruto nodded. "I'll send you out with one of my wives—"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Ask her, I'm sure she would love to tell you the story."
"…As you say."
"If the Uchiha — the taller one — says anything about me having sent you out there with them just so my wife could steal more of your jutsu, please ignore him, he's joking."
"…Very well."
"If the other Uchiha — the one who's perpetually grumpy — says anything about not understanding how incredible you are compared to me, please ignore him, he's just like that."
"…Yes."
"If my wife asks anything about whether or not I sent you with them because I believe she'd be likely to just try and boss the others around, please ignore her, she's just like that."
Minato was starting to wonder if this was such a good idea, after all. What to do...?
…Itachi, perhaps…? Kakashi…?
His actual son was clearly not ready to become Hokage yet. And putting him as well as his teammates as a three-man Kage team was unprecedented, but perhaps Konoha would survive—
"Now…" The Emperor continued. "I can't deny that part of the reason is that you're level-headed and will keep these idiots focused — hopefully — so there's less of a chance of them playing with forces beyond our understanding…"
Minato rubbed the bridge of his nose.
…
Whomever it was that Minato expected when his alternate-son had talked about his wife… it was not a lovey-dovey Hyūga woman, with chakra so strong it made his hackles raise.
"Minato." Naruto said, resting a hand on the small of her back. "This is Hanabi. And she's very precious to me."
"Hello." Hanabi greeted, bowing politely. "I suppose I will be in your care, as of now. Pleased to meet you, Father."
…
"Ah." Hanabi said. "Quick reminder that this planet, named after the supposed Kami of fire, recently endured a celestial catastrophe."
"We know this." Toru said.
"Didn't sound as though you did — It's more for Father's sake, anyway — I might have forgotten about a few details."
Minato nodded. "I see. Anything else…?"
"No." Hanabi shook her head.
"Great." Toru nodded, without much sarcasm. Hanabi zeroed on what little she could hear.
"You should be glad Ino even let you out." She snapped.
"Look, I'm not going to complain." Toru laughed. "Mental health is no joke, of course… But yeah, I needed some action. I would have preferred it not to be this sort of trip, but well…"
Hanabi rolled her eyes. "You can go on whatever bro-trip you want to go on after we're done with the kami."
"Oh?" Toru lifted an eyebrow amusedly. "But I thought this was one. You're basically one of the boys at this point."
Hanabi tried to roll her eyes again, but there was something a bit too fond in her smile. "Whatever, red eyes."
"Ah, and I suppose Naruto's dad is here to keep an eye on us, of course."
Minato just smiled hesitantly. "…Right."
"Can we go now?" Sasuke asked, a bit testily.
"Yes, Jinsuke-sama." Hanabi muttered. Toru laughed.
…
As they switched compartments, they passed through a small hub that seemed to be made out of glass. It was night.
"…Is that a volcano in the background…?" Sasuke asked, squinting. It was dark, outside.
"Well, yeah." Hanabi shrugged. "But don't pay it too much attention, the burning heat outside this train doesn't come from it — I think."
There were rushing footsteps drawing close. Minato palmed a kunai.
"You!" One of the two guards bellowed. "Who are you?! What are you doing here—"
"One question at a time, please." Hanabi muttered.
"We're the ones asking questions!"
Hanabi shook her head. "I wasn't talking to you."
Toru's Sharingan, in its base form, whirled.
"Sorry, guys." He said. "Tell us what you know about this planet."
They did.
One began, his voice heavy with memories. "Our planet, Kagutsuchi, used to orbit a binary star system. It was named after the ancient god of fire, a name that became bitterly prophetic."
Hanabi nodded. "Told you."
"One of the twin suns, Amaterasu — named after the goddess of the sun— went supernova. This cosmic explosion sent shockwaves rippling through space, altering Kagutsuchi's course and pulling it into a tighter orbit around the remaining star, Tsukuyomi."
His eyes flicked across the alien landscape, in spite of the illusion, settling on the towering volcanoes in the distance.
"The tug-of-war between Kagutsuchi and Tsukuyomi led to increased tidal heating within our planet. This stirred our planet's numerous volcanoes into a frenzy, causing them to spew forth a unique mineral we call hiishi, or 'firestone'."
Hanabi just nodded.
"Subjected to the seething heat of Kagutsuchi's core, hiishi transformed into a resilient substance that made up the majority of our volcanic rocks. Over time, it slowly engulfed the surface of our planet."
The man's voice fell silent.
"Shit." Toru muttered. "Now I just feel bad for him. You will remember nothing. Shit, nothing of this. Don't go drooling on me — and you will go back to whatever you were doing—"
"Ask him about Tsukuyomi." Hanabi said.
"I told you I feel bad."
"Ask him about Tsukuyomi, please, Toru-san." Minato tried, placatingly.
"Gotchu."
The man resumed talking.
"Tsukuyomi, the remaining star and our only source of light, is a pulsar, named after the moon goddess."
He explained, his gaze seemingly lost in the eerie glow bathing the landscape.
"Its ceaseless rotation sends potent pulses of electromagnetic radiation into the ether. These pulses interact with the hiishi particles floating in our atmosphere, illuminating our world in an ethereal glow, the mark of an eternal night. This consistent radiation also plays its part in maintaining the tidal heating, which, in turn, keeps Kagutsuchi's heart aflame, our volcanoes alive."
Toru frowned. "…I didn't exactly study science, guys."
Hanabi hadn't, either. It didn't stop her: "Big space thing make night always."
"Fuck you, I got this part." Toru growled.
"Why do you complain, then?"
"Despite the perpetual night, the expanding volcanic plains, life finds a way." The guard declared with a touch of pride, in spite of the illusion. "The people of Kagutsuchi built this, years and years ago - the Shinkai Senritsu, a colossal train… and our beacon of hope. It is forged from hiishi, and stands tall, even to the extreme conditions."
His gaze moved beneath them.
"These tracks share the same origin, regenerating as the volcanic ashes cover them. The Shinkai Senritsu has learned to harness Tsukuyomi's radiation, using special collectors we call Tsukuyomi Mirrors. They capture the cosmic radiation, convert it into the electricity that breathes life into the train and its life-support systems."
"…Are you sure you didn't bring us to a kami realm, Hanabi?" Toru asked again.
