The Peaceful Realm
"The Ark has two primary objectives as it navigates the inter-realm pathway known as Ame-no-ukihashi.
"The first objective is to reach the sacred realm of Takamagahara, which exists beyond our dimension. Takamagahara is where the kami congregate, a place where violence is made impossible.
"The second objective is to rescue Sakura. That place is critically important for this reason. It is the only place where we can engage the kami in peaceful negotiations regarding Sakura's whereabouts and safe return.
"Despite its grand name, — stop laughing — the Ark is not going to be an elaborate ship. Its design serves one purpose - to safely transport humans imbued with divine energy to Takamagahara.
"The Ark's structure, which is infused with divine energy, should allow us to complete both objectives.
"We will go as soon as Hanabi figures out where that is, exactly."
Heavens' Messengers
The skies of Earth hummed with a symphony of constructs.
Swarms of Orochimaru's sophisticated robots coursed through the world, and they combed through every nook and cranny of the soon to be gone planet.
From the frigid Peaks of Demise to the desert of the west, their mission was not one of surveillance or domination. Although some still said exactly that, in hushed tones, of course. Rather, it was search and rescue.
The machines' task was a simple, difficult one. Every city, every town, every remote hamlet had to be meticulously scanned for signs of life. Of people, still dwelling on the planet's surface.
Their sensors were tuned to the essence of human and animal vitality.
All of the data was being uploaded in real time to the Celestial Ring, and the drones served as the eyes and ears of the collective effort. And people would be sent to find them.
Families huddled in basements, monks secluded in mountain monasteries, isolated tribes in a myriad of settings — no stone was left unturned, no soul overlooked.
The same offer that had been made to the rest of the world would be extended to them as well, by a more human hand.
Venture to the Greater Celestial Ring, a bustling society free from the wrath of the kami and filled with promise; leap into an unknown parallel universe, a fresh start in a realm strikingly similar yet undeniably different from their own; or remain and face the consequences of the storm kami's wrath, accepting the planet's doom.
The drones were silent, relentless sentinels in both day and night; ceaseless in their search for life.
ARK
The problem with having a terrifyingly powerful mind-reading wife was that you had a terrifyingly powerful mind-reading wife.
It was also one of the most amazing things about the whole thing. She was kind and intelligent, driven yet compassionate, fiercely loyal and stunningly beautiful. And her beauty wasn't just skin deep; her soul outshined even her physical allure. She was patient, strong, understanding, funny and caring.
Above all, she was Ino, his Ino. She was the remarkable woman who had seamlessly integrated herself into his life since their childhood. For her, words could hardly express the depth of his gratitude.
Uzumaki Naruto did not think these thoughts because he felt as though he was being held at metaphorical knife-point.
…He was in such a situation, however.
Because he had decided there was no point in trying to sugarcoat it.
"I think…" Naruto hesitated, if only slightly. "I think I'm starting to have feelings for her."
There was no question who 'her' was.
Ino had insinuated it a few times before. It turned out she was right, and he simply had been too dumb to hear the warning bells.
There was a pause, and then Ino's laughter filled the room, a sharp and harsh sound.
"No shit, dumbass." Ino growled, her icy-blue eyes holding his gaze. "You think I haven't had the chance to hear your confused thought process since the very beginning…?"
Naruto grimaced. There was a long silence.
He didn't even bother saying anything stupid like "I'm not going to do anything," or "I'm sure it's going to pass," or "I'm sorry," no dumb "It just happened," — or an even dumber, insensitive "You knew what you signed up for."
She heard him think echoes of such traitorous thoughts, however.
"I'm going to strangle you." Ino stated, entirely too softly.
Naruto sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair. "…Well, that's only fair. It's on me, not her—" He was about to speak some more, but she cut him off.
"Don't talk to me right now." She stated. "We'll talk about this again. Later. There are more important things at stake. The world, for one."
…
"I nipped this entire awkward back and forth in the bud for you, by having you two go together." Hanabi stated, barely bothering to open her eyes from her midair trance.
The same way she barely bothered with clothing or modesty, evident from her slitted black and gold dress, accentuating her distracting, sculpted thighs. "You don't have to thank me."
She looked relieved, as if a heavy burden was nearly lifted from her shoulders. It meant she was close to finding a resolution to the issue with Sakura.
Good.
Naruto huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "…Was I supposed to thank you?"
Hanabi's smile broadened, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "I just told you not to." She shrugged lightly, an air of nonchalance surrounding her.
Naruto knew that look; she believed she had put the right pieces into motion.
Her next words confirmed it. "There was no way this was not going to happen, knowing you, Yoisen… and Ino. I got the ball rolling so we don't have to spend the next hundred years waiting while Ino seethes."
In spite of her nonchalance, there was a trace of sympathy in Hanabi's voice.
…It was slight, though.
Naruto knew her better than he knew himself. It was obvious she truly thought that sending Yoisen to accompany him was doing all of them a favor.
…Perhaps he had needed a little break. Still.
"This is not half as clever as you think it is, Hanabi." He said with mild confusion, light exasperation… and the same fondness as ever. He had to fight back an irritated smile.
Hanabi's smile turned into a knowing smirk. "I never pretended it was particularly clever. Just effective."
"…How would you even know that…?"
She turned to look at him. In the day's light, he saw her eyes. They were bright, thoughtful, and perfectly, entirely confident.
"I simply do."
…
"I know you." Sasuke said, when he glanced at Naruto's exasperated expression.
Because of exactly that, there was a trace of amusement in Sasuke's eyes, as his muscles strained. He toiled, the sweat dripping from his brow onto the fertile soil below.
"What did Hanabi do, now?" He asked, entirely too gleeful, happy for a distraction, and even more so for one which landed Naruto in trouble.
He didn't look at Naruto, his focus remaining on the land unfolding before him.
Toru, who was a clone, tilted his head toward Naruto. "Did the last planetary crush to date not go too well, bro?"
"Go fuck yourselves." Naruto grunted out. "Do you want this chakra refill or not, Sasuke…?"
"Not that much." Sasuke stated. "If I ever felt like getting chakra refills from a dangerous sociopath, I'd rather ask Orochimaru."
Naruto chuckled, in spite of himself. "My, all of you are really throwing shit at me today, huh. Good one… Good one. You're still going to get it."
Toru grinned. "Phras—"
"Don't feel the need."
…
"Your nose is bleeding, Hanabi." Ino said, with slight concern. "Have you been pushing yourself too hard again? That's too much — There's no need for that, Toru can—"
Hanabi's hand flashed up, and soon, there was no blood there at all.
