ϟ—Chapter Thirty-seven — Unchained—ϟ
Yowui was buried. Nikuya was banished from his mind. Hane's love was secure. Ka'rai was ready to conquer his final demon. On his own, Ka'rai made his way down the cavern he'd been forced through so many times. The crash of waves against rock echoed through the cave—like he was inside of a seashell.
It didn't take too long for Ka'rai to hear Kodaru's chuckles. The sound instinctively made him silently bare his teeth. Hard light bloomed from the opening that led to the ocean, making Kodaru's silhouette look like the visage of a deity.
"It's been too long, nephew…" Kodaru gave a sharp grin. "I didn't even have to come get you."
"Oh, I'm ready to clobber your ass…" Ka'rai couldn't help the edge that sharpened his smirk. "Uncle."
Why was this exciting? Ka'rai didn't care to know. He was trembling, but he wasn't scared. Was he? Either way, he clenched his fists to steel his control. The contained chaos of his Special Chakra steeled his body and his eyes shone. "Let's not waste time."
"I like the way you're acting!" exclaimed Kodaru as he crouched into a battle stance. "Of course, I won't use the Sanbi to make it fair."
Ka'rai entered his own battle stance. "Good." Kodaru flashed, but Ka'rai matched him, blocking his strike. He allowed the detonation of his chakra to recoil—Kodaru was flung back and his body shattered the stalactites that were formed by the waves. The cavern shook and Kodaru laughed, grinning.
"ALRIGHT!" Kodaru weaved hand signs—Ka'rai didn't let him. Adamantine Chains blasted from his back. Genuine surprise widened Kodaru's eyes into elated saucers. He dodged the chains, but not the following detonation. Another explosion rattled him and he was throttled to the floor. Ka'rai sent his chains to strangle his uncle. Like explosive cobras, the Adamantine constrained Kodaru. Despite that, the bastard's hands never left that first seal.
Kodaru's Special Chakra ripped through Ka'rai's Adamantine like paper. "Adamantine Chains?!" he questioned with a… proud laugh?! "You've already surpassed me, Ka'rai!" The proud laughter got even louder and Ka'rai watched with a mix of a scowl and a smirk. "I won't be able to hold out on you for much longer at this rate."
Kodaru finished his sequence of hand signs. Ka'rai let him. From his own blood, seals spread across his arm. "I thought you weren't going to use the Sanbi's abilities?"
His uncle's response was a chuckle. "I'm not… any liquid embedded with your chakra works with seals. You didn't know that?"
Ka'rai responded with a huff, watching Kodaru's matrix with a predatory gaze. With his unsealed hand, Kodaru weaved a half seal. "Earth Style."
Earth for a Sanbi Jinchuriki? questioned Nikuya with a smirk. Ironic.
Growths of rock like stalactites morphed Kodaru's arm into an indomitable growth. It was sickening—the arm was the size of his entire body and Kodaru looked proud. Somehow, it didn't make him any slower. Ka'rai reached by trying to chain that thing Kodaru claimed as an arm. It didn't work. More slashes of his special chakra sliced through Ka'rai's chains. He was forced to dodge—Kodaru kicked Ka'rai into the path of the arm.
It felt like his entire body was being sliced at every point of impact. His Special Chakra—Ka'rai growled and hooked a punch into the arm. A fully concentrated explosive blow. It rattled Kodaru's entire body and blasted him off of Ka'rai. "Y'know what! Fuck you and your cave!" Ka'rai blasted through hand seals, inhaling. "Combustion Style: Breath of a Thousand Supernova!"
With his Special Chakra concentrated into a thousand points of cobalt blue stars, Ka'rai directed each one outward. The moment they hit a target, Ka'rai gave them one command. "Detonate." Blue novas of blue fire sent molten rock and ash omnidirectionally. Kodaru was hit. The bastard was flung into the ocean with the projectiles of rock blasting through him like bullets. Of course, that monstrosity of an arm was untouched.
Anger glinted across Kodaru's eyes as he sat up, that arm submerged into the waves. What was once his little cavern, his cove and place of peace… was blown into pieces. A hole the size of multiple buildings was in its place. It didn't take much longer for the surrounding cliff face to collapse into. The ensuing rockslide made a wave a dozen feet tall that Kodaru blasted away with concentrated Special Chakra from his arm.
Standing in front of it, looking way too proud of himself, was Ka'rai Uzumaki. "Aw… are you mad?"
"Go fuck yourself, nephew," snarled Kodaru—though he couldn't help but laugh at the same time.
Ka'rai's eyes shone with satisfaction. Pulsing his Special Chakra in his legs, he blasted forward and the sound barrier shattered a hundred times over. Ka'rai weaved past Kodaru's abomination fist and uppercut his chin with the force of an explosion concentrated into his fist. The way Kodaru's eyes went vacant made Ka'rai sure he gave the bastard a concussion.
A sudden spear of earth shot out and stabbed Ka'rai in the shoulder. Kodaru's chakra nullified his and Ka'rai was forced to retreat out of close quarters. With a series of half seals, Kodaru grew the stalactite spear into an "Earth Style: Stalactite Lance!" In one arm, a lance able to pierce through anything and the other was an arm pulled from a child's nightmares.
Kodaru blasted forward and Ka'rai summoned his Adamantine to defend. As uncle and nephew fought, Ka'rai truly couldn't help but have fun. He… missed this. He missed being strong. In just this state, Ka'rai felt as strong as he did while using version one—full domain too! When Nibi was released again, who knew how strong he could get. His battle with Kodaru got harder and harder the less that the bastard held back.
That didn't change how strong Ka'rai was. That didn't change that Ka'rai got to use his strength again. This was the power that Hane needed to make the world better. He was the power that would make the world happy. To drown it in the fire of kindness… so everyone will be able to rest once they die.
Even as Kodaru genuinely started to dismantle him with his Special Chakra, Ka'rai kept the smile on his face. With another punch from that armbonation, Ka'rai was sent skidding across the foamy, rough waves.
"Y'know… The water is supposed to be your domain." Ka'rai weaved a hand sign, bloody smile growing. "But bringing me here was your biggest mistake."
"Is that right?!" Kodaru charged Ka'rai.
With a flare of his Special Chakra, Ka'rai uttered, "Detonate." A mushroom cloud of bullet-like mist shredded everything in every direction. Ka'rai didn't even know Water Style! He just blew the fuck up out of the water he stood on. Kodaru laughed and Ka'rai grinned as he saw that mist bleed red with Kodaru's blood.
There wasn't a waste of time as Ka'rai flew in with an explosive kick. Even still, Kodaru dodged, before weaving another series of one-handed seals. "Earth Style: Scythe of Sorrow." Kodaru ripped an earthy scythe from his monstrous arm and slashed at Ka'rai. Even just being close to it made Ka'rai bleed. He had to step on it to leap above it, and the sole of his shoe was ripped. It wasn't even the sharp edge.
Above Kodaru, Ka'rai flashed through hand signs. He concentrated all of the Special Chakra he could without it detonating. Blue fire burst at the seams and Ka'rai gleamed. "BAKUGAMI!" The jutsu born from his lack of control, made magnitudes stronger by his new control. A flaming flash scorched all and evaporated everything within hundreds of feet. The exposed sea floor steamed as Kodaru stood at the bottom, heaving breaths with his disgusting arm burnt and starting to fall apart. Most of him was unharmed, protected by the earthen arm, but it wouldn't last for long.