Hanabi shrugged. "As sure as I can be."
"Why a train?" Sasuke asked. The guard didn't blink. Sasuke's own Sharingan came to life.
"Don't hijack him, bro." Toru said and asked the guard himself, instead. "Why a train?"
"The answer lies in the nature of Kagutsuchi itself." The guard began. "Our planet is in a constant state of flux. The hiishi-laden earth shifts and rearranges under the influence of seismic activities, making the construction of permanent structures near-impossible."
"But perhaps the most important reason." He continued. "Is what the train represents. Resilience."
Hanabi stared, nonplussed. "…Okay, but what about the radiation?"
No answer came. She nudged Toru, who repeated the question, sighing… and the man answered.
"That, too, as well as the unbearable heat. The ceaseless radiation from our moonlit star provides us with an abundant source of energy. But it also… provides us with deadly radiation. The train allows us to remain mobile, and to pick up resources as we go too, thanks to its automatic collectors. That's why constant movement is crucial to our survival."
"…I really don't get it." Hanabi frowned.
"Neither do I." Sasuke shook his head. "If these rocks can protect them, then why would they not find an easier solution…? Just to pick up more material…?"
Toru asked the guard.
"The Fire Beasts are the reason." He said. "Great, mighty creatures that are the only beings that can survive outside of the train. They will ruin our chances at building any sort of sustainable life. But thanks to Kujaku-sama, our leader, we have hope that this might change."
Toru prodded him for more information.
"There are people who believe the Fire Beasts are under our control — There is another insurrection starting, we know."
Toru tried some more.
"Okay, I think that was it for him." He said, breaking the illusion.
"You!" The guard bellowed. "Who are you?! What are you doing here—"
"Go back to your spot and let us go quietly — ah, please give us some uniforms and whatever access we're going to need — large size, extra large around the shoulders to fit my huge muscles. Thank you."
The guard left to find them clothes.
Hanabi was unimpressed. "…We could just create them or something — also, extra large, really?"
"Well it might be some kami meddling." Toru shrugged. "Let's keep things quiet until we know for sure — I'm pretty muscular."
"As he says." Minato nodded.
Sasuke did too.
Hanabi snorted. "Listening to him? Well I'd think he put you into a genjutsu…" She began. "But there was no unnecessary hand-waving, and I didn't hear him scream anything like 'Maximum Edge Mirage.'"
"…Take it back." Toru said.
"Oh, sorry." Hanabi apologized, not looking sorry at all. "Young Dragon's Fiery Secret: Blazing Phantasm."
Toru crossed his arms. "That's more your husband's style."
Sasuke gave him an unimpressed look. "Uchiha Clan Hidden Art: Scorching Meteor's Wrathful Rain… Meteoric Pyroclasm Unleashed." He quoted.
Toru sighed. "Yeah okay, but I was eight, then. And it was a Fire jutsu. Gotta be more dramatic with those, since they never actually finish a fight."
"Time to go, I believe." Sasuke said, before Minato had the pleasure of doing so himself.
"Right." Hanabi unfolded her arms. "I think I'm going to have to see about this outside world first, then, won't I…? If we're just talking about heat and radiation, I think I can take it."
Perhaps Sasuke could, if it were only heat.
Toru waved her off. "You do you. Ah no, wait — No Super Hanabi shit, please—"
"Please repair after me." Hanabi said.
"Aw, fuck."
Hanabi's body tensed up, and she clenched her fists at her sides. The ground splintered underneath her, and the air around her twisted and warbled, bending the light in strange ways.
Minato's heart stopped.
Power. Power. It washed over him.
Chakra swirled around Hanabi, a rich, vivid pink that seemed almost tangible in its density.
It summoned a luminescent glow over the surrounding landscape, casting it into stark, dramatic shadows. Heat pulsed from her in rhythmic waves, sending gusts of wind sweeping across the ground, tossing debris in its wake. Her hair, caught on the crest of the wave, blazed like a fiery crown, each strand a lick of living flame.
The scene stirred an uncomfortable memory within Minato: the grim echo of the Nine-Tails' bid for freedom, the worst night of his life.
But this… this was a force even more formidable. And the sheer casualness of it, too... The chill in his stomach became closer to chunks of ice.
The radiant light reshaped itself around Hanabi, forming a shroud of pure chakra around her.
Then, with the abruptness of a lightning strike, Hanabi moved.
She was nothing more than a swift streak of lilac, a flash that pierced the hard ceiling with an ease that belied the material's toughness.
In the blink of an eye, she had vanished, leaving behind only a trail of light as she disappeared into the distance.
Toru rolled his eyes.
"…She could at least pretend to remember she can teleport. And I'm the flashy one…?" He muttered, closing the hole after her. Perhaps he should let Sasuke do this sort of thing more often, he needed more practice with his new eyes.
Minato was staring at the pink comet soaring through the searing air outside, that was already making him feel stifled. "…Can you all do… this?"
"What, the pink cloak thing…?" Toru asked, patching the hole slowly. "…No, I can't. I'm obviously the repair guy."
Minato had seen him dispatch Kage-level fighters in less time than it took to say 'Yellow Flash.'
"It's a Mangekyō Byakugan power." Sasuke explained, and tried to help Toru with the repairs.
He mostly made it harder for both.
"The what now…?" Minato asked.
"Oh, come on." Toru grunted. "It's like a Byakugan that actually does something — She didn't bother explaining it to you, of course… That's why Naruto sent you here, didn't he…? To try and keep her in line?"
Minato, who had been warned about it, simply chose not to answer.
Sasuke smiled slightly. "I don't think that's it entirely."
Toru shrugged. "She'd just go and try to fix everything on her own, likely. Or bring about an apocalypse — she can lack common sense, sometimes, really."
Privately, Sasuke almost agreed. Not about Hanabi lacking common sense, because the same thing could be said about Toru.
Rather, it was about Minato's presence.
He was almost sure that Naruto had bundled the man up with them because if Hanabi didn't have to take extra care because of someone weaker than her usual company, she would throw all caution to the wind, in her search for answers.
But that raised a few similar concerns about his own presence here, which he didn't care for.
"And speaking of the apocalypse…" Toru muttered. "We should be careful, leaving Naruto alone — you know that guy… He might just decide to declare war on the kami… or war on war."
