A/N: I see that many people are upset with how I write Sasuke, with him following the 'dark' path and with Indra being in the picture and being allowed to do as much as he's done so far. I just want to say that that's how I feel Sasuke would have reacted in that situation, and it would be out of character for him to refuse such a temptation. Because of his extreme childhood trauma, it would be a wonder if he didn't go 'dark', at least until he's shown or understands the bigger picture. Ultimately, this is the story I want to tell and I cannot cater to everyone's wishes and maintain my own interest in the story. So if it's not your cup of tea, please don't continue following this. I understand the bitterness of following a story and having it take turns you don't expect, but that's a fair risk in reading any story not written by yourself. To everyone else who continue to support the story, thank you!
Chapter 15
For the second time since becoming a ninja, Naruto stepped outside the walls of Konoha, ready for his first official A-rank mission. Although this mission was well beyond his usual clearance level, he was allowed to participate due to the presence of two S-rank shinobi. Officially, Jiraiya was leading the mission while 'Tomi' was the second in command. Naruto was the third and last member of this team. The mission itself was not particularly dangerous; their job was to retrieve Tsunade—a relatively straightforward task given that Mito was an exceptionally skilled sensor. However, the mission's importance was heightened by Konoha's recent battle and the potential threat of Orochimaru interfering, as he knew Mito might attempt to bring Tsunade back. While Naruto's role in the mission wasn't crucial, Mito wanted to include him to remind Tsunade of the family ties that still remained in Konoha. This would be Naruto's first mission as a chuunin, and it was an understatement to say that he was excited about it.
"Alright!" Naruto whooped. "We're gonna finish this in record time!"
"Not if you keep shouting like that, you won't," Jiraiya snorted. "We need to catch her before she hightails it out of wherever she's hiding. Tsunade's not exactly known for staying in one place for long, especially when she senses trouble coming her way." He shot Naruto a stern look, though one could see that he was amused. "So keep it down, kid. We're on a mission, not a field trip."
"Okay, okay, geez…" Naruto grumbled, but complied. Mito shook her head with silent laughter. She was worried that the absorption of Kabuto's tainted soul had forever ruined the child's innocence, but it seemed like Naruto was more resilient than what she gave him credit for.
As the three shinobi walked, Naruto held out his hand and gathered chakra, trying to emulate the tempestuous and chaotic rotation of the Rasengan. This Jutsu had proved quite difficult for him to master, as the chakra flow was erratic and seemingly random. He could now generate a sphere the size of a football with approximately a fourth of the speed of chakra rotation that his father had demonstrated. However, the challenge was in shrinking the sphere to increase its potency and increasing the speed further. Naruto was sure that he could finish this technique much faster if he gave it his full undivided attention for a week. Unfortunately, he was trying to learn many things at once - the chakra chain bloodline, fuinjutsu, exploring and perfecting the Rinnegan's abilities, trying to make sense of space-time ninjutsu, helping out in the Konoha hospital… the list went on. Honestly, Naruto felt like several months had passed rather than a single week since the invasion. He attributed this to his generous use of shadow clones.
"Skipping the balloons, I see," Jiraiya watched the pseudo-Rasengan whirling in Naruto's palm curiously. "That takes all the fun away."
"Dad said I'll learn better this way since I can actually see what's going on," Naruto told him. He could see through the balloons as well, but the minute details were much clearer to his Rinnegan without any obstructions. "Can you do this jutsu, pervy sage?"
"Can I? Of course I can!" Jiraiya extended his palm to produce a near-perfect replica of Minato's Rasengan. Near perfect to all except Naruto, of course.
"So your version is slower than Dad's too, huh?" Naruto wondered out loud, causing Jiraiya to twitch in annoyance. Not only did Jiraiya take four times longer to create the Rasengan, it's rotation was only half as fast as Minato's. This was still way better than what Naruto was able to achieve currently, though.
"Not everyone is a once-in-a-generation genius," Jiraiya grumbled. "I'd like to see how long you take to get it!"
"Another week, give or take," Naruto said idly, still concentrating on his jutsu,"-to get it to your level. Not sure how long it'd take to perfect it, though." The jutsu became exponentially more difficult the closer one moved towards perfection.
"Ha! You wish! It'd take you a month at least, even with your fancy eyes!" Jiraiya shook his head in amusement. "Tell you what, if you surpass mine within a week, I'll teach you any one thing you like. How's that?"
"...Oh?" Naruto grinned widely. "Even the sage arts?"
"-except that," Jiraiya suddenly backpedaled. "That's way too advanced for an undisciplined kid like you."
Naruto raised his eyebrows. "So you think I can do it then? And you don't wanna risk losing the claim of being one of the few senjutsu experts in the world right now?"
"As if!" Jiraiya snorted. "Fine then, I'll even allow Senjutsu if the toads believe you're ready, IF you master it beyond my level in a week. And if I win, I want you to teach me that unique transformation jutsu of yours." Jiraiya grinned pervertedly at that. "Of course, I'll need to study it in detail-"
"-Mom wants to have a word with you," Naruto said quickly, not wanting Jiraiya to finish that sentence.
"-heek!" Jiraiya choked in surprise when he felt Kushina's killing intent channelled towards him through Naruto. "I was just kidding! Just kidding! Haha… can't you take a joke?" Jiraiya started to sweat profusely when he saw that even Tomi was giving him the evil eye, having deduced that Jiraiya was up to something perverted.
"How about this? You'll have to walk around Konoha, without a disguise, with a board hanging on your neck that says 'I tried to outdo the legendary Jiraiya, and I lost."
"That's… doable." Naruto internally cringed at the utter humiliation and vowed to master the jutsu in record time. He immediately summoned a clone and dispersed it, sending his message to all of his copies back in Konoha.
"Hey, using clones is not fair, you have to do it alone!" Jiraiya complained.
"Should've said that before you agreed, pervy sage!" Naruto smirked.
'You have an interest in senjutsu now?' Minato asked with interest. 'Somehow, I couldn't get the hang of it. It took too much time. But I'm sure you'll get it Naruto.'
'Well, I figured it wouldn't hurt. Super-gramps sage could probably do it, since he's literally called a sage. And I need some sort of advantage against Nagato if it ever comes down to it.'