Four Adamantine Chains pierced the ground around Kodaru. He moved his armstrosity just time to see Ka'rai launch himself at him, the air around his fist detonating from the sheer amount of potency condensed into the attack. It whipped right into Kodaru's chest. Then the seafloor collapsed as Ka'rai detonated his Special Chakra. Another cataclysm made nature weep in agony. A crater hundreds of feet deep collapsed on both Kodaru and Ka'rai. An area where they could breathe was created by Ka'rai's Adamantine Chains. Their faint glow illuminated the cave where Ka'rai stood over Kodaru… victorious.
"You're done…" snarled Ka'rai as he couldn't help but laugh.
Kodaru coughed before laughing himself. "Really? Is that what you think?"
Ka'rai's eyes narrowed as he pushed his fist into Kodaru's shattered ribs… They weren't shattered. They were entirely intact. Slowly, Ka'rai realized that exactly none of Kodaru's bones were broken. All Ka'rai managed to do was give him flesh wounds, maybe rattle his organs. Well, if it were anybody else with that amount of concussive force… then they'd be dead.
Dread pulled Ka'rai's stomach down into his gut as Kodaru's real arm was ripped out of the stony growth and wrapped around Ka'rai's neck. "Your Special Chakra… it'd work on anybody else but me. Just like how your Special Chakra blows the fuck out of anything that touches you, my Special Chakra tears the fuck out of anything that touches me."
Kodaru laughed as Ka'rai felt miniscule cuts form on his neck from Kodaru's hand. "Your tricks don't work on me~" sang Kodaru as his grip on Ka'rai's neck tightened. He pulled Ka'rai's head into his and the headbutt rattled Ka'rai.
A kick threw Ka'rai off his uncle as he stood. With both hands, Kodaru weaved hand signs. He didn't utter the name of his jutsu as the earth shredded his Adamantine Chains and cut upward. They were beneath the seafloor. Ka'rai didn't evaporate all of the water in the ocean. So, once the earth protecting them was removed.
The water fell upon them.
Kodaru cackled, and Ka'rai shielded himself with Adamantine Chains. The water poured over them with the weight of a mountain and Kodaru was completely fine while Ka'rai struggled with his shield of Adamantine. Either way, both of them had to swim upward. Kodaru held his breath, staying true to his Sanbi-less promise. Ka'rai was left low and soaked as he swam upward hundreds of feet. Fighting against the pressure was less strenuous than he thought thanks to his Special Chakra. It still took him much longer than Kodaru.
With a revitalizing breath, Ka'rai climbed up from under the depths, the water still unruly from what he did to it. Getting his footing, Ka'rai narrowed his eyes on Kodaru, clenching his fists.
Kodaru waved him off. "Nah, I've seen enough. Now that you know I can still kick your ass, it'll be boring."
Ka'rai scoffed, gaining a smirk instead. "What? You scared I'll find a way to blow you to shit?!"
"Why would I be scared of you?" asked Kodaru, gaining an evil glint that pissed Ka'rai off. "Anyway… you've proved yourself. You're plenty strong… and the Nibi wasn't doing shit to help you."
In the time that Ka'rai blinked, Kodaru was in front of him, hands digging into the seal on his chest. Water poured from it and back into Kodaru's chakra network. For the first time in what felt like forever, Ka'rai felt that fire. It burned over him and heterochromia flickered in his eyes.
Isobu! Nibi screamed in his head.
Ka'rai… didn't know how to feel. The fear and horrified worry that laced her voice made him feel bad. Hey, Nibi. It's been a while.
Ka'rai, said Nibi, voice distant. The searing fire died down ever so slightly. Invasive heat poked and prodded his mind. Ghostly claws traced the experience etched into his soul. Her vision melded with his and fury burned within him. You are going to free Sanbi… if it's the last thing you do, Ka'rai Uzumaki.
Yeah, I know. I will. Ka'rai was broken from his thoughts by Kodaru grabbing his shoulder. Immediately, he prepared for combat but… nothing came. For once, there was zero malice in Kodaru's eyes, the fury that gave his eyes the shine was… gone. What was in its place was… pride?! The small smile that crossed his face was genuine, not sadistic.
"Y'know, I'm proud of you, Ka'rai. You're really on your way to becoming the Blue Fire God of Destruction… I never really did this whole mentor thing before. I'm glad with how it's turning out." Kodaru spoke each word slowly and Ka'rai's mind broke. "Let me treat you to something to eat, as a reward for your hard work!"
"Hell no!" He shook his head. "The fuck?!" Ka'rai slapped Kodaru's hand off of him. "Don't try to play all proud mentor and shit now!"
Kodaru laughed. "What?! I can't be happy that you've progressed?!"
"You threatened to kill Hane, you put me and Fuu through hell and now you want to pull this?!" Ka'rai stepped away from Kodaru. "Fuck no."
"Oh, don't act all bitter!" Kodaru waved Ka'rai off again. "Look at yourself! You're nothing but better than you were a week ago! A week ago, you were a pathetic bitch that relied on the power of a beast and now you can stand on your own two feet! That's because of me! Did you ever think it was going to be easy? Do you think the path to Godhood isn't Hellish? Do you know how many times I've almost died training myself to get where I am now? I'm trying to make you like me—?"
"Why the fuck would I want to be like you?" asked Ka'rai with a scoff. "You're a monster."
"...You're not one too?" asked Kodaru in return.
Ka'rai grit his teeth. "Not anymore."
"You kids make no fucking sense…" Kodaru shook his head. "You're gonna kill people! Why not enjoy it?! All of that hesitation, all of that trying to be righteous mentality, it gets in your head, clouds your judgment."
The truth to Kodaru's words stabbed Ka'rai through the heart. His teeth grit.
"Yeah… you get it," Kodaru said, nodding his head. "You're alive, Ka'rai… that's the best thing you could be. Make the most of it. Become the God you were destined to be. Live every moment and extract joy out of every little thing."
Ka'rai grit his teeth even harder. Hane's visage came into his head as he shut his eyes. Ignore it. Ignore what he wanted, ignore what he would want. Gaara. He attempted to kill both Hane and Yowui. Yet, he changed. Gaara was hurt. Kodaru was hurt. Kodaru was… like him. Why couldn't he change, too?
"Fine… what do you plan to eat?" It felt like Ka'rai was ripping nails out of his throat.
Kodaru grinned. "You choose! I'll eat anything, I'm not picky." Kodaru tried to wrap his arm around Ka'rai, but he didn't let it happen.
"Anything spicy…"
"Spicy Seafood it is!" Kodaru clapped his hands and walked forward.
Ka'rai, however, stayed put. "I'll catch up. I need to take care of something first."
Kodaru let out a breath and kept moving, punching his hands into his pockets. "Don't keep me waiting forever."
"Before you go," called Ka'rai.
Kodaru looked back, raising his brow expectedly.
"I'm not the Blue Fire God of Destruction…" A pause. "I'm the Death God of Destruction."
Slowly, an excited grin crossed Kodaru's face. "I gotcha…" Kodaru turned away and kept walking.
With a deep breath, Ka'rai sat cross-legged on the calming waves. He shut his eyes. Black opened to gold.
It seemed that Nikuya was determined to make himself comfortable. He sat on a chair of ribs and skulls. The glint in his Ketsuryugan goaded Ka'rai to try something. With a simple half seal, Ka'rai trapped Nikuya in a cage of Adamantine Chains. All he got in response was a laugh.