Sasuke didn't say anything, content to just give Toru a pointed look. He had been the one to bring Hanabi to Umi.
Minato was starting to have a pretty bad feeling about all of this.
"Oh, come on." Toru scowled. "I'm not enabling him."
…
While Hanabi was off doing Hanabi things, Minato took the lead.
The two others might vastly overpower him, certainly, but he was the senior ninja here.
(Sasuke's ancestral memories being unreliable as they were.)
Minato's eyes scanned the hiishi-walled compartment, the eerie glow from outside casting shifting shadows. He finally turned to Toru and Sasuke—
"Are you anything like your son?" Toru asked, in spite of himself.
"What?" Minato blinked.
"Moral corruption, seven wives or so…?"
Minato shook his head, a bit bemused. "No… I've only loved one woman." He said fondly.
Toru let out a relieved breath. "Good — I was afraid I was going to have to hypnotize you into focusing on the mission rather than the possible women we're likely going to meet."
"…Like I should do to get you to focus, Toru?" Sasuke asked, rolling his eyes.
Minato cut through the chatter.
"Alright, shinobi." He began, his voice steady, his eyes intense. "Our challenge now might or might not be a kami threat… It's a mechanical one. This train, the Shinkai Senritsu, isn't just a means of transport, it seems."
He gestured around, probably meaning 'the train'.
"The radiation from Tsukuyomi is both a gift and a curse, from what the guard said. Without it, the life-support systems fail. But too much of it, and the same thing happens."
Minato's gaze swept over Sasuke and Toru, a certain intensity lighting his eyes. "Our mission isn't just about understanding this train." He said. "There's more to Kagutsuchi than meets the eye, and it's our job to uncover it."
The Uchiha nodded.
"Impressive — and how far has the apple fallen from the tree." Sasuke said.
"Naruto would have ordered a genocide already, it's been more than five minutes since we arrived." Toru added.
Minato, who was getting more and more concerned about the man he had joined, continued.
"…Hanabi is focusing on the creatures — she will likely try to establish a pattern, a relation between their appearances and the train's route, or the volcanic activities. This might give us a clue about their origins and purposes."
"…Or she might kill them all." Toru said.
Minato continued — he had been warned by the Emperor. "Our task is to understand more about this 'Kujaku-sama.' I think there might be a connection with these Fire Beasts, possibly with the train itself."
Minato stepped back, his tone growing softer but not losing its intensity.
"Get to know the passengers, listen to their stories about Kujaku. But be careful, subtlety is key here. We don't want to alarm anyone, nor do we want to provoke this Kujaku if he or she is indeed among us."
"And if he has ties with the kami." Sasuke added.
Toru nodded.
"…There's no guarantee there will be any, but yes." Minato accepted. With a final nod, he concluded: "This planet is still a mystery, and the Shinkai Senritsu is our means of unraveling it. Remember, every piece of information is invaluable, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Together—"
"I am the Hokage's man." Toru grinned, saluting. "As always."
Sasuke nudged him, irritably… and somewhat amused, too.
Minato stared at them.
…
"Is that… No fucking way!" Toru said eagerly, making his way through the train.
A few guards tried to stop him, but they were dismissed easily. It took a look, to be more precise. Minato had gone the other way, and they carried one of his kunai anyway.
Toru confirmed it.
"That's Kiba!" He exclaimed.
Sasuke frowned. "Why did Hanabi not say anything?"
"…" Toru winced. "She never had much respect for him—"
"Because of his clan jutsu?" Sasuke asked, shaking his head. "That's bad, even for her. He was her sister's teammate and friend—"
"It was mostly because he tried to seduce her, once."
"…Even then." Sasuke tried, feeling a little less confident.
"You've seen how Kiba flirts?" Toru asked in disbelief. "Does 'ear-humming' ring a bell?"
"…Got you."
"Yeah." Toru smiled. "I miss him, man — Can you even imagine trying to go out partying with Naruto?" He pretended to shiver.
"…Are you worried about his dancing skills?"
Toru blinked. "…Huh. Never considered that one, actually."
"…Then what are you even talking about?"
"…Anyway." Toru said. "Despite what he used to say… I don't think Kiba would have been able to father any children, in any case. Not after that night."
"…Okay." Sasuke nodded slowly.
Toru sighed. "He was a good friend."
…
Inuzuka Kiba, leader of the unofficial rebellion, heard a single word.
Or two, perhaps, it was hard to tell, with hyphens.
"Rinneg-on!"
Inuzuka Kiba barely had a moment to react before the door crashed open.
He saw a hand, and the person it belonged to. An Uchiha man, with hair so long he found himself to be envious.
Instinctively, he gripped his knife.
"So you've finally found me." Kiba snarled, readying for a confrontation. "I don't know how you managed to get around Shino, but—"
The second man, whose face bore striking Uchiha features as well, interrupted him with a nonchalant gesture.
To Kiba's astonishment, his knife left his hand, magnetically drawn towards the newcomer.
"Hey, Kiba!" The second man called out, grinning as if they were old friends. Kiba could only stare, utterly baffled.
"Who are you?" he demanded, ignoring the lack of a weapon in his hand.
Both men exchanged a glance before the taller one, the one with short hair, spoke.
"Well, this is going to sound pretty crazy, but we're… dimensional travelers." He shrugged, his grin widening at Kiba's incredulous expression.
The one with long hair added, grumpily: "This is just work... a typical Tuesday for us."
"…We're Sunday." Kiba corrected, automatically. He was looking for a weapon.
"Ah."
Kiba looked between the two, assessing their earnest expressions, and then burst out laughing. Perhaps a bit too abruptly, but he never had been that great of an actor.
"Dimensional travelers?" He repeated, chuckling. "And here I thought the Fire Beasts were the most outrageous thing on Kagutsuchi."
Kiba, still pretending to laugh, reached out in his back pocket. Slowly...
"…We can see you, you know." Short-hair said.
Kiba made the mistake of meeting his eye, which bled into red.
Kiba's vision blurred as memories seemingly assaulted him, taking his every sense with him.
He saw a world full of men who wielded what they called chakra, there. Not with the careful precaution that they had to use in Kiba's homeworld, because of its scarcity, but very liberally.