"I really don't know what you mean. And… from you, really?" She shook her head. "Besides, Sakura won't find herself. We're this close."
Ino closed her eyes. "…As you say."
Working under the artificial sky of the Inner Ring, the Earth and Water teams were laboring day and night.
Their mission was nothing short of expanding, recreating home, away from home. Away from divine caprices.
Both teams made good use of the empowered Zetsu and the drones, of course.
The Earth team shaped the landscapes, bringing in the right textures, attempting to capture the unique essence of terrestrial habitats.
The Water team wrestled with mimicking the intricate aquatic ecosystems of Earth, striving to engineer rivers that flowed, lakes that stilled, and oceans that roared just as they did back home.
Their task was vital, and their commitment unwavering: they worked hard to make the alien seem familiar, the celestial feel earthly.
...
Amidst the hum of the myriad of strange devices and the chatter of fellow passengers, a small family huddled together, their eyes glued to the viewing port.
Far away in the distance, the Earth was nothing but a speck of blue light, and seemed no larger than a marble, as though it could vanish into the inky black void at any time.
The youngest, a girl with curious eyes, looked around her.
"Is that where we're going to live, mom?"
The mother, eyes welling up with both longing and tentative hope, nodded and pulled her daughter into a comforting hug. "Yes, darling."
...
Biwako examined the slender device in her hands, her eyes narrowed at the shimmering holographic interface.
Asuma watched her with an amused smile, his arms crossed.
"So, I just talk to it, and it will… do things?" Biwako asked, skepticism clear in her voice.
Asuma chuckled, and nodded affirmatively. "Again… Yes, Mother."
"…I don't get it."
"Neither do I."
...
In the high-tech medical facility, Tsunade stood surrounded by streams of holographic data, her brows knotted in a blend of irritation and confusion.
With a deep sigh of exasperation, she swept her hand through the holo-screen, scattering the information. "Back in my day, we had paper." She crossed her arms, grumbling.
Hashirama, who had always wished to heal rather than harm, but had never been able to because of his talent for the art of breaking men, laughed warmly. It felt free, and he could finally be who he wished to be.
While he might not have been Tsunade's quickest learner, his dedication was unquestionable.
Not that he was adapting to this technological landscape any more easily than she was.
"Sorry, Karin." Naruto's voice filtered through the commotion of the busy command center.
His words were almost lost amidst the orchestral cacophony of alerts, the relentless drone of machine hums, and the occasional chatter of operators.
Karin blinked. Another close, helping stabilize the situation down on Earth, dispelled, relaying more information. Her hand paused mid-air, fingers just barely brushing a holographic display that shimmered with layers of data.
"What for?" She asked, a puzzled frown knitting her brows.
"I barely got to see you in the last few days."
The corners of Karin's lips twitched. She shrugged easily. "What's the big deal? We're both pretty busy."
"Even then."
The hustle and bustle of the command center seemed to fade into a background hum, their conversation forming an intimate bubble amidst the commotion.
Karin broke the silence with a big grin.
"Well, come over here then, stupid." She said. "And stay a little bit, we were about to go eat. We can go for a light spar later, too."
The next hour had her questioning the wisdom of her decision, however.
Tension had been escalating from the moment Yoisen stepped into the command center's lunch room, and now it reached a tipping point. It was hardly unexpected, given that Ino was also present.
Karin was well aware of it, which was why she was currently doing her best to keep things contained. Naruto was busy juggling several conversations, as many had questions, ideas to offer.
Hanabi… was somewhere else, again. Sasuke sat rigid in his seat, and he knew who to blame. His eyes were fixed on his plate, unblinking, and he wore a blank expression.
Yoisen sat poised, composed, calmly eating her meal. She was answering someone's question, and Karin caught the tail-end of the conversation.
"—because I did not get to sleep for long, last night."
That was when Ino stiffened, her knuckles whitening around her teacup.
To Sasuke, the lunch room suddenly became silent, the rustling of paper, the clinking of utensils, all of it faded into nothingness. More eyes subtly shifted towards the two women, sensing the underlying tension.
Karin winced too. That was not the sort of answer she had expected, when asking how Yoisen was doing. And she kept her mind so closed off that it was hard for Karin to get a read of what she meant by it.
Ino could delve into it, if she decided to do so, of course, but by the look of things, it didn't seem as though she had any intention of doing so.
"Oh?" A woman from the rescue corps that Karin did not know asked Yoisen. "How are you feeling?"
"Yesterday was a long day." Yoisen continued, oblivious to the strained atmosphere. "I can barely walk or feel my legs — I am terribly sore."
The sharp sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the room as Ino's teacup exploded in her grip.
Hot tea splashed across Sasuke's face, who just hid his face in his hands, muttering to himself as he nullified their heat — a complex Mangekyō application that just two years ago he wouldn't have managed to use in such a removed context.
Ino stood up, growling. She walked away briskly.
"…What is this about, now?" Yoisen asked, frowning.
Karin sighed.
Hebi threw herself under Izuna's high-kick.
The Outer Ring held several training facilities.
This one, dubbed 'Moon Grounds', was a sprawling complex nestled within a unique biome, carefully crafted to mimic a variety of Earth's terrains.
There was a dense forest area with towering trees and undergrowth, a mountainous region with craggy cliffs and deep gorges, and even a large body of water, simulating an ocean with an adjustable tide system.
Hebi understood their intricacies. Some were realistic holographic projections, which could be altered or dismissed at will.
Others, made from physical materials, were stored and could be summoned for use in the training scenarios. It was a blend of real and artificial, giving the facility a chameleonic capability to suit any training need.
There were also the 'Fighting Grounds', at the heart of the place.
A grand colosseum fitted with advanced sensory equipment and adaptable flooring, that allowed the arena to monitor and record sparring sessions for detailed analysis — or simple observation.
It was flanked by a control room that served as a nerve center for the entire facility.
Training schedules were coordinated, environmental simulations were controlled, and safety measures were overseen by a team of skilled technicians and shinobi and non-shinobi instructors.
Including that Uchiha Toru man, Ino and Karin's close friend, the one who gave her the impression he did not want to look her in the eye. As though he saw something else when he glanced at her.
A mostly unassuming man, whose clone — when he bothered to show up at all — seemed more interested in doodling than the actual spar, but still tended to have some useful advice for any of them.
And no one could really ignore that he shared the top of the Taijutsu rankings with that Uzumaki Hanabi woman, when the Emperor himself was just below them.
Then there was the Emperor, who rarely bothered to come here during the crowded hours, mostly because he seemed to halt any ongoing training, whether he arrived without a sound or with the crashing thunder.