Next, he looked to the literal Bijuu in the room. Nibi, still visibly pissed as her blue flames curled like clenched fists. Her heterochromatic eyes glared down at Ka'rai. The presence of her fire in his mind sweltered everything. Yet, Ka'rai didn't even sweat.
He let out a calm breath, looking up at her. "Whatever Kodaru or Nikuya try to teach me to subjugate you, I won't use. I still want to be your friend, Nibi. That hasn't changed."
Her eyes narrowed, and her flames growled. "What makes you so certain?"
"Yeah, I guess I should rephrase." Ka'rai changed his footing. "I won't use it… if you don't give me a reason to."
Nibi bared her teeth.
"You tried to kill me. Fuck you for that." Ka'rai didn't falter as he looked Nibi right in the eyes. "But, you didn't hurt anybody I cared about. So, I can still forgive you." Ka'rai stepped forward, pushing through Nibi's simmering fury as he placed a hand on the cage of Adamantine Chains he now held Nibi in.
"I want to be your friend. I want to learn your name. I want us to be allies and fix the cycle of life and death together. I killed Yugito. I put Yowui to rest. I undid my biggest mistake. I wiped away the bastardization of your domain without your help. Death deserves all of the respect you said it does. It's not just nothing. I take that back.
"Death is peace. Death is rest. It's just like you said. But, that doesn't take away the strength that life has, as well. I'll free… Isobu—"
"Don't sully my brother's name" growled Nibi.
Ka'rai tilted his head before nodding. "Right, sorry. Regardless, I'll free him."
Nibi remained in an angered silence, watching over him. For the first time… Nibi didn't seem directly angry at him. She was just… angry. It wasn't smart to poke the bear—or rather, feline—but Ka'rai did regardless.
"All of that stands." Ka'rai's explosive chakra boomed his gaze into a glare. "But, if you dare hurt Hane, Fuu, even Mama… or anyone else I may end up caring about, I'll make sure you'll never see the light of day again."
Nibi snarled, stepping forward as Ka'rai dared to challenge her. Even with all of Nibi's anger pointed toward him, Ka'rai did not falter. Their glowers matched with equal threat. "The bullshit you pulled on me before won't work again."
Nikuya couldn't help letting out a self-satisfied giggle.
"Is that so…" growled Nibi. Calming herself, she stepped away from the Adamantine Cage. "As much as you've grown, Ka'rai, don't fill yourself with delusions of grandeur. You wouldn't be comparable to a God without me. You are still a human. You are a mortal."
Nibi looked down at Ka'rai with a deadly even gaze. "You are neither Hashirama Senju nor Madara Uchiha."
"...What makes you sure?" asked Ka'rai with a smirk.
Nibi remained eerily still, like a corpse. "Common sense."
Ka'rai stepped back and laughed. "Alright, if you say so! It's nice seeing you free again… sorry that had to happen. I couldn't really stop it."
Nibi didn't say a thing.
Shaking his head, Ka'rai turned his back to Nibi. "Well… I have some spicy seafood to look forward to." Ka'rai snapped his fingers. "See 'ya!"
Ka'rai faded from his mindscape and returned to the real world… a true God in the making.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Even without Nanabi helping her, Fuu knew that presence. The fire that made a shiver go down her spine. It was unmistakable. Ka'rai had Nibi unsealed. A defeated huff made Fuu sigh as she looked down at Dokutsu, sitting atop the crater that the village was built in. Tired heat pooled in Fuu's torso as her look turned almost dead.
"What's wrong?" asked Hibana, kicking her legs with three sticks of Dango in her hand.
Fuu threw her six finished sticks down the crater and sighed. "I still don't know what I want to do." Her fists clenched. "It just… isn't fair!"
"Oh no!" The clock in Hibana's eyes ticked a bit faster as she frowned. "Did something happen?"
"Ka'rai already has Nibi free…" grumbled Fuu, slamming her heel against the rock. She had to pretend that it didn't hurt like a bitch. "He has this special ass fucking chakra! Of course it's going to be easy for him to look cool as shit!
"I just keep getting my ass kicked! Haku was playing with me like a doll in his icy shithouse. I don't have anything special! I don't have any blow-shit-up chakra, I don't have a Hell sword! I don't have crazy eyes that can control time! I just have the same shit that everyone else has!" Fuu waved her arms around before punching her leg and hanging her head. "This is bullshit."
"Aw…" Hibana's frown deepened as she put her Dango down on her thigh. "Well, I don't think what you're saying is exactly true. You have something special—"
"—Don't tell me a load of horseshit just to make me feel better!" yelled Fuu, glaring at Hibana.
Gasping, Hibana waved her hands. "No! I'm not! I'm just saying that your mind is special, y'know?! With that mind, you can make something that's cool and unique to you!" A smile grew on Hibana's face and somehow, it diffused Fuu's urge to argue against her.
Hibana leaned her head on Fuu's shoulder, making herself comfortable. "Some people are born special, other people just aren't special, and other people make themselves special."
Fuu pushed Hibana off of her. "I guess." With a groan, Fuu flung her arms in the air. "I still don't know what I want to do!"
"Maybe you can try Genjutsu," suggested Hibana with a sly smirk. "I'm good at it, so I could definitely teach you a thing or two!"
"Meh." Fuu shrugged. "Genjutsu is fake; I wanna hurt people for real."
"Hey! Don't underestimate how much mental attacks can damage people!"
"Eh."
"Okay, be that way!" Hibana crossed her arms over her chest. "Then I won't help you."
"Yes, you will!" stated Fuu.
Hibana scoffed and raised her brow. "What makes you say that?"
"Because I want you to!" declared Fuu. "You're not going anywhere."
"Oh—!" Hibana covered her mouth in a poor attempt to hide her fluster. Then, of course, came those goddamned giggles. "Yes, ma'am," she said, with a glimmer in her fast-ticking eyes.
Fuu whined. "You're weird!"
That only made Hibana giggle even harder. With a roll of her eyes, Fuu ignored her, looking at the sky. The sky always made Fuu feel better. Everything was pissing her off—besides Hibana—so pretending like she could still fly was the best thing she could do. Fuu loved the way the fluffy white of the clouds drifted across the blue plane of the sky. So free… there was nothing in their way. So light, there was nothing weighing them down. So pretty, yet nobody could touch them.
The clouds moved to reveal the sun. Without Nanabi's chakra, Fuu couldn't look directly at it. Even still, she did everything she could to appreciate it. Fuu took in the light. The golden rays that gave the world its warmth, its shine; the sun was so bright that it lit even the night. Slowly, Fuu's eyes widened in realization.
Another giggle from Hibana brought Fuu's attention back to her. Endearing anticipation shone in clockwork eyes as they ticked as fast as ever. "What's your idea?"
"Light. I want to do something with light."
"Light…" repeated Hibana, putting a hand on her chin. "How the heck are you gonna do that?"
"I dunno! But you're gonna help me figure it out!" declared Fuu, standing up and pointing at her.
Hibana grabbed the Dango off her thigh before she stood. A full smile spread across her face. "Yep!"
Without wasting another lick of time, the two got to work. Fuu was going to be strong enough to kick Kodaru's ass. After that, he'd have no choice but to free Nanabi. As the two set off, Fuu smirked.
