Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto
Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23
Chapter 65: History and Legacy Part II
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Everyone had gotten comfortable sitting on the ground. At the same time, Makeda adjusted Mimir to be at the edge to look at every one. "You are most kind, my lady of Sheba."
"You're welcome." She soon took her place amongst the others as the god of wisdom cleared his throat.
Sindri dryly stared over at his brother, who had fallen asleep the moment he lay on the ground. Letting out, 'I lived through the fucking thing. Don't feel like rehashing that shit again.' Well, his brother couldn't fault him for that. The now snoring was another matter.
Naruto glanced at Tomoe, who came to sit beside him and his family, "What's Sheba?" A few turned upon hearing a low whine from Makeda, who wore a dour expression. The blond winced, "Sorry." Whatever that was, it was a sore topic.
The sage of flame patted his head gently, "We can fill you in later. Please start, Mimir."
"Very well. For context, we have to go back to the beginning; the Primordials brought about the birth of our universe. The divine beings who flowed out from the void of Chaos itself. Through their hands were born the planets, suns, and stars."
As Mimir spoke, the world around them vanished. They found themselves sitting in the void of space itself! Maiyuri's eyes rose immensely as she and the others saw massive, towering figures made of space and stars. Some with the shapes of males and others with females, others blurring the line between them, and yet more who lacked any true humanoid shape as their hands waved across the galaxy, stars, and planets coming to life.
Mimir's words became an echo, giving a greater presence to his narration. "As the Primordials rose to be the supreme rulers of all realities. Their children, the Titans, were granted absolute sovereignty within those realities."
There was a planet, a small thing compared to the vastness of the cosmos. Raw and red and primal. Great beings that rose over the vast hellish expanse filled the burning land with rain; they weaved clouds and filled oceans, rose mountains from the primordial world, and tended to forests and jungles as one would tend a garden. A world that looked much like their own but also alien to them. These giants who filled the world with life could not be called everything less than divine. From the flashes of images, they witnessed a feathered serpent raising humans from mud and blood. Primordial men were made of gold, silver, iron, and flesh. Ape-like and covered in fur emerging from trees as a heavenly hand helped them evolve into something more. A realm of beasts was so ancient and wild that each was almost like a titan unto themselves.
One particular sight, for the inhabitants of the Elemental Nations, was one taken from the tapestries themselves. A man and woman stood in the heavens, a great spear dipping into the ocean and rising islands and landmass. Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto themselves are the progenitors of the great deities of Shinto.
It was a religious experience that could make devout followers kneel and pray.
"And is the way of things. The old makes way for the new."
Younger gods, newer generations all, standing up to their parents for dominion over creation. Gods of the storm wrestled down the skies as the Earth became their domain. Scenes of clashes so overwhelming it made even the devastation unleashed by a Bijuu nothing but a child's play.
Not all were violent. Others took their place by rightful inheritance, taking the Throne of forebears and laying claim to the heavens and the world of mortals. Such as a woman who made the natives of Gogyou-ku Koku almost fall to their knees, fairest among all, with long hairs of pearly divine white and fabrics unknown to this Earth, she shined like the sun itself amongst the heavens. She blessed the world with its rays of endless compassion and kindness.
Maiyuri let out a choked sob, feeling she should bow but unable to move her legs before the stunning sight of Amaterasu Ōmikami.
There were mortals of various shapes and sizes, humans and others they had no words for, all standing bellow the gods in worship or companionship.
"As the world dawned the Age of Gods, all cultures that came after hailed them as their forebears. Each was developing their unique relationship with their gods."
The blissful sight was not to last, for the scope of their vision became smaller. Far from the lands of isles and reeds, into an arid land of stone structures and ziggurats.
"Gods not only represent all that's good and orderly, but they also represent what's 'true.' The nature of the world and humanity, with its violence and darkness. Some cultures shunned them, and others embraced such deities. But all gods, be they benevolent or cruel, had their roles... such was the case for the pantheon of a land known as Sumer."
They saw a dark-brown-skinned man with a full dark beard. Adorned in a sleeveless tunic with a gold accent and a crown with horns. "Enlil, king of the Sumer pantheon, known as Anu." Then came the picture of a beautiful woman with flawless coffee-colored skin wearing a beautiful, if not a bit revealing, attire of purple, white, gold, and blue. Like Enlil, she wore a horned crown but laced with jewels. "And his favorite daughter, the Queen of Heaven, Inanna. But she is also known by another name... Ishtar."
That drew the attention of several people. "Didn't that masked demon say that name?" Sasuke remarked, looking at the adults around him.
"You might have heard the name. But not know she was. The Sumer gods ruled firmly, not always kindly; humans suffered under their reign more than once. Enlil was the lord of the skies, and to him, the lives of mortals were his to cull as he saw fit. At the same time, Ishtar governed the spheres of beauty, love, war, justice, and fertility. The people of Sumer loved and adored Ishtar, who blessed them with martial power, strong families, wealth, and love." Mimir's golden eyes grew distant, "But that began to change. Largely responsible for the action of one very foolish mortal who enchanted Ishtar into a slumber and forced himself upon her." A snarling growl came from the reanimated god. "Once she awoke, she knew what was done to her. And inflicted a terrible, horrific punishment that not even that fool's soul remained."
Shock and horror glowed in the faces of many, along with disgust. To do such a vile act against a god...
"After that, Ishtar's love for mortals grew dark. Her justice became vengeance, even for the smallest crime. Enlil and many others of the Sumerian pantheon sided with Ishtar and began to bring sorrow to the people of Sumer. Little by little, the mortals who loved them began to fear them as their gods became more antagonistic and resentful. From bringing miracles to curses and plagues. Until it had gotten so terrible it drew the attention of the other pantheons. Because now, not only were the gods of Sumer going against their purpose. They were growing lustful for more power and authority, including that of other gods'."
Meihui sighed, "The balance of the world forever changed."
"Aye," Mimir grunted, "And a conflict arose between the Sumerian Gods and other deities from across the pantheons."
Sakura's eyes rose as she saw the great storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto bring down his mighty blade against Enlil's spear, with both roaring at each other in a fury. But the storm lord wasn't as alone as other gods. None from Gogyou-ku Koku had ever seen them fight with him. A four-armed blue-skinned man with long flowing black hair, wielding a trident, dodged arrows from a furious Ishtar while they saw more strange deities battling in the skies above or on the Earth below. Lightning struck the warhammer of a towering red-haired god in hardened leather and a thickly furred cape who roared, shooting the lightning like a beam of energy.
The battle before their eyes was like nothing any had seen or could envision in their wildest of imaginations.
Mountains sundering, valleys split open as the Earth uprooted into jagged cliffs. Rivers came into existence and filled prairies while, at the same time, patches of Earth were scorched clean with the heat of the celestial fire.
How small and insignificant they felt before the powers of the gods.
One by one, the cruel gods fell, bound by chains of golden light as the sight of a long-bearded king and his subjects joined the deities in battle and brought down the very own beings that oppressed them for so long. Entombing them in prisons that not even the gods could break from.
"As the cruel Sumerian gods were defeated, their authority and divine power were taken from them and passed down to the younger gods who would succeed them. Thus, the cruel reign of the Sumerian pantheon was brought to an end by the hands of gods, and men joined together and dethroned those terrible deities... All except one."
The woman, whose beauty was only rivaled by her fierce battle prowess, crawled away wounded through mud and dirt. This figure of divine royalty now torn and broken, she cried tears of rage as her teeth gnashed together, fury echoing through every pore of her godly form.
"Ishtar escaped and took refuge in the only place the heavenly gods would not find her. The underworlds."
Ishtar fell into a pit of everlasting darkness, and the only source of light was infernal. She fell through a void until the realms of Chaos and death. Though her body lay broken, she never lost the burning fury in her eyes, swearing bloody vengeance against the world.
"Mankind... will embrace my love," She swore with bloodied lips.
"And for millennia," Mimir continued, his voice heavy and weary. "That was the end of it. Mortal kind continued to develop, ages came and went, and the world continued. Demons and monsters that threatened the balance were always kept at bay by the brave mortal heroes and gods. Yet throughout, Ishtar never forgot; she never stopped plotting. She bid her time and gathered allies."
Ishtar stood in the darkness of a desolate landscape where the Earth was like burnt coal; unnatural purple fires burned around her as she looked down at the legions of infernal allies she had gathered.