He saw shinobi.
He saw the Empire.
He saw other worlds.
And he nearly puked when he came back to himself. "What the fuck—"
Ignoring Kiba's state, the taller one continued. "It passes quickly, don't worry. We're here on a mission to uncover the secrets of Shinkai Senritsu, Kiba, and we believe you can help us."
…
"Why do we want to stop that bastard Kujaku…?" Kiba asked in disbelief.
"Well, yes." Toru nodded. "Is he like a classical sort of tyrant or something? Or a more modern one, who just delegates the actual work to friends and family?"
"What did Kujaku do?" Sasuke asked.
Kiba stared at the two men for a moment before leaning back, a sigh escaping him.
"Kujaku isn't your typical tyrant, he's not the kind who rules through fear or brute force." He admitted.
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"In the beginning, Kujaku was seen as a visionary. He promised the passengers a better future, a new order that would ensure our survival. But things changed when he found the solvent."
Toru and Sasuke shared a glance before the latter asked. "What does it do? That solvent."
"It's not just any solvent." Kiba explained, a dark edge creeping into his voice. "It's a substance so potent that it can dissolve hiishi. Something so dangerous that mere 'containment measures' are not enough! Never! It could lead to a real catastrophe!
"In the right hands, it could be used to modify the train or perform maintenance without having to wait for volcanic heat. But in the wrong hands..."
He didn't need to finish his sentence.
"Oh, okay." Toru nodded. "Fucking the whole world up."
"It's in that Kujaku's hands, then." Sasuke murmured.
Kiba nodded, his expression grim. "Exactly. With the solvent, Kujaku has gained too much power. He controls the maintenance of Shinkai Senritsu, controls who gets to live in the repaired compartments and who doesn't. He's creating an imbalance, a hierarchy, and that's threatening the unity that had been so carefully built here."
"So you're rebelling." Sasuke nodded.
"So we're rebelling — not so violently, as of now." Kiba bit out. "But if this goes on…"
Toru scratched his chin thoughtfully, "And I suppose he's not willing to share this solvent?"
Kiba snorted, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"Share? No, Kujaku would sooner throw us all off the train than share his power."
Sasuke nodded. "Then it seems we have our work cut out for us. We need to confront Kujaku, wrest control of the solvent, and restore balance on this train."
"Shouldn't be too hard." Toru nodded.
Minato poked his head around the corner.
There were two armed guards at the door of the next compartment. And he wasn't sure what these rifle-like weapons they were wielding were, but he couldn't afford to take any chances.
On this side of the train, the atmosphere of the Shinkai Senritsu was vastly different from the upper sections, in which Toru and Sasuke currently were.
Minato had found his way into the lower quarters.
Here, the thrum of Tsukuyomi's radiation being converted to power was louder, the light from the bioluminescent organisms dimmer, and the air thicker with the essence of hiishi.
The people were wearier the deeper he went, too. And there were only so many things he could give out to help. They would have to come back.
Minato tapped his hand against the wall, and there was a yellow flash of light.
A mark.
"Flying Thunder God: Third Step — Guided Electrical Flash Current Displacement."
Like an electrical current, it went up the wall, along the ceiling, silently and smoothly, until it stood behind the two guards.
Another flash of light, the dull thud of two heads connecting, and Minato had them bound already.
He stepped into the compartment.
The people's clothes were stained with hiishi dust and their faces etched with lines of hardship. They were the underprivileged passengers of the train, the ones who lived in the shadow of Kujaku's reign.
And Minato had dealt with enough Danzōs to know how bad it could get.
The people were gathered around someone, however.
"Oh, you're finally here?" A woman's voice asked.
She had traded her usual fine clothes for a simple tunic covered in hiishi dust, her hair pulled back into a practical knot.
She was distributing what looked like food and water among the refugees, her expression stern but her actions surprisingly gentle.
Minato blinked. "…Hanabi?"
"Father." She smiled, wiping her hands on her tunic. "In the end, I sent a few clones outside of the train to scout. And I stayed here — I figured it made more sense that way, in the end. Recon can take time, and all."
A woman stepped forward, face creased with worry.. but her posture defiant. "He is a friend of yours, then." She stated, quite cautiously.
"He is, Masuya-san." Hanabi nodded.
The people relaxed some.
Minato offered a gentle smile, trying to exude as much calm and assurance as he could. "My name is Minato." He began, noting some of the people's suspicious gaze. "I've come here with my companions. We're… travelers."
"I explained it already." Hanabi smiled. "They thought I was a spy for… What's his name?"
"Kujaku".
"Yeah, that one." Hanabi nodded. "You can trust him, guys."
"Well… If you can vouch for him…" Another said, suspiciously.
"Alright." The woman said at last. "We'll hear you out then, Minato. But remember… we're not helpless. We won't be used as pawns in anyone's game."
Minato smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it."
…
Minato decided to tread lightly.
"That's something I did not expect." He remarked softly. There was no criticism in his tone, only surprise.
"Why not?" She snorted. "Did you believe I spend most of my days crushing the poor, eating orphans... or something?"
"No." He shook his head.
Hanabi turned her gaze to him, the ghost of a smile on her lips. "Liberating people is something of a hobby of mine, really."
There was a pause, the hum of the train filling the silence.
Then Minato, with a soft voice, ventured: "Is this because of him? Your husband's choices?"
Hanabi's laugh bubbled up, genuine and free. "My husband? No, no, he's not the oppressing type."
Minato looked a bit embarrassed at his mistake. "Oh, I see..."
"Yeah, he's a quirky one." Hanabi agreed, a warm smile on her face. "But I don't do this because of him. Even though…"
Seeing Minato's eager look, she sighed and leaned back, her gaze wandering to the hiishi ceiling of the train.
"When no one else would, he and Toru saved me." She continued. "Toru threw away his life in Konoha over it. Over me."
Her voice wavered slightly, but she pushed on, laughing briefly. "Really, if Toru wasn't… well… himself… and if I had no taste at all… I suppose a girl could be impressed by such a thing.
"As for Naruto… I fell in love with him." She began, her voice barely above a whisper yet perfectly clear. "Partly because of all this, I suppose... and because he truly saw me, not as a Hyūga or a former Branch House member, but just as Hanabi.