I can't wait to fly again.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Finding Ka'rai was too much effort. He wasn't at the little studio apartment that was provided to them by Dokutsu. He wasn't with Kodaru at the cave by the sea—as a matter of fact, it was blown to smithereens. The sight was worrying as all hell. Fuu was loud enough for Hane to find her, and she knew nothing. It looked like Fuu was having fun with the Senko girl, so Hane wasn't going to bother her too much.
After that, Hane asked random people around for people who fit Ka'rai's description. Eventually, she found someone who did! That was a relief. Apparently, he went into a seafood restaurant… with Kodaru. The people knew him by name… and didn't seem… scared of him? It was two shocks compounded onto each other that landed with a punch to the gut.
With a breath, Hane looked up to the sign on a decently large seafood restaurant. It had a gray turtle being fileted on a skillet. The letters were in a swirl that read, Spinning Seafood. The symbolism was a bit more than obvious. Does Kodaru own this place…?
Hane pushed open the door and immediately she was bombarded with noise.
"Get off! I have a girlfriend!"
"She doesn't have to know~"
"NO!"
Hane blinked, seeing the booth where some pushy girl was harassing Ka'rai as he tried to eat. Across the table, laughing his ass off, was Kodaru. Hane sped over and shoved the other girl off of Ka'rai. "Hey! He said get off! Are you deaf?!"
The girl glared at her, and Hane was tempted to draw her Jigoku Blade. "Fine! Be that way…" she muttered, walking off. "I was just trying to have some fun."
Ka'rai let out a relieved sigh, neither of them dignified her with a response. "Thanks…"
"Of course!" Hane quickly sat next to Ka'rai and hugged him. "You okay?"
"Never been better," grumbled Ka'rai.
Kodaru, not laughing anymore, just let out a loud groan mixed with a sigh. "Ugh! C'mon! You're fucking up our uncle-nephew bonding time!"
"And she wasn't?!" questioned Hane with a glare.
Kodaru shrugged. "It was funny."
"No, it wasn't," countered Ka'rai, poking his red-hot scattered sushi with his chopsticks. "It was annoying."
"Women are like that sometimes," said Kodaru with a laugh. "Since you have a girlfriend, I'm sure you get that sometimes."
Hane glared, and Ka'rai just sighed. Slowly, Hane analyzed the situation. They were eating. Together. What the hell?! "Okay," Hane began. "What's going on?"
"I just told you!" Kodaru spattered, throwing his hands up. "Uncle-nephew bonding time! And you're interrupting!"
"She can stay…" grumbled Ka'rai. "I don't mind."
"Of course you don't mind you lovelorn shit," chaffed Kodaru, crossing his arms. Whatever was on his plate was already in his stomach.
Hane looked at her boyfriend. "Did you agree to this?"
"Yeah," he answered with a shrug. "I guess I was surprised to see he was capable of doing anything other than beating the shit out of me."
Kodaru bellowed out a laugh.
Hane nodded slowly. "I'm surprised you said yes—"
"I thought of what you would do and did it."
"Wait," Kodaru leaned forward. "You were gonna say no?!"
"Fuck yeah." This time, it was Ka'rai laughing while Kodaru had a frown on his face. "I'm just happy to have some half-decent food, at the very least."
"I only pay good chefs," said Kodaru as he crossed his arms again.
Hane looked him in the eyes. "So you do own this place."
"Yeah? You think I just dilly daddle in that cave all day?" Kodaru laughed. "I have hobbies and escapades to fill up my spare time, y'know."
"Yeah…" Hane blinked, chest lightening with realization.. "You're a… human being."
"Sure, something like that." Kodaru disappointedly looked at his empty plate.
Ka'rai snorted. "What happened to the whole Deep Sea God of Destruction thing?"
"You think I go around calling myself a God to everyone I meet like a fucking weirdo?!"
"You seem like the type!" quipped Ka'rai with a sharp smirk.
Kodaru rolled his eyes. "Go fuck yourself."
A silent laugh rattled Ka'rai's sharp teeth as he took a bite of his spicy scattered sushi. As the silence fell, Hane analyzed Kodaru. Then she looked over his establishment. It was full, pretty popular, and at the same time people weren't crowding around Kodaru like he was some celebrity.
Who was the Kodaru that they didn't know? Putting her hand on his thigh, Hane whispered, "Good job," to him.
His small, genuine smile made Hane's face fuzzy with a smile of her own.
Kodaru snorted. "Praise kink? Really nephew? You can do better than that."
"At least I have someone to praise me," countered Ka'rai, not losing his smile.
Kodaru waved his finger and snapped. "Ohhh! You see, I'm single by choice."
"Are you sure the choice is yours?" Ka'rai leaned forward with evil in his eyes.
Kodaru wasn't even phased. "Yep! Relationships don't interest me."
"How the hell are you my uncle?" Ka'rai snorted.
All Kodaru did was shrug. "Being committed to one person for a long period of time sounds like hell."
"Oh, so you're a hoe?" Ka'rai raised his brow questioningly.
Kodaru looked to the ceiling and snapped his fingers. "That is a derogatory term."
"Aha!" Ka'rai laughed, pointing his chopsticks at Kodaru. "You're just a lonely bitch with commitment issues!"
"Lonely?" Kodaru snorted. "Why the hell would I be lonely if I have myself?"
"Yeah, you just hide in that cave and jack off like a bitch." Ka'rai laughed relentlessly.
An offended scoff from Kodaru sounded like rocks being smashed together. "Didn't you just call me a hoe?! You're not even consistent with your own insults."
"Yeah, you're a hoe because you can't choose between your left or your right hand."
At that, Hane couldn't help but laugh.
"Regardless of how wrong you are about my sex life, I can hope we can all agree that stopping to the point of liking feet is below us all."
Ka'rai choked on his spicy food. "Fuck—" He coughed. Quickly, Hane slapped his back to help him with whatever was stuck in his throat. Ka'rai groaned as he finally managed to swallow.
Throughout the encounter, Kodaru looked at Ka'rai with a deadpanned expression. "Ka'rai."
"What?" Ka'rai's eyes were wide with worry.
With all the seriousness in the world, Kodaru leaned to look Ka'rai right in the eyes. "Don't tell me you like feet."
"Bro." Ka'rai slammed his hands on the table. "Listen—"
"NO!" wailed Kodaru. Distress drove him to grab at his face and nearly scream. "Not my nephew…! I will not be listening to whatever bullshit you have to say to try and justify this."
"I WAS JUST BORN LIKE THAT!" Ka'rai stood from his seat and glared. "It's like being gay! I didn't choose it! I was just like one day damn they're kinda… and it's whatever!"
"No, Ka'rai, you're diseased." Kodaru groaned. "I gotta disown you as my nephew."
"I never wanted you in the fucking first place!" Ka'rai looked tempted to throw a chopstick in Kodaru's eye.
Kodaru turned his attention to Hane. "What? Do you let him suck your toes or some weird shit—"
"Please, no." Hane turned beet red and covered her face. "I refuse to discuss this."
"Oh… fuck!" yelled Kodaru. "At least tell me you're not one of those types that like it stinky—"
"UGH!" Ka'rai covered his nose and shivered at the thought. "I would rather fucking die."
"Okay, you can still be saved." As he breathed a sigh of relief, Kodaru sat down.
Narrowing his eyes and shuddering, Ka'rai sat down in kind. Silence fell and Ka'rai went to finish his food.