People usually came to catch the show — what little of it they could actually see.
In any case, Hebi threw herself under Izuna's high kick.
She noticed his hand jerk up, rising in a half-tiger seal.
His other hand was unsealing that jar he too often carried with him.
Hebi's hand went toward her own, and the Jar of Sins opened up in a flash, drenching both of them in chakra-laden waters.
Izuna sputtered, much like he always did, and he looked like a wet dog.
Boiling chakra erupted out of her, and her body was vibrating with energy. The Kyubi's chakra rushed forth, shrouding her in a cloak of gold.
Hebi blurred forward.
And she was fast. Too fast for Izuna, who barely had the time to summon green chakra. In the blink of an eye, she crossed the distance between them, and her punch slammed into the ethereal ribs.
Izuna flew backwards.
And the snake-tipped chains Hebi had summoned wrapped under one of the ribs, as though both things were entirely physical.
Hebi turned around, tensed, and pulled.
Izuna yowled as he flew through the sky and crashed into the ground, headfirst.
His Susanoo had risen to shield him from a very sore neck. It didn't prevent him from having to climb out of the hole, very ungracefully.
Perhaps he'd have been a sore loser about it — he could be, at times… but one of the snakes had managed to claw its way inside the ribcage.
And because she was ready to cast a quick lightning jutsu upon his drenched form, too.
Izuna sighed. "I give."
He clambered out of the hole fully, dusting himself off.
Both were panting slightly. On her side, it was mostly because using the Kyubi's chakra always left her feeling as though she was sprinting at full speed.
There was a spark of respect in Izuna's eyes, too.
They found a patch of grass to sit down, their backs against the trunk of a man-made tree. The Jar of Sins went back to her waist, its chakra-laden waters resorbing within its confines.
Catching their breath, they let the silence wash over them for a while. The Moon Grounds continued to buzz with activity, further away. As they often did.
Hebi broke the silence. "You talked about your father, last time."
Izuna huffed a tired sound, not quite a laugh or a sigh. "…What of it?"
Hebi picked at the man-made grass. "It felt as though you were trying to share something, that's all."
"Not really." Izuna muttered. "It's a complicated feeling."
"I know." She nodded. "…Made me think of mine, that's it."
"Yours is alive." Izuna pointed out, somewhat bitterly. Then he palmed his face, groaning. "…Sorry."
"No need to apologize." Hebi replied, shrugging slightly. "It's true, my father, Orochimaru, is alive, but…"
"Is he a difficult man?"
"Yeah." Hebi laughed, soft and without humor. She plucked a blade of grass, twirling it between her fingers. "As cryptic as they come. He's not going to win any Father of the Year awards."
Izuna smiled slightly. "…My father was not bad." His voice drifted off, lost in thought. His eyes were a bit distant. "He was just… set in his ways. Believed so strongly in the Uchiha clan's strength. His teachings were harsh… sometimes too harsh, but I guess he was preparing us for the world."
"Preparing you, huh?" Hebi echoed, her gaze wandering to the vast horizon of the Celestial Rings. "I guess it was the same for me. And I suppose they did, in the end. We're here, aren't we? Surviving."
"Surviving." Izuna repeated. "…Is there anything else you'd rather have learned…?"
Hebi made a vague sound. "Well, thriving is an—"
Both of them turned toward an incoming chakra.
Izuna, because he was wondering who that newcomer was… Hebi, because she knew.
Her face closed off again.
A man burst on the scene, with wild blond hair, arms folded. He had horizontal pupils and golden eyes; had come already in Sage Mode.
Gama had come ready for a battle.
"Hey, bitch."
"Oh, fuck me." Hebi muttered.
"Now, now." Gama tutted, chiding her with his finger; his angry eyes were at odds with his calm demeanor. Hebi tensed, and Gama continued.
"One night was enough."
The sun hung high, casting a warm golden hue over more than just that one training ground.
Naruto stood in the center, bouncing lightly on his heels, eager anticipation evident in his eyes. To his left, Karin had a playful smirk dancing on her lips. To his right, Hanabi stretched, her eyes calculating and cool.
"Alright." Naruto began, hands on his hips, "It's been a little while since we've done this. As always, no hard feelings and not too much blood, okay—"
"Why did you look at me?" Hanabi asked pointedly.
"…What?"
"When you said 'no hard feelings.'" Hanabi said. "You looked at me. Are you implying I'm going to lose? Me? Have you ever checked the rankings…?"
"I haven't."
Karin chuckled, pulling her hair into a high ponytail. "She's right. I make no promises, Naruto. Especially with how often you leave your guard down when you think you have a spar in the bag."
"…It's sparring, not a ninja murder match."
"Hm." Hanabi then smirked, rotating her shoulders. "Don't worry, I won't beat you up too badly."
"Bah." Naruto said, laughing. "Playful jabs. We'll see who's laughing when we're done!"
No advanced Lightning Armor versions, no Mangekyo Chakra Mode, no Karin breaking jaws with fists of hyper-dense stone.
Naruto dashed forward, aiming a strike at Hanabi, who nimbly sidestepped.
It was a ruse, however — Naruto's real target was Karin, who'd already begun to move. In a swift motion, she deflected his approach, throwing him off balance. Hanabi slipped in then, hands flashing through the air.
Soon, the training ground was a blur of movement — punches thrown, weaker jutsu cast, and more laughter than any real spar should contain.
It was pleasant, a dangerous thing of mutual affection that would only make sense to ninja.
It wasn't long before either were stained with sweat and dirt, of course.
"I'm more of a Ninjutsu type of guy!" He shouted, laughing, crouching under a powerful knee strike.
Karin laughed, and she slammed an elbow against his forearm. "Keep on telling yourself that."
Hanabi rolled her eyes as she whirled around, though her smile betrayed her amusement. "For an old man, you still have decent moves."
"Old man…?" He asked, barely deflecting a palm that would have made him fold in two. "You know that hurts, Hanabi."
"Does it really?" She asked innocently, sticking to his hand with chakra and grabbing. "I'm sorry. I simply couldn't resist."
Karin lashed out with a kick that struck him, and shattered the stone under them. "Shall we call it here?"
"Maybe we should." Hanabi smiled, watching as Naruto climbed out of the hole easily. "You know how his knees get if he goes too hard on them."
"Well…" Naruto said, frowning. "I suppose this old man still has one more round in him."
"Here's the seed." Orochimaru said, offering it to Sasuke and Hashirama. "Engineered for perfection."
Nearby, Aru made a derisive noise.