"From the Lords of Hell to the Calamities of Earth, many rallied under Ishtar's banner to achieve their eternal ambition. Dominion over the mortal realm and victory over the gods."
The eyes of the group went wide as they saw a being known from myth and legends. Eight white-scaled serpent heads of Yamata-no-Orochi bow before Ishtar, who accepted his allegiance. "Now... We can begin our plan... And wipe away the gods and remake this world to be ours!" Her legion roared as she raised her fist.
They were no longer in the world but, again, in the vastness of space. Floating close to the moon itself was Ishtar, looking down over the mortal realm with contempt and greed.
In one hand appeared her glorious bow. In another, she conjured forth an image. That of another world, one of brown and dark red surface, a world that was promised to her once a symbol of her rulership as Queen of Heaven.
The image became power. Pure energy condensed from an enormous sphere of celestial light into a single arrow brimming with cataclysmic power.
Ishtar nocked the arrow.
"It began in the twelve century A.D. A shot heard worldwide," Mimir's voice went grave.
"Annihilate them!" Ishtar roared, "An Gal Ta Kigal Šè!"
"The start of the war"
She let loose the bolt, which struck over the moon's surface with divine fury. Growling cracks appeared over its surface as the arrow penetrated the upper layers and reached its core, followed by the surface of the celestial body cracking and deforming. Finally, it burst out violently, splintering into hundreds of pieces. All of them fell with burning fires into the planet below.
The groups' faces turned to horror as they witnessed the moon being obliterated by Ishtar's attack, "The Age of Chaos had begun. Three centuries of the most bloodstained wars ensued upon this planet."
Demon legions poured out from the depths of the Underworlds. Those loyal to Ishtar, while other devils, took the Chaos as their opportunity to strike against mortal kind. But they also saw not just humans. "Elves, Dwarves, Beastfolk, and other races clashed against the hordes of hell alongside the gods."
Armies of mortal beings alongside entities of divine nature faced legions of horrible inhuman things, monsters with far too many limbs and mouths. Infernal engines of destruction sundering the landscape. Sovereigns of the dark realms cackled and basked in joy as they brought their full might to bear against their ancient foes.
The older children of Uzu shuddered at the sight of their beloved grandmother, her famed naginata in hand, clashing against a woman in armor with red hair like hers. But despite the human looks of the armored woman, her entire aura screamed demonic power, such that her eyes and hair burned with a blood-red haze. Their grandmother scowled in the clash while the woman laughed.
There was nothing but the battle in every scene. The concept of peace had been torn asunder; war was now the only outcome, and conflict raged on all corners of the planet.
"While Ishtar and her allies unleashed untold destruction, her followers broke through the sacred Mount Meru, the greatest linchpin of the world. Of this realm's entire reality, where its laws are upheld. Through vile and profane rituals, they warped its laws and denied the heavenly deities direct access to the mortal realm."
The destruction of the moon weakened the lunar deities. The environmental destruction caused by the sudden gravitational shift unleashed terrible calamities; gods and spirits gave it their all to mitigate the damage while also restoring the laws of nature to make up for the sudden loss of the vital heavenly body, all of which drained them even more as the battles raged on.
One by one, the gods of the heavens vanished into motes of light, called back to the heavens as the physical world denied their very presence, their power spent through the long fights and preservation of the world.
It was an age of darkness, an age of fire, an age of discord, an Age of Chaos.
And above them all was Ishtar, basking in the flood of blood that would cleanse the world and force all beings to bow and worship her.
"But the righteous would not let this stand," Mimir's voice echoed strongly.
A shining light, a comet of blazing gold and red, soared through the horizon. The sight of it invigorated all who fought to defend their homes, lands, and people. It set alight a blazing hope in their hearts to push back the darkness and made the dregs of hell cower in fright.
"As Ishtar reveled in the bloodshed, the gods weakened. In our darkest hour, one would fight her head-on."
The comet stopped right before the self-proclaimed Queen of Heaven, and a young man stood in place. His hair was the shiniest shade of red, his locks flowingly majestically like dancing flames, and his eyes the color of brilliant rubies. His skin an earthly tanned shade, he wore the garbs of ancient times, from a culture almost as old as the dawn of humanity itself.
He radiated a golden aura of pure divine power, yet strangely, the young man felt... human. Like he was a child of the Earth as much as a being of the heavens. Unending willpower shined in his red eyes, righteous fury burning in them as he stared down at the goddess who dared threaten the world. The sight of him inspired such feelings of comfort and awe in the people watching this spectacular moment.
Despite all the Chaos and devastation, to look at him was to feel everything would be alright.
"And so arrived to battle the greatest among the Guardian Deities, King of Heaven and Earth, the Seventh Avatar of Vishnu, Rama!"
The skies parted as Ishtar's dual-curved swords blocked the single-edged orange blade with a gold accent. Neither spoke a word; they were far past the point that words mattered anymore. Despite being weakened by the actions of Ishtar's followers, the great god-king still rivaled the powerful goddess, with their attacks alone shattering the ground beneath them.
"As much as Ishtar went on her onslaught, Rama countered her evenly! Both were equaled in warfare and combat without giving the other an inch."
The reverence and excitement in Mimir's voice did not go unnoticed by the listening bunch. Naruto paid close attention to the red-haired warrior. Maw-Maw told a few stories of him, but now seeing him was something else. Karin also looked in awe, as did even Soujiro, as they saw the battle before them.
This was the ancestor of their entire clan. None could fault them for feeling a sense of pride glowing in their eyes.
Rama and Ishtar flew through the skies like shooting stars raging against one another.
It was a clash of masters of war, between living forces of nature, a clash of gods.
Their weapons changed in the blink of an eye, golden and red light giving birth to masterfully crafted and beautifully ornate instruments of battle wielded with perfect precision and skill. Their arrows collided with great blasts of energy. Their blades created shockwaves upon impact; they brought all their divine arsenal to bear, from the awe-inspiring to the bizarre; no tools were left unused in this titanic clash.
Ishtar reached the limits of her patience. She exploded with power. Waves of pure divine energy expanded into an enormous sphere around her before condensing into a singular arrow of light, similar to what she had used to obliterate the moon.
Rama held out his hand, and a tiny dot of golden light manifested; it shimmered and crackled with power, arcs of golden lightning trailing over it as it grew. The sphere flattened, leaving a hole in the middle as it kept expanding until thrice the size of Rama. Multiple edges of serrated emerged and whirled rapidly, creating a localized windstorm around as the arcs of energy kept building up.
Ishtar knocked the arrow of heavenly power in her bow, almost to the point even this divine-made weapon cracked with the pressure. The muscles of her arms coiled notably and flexed as the power overflew from the projectile down her limb. Her beautiful face locked into a pure rage; she would not let her ambitions end this day.
"An Gal Ta Kigal Šè!"
The arrow was let loose, and a beam of pure heavenly energy came, trailing a path akin to the colors of outer space.
The Avatar of Vishnu wielded the divine blade meant to slay all demons and enemies of dharma, so fallen gods were not outside its divine purview.
"Brahmastra!"
The ancient technique was passed down from the gods to sages and the great warriors of old. The pinnacle of all battle magics.
The disc trailed through the sky and clashed with a beam, and the world around them seemed to lose all colors. Space itself folded before the two powers conjured by these divine beings. It was not an explosion of power. It was a clash of heavenly authority, the right to rule over mortal kind over the duty to protect them.
In the end, Rama's hopes and drive to protect humanity were far stronger than Ishtar's warped sense of love.
The Brahmastra cut through the beam, this one splitting on its path and scattering like a river before a large boulder. Ishtar could only watch in shock as the disk pierced through her greatest attack with unwavering speed. And before she could move, so too did it cut through her.
Golden-red blood came out like geysers; she let out a choked gasp through bloodied lips as her torso was cut diagonally by the Brahmastra.
"And so Ishtar fell, beaten, broken, and dying. Rama, too, fell to the ground, exhaustion taking its toil as he had used most of his divine powers in this battle; he would only remain with us for a few more days to guide us on the course of action we should take to protect the world."
Dark hands and monstrous limbs carried Ishtar's dead body, reverence and grief in equal measure as her followers mourned the Queen of Heaven who had promised them the world.
"And though Ishtar was gone, her will would not perish with her..." He continued, "The Age of Chaos would not end, so a group of great men and women banded together to create peace across the planet. Zhang Goulao, the oldest of the immortals, brought forth an idea."