"He never felt pity for me, never used it against me, never tried to force me to accept my… situation." She added with a hint of disgust. "He simply followed his own principles… and I guess, that's what I'm trying to do, too."
Minato stayed silent, sensing there was more she wanted to say.
"The seal was a terrible thing." Minato agreed solemnly, waiting.
"The worst of the Hyūga's traditions." Hanabi sighed. "And yeah, Toru is a dumbfuck of proportions I can't even begin to describe — he'd say the same of me, of course… And Naruto has such a terrible naming sense that I'm pushing back having kids until he learns better. But…"
Her voice grew softer, almost a whisper. Minato wisely chose not to touch the topic of naming.
"I trust both of them to pull through when it really counts. Together with my wives, they're my pillars. One is the man I love and the other…"
Her eyes flashed for an instant, checking around herself. She added, very quietly: "…My best friend."
Minato said nothing, but his eyes softened.
"Please don't tell him I said that." Hanabi concluded. "Can you help me with the food rations? I've got some more tucked away. Clones are sorting out the other compartments and I'm going to leave soon."
Minato complied.
"You know, for what it's worth, I think Kushina would have adored you."
"Ah." Hanabi was caught off guard. "…Well, considering she was friends with Sasuke's mother, maybe she just had a thing for uppity clan girls…" She gave a nonchalant shrug.
"Definitely." Minato replied with a grin.
Despite her dismissive words, there was a small, pleased smile on her lips.
Burning rock rained from the midday sky — dark, but less so than at night.
Lord Tenshi frowned as he looked up.
His attendants moved swiftly, warning the people that needed to be warned about it. Meteors weren't rare on Kagutsuchi, but their mere sight was something that displeased him.
Tenshi sat on a small overlook that commanded a view of the workers below. Hundreds of them, their garb dulled by stone particles, labored; nurtured the hiishi into something usable.
There was a slow rhythm to their movements — but, of course, slowness was intrinsic to the workers.
Oh, they didn't complain anymore, certainly, but still. Tenshi considered himself a patient man, for anyone else would have beaten one of them to serve as an example.
Tenshi sighed. If he had known how much effort keeping an eye on these lazy miners would be, he would simply have gone with his father's initial plan for him.
Being a teacher would have been a decent career option, he was sure of it.
Tenshi nodded as he watched the lazy scum down there. One of the workers looked up, a spark of something in his eye.
Tenshi almost smiled — Defiance, really…?
"Kajiwara!" He called.
The man bowed. "My lord?"
"Get that man here—" Tenshi blinked.
When he looked at where the man had been, there was no one there anymore.
"…What?" He muttered.
"My lord?" Kajiwara asked, sounding amused.
Tenshi snapped. "Nevermind. Have the whole of them working harder."
"Of course, my lord." Kajiwara bowed low. "You know…"
"What?"
"Usually, I'm not too fond of hypnotizing civilians, but I think I can make an exception for you."
"What the hell are you saying—"
"Bring us to Kujaku quietly, and keep up the deception — Oh, also, have someone tell the workers that there's a revolution going on, please."
The last thing Tenshi would remember of that day was Inuzuka Kiba, suspected of leading the rebels, asking the man disguised as a worker if there was a way he could punch Tenshi before they set off.
The other man, the one disguised as Kajiwara... complied, of course.
Hours later
Minato, sitting in a dimly lit makeshift laboratory filled with rock samples, was hunched over a variety of parchments.
He had met up with Sasuke's group again, and what they had told him had led him to come here.
The lantern flickered, and the long shadows it cast around the musty room were positively gloomy.
Ancient scripts, half-forgotten maps, and outdated geological surveys lay scattered around him. He was hunting for any reference to the solvent that, to him, seemed to have a connection to the fiery rains and the world's ruin.
It simply made more sense.
The rough textures of parchment beneath his fingertips, the smell of decaying paper, and the hush of forgotten knowledge were things he was well used to.
And then he would have to ask the people.
The group of four men continued to walk down the train's length, at a resolute, unhurried pace.
Minato was still gone, and Tenshi was the one who led them through.
The train was practically its own world, Sasuke figured.
There had passed a fair amount of living quarters, which — on this side at least — went from compact to positively lavish.
There was a grand dining car, which felt like stepping into a moving gourmet restaurant. There was a mix of long, communal tables and smaller, intimate ones, all bathed in a warm, indirect lighting that gave off a comfortable atmosphere.
Were it not for what Hanabi had told them about the other side of the train, he could almost have believed it was a decent dream, too.
Down the line, there was the hydroponics car. It was like an oasis in the middle of the ocean. Green as far as the eye can see, rows upon rows of crops growing under artificial sunlight.
The air was fresher there, carrying a hint of earth and vegetation. It was where plenty of their food came from, an essential part of their survival.
Then, a recreational car, designed to preserve Kagutsuchi's culture and offer a sense of… normalcy, Sasuke supposed.
There was a section for tea ceremonies, where the old ways were taught to the younger generation. And there was a bonsai cultivation area, too — it was like a tiny forest, all meticulously maintained and cared for.
Of course, there was the hum of one of the engine rooms, one of the hearts of this moving sanctuary, something that hummed with energy that was almost palpable.
That was where the hiishi operated, safely encased in a special cooling system.
Sasuke's eye caught a guard's, and he made him lead another away. Their voices grew distant as they went.
Sasuke signaled for the others to move—
The ceiling exploded.
Sasuke threw himself to the floor, drawing his sword. His powerful chakra extended, eyes turning from red to purple, burning with barely repressed power.
When the smoke cleared, Hanabi was standing in the rubble.
Toru groaned. "Are you fucking kidding me…? Why don't you just teleport…?"
"I'll repair it." Hanabi looked frustrated. "I saw a massive creature of flame out there, in the distance. It disappeared as soon as I tried to use my eyes. So I went… and here's what I found."
She threw something at Toru, and he caught in one-handedly.
"…What's that?" Toru frowned.
"A robot?" Sasuke asked.
Kiba, on the other hand… recognized it right away. "It's a drone." He said. "…A holographic drone."
"The sort that projects images." Hanabi concluded, arms crossed. "I think you've been had. If there are Fire Beasts here at all… Those are definitely not it."
…
Hanabi left again… and Kiba was seemingly ready to murder someone.