Observing this was almost surreal. Kodaru… really was human. It was sad—Hane still saw the displeasure in Ka'rai's eyes; he still didn't like being around him. On the other hand, it was impossible for her to read Kodaru. There was always a silent rage behind his eyes. Hane, finally, took the opportunity to speak.
"Why do you kill people?" she asked, earning a look from both Ka'rai and Kodaru.
His eyes narrowed as he answered. "I already told you. Because I want to."
"It wasn't in good circumstances when I asked." Hane held back a shiver as she remembered that this was the same man that made Ka'rai and Hane try to kill each other. "I won't apologize for being angry, and you haven't earned the right for me to forgive you."
"And I should care because…?" Kodaru snorted.
Hane remained unphased. "You should. I'm your nephew's girlfriend. You at least care about Ka'rai… in some way?" What his answer would be almost scared her.
It came slow as Kodaru let out a chuckle. "Yeah, I do care about him. But why the fuck should I care about you?"
That was better than I thought… "I think the better question would be why don't you?" Hane folded her hands and looked Kodaru in the eyes.
Those same eyes crinkled as his brows furrowed. "You're unremarkable, weak, with no potential. There's nothing worth caring about in you."
"You—!" Ka'rai looked ready for war, but Hane stopped him with just a hand on his chest.
In response to his answer, Hane nodded. "I see. So… it's just power that matters to you?"
"More or less," answered Kodaru, rolling his head on his neck.
Hane gave another curt nod. "Okay, then I'll become powerful enough to beat you. After that, then you'll listen to me."
The following silence was as dead as Hane was serious.
It didn't last for long as Kodaru laughed. His was so loud and hard that it brought a tear to his eye. "I can see why Ka'rai keeps you around if you're this funny." He wheezed some more and slammed his fist on the table to control himself. "Y'know what! If you can beat me without the Sanbi's power, then I'll take anything you say as gospel."
"Good!" Hane put on a smile and stood so she could shake his hand. "Make it a deal, then."
"...You really are serious," realized Kodaru as he shook her hand. "If anything, seeing you try is going to be entertaining."
The rest of the meal was almost scarily quiet. Not scary for Hane, though… Ka'rai looked like he'd seen a ghost. Though, that definitely wasn't new for him. After Ka'rai finished—not more than five minutes later—he quickly left with barely a goodbye. He dragged her outside and the moment they were out of Kodaru's line of sight, he held her by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
"Hane, what the fuck?!" Ka'rai shook her. "What the fuck were you thinking?!"
"I thought you saw him as redeemable. You were being kind by accepting his offer, right?"
"Yeah but—" Ka'rai grasped at her even tighter. "Not even I could beat him without Sanbi's power! Hell, I don't know if that would change even if I had used Nibi's chakra."
"Then I'll just be stronger than you."
Her declaration looked like it slapped Ka'rai across the face. "What?!" He shook his head, blinking. "I… You said that it was supposed to be the both of us. Your kindness, my strength—"
"Well, yeah, but I can't trust you to be kind. So, I need to gain the power needed to make my kindness matter, myself." Hane kept her words even, her demeanor calm, even as Ka'rai looked like he was falling apart.
He shut his eyes and grit his teeth, looking to the ground. "Well, I can't trust you to be powerful like I am!"
"Then we'll both have to earn each other's trust." Hane put her hand on Ka'rai's chin and made him look her in the eyes again. "We're not together so we can make up for each other's shortcomings. We're together so we can grow from each other."
"Okay…" Ka'rai put his forehead against hers. "You've been teaching me how to be kind… so I teach you how to be strong."
"Exactly." A smile crossed Hane's face. "Exactly like that."
And just like that, new determination bloomed in their eyes. Ka'rai still had to embrace her to calm himself.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Apparently, this 'ally' of Clowui and her mother was finally in the condition to meet her. Sami was led through a torch-lit, underground corridor. Snake scales were etched on the wall and it smelled like death. It made sense why Clowui and her mother were so unphased. Sami herself, just kept her guard up. By this point, she found herself comfortable enough to walk without a glove over her void, especially when the bells of danger rang so loudly.
"We're here." Machia stopped moving, and so did Clowui.
Naturally, Sami had to stop as well. They had reached double doors—the handles were stone carvings of snake fangs. Not even bothering to raise her hand, Machia knocked against it. They opened by themselves, and a subtle blue glow illuminated the room. A man with long, silky black hair stood in front of bubbling test tubes. Inside of which, intense purple chakra was pulsing.
"Machia," slithered Orochimaru as he turned back. His skin was made of white snake scales. Golden eyes pierced the three and Sami couldn't help but step back. "Long time no see."
"I'm surprised to see you in such a pristine condition," Machia noted, walking forward. On the other hand, Sami couldn't stop her breathing from speeding through her lungs.
Clowui grabbed her hand. "Calm down—"
"Clowui—" Sami's breath hitched as sweat poured down her face. "He's a criminal who betrayed Kumo!"
"Oh, is that what you think?" Sami blinked, and Orochimaru loomed over her—he was tall, almost as tall as Lord Furachi was. "I'm afraid that you're mistaken. One of my subordinates went rogue and stole Killer Bee… because the Strongest Man Alive was too weak to fight back."
Sami couldn't tell if he was lying or not. Her heart hammered in her and she had to grab at her chest to try and make it slow down.
"Are you scared?" Orochimaru crouched to her level. Sami stumbled backward. "I won't hurt you… if you don't give me a reason to."
"Sami, Orochimaru is an ally," assured Clowui, her gaze even and genuine. "He's no more intimidating than the Chinoike."
Orochimaru's face slithered into a grin at the comparison.
Clenching her fist, Sami asked. "Are you an ally of the Chinoike or an ally of Kumo?"
"Any ally of the Chinoike, is an ally of Kumo," responded Machia. "We serve to support Kumo's best interests. Of course, we must ask you to keep this under wraps if you wish to continue this alliance."
"What if I don't?" asked Sami, starting to focus on things other than her panicked body.
Machia sighed. "Then I'll erase your memory. It wouldn't be hard."
"You can do that?!" Sami's eyes went wide, instinctively looking toward Clowui.
She gave her a curt nod.
Distrust squirmed over her like maggots—They could do whatever they wanted to Sami and she wouldn't have a clue in the world. Why was she here? What part of her made this seem like a good fucking idea?!
The fact that she had to save Cee-sensei and Cirru. They were trapped because of her. Sami promised to herself that she was going to free them, no matter what. With a sigh, Sami clenched both of her fists. "I'll… I'll stay quiet."
"Good…" Orochimaru's eyes zeroed in on her, and Sami steeled her breath. "Now, show me your Void Style. It better not be a waste of my time."
With a short nod, Sami opened her palm, pointing it toward the ceiling. Focusing on her control. It was getting easier. Her void opened and the surrounding air entered inside of the thin glowing diamond.
Orochimaru didn't seem too impressed. "Push your limits."
Sami cursed under her breath. She pointed her palm down and crouched to the floor. As she took more chakra out of her void, the more it opened. The ground beneath them was sucked into her void with a spiraling vortex. Even Machia found it was to step away from her as Sami took more and more restraints off. Before long, it was fully opened. Sami's heart thundered as she used all of her focus to keep the void in check.
It devoured everything below and it was only thanks to her control that they had a place to stand. Sami finally cut off her void and a hole over a mile deep was now in the middle of the room. With a shaky breath, Sami looked up at Orochimaru. "Is that good enough?"