Sitting in the lotus position, what looked like an older man in ornate robes with a long, thick white beard and hair up in a high ponytail.
"Master Zhang Goulao brought together other sages, holy warriors, and mages worldwide. Humans, Beastfolk, Elves, Dwarves, and even some demons disgusted by the Chaos united under the Order of the White Lotus."
People from all walks of life stood alongside Zhang Goulao around a large table with scrolls and papers with a large global map. Kushina, Lyn, and Kosuke looked in awe at Tsukiko, giving orders beside Tomoe. In the present, the immortal hannyo woman recalled that day vividly, with nostalgia glowing in her eyes.
However, one figure got the attention of many as they turned and gazed over at one of the towering statues and back to the images they were seeing. Beside Zhang Goulao and Tsukiko were Sun Wukong herself, alongside a towering, thin, built albino man adorned in strange garments with short, spiky white hair and striking blue eyes.
"Who's that pale dude?" Naruto questioned
"Ahh, that isn't just any 'dude,' lad. That is Karna, the son of Surya, the Indian sun god. A mighty demigod who rose to full godhood for the countless heroic and selfless acts he had done for all of the mortal kind and became a Guardian Deity like Rama and Sun Wukong." Mimir heaved a heavy sigh, "Sun and Karna were the last two gods to remain, as the actions of Yamata-no-Orochi had unleashed his curse viciously well against his fellow deities. We had all surmised the curse was somehow linked to the god of destruction. Or so we thought as he attacked with all of his might against us with a massive army."
The next scene before was another war as they saw the eight-headed serpent unleash Chaos with a roar alone. "At his side was his most trusted lieutenant and devout to Ishtar, the ruthless mad demon Bai Shen."
Despite a red-haired, handsome human appearance, he was far from such as he shrilled out demonic laughter, wielding an evil-looking scythe. Attacking anyone who charged at him with full bloodlust.
But the forces of light would not be dimed. Karna and Sun Wukong led the White Lotus against the dark forces in what they hoped was the final battle to restore the world.
Much like Rama before them, Kama and Sun Wukong were magnificent. A display of absolute mastery of martial combat, a prowess that only those trained by the immortals could achieve, wielding powers from the heavens. Karma shined with the sun's glory, solar swaths of flames spawning from every swing of his golden star-pointed spear. The mad red-haired man charged at him with a blood-curdling cackle, and Karna barely spared him a glance as a gracing blow of his spear missed the man's cheek, but the overflow of hungry flames that came after did not. As the flames consumed half of his face, Karna considered him to be a non-factor any longer and carried on.
Sun's legendary staff extended for hundreds of meters, taking out entire swaths of the enemy army before it retracted back. She vaulted over another conglomeration of demons and monsters and slammed her staff with such force it cracked the Earth open. Her gloriously beautiful mastery of martial arts was a sight for the ages, as the Monkey Key truly showed herself to be the bane of demonkind.
"Summon your kings and lords! For to the Great Sage Equal of Heaven, you are only grass under her heel!"
And summoned he was, for the great heads of the Calamitous Dragon of Japan emerged from the ground, each neck longer than the Hokage Monument itself, golden arcs of scales shined brilliantly at the sides of those long coiling bodies, red eyes glaring balefully at the last of the gods who stood against them and their ambitions.
"Servants of Heaven! The gods of discord and the lords bellow lay claim to this world!" One of the enormous heads rose over the others, announcing their intent. Though Ishtar was gone, her ambitions lived on in her allies and servants. "We bring the flood and flames! We bring the drought and plague! Until this world is undone and reforged by the will of Chaos!"
"But Sun and Karna would not bend a knee to Yamata's goals, never when there was precious life to protect. Together, they fought as one against the terrible snake of calamity. Guardian deities were sworn to the world's safety against one of the spawns of terrible Vritra's will. Serpent against god, dragon against the heavens. As it was, as it always shall be."
In this titanic clash, they sundered the landscape as the great eight-headed serpent called forth storms of devastation, for Yamata was a god of the Earth and the forces of destruction that were part of the cycle of the world. A demon of calamity, a god of destruction. Both deity and devil, a monster born of the Earth who carried hell with him.
And so they would do their duty as gods and heroes.
Karna flew to the dark skies and lifted his spears, their allies clearing away for miles to avoid the onslaught that was to come.
"God of calamity, the Heavens render their judgment!"
His spear transformed, and a massive black blade appeared over an elongated guard with an eye in the middle. It looked like it was made from the night sky itself, and the sheer power within hummed with such intensity that its mere release unleashed an inferno.
A tower of flames washed over Karna, descending unto the Earth itself and melting the ground into superheated sludge. Caving away at the terrain's surface into a large pool of lava. Yamata's eight heads snarled in defiance, streams of dark lightning spawning from his maws as they gathered into a massive attack.
A second sun erupted above Karna, turning night into day.
"Thou shalt know the mercy of the gods!" He called out, bringing forth his massive spear.
Yamata's attack became an orb of calamity, promising pure destruction to the heavenly retribution.
"With this one strike, I shall inflict extinction!"
Karna's spear glowed with a red light.
The great serpent unleashed his attack, a beam of absolute power rushing toward the Son of the Sun.
"Be reduced to cinders, Vasavi Shakti!"
The greatest weapon of the Hindu pantheon, the spear of lightning, carried with it the essence of mortality. A weapon designed to obliterate any being out of existence, from the smallest dregs of hell to the mightiest of gods.
Yamat's power of destruction clashed against the spear's absolute power to inflict mortality and annihilate all that stood before its spawn. The beam of golden-red light pierced through its darkness and struck Yamata head-on. The great serpent's eight heads howled in agony as the primordial light consumed his entire being. Peeling away scales and muscles down to the bone until nothing but ash remained, the strick culminated into a cataclysmic explosion that would make a Bijuudama feel humbled.
"But even as nothing remained of the Orochi, the curse was not broken..." Mimir's voice held a tone of loss.
Exhausted hit both gods as they felt the pull of leaving the earthly plane. Sun cried on her knees, slamming her fists to the ground with frustration. Her honest tears ran down her cheeks. Karna fell to one knee as his strength left him, "Why didn't it work!?" The Monkey King turned to her comrade with grief in her gaze.
Karna collected his breathing, "Yamata must have done something else to keep this curse from remaining..." He fell forward onto his hands and knees, "We have given our all, Sun… all we can do now is place our trust in our friends and have hope they will prevail." He gave his friend one last smile as his body began to disappear into motes of light, returning to the heavens.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Sun screamed as Karna faded before she could crawl to reach him. She clawed at the ground, and her tears flowed stronger as she sat up looking at the sky. "All I wanted was to protect the world my friend loved so much..." Those were the final words as her body soon vanished.
Mimir's golden eyes were downcast and grim, "Despite ending Yamata, his forces fought on, as well as many more demons and corrupt mortals who sought war and destruction to the world for another century or two. During those horrors, Master Zhang Goulao vanished without a trace. We had guessed in the ensuing Chaos that he was captured by one of our enemies. But we had no time to mount a rescue or search for him, but what was to come eclipsed our dire fortunes..." He paused for a full minute, "For what came was the Sundering..."
As if the planet itself went into a mad frenzy, with every known natural disaster striking all the continents at once. Fissures began to crack from the ground at people's feet. More and more kept appearing as the Earth grew more unstable till it finally reached its crescendo. Gasps and sheer shock appeared on the faces of many upon the sight of every continent, seeming to explode violently across the globe. Villages and cities were decimated as every portion of the world was ravaged.
None were safe from the indiscriminate devastation as all life was nearly snuffed out.
Horror gripped the eyes of the observers. Sakura's eyes were wide, her mouth covered by her hands. Not even Sasuke and Soujiro could remain unaffected, staring at the images in terror. Out of reflex, Karin gripped her brother's arm, burying her face in Naruto's shoulder. For the blond himself, he could only look at the scene in a near-catatonic state, with their mother hugging them in horror. Kosuke closed his gaze as he could not look anymore, seeing the countless deaths.
Maiyuri did not realize she was in tears alongside Yuma, who could not stop her own that falling from her cheeks. Lyn, Kya, Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi could only gap at the sight of the apocalypse.
Failure only glowed in Tomoe's eyes as she shut them, lowering her head. Makeda held her arms in mourning, remembering the cataclysm that rocked the planet. Sindri looked away while his brother remained asleep.