Compartment after compartment, the four men walked, and they finally reached the locomotive.
Toru dismissed Tenshi with a casual wave.
Kiba was anxious, by now. This was the culmination of everything the Rebellion stood for. The tangle of lies was already unweaving, and he was nearly afraid of what they would find on the other side of this ornate door…
This door, where the symbol of a peacock was beautifully etched into the metal.
Kiba glanced at Toru, almost seeking reassurance—
Toru slammed the door open, without looking at him.
The next things happened almost instantaneously to Kiba.
To him, it was as though the world had started spinning. He saw trails of light, something that he would only later realize had been the fire of Kujaku's men's weapons.
There was the roar of an explosion, and something picked him up and slammed him into the ground.
But that was Toru, not Kujaku's bombs, which had gone off.
Great trees erupted inside the room out of nothing, wrapping dozens of men in their bark, nearly silently. A wall of nearly solid flame shielded all of them from everything else.
All of this happened in a fraction of a second.
Kiba only started screaming then, unable to help himself.
Toru picked him up, and they stepped into the room.
It took Kiba a while to recover from this, and when he did, he was already inside.
The room they stepped into was as grand as the rest of the locomotive, filled with rich furniture and ornate decorations.
And there, sitting in a large chair by the window, was Kujaku.
He had pale hair… and didn't quite look like a mystical figure right now, but he did look quietly strong, seated as he was.
He bore no weapons, and was frowning.
Toru quickly cast a subtle compulsion over the man — in case he had planned to detonate anything, or else.
"…I suppose it is all over, then." The man said.
Toru gently laid Kiba down on one of the plush sofas, noticing how his eyes fluttered open and shut in slow, dazed blinks.
Kujaku's presence seemed to unnerve him, though he did his best to mask his discomfort. Toru knew Kiba — well, his own — and knew that anger would resume soon enough.
Kujaku looked oddly serene, in stark contrast to the storm that had taken over the room.
"Were you expecting us?" Toru asked.
Kujaku shrugged. "We have plenty of cameras. It was child's play to figure something was up." Then, shaking his head in disbelief: "I… have to say I didn't quite expect anything like that, though." He sighed. "...It's all over."
"It is." Sasuke nodded. "Your men are alive, but captive. First I'll—"
There was a flash.
Minato strode into the Shinkai Senritsu's locomotive, his normally gentle eyes hardened with determination.
"Oh, no." Toru muttered under his breath, a touch of apprehension creeping into his voice "It's going to be a Naruto moment."
Sasuke, who had been watching the proceedings silently, turned to Toru. "Genocide?" He asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
Toru snorted. "…Hopefully not."
"…More of you?" Kujaku raised an eyebrow. He looked like a man defeated. "To what do I owe this visit?"
"Kujaku, then." Minato started, his tone frosty. "I think you know why I'm here."
"Oh?"
"It's the solvent, isn't it?" Minato asked, the accusation clear in his voice. "You've been using it to accelerate the geological upheavals on Kagutsuchi."
There was a brief pause. Kujaku's face remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise.
Toru nudged Sasuke. "See? It's just missing the billowing cloak and the thunder strikes in the background."
"I don't know." He replied. "This seems pretty level-headed to me."
Kujaku stared at Minato.
"And what makes you say all that?" He finally asked.
"Your solvent isn't just a highly dangerous substance as we initially thought." Minato explained. "It reacts with the hiishi, causing violent geological activities. The kind that we've been witnessing on Kagutsuchi."
Kujaku remained silent, his expression unreadable.
"The solvent, the hiishi, the geological activities - they're all connected!" Minato continued. "And perhaps the current situation has nothing to do with the supernova after all, even. You've been hiding this for years, decades even, haven't you? Using the chaos as a smokescreen for your own interests."
The silence in the room was deafening as Kujaku finally broke into a smile, applauding slowly.
"Very perceptive, stranger." Kujaku said, his voice icy. "What will you do with this knowledge now? Kill me and take over?"
Kiba, his teeth gritted and nostrils flaring, retorted. "We're going to stop you, you piece of shit! — We'll reveal your lies and put an end to this crisis."
Minato stared back at Kujaku, his face unreadable. But he was silent.
Kujaku laughed, the sound echoing ominously in the silent room.
"I see that he, at least, understands the predicament." He said, his voice tinged with amusement. "Can you guess why we've been hiding this truth?"
Kiba's voice was raw with emotion. "Because you're a coward!" He bit out.
Kujaku's smirk turned into a solemn gaze. "On the contrary." He said. "We don't hide it out of fear. We have always hidden it out of necessity, and have done so for decades." He sighed. "Who spread the secret, recently… I do not know."
He took a few steps forward, his gaze drifting towards the large hiishi-glass window overlooking the churning landscape of Kagutsuchi.
"You see, the solvent was an unexpected discovery. One that my old relatives were unprepared for, decades ago." He said. "One that I'm hardly prepared for, even now. Because of its power, its effects on the hiishi. Kagutschi had always been a harsh world, but... Never like this. By the time my ancestors understood, it was too late."
He sighed.
"Some of the solvent fell through their containment zones, began eating through the ground… and the rest is history. Although between the lies, the passage of time... much of it has been lost. I cannot even say with certainty whether this train came before or after the incident." He shook his head. "The deeper the solvent got, the worse things became… and I don't believe it's over yet. The temperatures, the phenomenons… they might still increase as time goes on."
Kujaku turned to face them again, his expression grim.
"It had already irrevocably scarred the geology of Kagutsuchi. It had already wrecked lives. The planet was on the brink of tearing itself apart."
"And so you decided to lie." Sasuke said, nonplussed.
"We did what we had to." Kujaku retorted. "For cohesion. Order."
Kiba exploded, raw emotion cutting through his voice. "Did you?!"
Toru had to restrain him.
"My relatives realized that if people knew the truth, there would be riots, chaos. They couldn't risk more damage, more destruction. And I can't risk anarchy now, either. None of the... people in the lower quarters would know how to maintain the train." Kujaku shook his head.
"You made it so!" Kiba snarled.
"Hardly. My relatives did what any leader would do - they made sense of the messy situation. They gave the people an enemy, a reason for their suffering."
"Something that wasn't their fault! — Your fault!" Kiba's voice was bitter, his fury palpable.