"Intriguing…" The snake rubbed his chin—his nails were long and sharp like syringes, like fangs. "What's the most impressive thing you've done with your Void Style?"
"Uh—" Sami winced, forcing herself to recall Konoha Crush. "I can absorb people's chakra. I absorbed two people into my void entirely—I'm trying to free them—and I ripped a cloak off of a Jinchuriki."
"What form was the Jinchuriki in?" Orochimaru quickly asked his question with a glint in his golden eyes.
Sami blinked. "Uh… five tails… it was the Nanabi."
"You tore the cloak off of a Version Two Jinchuriki?" A grin slithered across his face once again. It was excited.
Sami responded with a stiff nod.
Orochimaru giggled and rubbed his chin. "You will do… you will do indeed." He turned his gaze to the ceiling. "You said that you're trying to free the people you've trapped, correct?"
"Yes."
"Well, what you're aiming for is certainly within the realm of possibility." Orochimaru looked back at her. "Your Void Style, it comes from an ancient clan that dates back to the time of the Sage of Six Paths, older than even the Uchiha and Senju. It was called the Shinin.
"Your case is not unique. The Void Style has always been notoriously powerful to control. The Shinin was destroyed when a child of prodigious potential was born. His Void utterly eradicated the Shinin and a significant portion of the country he was in.
"Every Shinin since hid their bloodline out of fear of their own destructive potential. The void was seen as a curse. This knowledge, it was lost to time."
Orochimaru ended his little lecture, and Sami was left with an odd feeling. A type of closure and a type of sorrow, it whirled inside of her. It made her feel like she was a thousand pounds heavier while her mind was opened. "How… how do you know this?"
"When you can revive the dead, history becomes a trivial matter," responded Orochimaru with a wave of his hand.
Sami gave a curt nod. "Are there any others with Void Style?"
"If I knew where they were, then they'd be with me."
That response sent shudders down Sami's spine. "I see…" She cleared her throat. "Thank you… Orochimaru, for telling me this, and for helping me."
"Lord Orochimaru," he corrected before a more subdued but equally serpentine smile curled his lips. "But, you are welcome."
"Y-yes, Lord Orochimaru." Sami bowed her head. Afterward, she turned to Machia. "And thank you as well, for giving me this opportunity, Lady Chinoike."
She responded with a curt nod.
With that, Orochimaru walked around the hole in the floor and past the door. "Well, let's get started, shall we?"
Sami stayed by Clowui's side as they followed Orochimaru
Finally, I can save Cirru and Cee-sensei.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Kay despised the hospital. Kay despised being injured. It meant she couldn't work to support her family. All she was doing was waiting and wasting. She couldn't bring herself to damn Ka'rai for putting her here because he could've just have easily taken her life. That way, she wouldn't ever be able to serve her family again.
Why did she have to owe her life to a traitor?
The door to her room opened. Kay turned her head to see Arasei Uzumaki coming to greet her. A small, somewhat pained smile crossed her face as she greeted her. "How are you?"
"I'm… fine," answered Kay, forcing herself to stay still as Arasei took a seat beside her bed. "Why are you here?"
"I sensed you in the hospital, weaker than you're supposed to be; I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Arasei's answer did exactly nothing to quell Kay's confusion. "...Why?"
"It felt right."
"I… see." Kay decided to stop questioning her.
Silence fell for a bit before Arasei picked the conversation back up. "How did your mission go? I can give the report for you, if you were the only one that went."
"I wasn't," answered Kay before narrowing her eyes. "But I was the only one that came back."
"I'm sorry," Arasei frowned, clutching at her pants. "Survivor's guilt… don't let it get to you. It's not your fault…"
Something went unspoken, Kay couldn't quite catch it. "You're right. It was Yugito that died."
"Oh…" Arasei pursed her lips. "I hope she rests well."
"Mhm…" Kay finally decided to drop the bombshell. "Ka'rai killed her."
The way Arasei reacted was almost visceral. An agonizing mix of grief and guilt made her face scrunch together as if she was thrown into a vat of acid. A silent scream came from her open mouth before she shut it with a swallow. "You… saw him? Where is he?"
"The Land of Claws," answered Kay. "He joined Dokutsugakure as one of their Shinobi. Hane and the Nanabi's Jinchuriki did as well."
"No…" A distant horror echoed Arasei's voice and Kay forced herself to look the woman in the eyes.
"No?"
"Nothing—it's…" Her fists clenched harder. Kay could see her chakra starting to seep out of her with the naked eye. "Personal."
"...Is it something that would endanger Kumo?" Fear like this wasn't just from something personal.
Arasei shook her head. "Dokutsu would never start a war. I know that for certain."
"What makes you so certain?"
"I was once part of Dokutsu… things happened. I ran away to Kumo."
"I see," responded Kay, narrowing her eyes. A bit of disdain was laced into her gaze. So being a traitor runs in the family. "Well, I would like for you to give the mission report for me since you offered."
"Great!" Arasei put on a smile, choking down her fear and pulling out pen and paper. "It's definitely going to help get the ANBU off my back."
"ANBU?" questioned Kay.
Arasei let out an empty chuckle. "Flight risk…"
"I don't blame them," Kay muttered without really thinking. Another empty chuckle was Arasei's response. As Kay spoke her mission report, Arasei wrote it down. The more she really… thought of Arasei, the less of a traitor she seemed to be. Ka'rai, he couldn't put anything past himself. He didn't even fully follow what Hane wanted him to do. He did what he wanted with little regard for others—the signs were there with his battle against Gaara.
After finishing the mission report, Kay looked Arasei in the eyes. "I can't speak on your past. But, currently, I do truly admire your loyalty to Kumo. Especially after seeing you put Kumo over your own child."
"No…" Arasei shook her head, clenching her fists. "I'm just a coward."
"I see…" Kay muttered, furrowing her brows. The woman took the completed mission report and left. Kay didn't even get to thank her. With a painful sigh, Kay went back to staring at the ceiling, like she'd been doing for hours before.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Today wasn't particularly special. Ka'rai, Hane, and Fuu had proved their loyalty to Dokutsu, so Seiki would at least describe this as a good day. The Kumo trio that came into his village were an interesting lot at the very least. Son of the only Shinobi to successfully desert Dokutsu and Jinchuriki of the Nibi, Ka'rai Uzumaki. From what Seiki could gather, he was just one big mistake. He tried just to mess up and have to deal with the consequences. If he was anything like this girlfriend, then his heart was in the right place.
Speaking of Hane, she was his unequivocal favorite of the bunch. She had no special powers but a heart of gold that was too rare in this world. It didn't matter that she had so much to learn because she was willing to devour the knowledge and context she was missing so she could understand. Seiki was overjoyed to have Hane in his village, there was no doubt about that. One day, he could see her as Lady Gem had it not been an inherited position.
Fuu on the other hand… was a wildcard. There was never a time where Seiki didn't have at least two ANBU trailing her. Apparently, she was getting involved with Hibana, which was a relief. After all, she was the rising star of the Senko. Hibana was a great influence, if not a bit forward with her feelings, whatever they may be. Hopefully, Hibana was going to mellow out the insanity that Fuu had barely hidden under the surface. That way, she'd be a good inclusion to Dokutsugakure… and not a literal flight risk.
At least two out of three were secure, and there was nothing more Seiki valued than security—
"Yo!"