Meihui shuddered to feel the pain in her heart along with her son. Sigrun clenched her fists, biting down her anger as the scars of that nightmare burned. Enma Closed his eyes, shaking his head, "From what we could gather, there was a violent reaction with all the energies flowing across the planet during the Age of Chaos."
Maiyuri's mouth moved for a minute before gathering her voice to speak, "R-Reaction?"
"To the leylines." Mimir said, "The metaphysical pathways where the energy of the very planet flows, a planetary equivalent to your 'chakra pathways.'" His voice was melancholic and shaken, "In the end, how it happened no longer matters. The old world was shattered. Our scattered forces were broken. The White Lotus ended as we all chose to help all we could. Tsukiko did not waste time dashing to your Uzumaki ancestors to protect them once the Sundering began alongside her mother and brother." He cast his gaze on the redheads and one blond.
The dust had settled from the calamity; broken landmasses warped into remnants of their former selves. Splintered and fused, thrown away by emerging new seas. An old world, an ancient history, washed away in the tides of Chaos...
"The skies were dark for days, and the Earth burned for months. But we rebuilt together!" Mimir said passionately. Showing glimpses of the remaining sages and their allies, all manner of animal clans and spiritual beings, shepherding the survivors and teaching them the ways of their ancestors. Not just the knowledge to survive but the culture and languages of their peoples, all to keep the spirit of their forebears alive so the spirit of Earth's folk would always be remembered. "A long and arduous task it was, our numbers so few, our duties so many... mankind was given the tools, but they would have to stand on their own once again."
"For some, duty took us elsewhere..." Tomoe muttered distantly as the image shifted. It was her and Tsukiko, standing before a conglomeration of Uzumaki; it couldn't have been more than a hundred redheads, and with them was the great eastern dragon clan, all staring forlornly at them. Behind them was a sinister-looking Tori gate that led to a dark forest. Their ancestors looked at them with remorse, at the faces of grandnephews, nieces, and their children. She bowed to them, and the clan bowed back, a silent oath to always remember who they were and where they came from. Genryu's great silver snout came down, and his sister pressed herself against it in an embrace; Meihui, in her human form, hugged the last of her children with all her strength, muttering words of love and making her promise to return to them one day.
The Tori gate's entrance became an even deeper darkness and abyss where all light died. And Tomoe and Tsukiko disappeared inside it.
"Hell was in disarray," Tomoe continued. "With most of the Lords of Hell dead, the death gods' realm locked behind whatever damage done to Mount Meru, the Prince of Lies slain in the Age of Chaos by a saintly maiden, legions depleted of their numbers, a vacuum unlike any other the underworlds had ever seen had settled into place as the world had a chance to rebuild... So for that, my teacher and I traveled there. We spent several centuries wandering the realms of flame and darkness, cutting down would-be warlords with ideas of conquest. Making unlikely allies in the most improbable places... all to preserve this status quo. The demon realms would not be a threat for ages. I asked my teacher to return to the mortal world. Eventually, I would carry on this duty for as much as we could," Tomoe dutifully said, "There had to be another great sage among the humans, so I convinced her to go two centuries ago while I stayed."
"For so long..." Naruto muttered with sympathy and pity. The fact that Tomoe and his great-grandmother lived for so long is just hard to take in as it is, to hear they performed such an unimaginable service for the world, on top of all they had done before during what was hell on Earth...
"And then... we just went our ways, trying to keep the world stable as much as possible," Genryu took in. "Some of us... I sometimes went too far in my attempts, and others resented me. When Tsukiko returned to us two centuries ago, it felt like things would finally be alright..."
And then vanished again decades ago.
"So," Mimir said, he sounded tired. Not physically but mentally and emotionally. It wasn't easy to recall such terrible events. "Now you know."
Nobody said anything, really... what could they say? What did anyone say when they learned such world-shattering truths?
Thankfully, Aunt Lyn did. "Fuck me; I'm starving..."
A few soft and hollow chuckles rang around their large party, which summed up their feelings. It was exhausting. They needed a break.
"I'll get some food," King Enma promised, "You guys just try to relax; I know we threw too much at you in one go..." His tone made it obvious they needed to be done.
But for now, they needed to catch their damn breath.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Monkeys knew how to eat; as Naruto was learning, there was juicy fruit and many finely cooked pieces of meat to serve as the main course. Certainly, a vast improvement over the food on the toads' land...
The mood after such revelations was diverse, to say the least; everyone huddled in different groups and carried on with their conversations. Naruto heard Yuma talking excitedly with the dwarven (that was the term, right?) brothers.
"Nooooo, you guys made weapons for gods!?"
"Weapons, armor, once a finely made thread, and much more," Sindri said with no small amount of pride.
Brok rubbed his nose and sniffed, "You named it. We made it. The Huldra Brothers! Finest smiths in the Nine Realms! The gods were so impressed that they let us eat from the Golden Apples, their source of vitality and longevity." He slapped his belly and laughed, "We've barely aged since!"
Sakura lay flat on the ground, her arms resting on her stomach, staring at the sky. "How long did it take all the continents to reform?"
Tomoe tilted her head, "It would have been several hundred thousand years if not for the surviving mages working so diligently in repairing what they could. Granted, it still took centuries, but where we are now is better than what it was."
"Then how were the Elemental Nations formed?" Sasuke questioned while mildly chewing on some jerky.
"The foundation was the remnants of Japan, my former homeland. The language you speak was once called Japanese. Portions of Europe, Asia, and even Africa connected and spread the language throughout. Jiāyuán, in large part, is what became of China. The surrounding isles and landmass are the remnants of Korea, Mongolia, and several of the southern isles." Tomoe, along with Meihui and Genryu, had to explain the former continents in the context of the world before the Sundering.
Tsunade barely ate her food while her mind was processing it all.
Hiruzen shifted his eyes to Jiriaya with Kakashi beside them, "When you told me about all of this, I could scarcely believe it."
"Seeing it all put things into a whole different scope," The Hatake uttered with his mask lowered so he could sip some water.
"Putting it mildly," Jiraoya grunted, leaning against a tree.
Kushina leaned against Kosuke's arm beside Lyn and Kya, "We had no clue about Baachan, did we?" They had learned from Tomoe before and thought they understood, but…
"Nope," the towering man mumbled.
"Your grandmother earned her rest after a lifetime of keeping the world safe," Tomoe gently said with a smile as she knelt before the children Tsukiko held so dear.
Meihui snorted, drinking something that looked like sake, but they felt it was anything but. "'Rest.' Oh, that girl did not stay put when she came to Uzushio. 'Sage duties' this, 'sage duties' that."
"Compared to what we had to do for centuries in the underworld, tending to her sage duties in a time of relatively little conflict was a vacation to her," Tomoe countered. And it said something the ancient warrior woman considered the Clan Wars era as 'relatively little conflict.'
But having witnessed a global age of absolute turmoil and war, plus the cataclysmic event that reshaped the face of the planet... Yeah, the old conflicts between the clans were petty and minuscule by comparison.
"She did settle down. I'll give you that." Meihui shrugged, smiling fondly as she casually lounged on the ground, her dragon tail swaying from side to side. "It took millennia, but the man who could put up with her eventually arrived." She laughed heartily.
"I would have loved to know Korin-dono," Tomoe said softly. "To capture my teacher's heart is a feat worthy of legend."
"You should have seen her constantly denying her growing infatuation for the man. Ahhh, my little flame was always so stubborn."
"Ohhhh, are we going to hear about Grandma and Gramps?!" Lyn said excitedly, bouncing up and down from her spot on the ground, and eventually settled down by her girlfriend, who kept a patient hand on her shoulder. "I love those stories! Baachan always refused to discuss that and shot Gramps death glares whenever he tried!"
"Hah! Of course, she did!" Meihui laughed out loud. "Oh no, Tsukiko could never tell anyone she could blush like a fair-hearted maiden! She had to be oh so controlled and serious all the time!"
Kushina let out a giggle with a smile full of teeth. "Grandpa Korin charmed her, huh?"
"That's one word for it. He wouldn't pass up an opportunity to rile up the 'unflippable Tsukiko.' One time, he got under her skin so badly that she literally blasted him into the sea, right on a whirlpool. He got out just fine. Korin was tough like that. But only after I met him and encouraged him to keep trying. Never have I seen my daughter so infatuated with a man before."
"That's infatuation...?" Karin muttered in disbelief.