"…Human perfection, that is." Orochimaru finished, trying not to roll his eyes.
"Oh, that is a perfect oxymoron." The Eldar laughed.
Orochimaru continued to speak, as though he hadn't heard a word. "Plant it at the center of the Inner Ring, in the ocean. Make it bloom. The World Tree will continue to grow on its own, and should be able to blend nature energy into the atmosphere. Hopefully."
"We will take great care of it." Sasuke said, taking it cautiously.
Hashirama gave them a wide smile. "By the way, you guys seem like great friends, how did you meet?"
Orochimaru and Aruni shared a look.
…
The night was dark, bathed only by the radiant glow of Ulthwé's Webway portals.
Their ethereal glow cast flickering shadows across the barren field.
The air shimmered with an energy unseen to Mon-keigh eyes, resonating all too clearly to Elthranil, the vigilant Eldar Farseer from the craftworld of Ulthwé.
His staff, a conduit of raw psychic power, vibrated with an intensity that reflected the weight of his foresight.
His eyes, wide and unblinking, observed a silhouette shrouded in the darkness of the night.
He looked at the young Eldar whose actions had forced this entire grave situation.
When he spoke, he pushed down on the sadness he felt, a deep regret that transcended the weight of duty.
When he spoke, his voice was as hard as the obsidian core of Ulthwé itself.
"Aruni, you have transgressed against the very core of our teachings." He said.
Aruni kept silent.
"You've meddled with the Warp, inviting perils that could unravel the fabric of our existence. If left unchecked, your reckless path might lead you to consort with the Drukhari."
The final word was spat out like venom, a curse upon their race.
Aruni's eyes ignited with a fierce defiance. "I did what was necessary, Elthranil!"
The Farseer's reply reverberated through the still night.
"By risking Ulthwé? By leaving us vulnerable to the whims of the Commorrites?"
"I would never!" Aruni retorted hotly. "I sought knowledge, power! Not for selfish gains, but to shield our people from the stagnation that binds them, to rip away the veil that blinds us to the true horrors of the universe!"
Elthranil shook his head, his eyes reflecting a deep regret "I have seen the future. You are not to be in it."
Aruni stiffened.
Elthranil continued. "Was the pursuit of such knowledge worth the potential ruination of Ulthwé? Worth the possible extinction of our race?"
Aruni held Elthranil's gaze, his posture unyielding.
"If it provides us a fighting chance, a means to rise from the ashes of our past, to stand face-to-face with the universe and our enemies… then yes!"
"Then you leave us no choice, Aruni." Elthranil concluded, sorrow lacing his stern tone. "Your pursuit of this… enlightenment has led you astray, down a path we cannot follow. For this, I must declare you a traitor to Ulthwé. Our laws are clear; such betrayal demands execution."
Aruni returned Elthranil's stare unblinkingly, his jaw set in defiance.
A heavy silence fell over the desolate field.
The Farseer's gaze was steady, but beneath the veneer of stoicism, a deep well of sorrow bubbled.
Aruni had once been his pupil, a promising seer who he had hoped would walk the path of righteousness.
Right now, their relationship was marred by betrayal and regret.
"I am sorry, Aruni." Elthranil said quietly. "It… pains me deeply to see you in this predicament. I had always thought the world of you… and I had dreamed of the day you would stand by our side as a beacon of hope for Ulthwé."
Aruni held Elthranil's gaze, defiance still burning in his eyes, yet a flicker of sorrow touched his features.
That he was the one to decree his end, in spite of protocol, was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Your family…" Elthranil began, his voice soft. "They will not bear the shame of your actions. I will see to it. Your execution will be swift and private, your body given to the Infinity Circuit as tradition demands. There will be no public spectacle, no lasting stain upon your lineage."
A cold wind swept across the battlefield as Elthranil uttered his final words.
Aruni only nodded his head, once. "As you decree, Farseer."
The last word was laced with disdain, of course.
Elthranil's gaze lingered on Aruni for a long moment before he lifted his staff, signaling the commencement of the private execution ritual.
The air around them began to vibrate with a subtle hum; soothing and somber.
Elthranil focused his psychic energy, manipulating the flows of the Warp to create a singular point of concentrated power at the tip of his staff.
This was in accordance with the Eldar way, a swift and merciful end to a life no longer in harmony with the Craftworld.
Aruni stood tall, his eyes locked on Elthranil's.
The energy at the tip of Elthranil's staff began to solidify into a point of light.
And then, dark light.
What was that…?
Something his foresight hadn't warned him about…? An anomaly.
Elthranil whirled around, psychic powers ready to smite the intruder—
And the woman, who could only blink in surprise, stabbed him in retaliation.
He froze.
She then nodded to the dark portal itself, as though she had cleared the way; and a small child, with suspiciously round ears, stepped out of it.
The child Mon-keigh had a serpentine allure, Elthranil thought.
The woman, whose ears Aruni could not see, motioned toward the frozen Elthranil. Who tried to free himself, reaching within, reaching without; trying to stop whatever it was that was corroding his body from the inside.
Was this bone…?
The child-like Mon-keigh drew closer, and Elthranil suddenly had a terrible feeling. There was something foreboding about the creature.
Did these inferior beings finally learn something worth using in a war…?
The Farseer felt an intense pain radiating from within, as though his bones were turning to dust.
"Do not come any closer—"
Something had already grabbed him. Panic swept over him, but his body was immobilized, bound by an unseen force.
Elthranil pushed back, forcing himself to regain movement.
Gone were the snake-like slits, replaced by a ripple pattern of concentric circles.
The little monster pulled.
The Farseer felt a profound sense of loss, a part of his being ripped away.
His vast knowledge of the Eldar language, their history, their secrets, was being extracted, stolen by this abomination.
Elthranil summoned every ounce of his willpower to retaliate. He was a Farseer, a master of the Warp, the very fabric of reality.
He lashed back.
Ah.
His soul, the thing was reaching for his soul—
…
"…Pure coincidence." Aru stated, looking away. "He… happens to speak my world's language, and taught me your primitive babble."
"It is as he says." Orochimaru nodded. "We met by pure coincidence."
If Naruto looked exhausted on most days, he at least had the advantage of having strong chakra — and he could make use of timeless realms.
Kaitaro didn't really have that, and he looked more like a walking corpse than the world's Shadow. And the man didn't get the surprise food baskets that Yugito occasionally sent to Naruto on the long office days that she was equally familiar with, either.
It got bad enough that Naruto sent him to rest.
…He tried, at least.
"You need to go and sleep." Naruto sighed.
Kaitaro didn't look up. "You're not my mother."