As the group continued to walk, Naruto noticed Mito stiffening slightly.
"Granny?" Naruto asked concernedly. Jiraiya too noticed the subtle cue.
"Two shinobi. One is an Uchiha, and the other has an enormous amount of chakra, which is water-natured. Around ten miles southwest."
"Shit." Jiraiya cursed. "That would be Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. The Akatsuki are here. Are they moving fast?"
Mito shook her head. "Relatively slow. Probably gathering information before infiltrating the village."
"As far as I know, neither of them are sensors. Should we secure Naruto and prepare for their arrival?" Out of the corner of his eye, Jiraiya saw Naruto freeze and tense up.
Mito too noticed Naruto's abrupt shift and concentrated her senses in her vicinity. The Rinnegan had revealed something she couldn't sense. Could it be the imposter Madara? Judging by the way Naruto was staring intently a moment ago, they were likely being spied on using his advanced space-time ninjutsu. She suddenly realized that she could sense a very faint negative presence. However, it was as if she could only sense a dilute echo of the presence, as if it was quite far away. If she didn't know to look for it, she might never have found it. It felt nothing like Madara, but the presence had a distinct 'Uchiha quality'.
"We'll take the long way and avoid them," Mito said, but her eyes told a different story. The faux-Madara would ensure that Itachi and Kisame would meet them. Mito cursed internally. She couldn't attack the imposter as her chains couldn't breach into another dimension. Minato might be able to do something, but the imposter would simply withdraw and Minato's existence would then be revealed. For now, they had to act normally and act as if they were taking a detour.
"Right." Jiraiya nodded, moving away from the usual path. Naruto and Mito followed him.
After a minute, Naruto licked his lips. "He's gone now." He said in a whisper. "I can faintly see this Kisame's chakra, I think, but it's too far away. I don't know if this guy went there, though."
"I can barely sense him once I knew that something was wrong," Mito said. "I can't sense him from this distance."
"This guy is troublesome." Jiraiya created a shadow clone who promptly scurried away. "I might need to go sage mode if we need to deal with those two. If this 'Madara' appears, he might act suddenly and try to grab you, Naruto. In that case, we'll go with Minato's plan."
"Got it." Naruto nodded. His father had come up with some strategies they might use if Madara was to attack them directly. Naruto once again created a shadow clone and dispelled it, conveying the latest discovery back to Konoha.
"Someone else has contacted those two," Mito said suddenly. Her hands were clenched, and she looked pale. "That… that thing has my husband's chakra!"
"Please calm down, 'Tomi'," Jiraiya cautioned. "Tell us about this new shinobi."
"He has two distinct chakra signatures. One of them is purely yin, while the other's chakra seems exactly like Hashirama's. This thing seems to be an amalgam of two beings. I don't know if it's one of Orochimaru's experiments. We should probably take a stand now. The imposter Madara has probably realized that we sensed him somehow."
"Alright then, let's go wild!" Jiraiya smirked as they arrived in a clearing. "I'll set up some traps. Tomi, I'll leave you to implement the restrictions."
"Restrictions?" Naruto asked curiously.
"I will disable space-time ninjutsu around this area. That will restrict Madara's options for sneaking up on us." Mito said. She made a shadow clone whose chains spread around her and covered a hundred-meter radius. She launched a series of hand seals while Jiraiya was going nuts littering the area with many micro seals and traps.
"I'm feeling kind-of left out." Naruto pouted.
'Keep an eye out for Madara,' Minato instructed. 'All this means nothing if they know what's coming.'
'Got it,' Naruto nodded, keeping his eyes peeled.
'Don't worry too much, Naruto, we have a lot of surprises for them. They'll find it difficult to take on Mito-sama, she's a kunoichi from the era of warring clans, after all. What you have to be careful about is restricting how much of your abilities you reveal while facing them. Stay where Mito-sama tells you to, and you won't need to move a muscle.'
As Kushina spoke, Mito created a clone whose chains formed a shield around Naruto. A seal spread out under him, protecting him from an underground ambush. As the clone and Naruto stood inside the barrier, Naruto noticed the two Akatsuki members reaching them at an incredible pace.
"Jiraiya, remember all the Mangekyou abilities I warned you about. I don't know all of them, so it's better to be on guard. I will fight the swordsman first and incapacitate him before joining you to fight the Uchiha boy."
"A lot of confidence you have in me," Jiraiya joked. "Don't underestimate Kisame Hoshigaki, though."
"I never underestimate any shinobi," Mito said simply, turning to face their impending attackers.
"Quite the welcome we're getting, isn't that right Itachi?" Kisame looked at the golden-domed barrier with interest. He swung his Samaheda at it, but the barrier didn't so much as waver.
"The barrier's function is to isolate the area from space-time ninjutsu, I believe," Itachi remarked, observing the barrier with his Sharingan.
"Space time ninjutsu? There aren't many shinobi capable of that. None among our number, at least. It seems like a pointless restriction."
"None that you know of," Itachi corrected, causing Kisame to look at Itachi curiously. "Let's enter."
"If you say so," Kisame shrugged and followed the younger man inside the barrier. He couldn't help but feel that they were entering a Lion's den.
"I gotta say, that kid is good," Jiraiya said, marveling at the ease with which Itachi saw through his traps so far. He was told that Itachi was supposed to be on their side, but that doesn't make the situation any less dangerous. From what he had learned, Itachi only truly cared about Sasuke. He may not hesitate to maim or kill his opponents according to his judgment. He was no longer beholden to the Hokage despite being loyal to Konoha, as he was already irrevocably a missing ninja and a wanted criminal in multiple nations. Thus, he prepared for a serious battle as the two missing-nin reached them.
"Jiraiya of the legendary Sannin. I have to say, it's quite an honor." The shark-like shinobi from the mist, Kisame, grinned. "And you must be the new Uzumaki I've heard about. The one who apparently subdued the one-tails." He turned to Tomi and gave her his attention.
"Why are you here?" Jiraiya asked, while Mito extended her hand and pressed her right thumb over a seal inscribed in her left hand. The seal glowed slightly and released a sword following a cloud of smoke.