From out of literally nowhere, a faceless mask—half black, half red—was in front of him. Seiki's Tokeigan chimed as he looked the mask exactly where his eyes would be. "Who are you?"
"Who am I?" The man danced back, he was tall, lanky, and dressed in all black with not an inch of skin being shown. "It's better to ask what these are?"
"These?"
"DEEZ NUTS!" The man started cackling.
Seiki paused, an unamused look crossing his face as his Tokeigan picked the figure apart. He's shrouded in a complex Genjutsu… not even my eyes can get a read on him.
Taking a breath, the man wiped a false tear from his mask. "Okay, you can call me Zero."
"Why are you here?" Seiki stood, allowing his gems to rattle and shine in the sunlight.
Zero hummed. "Asking why, not how? You're not like the other world leaders…"
"You used Genjutsu to sneak in. It's not exactly hard to decode your methods."
"Right…" Zero snapped his fingers. "You have that little Sharingan rip-off embedded in your skull."
"Watch how you refer to my Tokeigan…" Seiki's tone gained a defensive edge, though he wasn't exactly threatened. At any time, Seiki could eliminate this intruder.
Zero just giggled. "Right, right, Tokeigan. I find it crazy that a village as irrelevant as yours has three Bijuu."
"Mmm…" Seiki's eyes twitched. A leak? Or rather… he figured this out through his own spywork.
"Do you want three more?"
"I'm sorry?" Seiki almost recoiled from the following statement.
Zero must've smirked behind his mask. "Okay, so… there's this guy, he used to be a subordinate of Orochimaru of the Sannin. His name is Hidan. He's a fanatic, worshiper of Hell. He started out as a crazy ass Shinobi from the Land of Hot Springs, but eventually he spread his cult to the entirety of his home country and beyond.
"From the invasion of Konoha Crush organized by Orochimaru, he managed to nab the Yonbi, Gobi, and Hachibi for his little ritual… Where Hidan plans to transform Earth into Hell." Zero put a finger up. "But, there's one puzzle piece missing from him. The Nibi. Which is in your possession.
"Another thing I didn't mention was that Hidan is immortal. The only way to kill him is to destroy his soul entirely. Of course, the only thing capable of doing that is the Nibi." Zero chuckled. "So, Lord Gem. You have two options. You either wait around for Hidan to come and invade your country on his mission for the Nibi, or you bring the fight to him and have 'ol Ka'rai slaughter him before Hidan can even start his ritual."
"I see…" Seiki blinked. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Well, I assume we all have the common interest of saving the fucking world!" Zero clapped. "And don't worry, I won't leak any information about your village."
Seiki saw through the white lie that was his second statement. "Alright…"
"Okay, that's it, baiii~" Zero disappeared from reality like he wasn't there in the first place.
Seiki grunted to himself before flaring his chakra. Two ANBU flickered by his side. "Retrieve Ka'rai, Hane, Fuu, and Kodaru."
With a quick nod, one flickered away.
"You, put out a bounty for a man named Zero. He's tall, lanky with a featureless black mask. He's surrounded by heavy amounts of distorting Genjutsu at all times."
Another nod, he flickered away next.
Seiki was left alone with the worry sinking in his gut.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
"Hidan…" growled Ka'rai. Explosive blue fire sparked like firecrackers at his clenched fists. "Of course it's fucking Hidan."
"And Nanabi still isn't free," muttered Fuu, giving a deadly side-eye to Kodaru.
Hane just sighed and grasped the Jigoku Blade at her waist.
A sly smile crossed Kodaru's face. "Is this an excuse for me to fuck shit up, Lord Gem?"
"Not exactly," clarified Lord Gem, his intense gaze froze his Tokeigan in place. "This is an assassination, not a war."
"No." Ka'rai shook his head. "Everybody that's part of Hidan's cult needs to fucking die."
"Ka'rai." Hane grabbed his arm. "What if they were coerced? What if some were forced into it—"
"And what if one we leave alive becomes the next Hidan?!" Ka'rai countered with blood in his tone. "I refuse to take that chance. If they want to live, they'll have to beg for it."
That's what I like to hear… Nikuya gave a round of applause in his head.
"Ka'rai!" Hane glared at him.
Ka'rai shook his head. "This isn't about innocence, it's about threat. Anyone associated with Hidan is a threat. If they try to beg and apologize and denounce Hidan, sure, give them a chance. But don't look for people to give chances to, not here.
"If somebody you let live follows in Hidan's footsteps…" Heterochromia glared down at Hane. "...Then the blood they spill is on your hands."
Hane's glare subsided with narrow eyes. "I don't like the idea of killing people because of association…"
"Ka'rai, I see your point." Lord Gem let out a sigh. "Well, that is why when we decide it's time to assassinate Hidan, Kodaru will accompany you. Any large group of people, he can take care of."
"Perfect…" Kodaru's dark chuckles filled the air.
Hane let out a defeated sigh, cursing under her breath. With a breath of his own he stood tall beside her.
"I'm sure this goes without saying," Lord Gem continued. "But all of you will train like there is no tomorrow. I will be sending spies to infiltrate the Land of Hot Springs and keep tabs on Hidan's cult.
"Ka'rai, I'm sure that your training with Kodaru will go uninterrupted." Lord Gem looked to him and Ka'rai just huffed while Kodaru smirked. "Fuu, you can continue with Hibana until you've proven yourself to Kodaru."
She crossed her arms. "That was my plan."
"Hane, if you need any training, then you can come directly to me."
Her eyes lit up. "Wait, really?"
"Of course… you've earned it in my eyes." Lord Gem gave her a warm smile.
Hane went from gloomy to sunny in those few seconds. Seeing her smile brought one to Ka'rai's face. "Great! Thank you very much." Hane bowed.
Lord Gem nodded. "All of you are dismissed. None of you rest until you're powerful enough to take down Hidan."
"Yes sir," they all said in unison—even if Fuu was a bit more than reluctant. With that, they left.
As they did, Ka'rai reached for his Jigoku Blade, which was still strapped to Hane's waist. "Thank youuu."
"Nope." She grabbed onto its hilt.
Ka'rai blinked. "Huh…? But… it's mine."
"I'm going to keep it," she declared with an even smile.
Ka'rai's jaw dropped. "But—IT'S MINE!"
"Not anymore!" Hane smirked and grasped onto it. "You have your Special Chakra under control now, you don't really need it. If you really want a blade in your hand, then you can use my old one."
"That's not a fair sword trade."
"Well, that sucks for you, Rai Rai."
The nickname stopped him from arguing any further. Yeah, if he were to give it to anybody else, it'd be her.
You coward! yelled Nikuya. Take what's yours!
Eh, I'll be fine without it. Ka'rai walked up to Hane and grabbed her hand. "Lead me, I'm going to talk to Nibi."
"Alright," she agreed.
Kodaru scoffed. "Meet me at my cove. We'll resume training there."
"Huh, I thought I destroyed that?"
"I repaired it. Earth Style."
"Right…" With that, Ka'rai closed his eyes.
The shining gold of his mind bloomed behind his eyelids before he faced Nibi. Nikuya was still in his cage of Adamantine Chains… right where he belonged. Walking right past him, Ka'rai made his way toward Nibi's cage. "Nibi, what are your ways of destroying the soul?"
Nibi closed her eyes as she sat like a sphinx, resting her head down on her massive paws. "Yuurei Flame and my Six Paths Ability, the Human Path."