"To Tsukiko, it was the equivalent of blushing and stammering. With anyone else, she would have just ignored completely." Meihui sighs, "And to think it took three thousand years for her to fall in love with someone finally. Even a few gods and goddesses wanted to bed her. She avoided them."
"...To be fair, avoiding Lord Zesus is just common sense." Tomoe offered, making the ancient dragon woman snort.
"Back to the main story, though," Meihui smiled, showing her fanged teeth, "Korin's persistence paid into a strong courtship. It took a demon attack on Uzushio for her to convey her feelings to him finally."
A deadpan came from several around her, "Bit stubborn, huh?" Sakura droned.
"A little more than a bit, sweetie," The Uzu matron winked.
Brok snorted a half-chuckle, "Hell of a woman but could be denser than a Frost Giant's toe. Nice to hear that never changed."
Kushina leaned forward, "How was the wedding? Baachan never gave details other than saying it was a wedding."
"...That's because she had been to so many weddings she was numb to them all by then." Meihui pouted, "I wanted it to be fancy and a memorable night. She just wanted a simple ceremony and refused all my ideas."
A deadpan came from Genryu as he approached them: "Sister knew your antics well enough to know how that night would have devolved into once you brought the Celestial sake and lotus cakes."
"Oh, I have one party once she returns home, and then I'm banned from bringing stuff from the palace."
"What happened?" Naruto inquired.
"You're too young to know," Genryu said flatly, earning a dry glare from his mother.
"But anyways, my little flame married Korin and had several children."
Kosuke turns his gaze to Kushin and Lyn, "Your mothers being two them if remember?"
"Yup, there was also Saito-Nii's mother, Ahmya, Uncle Rokuro, and Aunt Kaida."
"Kaida was first, followed by Rokuro, Ahmya, Mei-Lin." Lyn fist pumped upon her mother's name, "And then sweet Manami." Meihui patted Kushina's head.
Naruto could only smile happily as he saw the previous generations of Uzumaki, his grandmother included, folk talk about the family they missed with happiness and nostalgia rather than pain and a sense of loss. Though gone in the body, they were still present in their hearts. And it made Naruto once more wish he could have met them all. The number of tales Mom, Grandma, and Aunty Lyn had told them sure painted a vivid image in his head.
Kaida, the firstborn of Tsukiko, and Korin, the best swordswoman of Uzushio. She was born with the physical prowess of her outstanding father and followed in her mother's footsteps to be a sage. As the eldest, she was always the wisest and most attentive, caring for her siblings and mentoring many young Uzumaki into the blade path. His mother had looked up to her enough that she chose to wield the sword as her aunt did, the first woman to take up arms to defend her home.
Rokuro, an amazing craftman and smith. His direct creation was many mystical masks in the Uzumaki Mask Shrine back in Konoha. Though he never had children, he raised many youths and taught them all he knew about smithing, woodworking, masonry, and who knows what else to preserve the treasured craftsmanship of their isle. From what he was told, he had become such a revered ancestral figure to the caste they called themselves 'Rokuro's children,' for his knowledge was his lifeblood. To carry it with them was to be of his blood.
Ahmya was an outstanding seal master, specializing in the dimensional-oriented seal, a talent her son Saito inherited to develop those amazing sword techniques that would seemingly bend space to attack from multiple angles simultaneously. Ahmya was married to his grandfather Daisuke's brother, Nogashi, which made Uncle Saito of the main branch like Mom. Calm, collected, and wise, a voice of reason among many rowdy siblings and relatives.
Aunty Lyn was truly her mother's daughter, as he repeatedly heard. Mei-Lin had a fiery personality with an equally fiery element in her veins. She would often follow her mother Tsukiko in her travels, slaying demons and monsters, learning all she could to expand Uzumaki's repertoire of knowledge for their monster-hunting activities. Dauntless and unyielding, her passionate spirit was inherited by her daughter, who more than lived up to her mother's legacy.
And then there was his grandmother, Manami, the youngest of the bunch... And the frailest. It was a cruel irony that Manami had been born sickly and in faint condition with parents as strong as hers, with such a potent lineage in her blood. Much of her life was spent in bed, with travels outside the island being far and few between with the occasional visits to the beach, which she loved dearly. Yet her spirits never soured; she was never caught in a bad mood, even on her worst days when her sickly condition was acting up. Those same circumstances gave her such a caring and optimistic outlook. It taught her to value and see beauty in everything. And it was that beautiful heart that drove his grandfather to her.
Manami had passed away in bed, her condition worsening since her daughter's birth. Kushina had been so young the memories of her mother were few but deeply ingrained in her soul. The youngest child of the legendary sage and the strongest Uzumaki of their generation, for all the gifts she should have been born with, it still was not enough for Manami to overcome her frail condition. Perhaps that was what had led Tsukiko to develop the Divine Sleep Seal, an utter failure in her own words, lacking the necessary materials that would have been readily accessible to her in the old days when much of the divine and the spiritual still flowed freely around them.
Gone. All those loved family members were laid to rest in the ruins of Uzushio. A legacy broken and scattered.
But Naruto still had hoped. He wouldn't have met so many of his clan if they had been forever gone. And he believed in Uncle Saito and Uncle Samenosuke. They would one day appear with so many more of their family in tow, and together, they'd return to Uzushio one day to build back what had once been taken.
"We have more treats!" Came the voice of Hien alongside his brothers and Yasu floating around an almost ethereal pale-skinned, beautiful, lithe, yet curvy average-height woman with long pale blue hair that naturally bunches in the middle and fades into a darker shade at the ends with a low ponytail. She had small black-red curved dragon horns on the top of her head and wore a white gold Cheongsam robe, detached kimono sleeve gloves, a black silk bodysuit underneath, and mid-heel sandals.
Outside her flawless beauty was her notable purple at the top and pinkish-gold at the bottom sectoral heterochromatic eyes.
Ganyu, Maw-maw's servant and quite a close friend of the Uzumaki. As everyone saw Kushina and Lyn tackle-hugged her with tears in their eyes once she brought out snacks with some of the monkeys. Through giggles at the scene, Maw-maw had explained that Ganyu came from a line of dragons who had sworn to her service since ancient times. 'Ganyu-chan helped rearing Kushina and the others when they were little dragonlings.' Meihui also explained.
Kushina could repress the smile but winced, "Sorry for that surprise hug, Ganyu-Chan."
"Oh, it is fine," The blue-haired dragon girl waved it off, "When hearing your return and everyone else was alive filled my heart with joy." Her eyes were downcast, "I wish Maya could see all this."
"So do we," Lyn remarked, patting Soujiro's head, who blinked her way.
Maiyuri sat beside Yuma and took a piece of fruit while observing Jian and Hui Zhong, "Meihui-Sama." The ancient dragon turned her way, "I am curious. Could you explain to me how the Eastern Dragon Clan is composed? If that is alright to ask, I've only heard tales."
"Wish to know reality from fiction?" Genryu addressed.
"There are so many legends, and the dragon clans generally have not interacted much with humanity. Uzumaki clan notwithstanding," The Shogun explained her curiosity. "If I am to involve myself and my newly-born empire in all this, I need to know more."
"That's fair." Meihui nodded at her reasons. "Though I wouldn't worry too much, nobody here has given the Dragon Kings any reason to get involved." She waved a hand as she began explaining. "Let's start by mentioning what you and your people know as 'dragon' is not the full picture. Our kind is... varied. The sky-serpents who rule the seas and weather are the dragonkin of the eastern and southern corners of the world. Our cousins from the western and northern corners are... a touch different."
"They are direct in their approach. They stand off from the rest of the mortal races and are mostly driven by an even greater sense of pride and superiority," Genryu replied in contempt. He could have had a better experience. "Not all of their kind is sapient in the same sense we are. Some are little more than beasts."
"And some are less sentient beings and more like 'living forces of nature,'" Meihui stressed with severity, showing the subject's seriousness. "Sure, eating a human and getting due sacrifices from time to time is proper, but at a certain point, it becomes excessive."
"Maw-maw!" Kushina and Lyn admonished her.
"Oh, fine, fine. Don't eat the humans, I know..." She sighed, clearly annoyed by the issue. The others felt slightly nervous at the fact the dragon woman still considered 'eating humans' as something she should still do as she pleased. "Anyway, they hold no council or rulership other than clutch mates and loose allegiances. Our kind, however, is part of a highly structured and organized bureaucracy." She sniffs, lifting her nose at them with a proud expression. "I served Susano'o-no-Mikoto himself."