"I believe you know the reason," Itachi said, eyeing the barrier that contained Uzumaki Naruto. His eyes widened as he recognized the sword that the Uzumaki shinobi was holding.
"The Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi," Kisame said with interest, recognizing the sword. "I always wanted to test its strength. So Orochimaru has lost his precious toy, hmm?"
"Indeed. And I shall grant your wish," Tomi said, moving forward to face Kisame. The shark-nin laughed, liking the confidence of the apparently young Uzumaki woman.
"You should stick to what you know best. That's not a toy, you know," Kisame said with amusement. He lifted his Samaheda and slammed it to the ground, causing it to crumble beneath its weight. "However, if you're still set on fighting me, I'd be happy to oblige you." He grinned widely, showing his sharp teeth. "I'm Kisame Hoshigaki. What's your name, if I may ask?"
"Tomi Uzumaki," Tomi returned the smile with an equally vicious one. A chain emerged from her and wrapped around the sword, causing Kisame to narrow his eyes.
"I wouldn't underestimate her," Itachi said quietly to his companion. He shifted his gaze to Jiraiya, whose eyes were now avoiding his activated Mangekyo Sharingan.
Suddenly, the chain and the sword shot forward, almost impaling Kisame as he jumped back to avoid it. The chain abruptly switched targets and sliced the nearby Itachi, but only hit a clone made of illusory crows.
"That's a nice chain, but it's a pity that it's made of chakra," Kisame smirked, swinging his sword with an intent to absorb the chain. To his surprise, the chain held firm and wrapped around his sword.
"-the fuck?" Kisame tugged his sword hard to release it from the chains, but he couldn't release the sword from its bindings. The chains that could immobilize a tailed beast had no problems containing a simple sword, and the seals that were inscribed throughout its length prevented it from being destroyed by the Samaheda's ability.
Kisame was forced to let go of his sword as the Kusanagi swung with an intent to skewer him once more. He substituted himself with a water clone, which was promptly slashed in his place.
"Damn woman, give me some time to breathe," Kisame chuckled as he spat out multiple water bullets. However, Tomi shielded herself with chains that were revolving around her at high speeds, deflecting the attacks with impunity.
Jiraiya was engaging Itachi with a fierce exchange of ninjutsu, not giving the latter time to gather chakra to use the Mangekyou Sharingan's abilities. Mito had told him that it took some time to gather enough yin chakra to perform their jutsu, and the time it took depended on the proficiency of the wielder. Experts like Madara nullified this weakness with an abundance of Yin chakra, and Jiraiya had a feeling that Itachi wouldn't need much time to prepare his jutsu either. Darkness or Yin was the basis for the strengths of the Mangekyou, and Itachi had plenty of it. The Yin would naturally gather with increased darkness, and Itachi had accumulated plenty from the murder of his family and clan. Even though the rational part of Jiraiya knew what Itachi had sacrificed for the village and peace, he still questioned the mindset and wondered if Itachi was as mentally sound as Hiruzen hoped.
Jiraiya abruptly felt an influx of foreign chakra into his body and cursed himself for being distracted by his thoughts. Although he hadn't met the sharingan's gaze, it seemed that the Uchiha protege was skilled enough in non-visual genjutsu as well. Jiraiya violently disrupted his chakra flow, but was surprised to realize that the illusion had at least five layers. It was well known that traditional methods failed when dealing with a genjutsu beyond three layers. Fortunately, he had prepared a backup plan for just this occasion. Even this genjutsu could not survive an influx of nature chakra.
Itachi watched as Jiraiya's face gained toad-like markings, and braced himself. The fight was about to get serious.
"The sage-mode. I'm honored to witness it. In return, let me show you one of my strongest techniques." Itachi locked on to Jiraiya using his Sharingan, and his eyes started to bleed. "Amaterasu!"
'Sometimes, I wonder if that kid is really trying to kill me,' Jiraiya wondered, jumping sideways to avoid the black flames. He shivered as he sensed the flames through his senjutsu. Feeling another buildup from Itachi, he clapped his hands together and activated one of the traps he had set up earlier. Almost instantly, the ground around Itachi liquefied into a swamp. The second Amaterasu missed, with Itachi's balance being shaken at the critical moment.
Itachi analyzed the swamp and realised that he would need to act fast. Dragging out this fight would mean failing his objective, and failing his objective would give Madara an excuse to renege on his promise. It would take a second for Madara to kidnap Sasuke, harm him or even kill him. Although he had many contingencies, he wasn't sure about Madara's true power either. Thus, he had to give it his all in this fight.
For the third time in a minute, Itachi's eyes bled. His vision blurred at the incredible strain to his sharingan, and he was briefly surrounded by an ethereal light. Itachi's ultimate defense materialized around him, and he stepped out of the swamp with ease. The Susano'o's right hand extended skyward, and a gourd materialized inside it. He swung the gourd towards the chains that protected Naruto. An ethereal liquid poured out of the gourd, taking the form of a sword.
"This is bad!" Mito's clone said in alarm. "Naruto, get out of here!"
"Already on it," Naruto had already started weaving signs. "Earth style: Hiding like a mole technique!"
Mito's clone dispelled as the sword sliced through her chains. Fortunately, Naruto had escaped just in time by tunneling his way out of the sword's impact zone.
Itachi raised his sword again, hardening it in preparation for destroying the ground and forcing Naruto outside. As he swung his sword downwards, it was intercepted by an equally gigantic blade. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield.
"Nice sword you got there," Jiraiya said, standing on Gamabuta. The toad chief grunted as he used his strength to force Susanoo's sword back. Itachi's eyes narrowed, recognizing the challenge before him. He altered the form of his sword again, semi-liquifying it to activate its sealing property.
"Jiraiya, his sword is pulling mine inside. It's some kind of a sealing Jutsu!" Bunta yelled as he struggled to hold on to his sword. The toad chief saw something glinting behind the Susano'o, and smirked while letting go of his sword. Barely a second later, golden chains wrapped around the Susano'o's sword hand and pulled it back, forcing the sword to hit the skeletal armor.