Naruto put his own report down, irritation evident on his face. "I'm not trying to be, but someone has to tell you. You can't keep burning the candle at both ends."
Kaitaro finally glanced up. "I have so many things to do."
Naruto leaned forward. "And I get that. It doesn't do any good if you work yourself into exhaustion. You won't be able to think straight."
Kaitaro rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure you'd know."
"Actually, I do." Naruto nodded. "And you don't exactly do too well in timeless realms."
Kaitaro grumbled. He still didn't stop.
"…Don't make me call your minder." Naruto warned.
Kaitaro glared at him. Perhaps if they weren't both who they were, it would have been more threatening.
"Don't." He said.
Naruto ignored him entirely. "Shizune!" He called.
Kaitro growled and put his face in his palms. A woman's voice echoed from the stairs: Shizune emerged from the shadows. Naruto pointed at his Shadow, and she got it at once. She frowned slightly.
"…Kaitaro-sama, he is right." She said.
Kaitaro looked up, and his glare softened a bit.
"It's important to fulfill your duties." She said, smiling gently. "But not at the cost of your health."
Naruto nodded proudly. "Do the puppy eyes, please."
Shizune ignored him, something she had thought unthinkable just months ago, and she took a step forward, toward Kaitaro.
"You are the world's Shadow, yes, but… even shadows need rest."
Naruto filed it down for later. Brotherly ribbing, he'd call it. Kaitaro glared at him, as though he understood it.
"But—"
Shizune shook her head, seemingly concerned.
Kaitaro remained silent for a moment, his weary eyes drifting between Shizune and Naruto. Then, with a resigned sigh, he put the files down.
"Fine, fine… I'm going." He grumbled. "Only because she asked nicely."
He rose from his chair, giving Naruto a mock (maybe) glare before following Shizune out of the room.
"He enjoys a good bedtime story." Naruto called out after him.
Kaitaro paused at the doorway, threw a half-hearted scowl back at Naruto before disappearing upstairs.
Shizune let out a muffled chuckle, and went back to her work. If both of them happened to have some free time today, the alternate Tsunade-sama had extended an invitation for coffee.
"…Why did you even show up, frog-boy?" Hebi hissed.
Her leg extended, stretching far beyond what was normally possible, and it slammed into Gama's face.
Then her punch, which might have knocked some teeth loose.
Then a double punch, straight into Gama's most sensitive parts — besides his fragile heart, she thought.
Gama stumbled back, gathering a glowing orb of blue energy between his hands.
"I want you to — Dodge this, bitch!" He growled and launched the projectile.
Hebi didn't bother dodging it.
Instead, she summoned flame to her mouth and the fiery counter-attack stopped the technique from reaching her.
Hebi's fingers moved in a blur, and Gama did his best to anticipate her next attack.
Sweat, pearling on his forehead; he was struggling already.
The sound effects of punches, kicks, and special techniques echoed in the room.
Gama's heart pounded in his chest, not from fear but from adrenaline. Hebi was on the offensive, and she was relentless.
Kick. Kick. Fireball. Fireball. Punch. Dash. Punch. Punch.
Gama barely managed to block the string of attacks. Hebi teleported. In. Out. In. Out. A flurry of confusing attacks, that came from above, from under.
She slipped past his guard.
And then, she was inside, wreaking havoc.
Her combo was devastating. Double punches to his shins, a canceling dash, a spinning kick.
The screen flashed and the words on it were damning:
"Perfect K.O."
Dhalsim won.
Gama threw his controller to the floor in frustration.
It didn't shatter, because he had reinforced it.
Gama thought that he should have gone for a violent ninja fight after all, in spite of his doubt in his own ability to face her — he definitely wanted to hurt her, somehow.
Something in him had tried to take the high road, however.
A spark of cruel amusement flickered in Hebi's eyes, threatening to transform into a full-blown smirk as she studied Gama's livid expression.
He looked like a teapot on the verge of a noisy, messy eruption.
Hebi's eyes twinkled with restrained glee. "You think I'm cheating, don't you?"
Yes, but he hadn't been about to say it. Gama spat.
"And am I?" She replied, her face a placid mask.
"…You are." He decided. "I don't know how, but you're doing it."
"I am not." Hebi said, acidly. "Are we done with your childish games, then?"
Red suffused Gama's face, his emotions boiling over.
"Childish…? Street Fighter VI…?" He growled. It was a game he had spent hours practicing — just in case.
"What?" Hebi cut him off, her voice cool and detached. "Were you expecting me to let you win? Was I supposed to let you make decisions for me…?"
Gama bristled at her tone; he knew what she meant exactly.
"No." He growled. "I expected fair play."
"Fairness?" She almost laughed. "You think life is fair?"
He never had enjoyed being mocked.
"It's a concept you're clearly unfamiliar with." There was a venomous bite to his words, and it wasn't lost on Hebi.
"I've never claimed to play fair, aside from today." She retorted, her icy calm barely containing the simmering anger. He really got under her skin easily. "And you've never bothered to understand the way the world works."
"Ah, that must be why." Gama sneered, his fists clenched in helpless frustration. "The real rules, huh. Rigged ones. That's your game, isn't it?"
The air between them was electric.
"Rules are rules, and rules are made to be broken." Hebi said, as cold and hard as steel. "And perhaps you need to remember that you're not the one setting them in the first place. Adapt… Gama."
"Adapt?" Gama's voice was laced with a bitter laugh. "I suppose I should learn from you." His voice dripped with irony. "Is that how you justify using me? Interesting game strategy… Hebi."
Her eyes flared with a cold fire, her grip tightening on the game console. That he dared, when he was much the same. "It's survival, not strategy, you imbecile—"
Before she could finish, Gama interrupted her with a scoff of his own, a sound that was a bizarre mix of amusement and frustration.
He shook his head, disengaging his gaze from hers, allowing it to drop to the game console with the flashing screen.
"Survival?" He muttered, more to himself than to Hebi. "I suppose you're acing that game too, Hebi."
Her composure was rattled, too.
"Do you think you can take the moral high ground here, you piece of shit?!" She hissed. "When you would have kept me around like a leashed dog?! Just so that you would not have to be alone with your thoughts?"
Gama's face burned. There was a crisp, bitter retort at the back of his mind, and he knew just how much damage he could do, with just the right push.
Hebi had seen the familiar fire in his eyes.
His temper, searing, as he was about to say words that would make the conversation, if it could be called that, spiral downward, until they were back in this familiar zone, and perhaps she would have to beat him up pretty badly, break a few bones.
But he didn't say any of these words in an uncontrollable rage.