"Wow! You knew the storm god?!" Yuma marveled at the fact while Maiyuri softly gawked at the revelation.
"I was one of his attendants, after all!"
"She means she cleaned after him," Ganyu deadpanned. "Susano'o's court was the least 'proper' of all the Imperial Heaven's bureaucracy. He was one of those gods who partook in far too many spirits with mortals..."
"Hey, it was still an honored position!" Meihui reprimanded, slit pupils becoming dots as she narrowed her eyes at her ward. "As I was saying... The dragons of our side of the world were organized into four sovereignties by Heaven's mandate, split between the seas and bodies of water. The first Dragon Kings were brothers Ao Run to the West, Ao Qin to the South, Ao Ming to the North, and Ao Guang to the East. The territory my clan presides over, as descendants of the old eastern clans."
"Fascinating..." Maiyuri said to herself as the old lore was clarified and expanded for her. "I read the Dragon Kings do not interfere with mortal affairs; is there a reason for it?"
"It'd be far too complicated and create too many troubles for everyone involved. Even the Great Ao Guang, whom we revere greatly, unleashed a terrible time of Chaos in China when he chose to rule over mortals in a certain area. The incarnated god, Nezha, was sent to humble him," Meihui explained, taking no shame or pride in recalling her forebear's deeds. "So the Dragon Kings swore an oath not to involve themselves with the rulership of mortals, so long as each party upholds this deal, the rest would honor it as well."
"But the Dragon Kings, the ones who made that contract," Genryu distantly said, "are no longer among us."
At that, Meihui sighed, and somehow, she managed to look old even with her ageless looks at that moment. "No, they are not. Some gave their thrones to their progeny over time; others were slain. As for us? The last Eastern King to sit on the Azure Throne, a distant cousin of mine, Myou-jio, died in the Age of Chaos."
"The last?" Karin noted. "Nobody took that position since?"
"Nobody in the clans feels they are worthy of it," Meihui said.
"But what about you, uncle?" Naruto asked his large silver relative. "You're the current chief?"
His serpentine eyes widened, and he honestly looked very taken aback. Nervous even. "I...!" The Uzumaki present looked confused at Genryu's reaction. Much more so when he loudly exhaled and looked... remorseful. "I cannot claim the Throne. My kin, I..." He searched for those words. "In those chaotic times when the world was rebuilding, I showed exactly why I cannot lead. I threw my authority around without concern, without respecting my allies. I commanded and expected others to obey my word as one who descends from Susason'o's court. I proved myself unworthy of the title of King..." His gaze shifted, old shame still clear as day in those eyes. "And I... made decisions that should not have been made lightly. Terrible things I dare not repeat, lest you all think less of me..."
Kushina's gaze softened, "Uncle..." Lyn shared her concern, while Kosuke could not understand what the great dragon was saying.
Meihui quickly intervened. "It's in the past," She spared her son from having to expose his shame. "If not Genryu as chief, then the other one left to take the Azure Throne is... me, I suppose." She took notice of the various looks her way, "None of you get any ideas. I will not be taking the Eastern Throne. We are doing just fine as we are now."
Her son only shook his head, "None would dispute your claim if you did, though."
"And I'll tell you exactly like I told Okazaki a century ago. No means no," Genryu rolled his eyes, grunting. Letting out a huff and crossing her arms, Meihui spoke again, "Outside the empty Eastern Throne, The current kings are Zhongli of the West, Raiden Ei of the North, and Hae-Yeon of the South. They are young but capable and deserving of their right to rule as kings. Zhongli has much adoration towards mortals and likes to help them discretely from time to time. Raiden Ei is very indirect but offers wisdom and guidance when asked of her. Hae-Yeon... She has neither interest nor concern for mortals. She is not malicious but is just apathetic toward them and their lives."
Maiyuri questioned, "So, better to stay away from her?"
"As I said, she won't attack you for going to speak with her. But don't expect much in the way of help."
"I see... Thank you for your wisdom, Meihui-sama." The Shogun bowed respectfully.
The ancient dragon woman waved it off, "Now, now... No need to be so formal. Such things get boring to me quickly being that way."
Karin frowned, "You sometimes go about how mortals should address you properly,"
"Lesser mortals," Meihui corrected. "So far, this young lady does not appear 'lesser' to me."
Well, that said a lot about the ancient dragon's disposition…
"It would be awesome to meet the dragon kings, though," Naruto remarked enthusiastically to Hien and his brothers resting around him.
A low wince came from Hui Zhong, "Ei-Sama would be difficult to meet."
"Why?"
"She is worshiped in the Land of Lightning as their deity," Jian answered.
"Nobody lets anyone see Ei unless her clan allows it so," Genryu informed. "They're very protective of her."
"Wow, for real?" Sakura blinked in surprise. "I had no idea."
Kakashi said, "Of course you don't. What does the Academy teach about other nations?"
"Well..." The pinkette shuffled uncomfortably as she noticed the princess's gaze; she wanted to know. "How best to take their shinobi out, overall history, but it's all related to military history. Nothing about their culture."
"There you go," Kakashi chirped.
Maiyuri sighed, rubbing her temple with a pair of fingers.
"Oh yeah," Kushina rolled her eyes and breathed out a long sigh. "Kumo love their 'living god.' Makes them feel 'superior'"
"Is she that strong?" Sasuke asked with curiosity. "To be called a god..."
"Well, as a dragon king, she is far more powerful than most giant animal companions a mortal can summon. They're on a level to be considered on par with Tailed Beasts," Meihui pointed out, with a not-so-subtle grin forming at the edges of her lips.
"Was that you humble-bragging?" Kosuke deadpanned. She was a very ancient dragon, after all...
"Hmph! I had to knock some sense into one Bijuu or another in my day." She looked at Naruto, more specifically, at the tenant inside him. "The Fox clan had to keep me from knocking some sense into you. They didn't feel like redrawing the map."
Kurama grumbled inside Naruto's mind. "I could have taken her..."
"So, Ei..." Meihui clicked her tongue. "There's another reason she is called a god... she is one."
The silence was deep.
"What?" It was Kya who sounded surprised. This was something the young sage had yet to learn. "But, I thought-"
"To be accurate, Ei is a demigod," The matriarch of the Uzumaki clan clarified. "She is the daughter of my old boss, Susano'o-no-Mikoto, and a dragon."
"…Holy shit, " Yuma muttered in disbelief, a sentiment shared by the others.
"Zitou, her mother, worked alongside me." Meihui also ascribed, "As far as I know, she is the only real demigod left on Earth. But as my hatchling said, the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure, and most of all, her clan protects her fiercely."
"It is a wondrous thing," Ganyu said with reverence, "That there is still one of divine blood among us."
"I never took the Land of Lightning's veneration to be literal, that their 'lightning god' is more than a powerful dragon…." The Shogun muttered in disbelief. "There is much about the world I don't know."
"Oh, you have no idea," Meihui agreed.
Everyone looked her way while a low groan came from Yuma, "How much more history is there to learn?"
"Oh, just the origin of the Bijuu and Sage of Sixth Paths." The silence and stares knew she had gotten their attention. Though gave a pointed look to Jiraiya as he gazed back knowingly, "Already filled in on the details, Jiraiya-chan?"
"Gamamaru told me all about it."
The retired Sandaime grunted, "The monkeys told me decades ago, and I got thoroughly drunk afterward."
"Well," Meihui clapped her hands, "I can get Ganyu to bring some sake for you. Now, I should start this tale from the beginning. With the arrival of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Pain stood before his office window, looking over to the village of Amegakure. "This is accurate?"
"Indeed," The hooded visage of Bai Shen nodded, strolling to the leader of the Akatsuki's side. "After her miraculous victory in the Land of Trees has been declared Shogun."
"My spies in Amotsu confirmed it all," Tobi spoke, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "No doubt the other nations will learn of this news soon. I've heard stories of Maiyuri Sasaki being a strong and passionate woman, but even I was taken aback by her rise to Shogun. Such a position has not been taken in any nation for over a hundred years. Since the Clans War Era."
"How do you think neighboring nations will react?" Pain inquired, looking over at the masked Uchiha.
"Many won't know what to do; such a thing has not happened in centuries," Tobi replied. "The weak-willed leaders will crumble at the first sign of conflict at their doorstep. Others will do what they always do and send shinobi after shinobi against her. The rest will resist and fight," Then it's a matter of seeing how well minor nations could resist the military might of one of the Big Five.