"I see…" Ka'rai nodded. "So, once I learn both, we're going to go slaughter Hidan and his entire fucking cult."
A snarl curled Nibi's flames. "Indeed." She stood and summoned Yuurei. It was translucent, blue fire. Being near it gave Ka'rai's astral form goosebumps, it was cold. "Because of the way you trained while I was sealed, you've gained the spiritual aptitude to properly summon Yuurei.
"The Human Path will be simpler to learn, but that requires my full domain to be reached. So, we'll focus on Yuurei for now."
"I see…" Ka'rai nodded, taking in the sight of the drifting cold fire. "Thanks, Nibi." He made sure to put on his widest smile.
"You're welcome… Ka'rai."
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Nibi despised every time she gave courtesy to Ka'rai. Just like his rightfully extinct clan, he clung to life at every turn. Her wretched container danced with death and came out as alive as ever. Each and every effort she put forward to keep him weak had failed. Ka'rai Uzumaki, he was now a threat. The respect she gave him was forced to become more than just a front, it was almost another weapon she used to cut down tension.
Not that Nibi ever planned to lash out. She was not as foolish as her siblings, not as reckless. What was certain, was that Nibi could not lay a hand on who Ka'rai valued. That didn't change the fact that they needed to die. Hane, Fuu, Arasei, they are what Ka'rai clings to in life. Nibi was going to do everything to make sure that they were taken away.
Taking away his home, his stability, it wasn't enough.
Ka'rai needed nothing.
That way… all that would be left was death.
Finally, she'd be free.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Beautiful… it was beautiful. The sun had reached its peak in the day and the sky was red. Sweltering heat baked from both above and below. A hellish temple constructed of brimstone was surrounded by a moat of lava. Of course, their prophet stood atop it. Hidan grinned wide as he looked upon his followers. Droves and droves of thousands of those enlightened in the ways of Jashin.
Of course, by his side were his two most loyal disciples. To his right, Itan, dressed in his golden rings, he sat atop a Soul Eater with a grin of pride crossing his face. Oh, how blessed he was, Itan truly did understand the pain of others!
On his left, was an urchin turned enlightened. A boy who hadn't even had a decade on this earth learned the ways of Jashin and was just as fiercely loyal as Itan! Oh, little Rei, he showed his devotion to the cause in all the best ways possible! He shaved his head bald, and all of the scars where he cut himself every day to understand the pain of others! A truly blessed boy! Hidan loved him so.
"My fellow disciples of Jashin!" Hidan screamed and the crowd beneath him roared. "Soon! Soon! Soon, our perfect world will be upon us. The great unification of Earth and Hell is near! Three Bijuu! All thanks to my efforts, I have gotten us three great celestial powers to help power our ritual!"
Cheers and grins from his followers grew Hidan's grin even more as he cackled. "Yes! Yes! But… we're missing one piece! One vital piece that stands between this world and its salvation!"
A collective gasp urged Hidan to continue. "The Demon of Death! The Nibi! It is the bridge between the realms of life in death! We need its special power to complete this ritual and we must stop at nothing to retrieve it!"
"Once the Earth is united with Hell, then finally true understanding will be brought to all! All of us will understand each other's pain under the coalition of eternal agony that is Hell! A perfect world ruled by Lord Jashin himself!" This time a battle cry belted from his followers. Hidan cackled and raised the Jigoku Scythe in the air. "FUCK YEAH!"
"Doesn't Lord Jashin need a sacrifice?" asked Rei, looking up to Hidan.
His face let up as he grinned. "Yes Rei! Yes he does!" Hidan stepped forward, allowing himself into a clearer view. "Our great Rei has just reminded me! Lord Jashin demands a sacrifice!" His voice projected and immediately, every one volunteered themselves, nearly toppling each other. It truly warmed Hidan's heart to see his followers so eager to serve Jashin.
However… Hidan spied somebody that wasn't quite as enthusiastic. A man tried to hide himself in the crowd. It didn't take long for Hidan to discover a heretic. "You…" Hidan hurled his scythe hundreds of feet right next to the man. He yelped and tried to scurry away. "YOU WILL BE JASHIN'S SACRIFICE!"
The coward screamed. Of course, the loyal disciples didn't let him get away. He was dragged toward Hidan's brimstone temple, up the hundreds of steps that led him up. The fight he put up already had him bleeding.
"Jashin thanks you for your devotion!" Hidan grinned at his disciples as they delivered the cowardly man to him.
His eyes trembled in his skull as he crawled to all fours bowed to Hidan. "Please… forgive me…"
Hidan recalled his scythe and grasped it in his hands. As the man began to quiver and cry, he took the blood dripping from his head onto the largest blade of his scythe. "You don't ask me, you ask Lord Jashin."
"H-how do I earn his forgiveness?" The man looked up with a desperate plea in his eyes.
Hidan licked the blood before slamming his scythe to the ground. A circle with a triangle inside burned onto the floor. Itan watched with satisfaction as Rei remained stoic. "With your sacrifice." Hidan's skin turned black as the white outline of a skeleton formed over him.
"Tell me, what do you think is the worst pain imaginable?" asked Hidan.
The man started to cry, barely able to form a response. All he did was babble. Hidan groaned. "You are a coward on every level, aren't you?! Are you scared of pain?! Why are you scared of the pain that's supposed to unite us all?!"
Hidan picked up the sobbing, babbling idiot by the collar. "JASHIN DOESN'T ACCEPT COWARDLY FUCKS LIKE YOU! Those who refuse to understand the pain of others—those who can't handle it don't deserve to live!"
Hidan grinned, his red scythe starting to glow white. "For that, the worst pain in existence will be your death… and finally, you will understand."
"NO! PLE—"
Hidan lit himself on fire with Izanyomi. Despite that, the coward was the first to scream. He wailed while Hidan bathed in the sheer punishing agony of Izanyomi. He outstretched his hands and leaned back, facing the sun as Izanyomi overtook him. Of course, he slowed the process. The cowardly bitch on the ground below him wouldn't stop screaming, wailing, crying like a fucking child.
At least… he finally understood the pain of others.
What was much more endearing than the cowardly cries were the dramatic cheers of the truly loyal followers. Those who were ready to understand the pain of others! Those who'd take it with open arms and appreciate every agony they experienced in their life! Minutes later, Hidan was fully overtaken by the punishing flames of Izanyomi.
Right after, he rose from where he died in the purest rebirth, his purest and most exposed state. Hidan grabbed his scythe and presented himself triumphantly. "THE SACRIFICE HAS BEEN MADE! JASHIN IS PLEASED!"
The crowed roared with applause and cheers and Hidan cackled.
He bathed in the praise… he bathed in the pain.
Oh, how he couldn't wait until the rest of the world felt the pain, too.
ϟ—Chapter End—ϟ
A/N: Happy arc end! WOO! The next arc will be the Pre-Timeskip finale so look very very very forward to that. But, honestly, I don't see it being more than like 6 chapters MAX lol. As for whennnn It'll come out? I wanna say like, spring if I'm being generous to myself, but likely we're looking at a June release. The sole reason why it's taking so long is because Daisugi decided to be a bitch and have me write like a thousand and a half characters or some bullshit. But, yeah, look forward to the bombastic final battle between Ka'rai and Hidan NEXT TIME on Seeing White and Blue!
Lytn out, o7