Gama picked the console up.
Then he left, walking towards the exit calmly, without a word.
Nights
On the grand expanse of the ocean, tiny figures traced lines under the incandescent glow of the sun, which was a deep, radiant red.
Sailboards danced on the waves like leaves caught in a gentle breeze, while small boats, their sails puffed out in the warm air, glided gracefully on the shimmering azure waters.
The day was drenched in warmth, the sun casting a golden sheen over everything, making the ocean glint like a carpet of crushed sapphires.
It wasn't anything like the kami's drought, however.
The salt-laden breeze wafted in from the sea comfortably. A gentle, refreshing counterpoint to the sunlight that painted everything in its resplendent hues.
It was as though nothing had changed.
As the day surrendered to night, the skies put on another beautiful attire.
The sun's reign ended in a final flourish of scarlet and gold, the horizon blurred where sea met sky.
The sky deepened into a velvety indigo, and the stars became even more visible one by one, pinpricks of radiance against the backdrop of the universe.
The silhouettes of the boats and sailboards became faint, ghostly echoes on the gentle swell of the ocean.
The nocturnal serenade of the waves became the only sound, and it was a soft lullaby.
Earthly worries seemed to melt away, rocked by the timeless rhythm of the sea beneath, and the silent music of the stars above.
...
Sasuke and Hinata strolled along one of the Celestial Ring's floating walkways, their hands interlaced with an ease borne out of years of companionship.
Below them, the sprawling landscape of the Inner Ring stretched out - forests, tranquil lakes, and majestic mountains, an entire world housed within its boundary field.
Sasuke was exhausted, still, but he didn't heed his fatigue.
If Hashirama could do the same thing he had done and still go back to help other people, Sasuke could afford to spend a couple more hours awake.
The view was amazing on its own, but Sasuke's gaze was fixed on Hinata; her lavender eyes, reflecting the beauty around them.
She looked at him, her lips curving into a soft smile that made his heart flutter, just as it did the very first time.
They stopped by a railing, leaning over to take in the panorama of their new home.
Sasuke wrapped his arm around Hinata, pulling her close. In the silence, their hearts communicated volumes.
...
Under the ethereal glow of the artificial moon, Naruto found Ino.
She was sitting alone by the shimmering crystalline lake, contemplative.
As Naruto drew closer, he could see her silhouette, bathed in lunar light, her hair shimmering like spun gold.
The silence of the night was abruptly broken by her soft whisper. "Go fuck yourself, Naruto."
Perhaps it was because he was persistent, perhaps it was because he never really had heeded good advice, but he moved to sit behind her.
His shadow overlapped hers, and he could feel the tension in her body as he gently draped his legs around hers.
She tensed, a low growl escaping her lips, but she didn't pull away, didn't tell him to leave.
He considered this a victory.
And she knew his heart, too — the same way he knew hers. She always had.
They stayed in this quiet, shared moment — underneath the artificial moonlight, beside the glimmering lake.
...
"So as you see, in the first two first years of his reign, Naruto did not only manage to unify the land, shatter the economy entirely, he also managed to get our planet destroyed, forcing humanity into space… where his reign promises to offer a tighter, crueler hold than ever." Toru's clone nodded at his audience of few — the younger Uchiha brothers, and Konohamaru, mostly. "But hey, at least he's going to get himself a new lover, right?"
Konohamaru frowned. Uchiha Naruto frowned, too. "…Is it a good thing?" He asked.
The younger Sasuke hit his ribs with his elbow, for daring to ask such an obvious question.
Konohamaru, racking his brains, blinked in realization. "…So Naruto really was trying to seduce Uchiha Mikoto?"
There were three pairs of red eyes upon him, and it was usually a person's last sight — besides the horrific illusions that were likely to ensue.
Toru froze. "…What the fuck? Auntie…? Where did you hear this?"
"Sasuke — No, not you, your older brother." Konohamaru stated.
"Well you heard wrong." Toru said.
"But—"
"You — heard — wrong."
"…Okay. Please don't make me forget about this—"
"I wouldn't. Who wants to learn some cool Fire jutsu — Oh, I see two at least! That's right, it's now or never! I'll be leaving for a short trip, after all!"
Trees
"Something looks entirely wrong about them." Toru (clone) said.
Naruto grunted in answer. Toru could hide it, but he was a bit of a perfectionist. "Wrong? Like your physique?"
Toru examined himself, his eyes drifting down to his physique. Despite surviving on Cubes — touted as the epitome of nutritional science, though Toru had his doubts — his frame had filled out due to relentless training. He wasn't even skinny anymore, really.
"Toru is… right." Hanabi said, sounding as though it pained her to admit it.
Naruto grunted again. They had done a much better job with the seas, it was true.
"…They really don't look like clouds." Yugito remarked.
Naruto grunted… again. Of course the Cloud woman would take issue with clouds.
Yushiro babbled something and pointed at the distant stars.
Naruto grunted. He was doing a lot of that, really. "I'll take you there so you can have a better look, someday."
He asked for Karin's opinion about the clouds, instead.
"…It's… It's okay." Karin said, a bit weakly. "I'm sure the people won't mind too much."
…That settled it.
If even Karin sounded as though she had to try to believe her own words, Naruto knew he had messed up.
He waved his hand and the clouds dissipated.
Toru groaned. "Oh, come on…" He whined. "Why did you go and do that?"
"Shut up." Naruto grunted. "If these clouds didn't look like clouds, I might as well start from scratch again."
"Well, yeah, but still."
There was no point in trying to make this look and feel like Earth if the entire thing was ruined by boxy-looking fucking clouds.
"Just give your artist's opinion on how to do them right." Naruto grumbled. "Please."
It worked: Toru brightened up at the magic word. 'Artist,' not 'please.'
"Well, sure… I know you really don't have much of a taste for these things, so let me help you…"
As they continued to work on just that, something bloomed, far away.
Karin was the first to notice it.
In the far distance, further than she could see, and in the heart of the Inner Ring, a miraculous spectacle unfolded.
Something she could not see, but only feel, for now.
The World Tree had taken root, drawing sustenance from the highly advanced hydroponics and life-support systems.
And chakra rose, gentle, intense and undulating; Sasuke's, Hashirama's, and that of many others, including Zetsu.
The tree bloomed against the backdrop of the sky, she was sure of it. She could feel it.
And she could feel it through the bond, through Sasuke's echoed amazement.
It was reaching up, impossibly high, its limbs majestic, arching toward the sunlight filtering through the domain's protection and the dome's transparent barrier.