Itachi abruptly canceled his Susano'o as he realized that the Totsuka blade had started to absorb his Susano'o. His eyes zoomed into the Uzumaki shinobi, who had turned her attention to him. Itachi's eyes widened as he saw that Kisame was bound by the Uzumaki chains and was clutching his right hand, or what used to be his right hand. It seemed that one of Mito's blows struck true, and Kisame had lost his arm as a result. That would explain why he didn't sense any massive jutsu from Kisame.
'Itachi' dissolved into a flock of crows as Jiraiya appeared beside him and hit him with a haymaker. He reappeared behind Kisame, grabbed him, and blocked Tomi's sword with his Kunai. The sword of Kusanagi reared back and slashed again, and Tomi knew something was wrong when it sliced clean through Itachi and Kisame. Both of them disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Where-"
"Naruto!" Jiraiya shouted urgently and slammed his hands to the ground. The earth moved and Naruto was spat out it, shortly followed by Itachi. Recognizing the signs of an impending fire-style jutsu, Naruto readied himself to use Shinra Tensei to repel it. As his dad said, secrets didn't mean shit if he was dead. Before Itachi could complete his hand-seals, however, Mito's chains impaled him from all directions. 'Itachi' disappeared in another puff of smoke.
"No use, they're long gone." Jiraiya sighed. "He made those two clones when he got away from me. Looks like Kisame had the same idea as well. I didn't get the time to communicate that with you, Tomi."
Naruto scanned his surroundings, bringing his adrenaline rush under control. He relaxed marginally when could see no visible threats.
"That's fine, Naruto is safe." Mito sighed. "That Uchiha is far more trouble than I believed. The Susano'o, and the Totsuka blade on top of that!"
"You can say that again," Jiraiya released his sage mode and rubbed his sides, where a fire-style jutsu had grazed him. "At least you captured the Samaheda and relieved Kisame of his arm."
"Seeing Danzo's artificial limb, I suppose he won't stay that way for long." Mito grimaced.
"True," Jiraiya admitted. "Let's take a small breather, but we have to start moving soon."
Itachi gazed at Madara, his face betraying no emotion. Their Sharingan moved synchronously, and Madara nodded after a long pause.
"The only thing you learned about the boy is that he can use earth-style jutsu." Madara said disparagingly. "I must say, Itachi, I was hoping for more from the pride of the Uchiha clan."
"You saw the battle," Itachi said simply. "What would you have done differently? Between Jiraiya and the Uzumaki, there were two highly capable shinobi who could sense us from a mile away."
"Your Amaterasu could've been aimed at the boy, and the battle would've been over."
"You wanted the Jinchuuriki alive."
"I know that you can control it so that it doesn't die," Madara said dismissively. "We both know the real reason for your hesitation. You're lucky that I would rather have a disobedient but competent underling rather than an obedient but incompetent one."
Itachi remained silent, so Madara took it upon himself to continue the conversation.
"The Uzumaki was indeed an unexpected surprise. And not a welcome one." Madara said thoughtfully. "It's quite strange that a shinobi of that caliber was unknown, even to the former ANBU captain of the leaf."
"Her chain is similar to that of the late Kushina Uzumaki," Itachi offered.
Madara snorted. "Tell me something I don't know," He shook his head. "Both Kushina and Hashirama's wife Mito had the same ability, although not all Uzumaki have it. The fact that it could stop the Samaheda is interesting. We will need to place a high bounty on her. Regarding the boy, it seems we will have to wait a little for his abilities to be revealed. He was unremarkable even in the land of the waves, barely displaying the skills worthy of a Genin."
"He started reacting to my strike quite fast."
"I noticed that. The boy also noticed my space-time jutsu."
"I assumed it was the woman who noticed that."
"The Uzumaki kunoichi is an incredible sensor, yes, but the boy noticed me as soon as I opened a connection to that place. The woman noticed me a second later." Madara hummed. "Perhaps he has gained the fabled Kagura Shingan, also called the mind's eye of the Uzumaki clan. That would explain his sensory skills, atleast. But there is quite a skill gap in the boy you saw today and the boy from a month ago. He should be closely monitored."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Nothing. Your conflicting loyalties make you unsuitable for this, unfortunately. I will handle this differently. Dismissed."
As Itachi left, Zetsu emerged from the ground.
"Do you believe it was the mind's eye of Kagura?" Zetsu asked with interest.
"Perhaps. It is a storied ability, and one I have no experience with. It seemed like he was actually seeing me with his eyes. But they show no signs of a dojutsu. Have Deidara inform Onoki of the stone that a descendent of the Uzumaki lives, and that inform them of her feats. Although he might not act overtly, he will issue a bounty. I'm sure Kumo will follow. I will have Yagura issue his bounty then, followed by Ame. Two hundred million ryo should cover it."
"That is similar to the bounty for the Sannin," Zetsu observed. "You hold her in high regard."
"Anyone who can make Kisame end up like that merits such attention." Madara shrugged. "She now possesses the Samaheda in addition to the Kusanagi, making her a dangerous opponent. We need her out of the picture as soon as possible. Ask him to reveal Naruto's legacy as well. I'm sure the hidden stone would not take kindly to the fact that Minato has a half-Uzumaki son who might become a threat."
"Won't that get him killed? That could be a setback to our plans."
"I'm sure the boy will not be unguarded, if the current mission is any indication. If either Jiraiya or this Tomi dies while guarding him, it's all the better for us. If it's the boy that dies, it would be a minor setback. But the Nine-Tails would be far-more easier to capture once the time is ripe. Our treaty with Itachi doesn't prevent us from getting others to do our dirty work, after all."
In the quiet of the Naka Shrine, Sasuke sat in meditation, the soft light of the moon shining through the window. Before he disappeared, Indra had given him a technique to improve his Sharingan, as he was still adamant about not killing his friends to gain the Mangekyo. The method seemed simple at first glance.
Breathing in drew Yin energy into the body, while breathing out released Yang. The left nostril amplified Yin, and the right nostril strengthened Yang. Alternating between them would create balance, a harmony of energies. But balance was not Sasuke's goal. He sought to intensify his Yin, to sharpen his mind's edge without tipping the scales too far.