"Hmm," The ruler of Ame made a pondering sound. "This will complicate our plans..."
Already things had been irreversibly changed by the reveal of Zetsu's nature and 'his' plan. Pain had been very thorough in his questioning of Tobi and Bai Shen. 'Madara' claimed to have been deceived by Zetsu, and the evidence presented to him was damning enough. There was no need for an old 'goddess' of a forgotten age. The Sage of Six Path's power is what would truly allow him to become the god this world needed.
The reclamation of the Tailed Beasts presented problems on its own, the resurgence of that Kaguya. Did that mean they had to stop their operations in that regard completely? No, it was still best to deprive the nations of those weapons.
But therein laid the problem. Madara's plan was not as infallible as he had presented itself before; he, too, had been fooled. But now there was this 'cult of Jashin,' the people who heralded him as the incarnation of their god. A fitting conclusion, but how could he be sure of their goals? Were they truly to follow his will?
Bai Shen seemed devoted to him, as shown by his impassioned words. "The coming conflicts present you a chance unseen before. The pain and bloodshed that will come shall make others understand loss."
Wisdom through pain, the same enlightenment he received.
"Their Shogun is a naive child. But you? You're a nascent god," The scarred demon said fanatically. "Show these lands what true pain is, let them feel what her ambitions will bring, and as they see the scarred battlefield littered with corpses... you will descend unto them, their salvation. This war," He grinned, the mangled muscles of the burnt half of his face twisting, "will empower you. All the pain, all the loss, it will make you stronger."
"To bring peace to the world," Pain uttered, staring through the window.
Bai Shen nodded, "You have seen firsthand how 'real' peace must be attained. Idealism and ambition can only take someone so far. It must take true and absolute power to shape the world and restore its balance. While regrettable, sacrifices are a necessary evil to do what is right. A lesson you have come to learn creating your Akatsuki in the beginning."
The leader glanced at the hooded demon.
"Much hardship is to come. But the path of peace was never an easy road."
Tobi Stood upright, unfolding his arms, "We have much to prepare and plan. Our endeavors will undoubtedly bring us into conflict with the Shogun."
Pain looked over to the masked Uchiha, "Very well. We shall prepare to face Shogun Sasaki's forces, and I will show her the folly of her idealism will never come without true pain."
Tobi left the room without another word, hearing Bai Shen offering false praise to the Cult's unwitting pawn. Opening and closing the door behind him and entering the building hallways, he began strolling through. Turning to a dark hall, he stopped staring into the darkness, "Our work will be doubled now, which means you'll be more busy than usual. But you can handle it, can't you?"
Walking out of the shadows was a young, athletically lean-framed, beautiful pale-skinned woman in her beginning twenties with long brunette hair and bangs framing her round face with a mole under her right onyx eye as both glared with hatred. She was adorned in unmarked black leather and red cloth to show no allegiance to any nation.
Her eyes held nothing but loathing.
Tobi's lone Sharingan eyes glared, "Still inclined to murder me, I see. Good, keep that hatred close to your heart, Izumi Uchiha. For you know what I shall do if you fail me."
The brunette glowed with pure rage and malice, clenching her shaking fists.
"Remember, you do this for the sake of your precious mother..."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
As they promised, their continuing meeting delved into another world-shaking revelation. The story of the Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, his brother Hamura, and their mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. The creation of the second moon, the Tailed Beasts...
With the previous shock from learning about the world's ancient history, they took this one with more stride. Still, it was so much to take in for just one day. There were still questions as they returned to the meeting table where the others were.
"So he didn't invent ninjutsu," Kushina clarified.
"He did not," Tomoe addressed, "He rediscovered it and spread it before humans were ready." Though she kept her voice neutral as much as possible, there was still judgment in her voice.
"What about their clan?" Sasuke focused on that, "They're... on the moon?"
"They are not an issue," It was strange how distantly Genryu said those words. "Trust me on that."
They let it slide for now. There were other concerns. "So this Akatsuki wants to collect the Bijuu," Karin muttered, "I thought they were only mercenaries" S-Rank mercenaries with very weird powers, but mercenaries nonetheless.
"To finance their operations," Jiraiya explained, "Their greater goals are most likely to create a weapon out of the Bijuu. Chances are they plan on recreating the Ten-Tails," And that was a scary thought in itself. That creature was horrifyingly powerful; it wouldn't have been out of place in the Age of Chaos with so much devastation and those hellish beings that could change the landscapes with their power.
"It goes further than that," Enma said with a frown, "From what we gathered, among their ranks was a member of the cult, already taken out by Tomoe-dono here." He waved at the white-haired woman.
"Indeed," Her red eyes narrowed. "He was not forthcoming about their plans, but they are clearly active and planning to involve Akatsuki in their machinations. To what scale and for what purpose, I can only imagine. They will most likely utilize them to destabilize the countries."
Subterfuge, Chaos, anarchy, death. That was the Cult's M.O. in the current age.
...Until they began to take much direct action recently. The scale and number of demon activity were on the rise. The Land of Trees's catastrophe had the largest example: Gogyou-Koku alone.
Maiyuri tapped her chin, "Do we know what their current leadership is like? Both the Cult and Akatsuki's?"
"Akatsuki has based itself in Ame," Jiraiya explained. "It can't be that Hanzo is financing them. Something... is off. He has not been seen in public for years; we could attribute it to his paranoia, but something smells wrong to me."
"As for the cult," Sigrun expressed, "That zealot, Hidan, did give us something. Bai Shen is active."
Mimir hummed in thought, "He survived that fateful battle then..."
"He's the one Karna roasted half his face," Meihui expressed with a certain degree of satisfaction.
"The demon you faced in the Land of Trees, Dhunarak, he was an old hell demon from the times of the Age of Chaos." Genryu stated, "They still possess a great deal of power and knowledge to have invoked and controlled a gashadokuro that ancient."
As they continued to exchange information, Tsunade frowned and held her chin in thought. Having battled that demon herself, she had had the displeasure of hearing his zealous rantings, but... it did provide her with something. "There was something he said," Everyone's attention turned to her. "Dhunarak... he said he served the 'Eight-Headed Serpent.'"
Everyone went still at her words.
"You don't think...?"
"No," Tomoe firmly replied, "It can't be possible. That was just a zealot's rhetoric."
"Yamata-no-Orochi was slain by Vasavi Shakti, the most powerful weapon in the Hindu pantheon!" Sindri said, both frightened by the prospect but also denying it. He knew what such a divine weapon was capable of. "It destroys any enemy from existence, even gods. Especially gods..."
A grave expression formed on Meihui's face, "Lord Susanoo also believed he had slain that wretched serpent... And yet he appeared by Ishtar's side fighting against us."
The severity of her words begot a pregnant silence to all present.
Makeda was the first to find her voice with terror etched on her face, "He cheated death again..."
"O am bastard teangaidh sin! Sin an t-adhbhar nach deach Na diathan ath-nuadhachadh! Bha fios aige gum biodh is dòcha agus bha plana deiseil air a shon!"
Eye went to Mimir as the bunch from Gogyou-Koku had no idea what had just said. "Um... what?" Sakura inquired with a blank look.
"Ahh, nothing worth repeating, lass. But feel like we should have expected the possibility that from someone like Yamata," He growled with frustration.
A low sigh came from Tomoe, "To be fair. There was so much Chaos, and we were grasping for any hope to cling onto."
That was true... Those times were so bleak; anything else that could have brought some light out of the darkness would have been a miracle for them.
Brok snarled, kicking a stone on the ground, "Well, this fucking blows."
"Apt words for the situation," Soujiro commented blankly.
A horrified Yuma glanced at her father and her friend, "I...If that monster is still alive, what do we do?"
"Let's try to keep rationalizing things," Kakashi quickly conveyed before the morale could plummet. "If Yamata-no-Orochi survived, then consider this, why hasn't he acted yet directly?"
"Because..." Naruto shrugged, trying to think of an explanation. "He couldn't?"
"Exactly," His teacher nodded, "That's the most likely explanation, isn't it?"
The White Lotus pondered on his words. Makeda's ears flattened against her head as she thought, "There is no way to survive Vasavi Shakti, and we know Yamata took the full brunt of the attack... But maybe it wasn't the 'entirety' of him. He survived Susano'o slaying him because his body eventually regenerated."
"So that means that when he fought Karna and Sun, he wasn't 'whole.'" Kya continued that line of thought. "Would also mean the part that survived would not have been strong enough to fight?"