A gargantuan trunk, a combination of naturally grown wood and expertly integrated artificial supports, glowed softly.
The tree shimmered with a myriad of hues, its iridescent leaves reflecting the spectral light from the stars.
From its roots, a wealth of micro flora and fauna had burst forth, turning the undergrowth into a thriving ecosystem.
Its limbs were lush with foliage, adorned with alien flowers, filling the circulating air with a rich, vibrant perfume.
Hundreds of smaller saplings and plants, their lively foliage forming a verdant canopy. The air around it was alive.
The sight of the Great World Tree was breathtaking, but it offered more than just awe.
An inexplicable sense of familiarity had permeated the hearts of both Sasuke, Hashirama, and those who witnessed it.
As if through some deep-rooted evolutionary memory, the sight, the smell, the feel of the majestic tree was slowly rekindling a primal connection.
To the earth.
Or what was now their home, rather.
The tree stood, perhaps as a testament to humanity's roots; a symbolic bridge linking the past, when nature was the cradle of life… to a future where humanity stretched its potential to the stars.
Karin smiled to herself and knew in her heart that they would be alright.
...
"Are you… Ashina's niece?"
Yoisen glanced up to see Hashirama and his wife, and she wondered about what to say exactly.
Yoisen looked up, her gaze shifting between Hashirama and his wife. She pondered her response. Over the centuries, she had donned countless identities, but the role of 'Ashina's niece' was one she hadn't expected to revisit.
Judging from Sasuke's vaguely annoyed looks, as or recently — aimed at himself, more than her —, she knew Hashirama wasn't the only one grappling with fragmented memories of her past identity.
Uzumaki Ashina had never known the full extent of who she was. Yet, when she had appeared a year after his rise to leadership, he had sensed her value as an ally. And he had been more than willing to play along—
"It is you." Mito said, in amazement. "Isami-san."
This time, Yoisen sighed, and began searching for a valid reason to send them away. She thought one might just work.
"Yes, it is me." She said. "Please, call me Yoisen now. Times have… changed, I suppose."
...
Hashirama leaned back, stretching his arms after placing the last Go stone on the board.
"Ah, victory is sweet!"
Madara scowled at the board, his eyes narrowing. "Luck. Nothing more."
"Skill, Madara, skill." Hashirama corrected, grinning widely.
Madara's voice turned icy. "I said you got lucky."
"Or you were careless." Izuna offered, from behind him. Madara clenched his fist, contemplating the satisfaction of hurling the board at his brother but ultimately refraining.
Tobirama, who had been watching from the sidelines, spoke in his usual detached manner. "Go is a game of strategy, not a battlefield."
Madara's eyes were on Tobirama, ready to bleed red. There was a reason why he preferred when that man stayed back home.
"Maybe that's why you lost." Tobirama added, unfazed.
"I'd relish the chance to see you try to best me on either field."
"Don't mind him, brother. He's just trying to get under your skin." Izuna, who had been doing the exact same thing one second ago, said.
Mito, who had been engrossed in a scroll, finally looked up. "Why must everything be a contest?"
Hashirama smiled. "A little competition is healthy."
"Or exhausting."
...
"Hashirama says you're our 'granddaughter from the future.'" Uzumaki Mito said with a warm smile.
Who had told them…? It certainly had been herself. And she had no intention of doing so, either.
From the pout on Hashirama's face, he had only learned of it recently, too.
Tsunade, slightly taken aback, could only blink at the woman who didn't seem any older than she was herself.
Her first instinct, of course, was to be a smartass about it, and say something about the lines between past and future being blurred entirely now.
The sort of smartass remark she would have made around her grandmother as an unruly teenager, that would have gotten her the same fond smile — that she had only later on realized was not one of admiration for her wittiness.
"That's… uh, correct." Tsunade managed to respond, fumbling with her words. "I'm Tsunade, and I was the Fifth Hokage."
Mito looked at Tsunade, her smile deepening.
Tsunade had expected her fond pride, but to see it was—
"What's a Hokage…?" Mito asked, tilting her head.
"I…" Tsunade hesitated.
Konoha had just been founded, there. She had thought things would be more of the same, but…
Hashirama beamed. "Oh, it's like the Fire Emperor title that Tobirama and Izuna decided upon. Remember? Me and Madara wanted to make it—"
Tobirama scoffed. Likely at Madara's mention.
"Ah, that." Mito sighed. "I do not mean to be disparaging, but I believe I will side with Tobirama on this one."
Hashirama slumped. Next to him, his brother continued to stare at Tsunade with these sharp eyes of his. Sharp, and analytical.
"You confirm it?" Hashirama asked.
Tobirama glanced at his brother. "She has certain… traits. The way she holds herself, the focus in her eyes. It's like looking at a distant reflection. Her chakra, too. She is clearly of our bloodline. Yours, and Mito's, evidently."
Hashirama smiled. "Oh?" He asked, grinning like a cat. "Is it so obvious, to you?"
Tobirama looked at him, squinting. He was all too familiar with Hashirama's attempts at teasing. "Yes."
"Why did you not notice last time, then—"
"Silence."
Hashirama scowled. Mito rolled her eyes.
Tsunade smiled. She saw much of the people who would have become her grandparents in these two… and there was still the immaturity of youth, too. Different people.
"Are you an only child?" Mito then asked. "I have always wanted a big family, you know…"
"Ah." Tsunade's smile dimmed a bit. "I had a brother once."
Mito's expression turned somber. "…I apologize for my thoughtlessness."
"Do not worry about it." Tsunade said. "It… happened a long time ago. I came to… well, no. Not to terms — But it gets easier."
Hashirama just nodded solemnly. "…Time has a way of doing that, imperfect as it is."
Days passed. With the evacuation mostly complete, the key figures responsible for dismantling Agehacho-Yosei convened on the Celestial Ring.
Voyage
"…Okay, why the fuck are you glaring at me, now…?" Naruto asked Toru, frowning. "You just came back. Did something happen with Kakashi?"
They were gathered, doing the last-minute checks on the Ark.
"Don't." Toru (original) muttered. "Don't even look at me, actually. How could you, man…?" Aunt Mikoto, really?
Karin squinted. "I really don't get it."
"He blames Naruto for something." Hanabi offered. "Which is dumb, because I was the one to… borrow his art supplies."
Toru scowled. "…What?"
"Did I stutter…?" Hanabi paused in consideration. "No, of course I didn't. No Uzumaki, no Hyūga would."
"How did you even get the time to find them — I hid them —"
Hanabi tapped her eyes, as though it wasn't Akemi who had specifically told her.