Kujaku paused, his gaze sweeping over each of them. "So, stranger, knowing this, would you still stand against me?"
Kiba's response was a roar of outrage. "THE HELL DO YOU THINK?!"
Kujaku recoiled, grimacing. "Can someone remove this irate beast from my vicinity?" He snapped. "He can hardly understand the gravity of the situation."
"That's a pretty weak pitch, man." Toru remarked.
The silence was so thick that Sasuke almost felt bad for breaking it.
Arms crossed over his chest, he spoke. "Let's say we believe you, that you did this to prevent chaos. It doesn't explain why this solvent was produced in the first place. What's its purpose?"
Kujaku sighed.
"The solvent was a scientific breakthrough. It was meant to enhance the extraction of hiishi — which has existed on this planet naturally, in spite of what is 'known' —, but we never foresaw it would react so violently with the substance."
Toru leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at Kujaku.
"And what's your plan now? Are you just going to keep up this charade indefinitely? Have you been trying to remedy this disaster at all?"
"We've been searching for a solution." Kujaku stated. "Do you think we're proud of this mess?"
"I don't know." Toru shrugged. "It sure seems as though some of your cronies kinda enjoy it."
Kujaku looked away. "...These are necessary evils."
"Oh." Toru nodded. "Of course, then… of course."
Minato cut through the tension with a question:
"And your scientists… your researchers, they just accepted the supernova explanation without question? They never suspected the true cause?"
A bitter laugh escaped Kujaku's lips. "People are more willing to accept a comfortable lie than face an uncomfortable truth. The fear of the supernova gave them something tangible to cling to."
To Kiba, hearing the man seemingly so calm and collected… the man who seemed to feel justified… nearly made something in him snap.
When he spoke, his voice was trembling with a mixture of anger and desperation.
"But don't you see?! Our world is already in chaos! People are scared, starving, and suffering." He breathed out raggedly. "Supernova or solvent, it doesn't change our reality. How is your lie serving them?"
There was a pause.
Kujaku's gaze wandered to the window, looking out onto the devastated landscape of Kagutsuchi.
"We made mistakes. Catastrophic ones. But we've been working to set them right, not for our sake, but for Kagutsuchi. For our people."
This time, Toru let him punch him.
A few times, for good measure.
Kiba lunged forward, knuckles clenched white and eyes blazing. "YOU-"
He was cut off by Toru, who quickly stepped in and grabbed him by the arm, holding him back. Despite the strength behind Kiba's anger, he was easily restrained.
(Toru had been through this dance before — possibly in bars.)
Kujaku watched the display of raw emotion with a sour grimace, rubbing his already bruising jawline with a sigh. "I can see your diplomacy needs some work." Kujaku said, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his voice.
"Damn you!" Kiba roared, his anger so potent it seemed to vibrate in the air around them. "I wish I'd never heard a word of this… this madness!"
Yet, even faced with Kiba's fury, a smile began to edge its way onto Kujaku's lips.
His gaze, however, was directed at Minato, Sasuke, and Toru. "Regardless of what you might think of me right now, I realize I might need your help." He confessed.
Minato raised an eyebrow.
Toru, on the other hand, was less inclined to hold his tongue. "I can't quite see the benefit in assisting you, man. The people of Kagutsuchi, sure. As for you..."
His words trailed off, the implication left hanging in the heavy silence.
Kujaku's head dipped in a subtle nod, his eyes reflecting a mix of resignation and resolve. "My fate isn't important here. It never has been. Living, dying..."
Minato crossed his arms over his chest. "Forgive me if I don't entirely believe that, given your track record."
Toru found himself considering a few things. The man was guilty, there was no question about it. His actions, no matter how he justified them, had caused untold suffering.
Yet, there was also no denying that Kujaku's intimate understanding of the crisis might prove invaluable in resolving it.
For the time being, at least. Until he could pass his knowledge on to others.
"Perhaps…" Toru started, turning his gaze on Kujaku, studying him. "Perhaps, there is a way you could be of use."
Kiba recoiled as if physically struck, a look of disbelief etching across his features.
"Are you out of your mind?!" He spat, pointing an accusatory finger at Kujaku. "This man's responsible for everything! He's the enemy!"
Ignoring Kiba's outrage for a moment, Minato continued, his tone measured.
"Kujaku knows the ins and outs of this mess. He understands the solvent, the hiishi… He's a useful figure to have working under you publicly… and he brings with him a decent chance at fixing the mess he took part in."
"I don't care!" Kiba countered, his voice tight with barely restrained anger. "You can't possibly trust him to just accept becoming an underling!"
Toru blinked.
"Trust…? I'm not suggesting we trust him, Kiba." Toru clarified, leveling his gaze with the other man. "I'm suggesting we make him."
Kiba was taken aback, his brows furrowing as he digested Toru's words. "Use him?" He echoed, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his tone.
"We use him." Toru confirmed. Kujaku's eyes shifted. Toru could tell the man was beginning to grasp what he was suggesting, even though he wasn't sure about the 'how' yet. And while he saw dying for a cause a noble thing… that was a different thing altogether. "It's far from a perfect victory, but in this situation, it might be the best we've got, short of taking everyone away directly."
And he had the feeling that they wouldn't even want to leave.
"Are we going to extract his memories?" Sasuke asked, attempting to clarify Toru's ambiguous statement.
"That would be tricky without killing him — and creating chakra coils for him, forcing him to create a clone to do so would take too long. Perhaps if Ino were here…" Toru shook his head. "No. The classic, then…"
His gaze shifted back to Kujaku, who now seemed entirely alert, a glimmer of sweat trickling down the side of his face.
It was clear that he understood what Toru was hinting at: brainwashing.
There was a brief pause as Kiba weighed his words, and the room was thick with tension.
"The people will need someone else to lead them through the change." Toru said, looking him in the eye. "This society going to change a lot — and it's going to be abrupt enough. Focus your efforts on that part, Kiba."
And though his anger still simmered just below the surface, Kiba gave a terse nod, accepting the reality of their dire circumstances.
"…Fine." He rasped out at last, glaring at them. "But that's only temporary. He will be judged by the people."
Toru returned the nod. His decision had not hinged on Kiba's approval, but he appreciated it nonetheless.