This was where Indra's technique came in. By breathing solely through his left nostril, while the right remained sealed, he would channel Yin into himself, saturating his chakra with its power. Along with each breath, he would circulate the chakra through his body in a certain way, expanding his chakra network by the constant circulation of chakra. The darkness of the night would only deepen its effects. With each breath, he drew himself deeper into the flow of Yin, allowing it to merge with his chakra. The shrine around him seemed to fade, leaving only the feeling of the faint pulse of energy.
Sasuke knew the dangers of this technique. Yin represented the mind, the very core of the Uchiha's strength. It was why their Genjutsu held such sway, manipulating the perceptions of those who crossed their path. Fire and lightning, the Uchiha's favoured elements, had an abundance of Yin chakra. However, as one synchronised themselves with Yin, their emotions would strengthen and gain power. It could cloud the mind, distorting perception and warping reality. The very force that granted the Uchiha their mastery over Genjutsu also held the potential to ensnare them in illusions of their own making.
The mind, steeped in Yin, could become a mirror reflecting only darkness, amplifying fears, doubts, and grudges. In pursuing the enhancement of his Yin, Sasuke knew he walked a perilous line. A delicate balance had to be maintained to avoid the power he sought to control instead control him. The deeper he ventured into the Yin, the more the world outside might begin to fray, with the boundaries between truth and illusion growing ever thinner. This was the reason for what was dubbed the Uchiha madness. The Mangekyou awakened when an Uchiha's Yin chakra spiked to uncharted levels. The ocular chakra of the Uchiha would be significantly strengthened by this sudden influx of Yin chakra, causing it to evolve into the Mangekyou sharingan. The Mangekyou abilities always took a toll on the user's Yin chakra, and hence why it became blind after constant use.
What he needed to do then, was to amplify his Yin chakra while maintaining the ratio of Yin and Yang at a sustainable level. This was a simple and effective solution to the Uchiha madness. Absently, Sasuke wondered if this madness was the reason for his brother's actions. It wouldn't excuse his actions, certainly, but it would explain it.
Following the Yin breathing would naturally increase the Yin chakra, thus improving his abilities. On the downside, he would have to let go of the subconscious suppression of the memory he had placed on himself following the trauma of his massacre. He had locked away every thought of his brother, every image of that night, hoping to protect himself from the overwhelming grief. As strong emotions guided the evolution of the sharingan, he would need to replay those memories in his mind, process it, and accept his emotions and the darkness that comes with them. This would significantly accelerate the awakening of his three tomoe sharingan, and in due time, even the Mangekyou sharingan would be within his reach.
The first memory surfaced like a shadow creeping through the corners of his mind. He was a child again, standing in the doorway of his home, the smell of blood thick in the air. The lifeless bodies of his parents lay before him, their eyes empty. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fear and confusion swirling within him. Then he saw Itachi, standing in the darkness, his Sharingan glowing like embers. The words his brother had spoken that night echoed in his mind, a cold, unfeeling voice telling him to grow strong and come after him if he wanted revenge.
Sasuke's breath hitched, the pain of that moment threatening to overwhelm him. But he forced himself to keep breathing, to stay in the technique. He had to relive it, to feel every emotion, if he wanted to advance his powers. Ironically, Sasuke realized that he was half-following Itachi's advice in doing this. By nursing and growing his hatred, and fully giving himself away to his emotions, he might achieve his goals faster. However, what would remain would be the husk of a madman bent on revenge and revenge alone. Although he had convinced himself that he was an avenger to his clan, he also wished to restore it. Becoming a madman like Itachi wouldn't accomplish his goal, and ultimately he wouldn't be any better than him. He knew that it wouldn't be a path his family would want him to follow.
Itachi wanted him to mature his sharingan and Mangekyou as soon as possible. This was why he was placed inside the Tsukuyomi and forced to relive those horrors. Perhaps his brother wanted to face him with the power of the Mangekyou, emotionally unstable and rash with hate. Then, Itachi would achieve an easy victory and take his eyes for himself. To achieve his own objective, Sasuke would have to gain power while keeping a cool head. This would be the real struggle in his training. He also had to comply with Indra's instructions as long as they weren't too outrageous, at least until he was able to revive his parents and strong enough to resist his influence.
As the night dragged on, Sasuke persisted in his chakra circulation and breathing. He had cut down his sleep to an hour, but he would remain well-rested by virtue of this meditation. From his new understanding of the sharingan, he could awaken the full three tomoe in a week's time if he kept up this pace. To gain the Mangekyou, however, it would take years without an extreme emotional trigger. For now, Sasuke kept his focus on perfecting the base Sharingan.
It turned out that the search for Tsunade was relatively easy when the man behind the greatest spy network in the world collaborated with the abilities of a formidable sensor. The fact that Tsunade did not know of their pursuit also helped. Thus, Naruto found himself in Tanzaku-Gai, one of the important cities of the Land of Fire and its gambling capital.
"Of course she's here, of all places," Mito grumbled as she marched to the tavern where she knew her granddaughter was in. Jiraiya smirked at Tsunade's would-be misfortune. He was the one who usually got told-off in their team. It was refreshing to see the perfect princess get her comeuppance for once.
Neither of them noticed Naruto, who was trailing behind them, freeze at the threshold of the tavern.
Naruto blinked, and then blinked again, questioning the oddity of what he was seeing. At the far end of the tavern, he could see three women. A blonde woman, passed out with a sake bottle held loosely in her grasp, was easily identifiable as Tsunade. A dark-haired woman beside her was probably Shizune, her apprentice. It was the third woman, apparently quite younger than Shizune with auburn hair, who had given Naruto the pause.
She was dressed like a random civilian, although she was strikingly beautiful. Naruto could not see what appeared strange about her at first glance. She was normal. And that was the clue, since his Rinnegan's enhanced vision portrayed people differently from the ordinary eye. He saw her just like a normal person would see anyone else. That was downright strange, it was as if she was exempt from the Rinnegan's abilities. As Naruto observed her, channeling more chakra into his eyes, she looked up and met his gaze. She flashed him a mischievous grin and a wink, and motioned him to come over. Naruto looked at Mito and Jiraiya, who seemed to have mostly ignored the woman and were only focussing on Tsunade.
"You coming, kid? You can ogle at her as much as you want once we reach the table." Jiraiya snorted, completely misreading Naruto's gobsmacked expression.