Toru growled. "I should have known — these are the eyes of a thief—" Naruto cleared his throat. "Don't start."
"How was your stay in Konoha?" Ino cut them off.
Toru beamed. "It was great — that other Kakashi really mellowed out, he didn't even try to convince me to go for more physical training, which I would have accepted to undertake, mind you, and — Oh, did I tell you I managed to establish a Mental Health Week there?"
"Really?" Ino smiled, surprised.
"Believe it." Toru grinned. "We wouldn't want another Itachi situation happening, of course… or another Naruto, actually." He said, slapping his back. "One Earth is bad enough." Naruto growled.
"Obviously." Ino said, in drawling tones. "They are not a very trustworthy sort, besides, and you never know when they might decide that what they have is not good enough for them, of course…"
Toru squinted. He glanced at Naruto, glanced at Ino. Glanced at Hanabi, who looked away. Karin, who shrugged.
"Yeah." He decided. "Don't involve me in this, whatever it is. Where's Yugito?"
Naruto pointed at the distance. "She's staying back. Some of us have to, in case. I think she doesn't want to see it this way, but—"
"Is everything truly settled here?" Karin asked.
"More or less." Naruto said. "The evacuation can be considered complete already. The drones are still scouring the Earth, but…" He shrugged. "Complete resettlement will take a little bit longer, but the willing people are here already."
"Good." Karin nodded. "Because I think we overreached."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"I think we might still have a bit of time, after all — two weeks was a rough estimation."
Naruto simply nodded.
"Oh, great." Toru said slowly, dryly. "We'll be back in time just to see Earth blow up then?"
"Don't channel your inner Sakura, now." Ino muttered.
"It's going to go smoothly." Karin cut him off, softly.
"…Right." Naruto nodded. "In any case, Yugito didn't want to say proper goodbyes—" Toru made a disgusted noise and Naruto growled. "I mean an actual goodbye, for fuck's sake, get your mind out of the gutter."
"Sorry, I thought I was the horndog with a harem, for a second." Toru said, over several protests.
"…I still don't know why Akemi took pity on you." Hanabi said. "It's definitely not the lipstick. And before you even mention 'Uchiha average,' as if it is anything to be proud of… Let's be clear: the only thing average about the Uchiha are their eyes."
"You shit." Toru scowled. "Take it back — Help me out, Naruto-sama! The hot springs—"
"No thanks."
…
Yoisen watched the gathered audience, leaning against a wall.
She couldn't help but feel a bit more pensive than they were. Or perhaps they were simply trying to act casual about the matter. Her thoughts were on Sakura, of course.
The night stretched on, and Umigakure was a vast carpet of twinkling lights in the distance. Mist spiraled, mingling with the frigid air.
Her eyes closed, and a scene played out in her memory — a candid moment with Sakura.
"I won't let the others get in trouble." She had said, her eyes full of unwavering resolve. "We are all in this together."
The words hung in her mind as the memory faded. Yoisen opened her eyes, staring at the skyline.
'But we did get in trouble, did we not?' Yoisen thought to herself. 'You chose to save me. And worse, I cannot even help you back.'
Yoisen sighed, and listened to the distant waves. She felt entirely powerless, which was something she had hoped never to have to feel again.
'Come back, Sakura.'
Someone picked up on her thoughts.
"I'm afraid this is not a place you will be able to go." Ino said, sounding a bit softer than usual.
"I am aware." Yoisen nodded. "Unfortunately."
"Did you come to see us off, then?" Karin grinned.
Yoisen smiled slightly, too. "I suppose so."
Naruto looked at her. "Are you worried…?" He asked.
"No, I…" Yoisen paused. "…Well. There are a few ways it could go wrong."
Naruto took another step, as though he wanted to embrace her. Yoisen did too after a moment of surprise, slowly standing up on her toes to meet him—
He paused, and there were two eyes burning holes in the back of his head.
Naruto extended his hand to Yoisen, palm facing up, looking as though he were trying to hold back a wince. Yoisen, with a carefully blank face, took it politely.
Toru got it. He sighed.
"We will meet again shortly, then." Naruto said, smiling, and ignoring Toru. "Take care of Umi—… The world, in the meantime, then. Just in case Kaitaro and Orochimaru—"
There was a quick rustling sound. And then Orochimaru, Anko and her little family were here.
"I am coming with you, of course." Orochimaru declared.
Anko waved them goodbye cheerily, and so did Shisui after a pause, looking very much as though his hand had been forced.
There was only silence, as the Mitarashi family left again.
Naruto glanced at Orochimaru. "…You? Risking your hide? Are you sure?"
Orochimaru frowned. "Are you mocking me, perhaps…?"
"No, but—"
"You said there was no danger."
Naruto sighed. "That is true."
"Dear Kaguya… Shisui. Itachi and Sasuke will stay back, which will be more than enough, of course." Orochimaru said.
As though on cue, Sasuke appeared, in a pillar of flames.
Naruto stared at him. "…This is no vacation—"
"Shut up." Sasuke retorted easily.
He came closer to the Ark. Toru and he went for their 'super special Uchiha handshake that Naruto isn't to become privy to, which rotates every day.'
It was worth it, Toru thought, as he spotted Naruto watching them enviously from the corner of his vision.
Naruto groaned. "Oh, for fuck's sake. Really? Don't you have children or something—"
"I'm not going to point out the hypocrisy at play here." Sasuke said. "The less contact with you your son has, the higher the chances he will turn out to be a decent person. And I'm coming, either way. Itachi and Yugito-san will take care of the world."
Naruto sighed. "…Do as you wish."
He glanced around, almost expecting Yugito to pop from nowhere, but she didn't. Because she was reasonable enough to understand the point of contingencies.
Hanabi motioned toward the Ark and the others stepped aboard.
"Is that a new weapon I spy on your back, my precious student…?" Orochimaru asked Naruto. "And here I was under the belief this would be a peaceful place." He walked into the Ark without waiting for an answer.
Naruto got the distinct impression the man understood where he had gotten it.
Yoisen did, too, naturally.
"…Please keep an eye on all of them, Yoisen." Naruto said, nodding once more.
She frowned minutely. "Of course. It won't be long, in any case, will it…?"
"It won't." He nodded. "I'm… pretty it won't be, at least."
"Then… you will be fine, won't you?"
"Of course." Naruto smiled.
"Get ready." Ino called out to the others.
They summoned the divine essence's power. It grew in between them, a shimmering light whose colors they couldn't adequately describe.
It's going to be fine, and Sakura will be here soon.
They engaged the Ark.
lensdump
i/dPhhcQ : The Bed