"I… apologize for this, Kujaku." He said, not sounding particularly sorry. "Until we find a better world for these people — if they even want to leave, that is —, you're going to have to try your best to fix things here. Teach others how to work this machine. Afterwards…"
Toru shrugged nonchalantly.
His Sharingan spun, higher and higher.
Kujaku screamed, until he didn't anymore.
…
Toru sighed.
He was somewhat bad at addressing the remaining problems, but Sasuke wasn't.
"Manipulating Kujaku's mind is only the tip of the iceberg." Sasuke began, his tone steady. "The public revelation of the truth is a crisis waiting to happen. He had a point about order, as bad as it sounds."
Toru nodded. "We have to manage the fallout too, then. I was thinking we could use Kujaku's influence to gradually introduce the truth. It should help with the former ruling class, at least, if not with the rest of the people."
Sasuke pondered this for a moment. "If it's done cautiously, it could work. It could also create more problems.
"Also, the geological damage caused by the solvent isn't something we can neglect. Reversing or managing the damage should be a priority. Kujaku's knowledge may be instrumental in this aspect."
"And the solvent production — if they're still producing more, then." Toru added, rubbing his temples. "I wouldn't be surprised."
"The people need to control it, if so. Or rather, eliminate its use." Sasuke said, his thoughts already moving to the next point. "Then, as you said, there will be the political fallout. We need to ensure a steady transition and maintain order as the entire structure changes."
Toru sighed. "And of course, figure out how to address the hiishi thing in the meantime." Then brightening up: "Do you think they can go without—"
"I doubt it." Sasuke smirked. "Problems do seem to be piling up, don't they?"
Toru gave a half-hearted chuckle. "They always do."
Sasuke's face turned serious again. "Also, let's not forget the people that have been left to rot. They'll need food, shelter, medical aid…—"
Perhaps Minato found himself a bit reassured, in spite of it all.
There had been no Fire Beasts at all.
No real kami influence either, it seemed. Or at least not anymore.
Hanabi had realized it a while ago, but with Toru communicating the rest of the information, she found herself on a journey to the center of earth.
Because apparently, most of this mess had happened when the solvent began eating its way through the Earth's outer core.
Destroying the magnetic field, allowing the planet to be bombarded by radioactive solar winds, sinking parts of the earth's mantle…
Sighing, she flew toward the location Toru had given her.
Supposedly, the hole was a shaft going straight to the center of Earth.
Once she was there, hours later, it was quite easy to observe, actually.
The rock around the hole had been compressed into something extremely dense, and the same thing went, deep down.
She went down the hole, fast. And it took her more hours, going as fast as she could. At the very least, going out would be easier.
The rocky shaft turned into more rock, and later on, into light.
They were diamonds, pure diamonds from the Earth's core.
And then she knew she was floating, almost weightless, and had to adjust for the shift in dynamics.
She passed something large, something that made her eyes hurt — something that looked like a great spear. And she didn't know what to make of it.
Kilometers before she reached, she saw a blob of something, in the middle of the cavern it had dug.
The solvent.
And its dissolving process had been halted. Perhaps it was the pressure affecting it, or perhaps it simply wasn't as universal as they had believed it was.
In any case, it was not dissolving at all… or very slowly.
Letting out a weary sigh, she did what this world's natives never could.
Hanabi focused the Mangekyō's power and willed the solvent into non-existence.
As Hanabi returned to the group, she noticed the very subdued Kujaku amidst the trio. His glazed expression told her all she needed to know.
She raised an eyebrow. "…Did I miss the part where we make Kujaku spill his secrets?"
That was the only part she cared about.
"Yup." Toru nodded.
"Fuck you, then. Also, where are we…?" Hanabi asked. "It's even darker —" Her eyes flashed. "…Underwater, really?"
"Yes." Sasuke nodded. "It's part of the train's cycle, apparently." He said, absentmindedly.
Neither of them were truly paying any attention, going through a list of the things they needed to do. And so did Minato.
Hanabi smiled to herself.
"Why the train is going underwater, you ask? It was survival. A strategic necessity." Kujaku began.
"I didn't ask him anything — Oh well."
Seizing the opportunity, Hanabi slid down to rest her back against Toru's, her eyelids heavy. He barely seemed to care. Either he hadn't noticed — no, he probably just had noticed her state of exhaustion.
"No more Super Hanabi shit?" He asked, sounding amused.
"Not today." She admitted, and noticed Minato hide a smile. "Has Kujaku been a very talkative boy the whole time I've been away?"
"Quite." Sasuke confirmed.
She was exhausted, sure, but Hanabi decided she might as well listen to the explanation.
Kujaku painted a picture of a world drastically altered by the harsh tidal heating: "Our polar ice caps melted under the unrelenting heat, resulting in a significant rise in sea levels.
"The train's voyage beneath the ocean… wasn't initially planned, but became a necessity. We used to believe it would help with cooling, at first. The increase in underwater volcanic activity altered the landscape irrevocably."
Kujaku continued, his voice echoing through the compartment, and Hanabi's eyelids began to droop.
"—The train had to adapt. We enhanced its hiishi hull to withstand the pressures and corrosive nature of the sea. Advanced filtration systems were installed to convert seawater into potable water, providing a lifeline for the train's inhabitants—"
Hanabi listened, half-attentive, her consciousness fading in and out.
Kujaku droned on, describing how the Tsukuyomi Mirrors doubled as powerful underwater lights, sonar and radar systems that detected potential seismic threats. Kujaku's words turned into a monotonous hum, a gentle lullaby coaxing her into a deep slumber.
His voice held a slight note of wonder, even through the illusion.
"This underwater voyage has opened up a new world of discovery. Bioluminescent life forms, believed extinct, now thrive in these depths. Our explorations have led us to uncover hiishi deposits deep within the seafloor, too. We use machines to dig them up as we pass, and leave them close by for our next passage."
Yeah, she was almost there.
"—as I said, the cooling properties of the ocean depths providing an additional benefit for the hiishi engine—"
The train continued its underwater voyage through the submerged volcanic terrain.
For Hanabi, this tale of adaptation and whatever else blurred into the distant echo of dreams.
lensdump:
i C03Sge : Of Cats and Dogs
i C03lca : More Cats, More Dogs