Naruto knew that he ought to tell the pervert that something was wrong with this picture, but somehow, something in his mind persuaded him against it. He followed the two older shinobi and reached Tsunade's table. Shizune yelped in surprise as she saw Jiraiya and hurriedly tried to awaken her sleeping mentor. Mito took a seat beside Tsunade, while the mysterious woman scooted to one side to make room for Naruto and Jiraiya.
"Huh? What izzit?" Tsunade groggily looked up and caught sight of her former teammate.
"Jiraiya?!" That abruptly caught her attention, and she sat up straight to observe the new additions to the table. She looked at Naruto and Mito suspiciously before her eyes settled on Jiraiya once again.
"Why are you here? It's not wartime, so you better have a good excuse, Jiraiya."
"Oh, princess! Is that how you greet your teammate after a decade?" Jiraiya chuckled.
"You're not here alone, though," Tsunade looked at his companions meaningfully. "So I assume it's official Konoha business."
"Just treat it as your family and an old acquaintance dropping by for a visit." Jiraiya said. "Meet Uzumaki Tomi and Uzumaki Naruto."
Tsunade snapped her head towards the newly introduced Uzumaki Tomi, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "I was never informed about an Uzumaki matching your description. Who are you?" She knew of Naruto, of course, and could guess why Jiraiya brought him here. But this new girl was a complete unknown.
"We'll get into the details, princess, but you seem to have a guest. Shouldn't we discuss this somewhere more private?" Jiraiya suggested.
"Oh, I'll get out of your hair, don't worry," The third woman shrugged. "It was a nice drinking contest, 'princess', but you owe me ten thousand ryo now."
Tsunade's eyes widened. "Wha… She out-drank me?" She looked at Shizune for confirmation.
"Um… Unfortunately yes, shishou," Shizune admitted. "You were plenty drunk when you accepted the challenge, and I did warn you not to accept it."
"Bah!" Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation, while Tomi was developing a noticeable tic of irritation in her eyebrows. "I'll pay you back later, I'll see what they want with me first."
"Of course," The woman smiled, curtsied and left, but gave Naruto a glance as she made her exit.
"...Actually," Naruto said, "Do you mind if I step outside too? I can keep a lookout if you want."
"Suuure brat," Tsunade smirked. "Whatever you say."
Mito arched an eyebrow at Naruto, while Jiraiya snickered.
"I'll tell you once I get back," Naruto promised Mito while making a hasty exit from the group. He saw that his target had already exited the establishment, and made haste to follow her.
Naruto stepped out into the streets, casting a glance around him to spot the strange woman. He found her almost immediately, leaned against a nearby tree on the other side of the street.
'Naruto, be careful.' Minato's voice told him.
'I know. But I don't think she's an enemy, somehow,'
'Don't let your guard down.' Kushina advised him. 'Call us if things go south.'
As Naruto approached the woman, he felt a hint of unease. She looked at him as if she knew him. She had the gait of a civilian, but her eyes told another story. She was definitely not ordinary.
"Naruto Uzumaki," The woman smiled. "We finally meet."
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Naruto asked wearily.
"Hm… That's a complicated question. But I suppose the simplest answer is this. You know me as the crazy bitch." She said with a hint of amusement in her voice.
Naruto eyed her strangely for a moment. Then it clicked.
'Shit.'
Tatanami observed the rapidly paling shinobi with a hint of amusement. She rarely stepped into the mortal world, as it was not a good place for her to be. Whenever she came here, she saw the intricate threads of fate that surrounded each and every individual. She knew their past, present and the infinite possible futures -some more likely than others. She knew of the good and the evil in them. She knew when they were born, and when they may die. As the goddess of fate, the human world was sometimes overwhelming for her to experience.
She was currently looking at one of the golden threads in the grand fabric of fate. One of the possible saviors of this war-torn world, just like Hogoromo and Ashura had been at their time. But each of these saviors left only the slightest of impressions in the vast tapestry of humanity. Even Hogoromo, who fundamentally altered the world, failed to bring about lasting peace. She knew that it was an impossibility to do so. But she had to give them credit for trying.
"No need to be afraid, Naruto. Come, sit." The now-identified Tatanami was now sitting on a wooden bench, and motioned Naruto to do the same.
Naruto sat beside her, dazed at the abrupt shift in reality. That bench had not been there a moment ago.
"So," Naruto swallowed, his throat somehow parched. This was an existence beyond any that he had seen so far, and that included the freakin' sage of the six-paths. He could sense that his parents were just as scared as him when they realized the true nature of the girl. "Why are you here?"
Tatanami leaned back, gazing at the stars and the night sky. "That's a question I'm still asking myself. I suppose there are two reasons. Ashura's nagging is the first reason, and you'll soon know the second."
Naruto looked at her strangely. "Umm… So you're friends with Ashura or something?"
Tatanami let out an amused smile. "Yes, I suppose you could say that. He is a …friend."
Naruto realized that this was an opportunity. A literal god was sitting beside him, someone who probably knew everything.
"So… uh… About Kaguya…"
Tatanami snorted at the less-than-subtle attempt to pry for information. "So, you've discovered the main plot, hmm?"
"Plot?"
Tatanami shook her head, smiling at some secret joke. "Never mind. You want to know about Kaguya. But it is a little early to worry about her, and you will know plenty in due time anyway."
"Is there any reason why you didn't want Ashura to tell me about her?" Naruto tried again.
"Something called predictability." Tatanami sighed. "Imagine you're sewing a nice tsuzure-nishiki, and suddenly, someone comes in with a knife and cuts it up. Would you be upset?"
"Um… Yeah, I guess I'd be mad." Naruto replied, unsure where this was going.
"Well, that is what Ashura did with the fate of this world." Tatanami threw her hands up in frustration. "Oh, let's give them a clue, I'm sure the world will be at peace faster that way, oh, I'm sure nothing will go wrong, oh, I'm sure Indra wouldn't notice…" She slapped her hand in her forehead in frustration. "That complete idiot. And I was a bigger idiot for listening to him. To some extent, I knew what would happen. And I still allowed it anyway."
"So Indra did talk to Sasuke?" Naruto confirmed, realizing that their fears were founded. "But don't they need permission from the Kami?"
"Unfortunately, the afterlife is a bit more complicated than that. We do not monitor every soul after it has passed from the mortal world, although we do restrict those from the pure world from interfering with the mortal world. Ninja have invented multiple ways to circumvent these restrictions, and we do not actively stop them from doing so. However, each such meddling comes at a price, such as your reanimation technique requiring a sacrifice. That technique is a negotiation between the summoner and the Shinigami just like the Reaper death seal of your clan. As another example, your father was able to separate consciousness from the soul and seal his and your mother's consciousness within you. The fact that we didn't stop this should tell you that the so-called rules regarding this are quite lax."
Naruto shifted nervously at the mention of his parents. He was reassured when it became apparent that Tatanami wouldn't suddenly take them away from him.
"The restrictions for interference apply to those from the pure world -they cannot suddenly decide to go back and meddle in the mortal world. You can only imagine the kind of chaos it would create. However, if someone from the mortal world starts something, we tend to not interfere. Ashura, who resides in the pure world, had to seek my help to communicate with you because of this reason. The same is true for Hogoromo. Indra, however, started messing with the fate of this world far before his brother. Instead of dying like normal, sane people, he went ahead and anchored his soul, chakra and consciousness to the mortal realm. And not just for a few decades, oh no, he decided to stay for as long as it took to mold the world to his liking."
Tatanami sighed again. "You see why we had to send Ashura back, then. If Indra alone stayed in this world, his wishes would soon become a reality. He was ever-so-lightly exerting his will on his transmigrants, leading them down the same path he walked. Ashura argued that this was not fair, and so we allowed Ashura's chakra to remain in the material world as well. Until now, Indra hadn't directly interfered with his transmigrants. But things changed when Ashura appeared inside your mind. Indra somehow came to know of this and could no longer be content to let things play out naturally and decided to directly exercise his will upon the mortal world."
"But can't you stop him? You're a Kami!"
Tatanami shook her head. "If we directly interfere, then there is no point to free will, is there? Izanagi-sama and Izanami-sama wanted the world to be free. The Kami followed that creed and almost never interfered. Atleast, most of us did. Humans could do whatever they wanted, but the consequences might come and bite them in due time"
"Most of you?"
"I am beginning to suspect that Indra has an ally among the Kami. I have a good idea who it might be, but I cannot accuse without proof. And even to us, the actions of the other might be hidden at times. Due to this reason, I am unsure to what degree Indra interfered with your friend. I am unsure of what he revealed, and what path he set the boy in."
"Won't it be fair to tell me everything too, then?" Naruto tried again.
Tatanami shook her head. "You might think so, but no. The path you are on now, while dangerous, might still lead to success. However, if I reveal everything, your decisions will change and other parties could get more involved. For now, I believe that it's prudent to work with what you know."
"You said there were two reasons for your visit," Naruto prompted.
"Ah, the second reason," Tatanami looked at the full moon above and smirked, a challenge creeping into her voice. "Indra appeared to Sasuke when Ashura appeared to you. Now, as I myself have revealed this secret to you, I wonder if the great one who acts behind Indra will now reveal themselves to Sasuke?"
The moon remained in the sky, casting a cold, silvery light over the landscape. Tatanami's gaze lingered on it, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.
"This moon," she said quietly, "has watched over countless generations. It has seen the rise and fall of empires, the triumphs and tragedies of mortals. Yet, it seemingly remained silent, offering no guidance, no warnings. It simply observed. As it should."
She paused, her voice growing more deliberate. "But perhaps even the most distant observer has a role to play, whether we see it or not."
Naruto shifted uneasily, catching the undercurrent in her words.
Tatanami's gaze remained on the moon, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "We are all watched, even when the watcher hides in plain sight. Indra's allies may be concealed, but they are not beyond reach. The challenge lies in finding the truth before they act again."
Naruto felt as if he was in the middle of some invisible power play. Other than a slight chill in the air that he attributed to the growing night, he found no difference in the sky, the stars, or the moon. Absently, he imagined a great eye on the moon's surface, watching his every move, weighing his choices. The thought sent a shiver down his spine, though he quickly brushed it off as his imagination running wild. Yet, the idea lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind. It was just the moon, the same moon he'd seen every night of his life. Yet now, under Tatanami's words, it seemed more alive, more purposeful.
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the strange feeling. But the idea lingered, as if something—or someone—was indeed observing, judging the events unfolding below. The moon, with its pale light and unblinking presence, felt like more than just a celestial body. It felt like a silent participant in an ongoing battle, an unseen force in the shadows.
Naruto clenched his fists, trying to focus on the task at hand, but the image of that watching eye refused to fade. Whatever this power play was, he was in the thick of it now, and the moon might be more than just a witness. It might be a player in this dangerous game, one he had yet to understand.
Tatanami placed an arm on his shoulder comfortingly and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry too much. That, at least, is not your fight. No, your adversary is the misguided Indra and the calamities he may beget. Make sure that your friend is not reduced to a pawn in his arms. And remember that Indra, too, was a well-meaning child once. He simply grew too prideful and arrogant."
Naruto nodded, feeling relieved at the slightly less impossible task he was to accomplish. "Okay. Anything else you can tell me?"
"Not for now, but I'm sure we'll meet again. If you notice something unusual, just let me know then." She smiled. "Now, off you go and join your team, or you'll miss the important bit." She smiled conspirationanally and shooed him playfully. Naruto got up and turned back to offer a last goodbye.
Tatanami was gone as if she were never there, along with the bench they were sitting on. Somehow, he had half expected that.
'So, what do you think, mom, dad?'
'This is way beyond the paygrade of a shinobi.' Kushina lamented. 'Why can't these Kami keep their power struggles to themselves?'
'I think we need to keep our eyes and ears open, as she suggested.' Minato advised. 'Although all this is getting a bit too surreal, we need to adapt and overcome. That is the fate of a shinobi.'
Naruto mulled over his father's words as he walked back to the tavern.
Naruto tracked Jiraiya and the others to a private room on the first floor of the tavern. He was let inside the room after the guard saw Naruto's headband. Whether that was done for self-preservation or realizing that he was part of their group, Naruto wasn't sure.
He walked into the middle of a heated argument between Tomi and Tsunade. It seemed like Tomi still hadn't revealed her true identity, and was trying to get a measure of the current Tsunade before she revealed herself.
"Being Hokage is a fool's job!" Naruto heard Tsunade yell, and he was immediately annoyed.
"I understand then why it was offered to you," returned Tomi's sweet voice. Naruto saw Tsunade's fist hit the table, which shattered to a hundred pieces.
"I don't care if you are an Uzumaki, you don't get away speaking to me like that." Tsunade growled. "Why don't we take this outside?"
"Oh, wonderful." Naruto grinned as he joined the group. "It's not every day that I get to see a Sannin get their ass handed to them."
Tsunade's eyes snapped to Naruto, her face morphing to annoyance. "Watch it, brat. Or you'll be next."
"Ooh, I'm sure you feel powerful after challenging a chuunin." Naruto shook his head. "I'll be glad to take you on if there's anything left after Tomi is done with you."
Tsunade's face darkened, her tone a low growl. "Both of you. Outside." She stomped outside, her foot breaking the floor with every step.
"Shall we go?" Tomi smiled predatorily as she followed Tsunade. Naruto grinned, excited at the prospect of dishing out some tough love. Realistically, he had zero chance. But as a support to Mito, he had a damn good chance of facing her.
"Did your new girlfriend ditch you already?" Jiraiya teased as they followed behind Tomi.
"Between us, I'm not the one that repels females." Naruto said flatly. "I had a nice talk with her, but she had other work to do."
"Sure kid. Whatever you say." Jiraiya snickered. Naruto ignored him.
The group reached a clearing behind the tavern. Tsunade stood with crossed hands, facing the young Uzumaki Kunoichi and the blond brat who offended her.
"You are Jonin and chuunin, correct? I will use only Taijutsu, I won't even use weapons. Come at me with everything you got."
"How about a wager then? If you win, we leave you undisturbed. If we win, you follow us without question." Tomi challenged.
"I don't see any benefit in that wager." Tsunade smirked. "You should keep your money where your mouth is."
Tomi's face flushed with anger, and she took deep calming breaths to compose herself.
"A hundred-thousand ryo, if you win." Naruto boldly declared. Even if he wasn't confident in his abilities, he knew that Mito couldn't lose, given the conditions laid out.
"Now we're talking. I'll hold you to that," Tsunade smirked.
"Naruto," Naruto could hear Mito's glee leaking through her voice. "Show her that the Uzumaki clan is not to be underestimated. Give her everything you got."
Naruto understood the message. There were no spying eyes, so he was free to go wild. He extended his palm outward towards an unsuspecting Tsunade.
"Banshō Ten'in" He whispered, but directed the pull of gravity skywards rather than towards himself. A fraction of a second later, Tsunade's body shot up to hover a few meters above the air.
"What?!" Tsunade looked around frantically, seeing nothing touching her, and no strings binding her. Some force had pulled her up and she was now floating in the air. Her eyes looked at the blond Uzumaki in newfound wonder. Even Ohnoki of the Hidden Stone couldn't use Gravity manipulation on his opponents like this! As her hands subconsciously moved to her weapons pouch, he saw the blond smirk.
Naruto immediately released his chakra chains at Tsunade, binding her and stopping her from reaching for a weapon.
"Ah, ah, ah! No weapons for you, remember?"
Tsunade cursed herself. She had gotten too cocky. There was no way she could escape this technique without using some ninja wire, at least. She needed to hold on to something to resist this unholy pull. But that didn't mean that she was defenceless.
Tsunade snapped the chains binding her with little effort, flexing her hands as she looked down at Naruto.
"This gravity manipulation is quite the jutsu, kid. Not an Uzumaki bloodline limit, by any means. But these pathetic chains can't hope to hold me. How long can you keep me here, with your chakra?"
"Couple of days, maybe?" Naruto looked thoughtful.
Tsunade's face lost her humor. "That's not the point. You won't beat me just by keeping me here."
"I can do a lot more than that," Naruto said, and a few clones came out from the trees surrounding them. "Or rather, we can," they smirked, preparing various jutsu while the original kept Tsunade floating. Tsunade frowned, starting to look worried.
"Naruto," Tomi said. "Leave the rest to me. After all, she challenged both of us."
"Oh, okay granny." Naruto abruptly cancelled the clones. Tsunade had a look of confusion at the unusual honorific.
"Granny?" Tsunade muttered, looking at the apparently young kunoichi. She didn't sense a transformation jutsu. So she wondered if the newcomer Uzumaki used a technique similar to herself to maintain her appearance. Kushina's mother or any other direct blood relations were no longer alive, to the best of her knowledge. Then who was she to Naruto?
Mito smiled as eight chains suddenly emerged from her and wrapped Tsunade in a flash. Tsunade winced at the force with which the chains were binding her. This was no ordinary shinobi she was facing.
With a grunt, Tsunade exerted all her power to break the chains holding her. To her horror, she found that she couldn't even make it creak.
"Go on, use your full strength. Everything you have. Forget the restrictions." Tomi told her, her tone challenging.
Tsunade smirked, regaining her confidence. "In that case, don't mind if I do. I have no desire to come back to that hellhole, so I'm going to have to use your offer. Strength of a hundred seal, partial release!"
The diamond mark on Tsunade's forehead glowed, and purple lines expanded from it. Naruto could see the incredible surge of chakra flooding out of the seal and strengthening Tsunade by the second. With a cry of exertion, Tsunade exerted her newfound might on the chain, expecting it to snap into pieces.
Seconds passed, but the chains were unmoving.
"Impossible," Tsunade whispered, looking at the Uzumaki kunoichi with incredulity. "There should be no one alive who has mastered the adamantine chains to such a degree. Who are you?" This was a level of strength that could restrain even tailed beasts.
Mito pulled her chains to pull Tsunade down to the ground, placing her before them. She released the chains and performed a hand seal, undoing her transformation jutsu.
Tsunade looked thunderstruck. Her legs gave way beneath her as she collapsed to her knees as profound shock washed over her. She stared at the unmistakable visage of her grandmother. Her eyes, once full of life, were now a haunting dark gray but nevertheless unmistakable.