"Yes... Yes!" Tomoe exclaimed, the pieces falling into place as they began to form a hypothesis. "Most of his power would have obliterated alongside his true body. It would take him ages to return to full strength."
"So despite still having control over the remnants of their forces," Lyn continued, "He was nowhere near strong enough to take direct action after his defeat. There were still a lot of powerful demons around who did not necessarily would side with him after their 'defeat.'"
"The Cult knows the strength of mankind united," Genryu said firmly. "That's why they put mortals against each other. If people knew something as powerful and destructive as Yamata was around, recovering, actively working to destroy them and their civilizations, then even longtime foes would consider an alliance in hopes of taking him down. Secrecy has been paramount for the Cult for a long time now."
Kosuke's eye rose, "Which means he is still recovering."
"Indeed," Hiruzen rubbed his beard, "By the time he is at full strength, he could finally unleash his fury."
Sigrun narrowed her eyes, leaning on the table, "Then we cannot afford to wait. He needs to be eliminated to restore the world and the Gods. And the Cult must be wiped out from existence forever."
A deep breath escaped Tomoe's lips, "Ah, we discussed this. Attacking blindly without proper measures will lead to disaster, Sigrun." The Valkyrie lightly growled but went quiet. "We need to amass our forces and gather allies ourselves." She turned her gaze toward Maiyuri, "Which was why we offered you a position among us. Or, at the very least, be allies of equal interest."
"Aye," Mimir smirked, "Plus, having two Heirs of Rama's Will is quite the boon for the long run."
Kushina stiffened hearing that while a curious brow cocked from the new Shogun, "I'm sorry... Heir of Rama's Will?"
"...That Oni back in Hani'ei called me that, too," Naruto spoke up with visible confusion, "What does that even mean?"
Surprise glowed in Mimir's eyes, "You don't know? Well, to put it simply. You two are a part of rare individuals who come from every other generation or so and bear an unbreakable determination and will of Lord Rama himself. People who stand against evil and injustice, facing down the darkness with a smile. Warriors of true fearlessness and compassion who never give up no matter the odds."
The pinkette and blond just gapped before looking at each other and back at the head. "Wow..." Naruto uttered breathlessly.
"Wow indeed, little brother."
"We're... destined for this?" Maiyuri replied with some confusion.
"I always said you had the markings of a shounen protagonist," Yuma snickered.
"More like you chose this destiny for yourselves," Makeda smiled brightly. "It means you two are heroes in the making. You will stand in the eye of the storm as the world changes. You will fight against evil and corruption with all your heart so the people behind you can be safe."
"Awww, man," Naruto scratched his head, embarrassed, a sentiment shared by Maiyuri. "I-I don't think I can be called a hero..."
Maiyuri agreed, "We're just two people who want to do what we believe right."
"And that's why you're champions in the making." Mimir smiled, "It also means you are incredibly stubborn and will throw yourselves into increasingly more dangerous situations. So it's likely you'll die fighting gloriously. Ahhhh," He sighed with honest envy, "Lucky you, 'tis a great way to go."
The two youths gave him a long, hard look.
"...Imma punt him," Kushina declared as she glared at the severed head.
Kosuke deadpanned as he grabbed Kushina in the air by the waist as she was about to make good on her word. "Well, she's a fiery one, isn't she?" The deity of wisdom addressed.
"That's my mom," Naruto explained.
"…Oh, I should have left out the die-fighting bit, then?"
Karin nodded, "I like having my brother around, thank you."
Mimir cleared his throat, "Anyways, since the Cult's forces have confronted your nation twice, it would be best to unite our forces." He turned his gaze to Maiyuri.
The pinkette Shogun composed herself, "It would be prudent to accept aid from those who know the enemy who wishes to cause my people and our nation harm."
Hearing that brought a smile to Tomoe before Sigrun slammed her hand on the table, "We are wasting time!" The Valkyrie shouted with impatience, "Our enemy is out there. Yamata is still alive, and unless we do something now, our world will still be unable to be fixed."
"Sigrun," Makeda spoke up with patience. "We don't even know where to begin. Let alone how to track them."
"Why I've kept saying we need to be on the offensive than just sitting our hands doing nothing!"
Mimir grunted as Tomoe turned him around on the table, "I know you prefer the direct approach to things. But if we go on the attack now, we could walk into a trap. Yamata is many things. Being a fool isn't one of them. Moreover, we don't know just how many followers he has now. We could be outnumbered a thousand to one. And then we get ourselves killed before we could even do anything!"
"And while we wait, we give our enemy more time!" The leader of the Valkyries replied firmly. "More time to prepare, make schemes, sow Chaos and conflict anywhere in the world. More time for Yamata to be back at full power!" She waved her hand dismissively at the young Shogun, "And instead, you want to help her play empire-building! Empires are not born in a day. It'll be years before your dream even comes close to finishing. Years you'll give the Cult to continue plotting as they always do."
Maiyuri made a soft sound of both discomfort and frustration. She knew the struggles that'd await them, but that didn't mean it wasn't worth every day they'd spend working towards that goal.
"The foundations of her empire are meant to counter the cult's corruptive influence," Makeda defended the young woman. "They creep on greed and hatred. We need those allies at the forefront to combat the Cult."
"You make it sound like we'd be wasting time," Tomoe argued. "We have our agents, our allies, the people who can scout in the shadows to fight them wherever we find them."
"It does not mean those resources will be properly allocated," Sigrun crossed her arms as her silver eyes glared at the people gathered. "I came here today because I thought it'd be like in the old days. We'd raise armies and march against the darkness. Still, I see a slow reaction that will cost us dearly in the long run."
"The circumstances today are different from long ago, Sigrun," Meihui called out, trying to make her see reason. "This is going to be our best approach."
"You are all too eager to involve yourselves back into the affairs of mortals. I, however, will not waste my time helping build someone else's kingdom."
If Mimir could shake his head at her, he would. "That is not what we're-!"
"You do not have my support," Sigrun declared with finality, stunning the people around her. "Nor my sisters."
Enma felt a headache coming, rubbing his eyes. The Valkyries were always an impulsive bunch to deal with. But their prowess in battle, along with their skills and knowledge, was invaluable. But their attitude of charging in without regard to the situation was frustrating. They want results, and they want them now.
But that alone was impossible as they knew nothing about where Yamata and his Cult were. How many forces did they hold under their command? Just how powerful they currently are to be ready to fight or not.
Thus why they needed to prepare. To build up a strong enough force and gather allies of strength and like mind to be ready.
"How damn far do you think you can make it alone?" Silver eyes and others turned to the twelve-year-old blond with whiskers on his cheeks. His cerulean eyes glared right at the Valkyrie. "Normally, I'd agree with you on taking the fight to the bad guys. Mainly because it's simple, and I like simple. I learned simple doesn't always work. And this is the freaking god of destruction I've only heard as myths and legends. Going after someone like him has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard! So I have to ask, are you an idiot?"
"Excuse me?" Sigrun muttered with an edge.
"I asked... Are. You. A. Idiot?" To the surprise of many, Naruto did not budge nor flinch as Sigrun dashed towards him and knelt till their glaring eyes were even with each other.
Meihui growled warningly as the air grew tense around them. "Oh, dear..." Makeda mumbled while turning Mimir's head to the sight.
Sigrun's eyes bore into the blond's cerulean orbs, "Do you know who you are insulting, boy?"
"A weird bird lady who seemingly has a bird brain." The blond deadpans.
"O ifrinn," Mimir stared wide-eyed.
Naruto spoke again, "What will you guys do? Fly around and look all over the planet for Yamata-Teme and his Cult. Say you manage to find them. What will happen even if he isn't at full strength?"
"I feel you want to tell me, don't you?" Sigrun growled.
Naruto snarled back, "Oh, I'd be happy to. You'd get your cute backside kicked or, worse, killed! So, by all means, be a dumbass until your ass is handed to you, and you must crawl back here. I'll look you in the face and tell you, I TOLD YA SO!"
For a moment, nobody said anything.
The people who knew Naruto should be used to this, but Naruto screaming at figures of higher power and authority never failed to worry them. His defiance and ironclad morals now led him to butt heads with a woman who was millennia old, whose power they could only gauge.
However, those who knew Sigrun hoped she wouldn't kill the kid.
"...Hmph." The Valkyrie Queen let out a sound that hinted at... approval? "You have guts, kid. I like that." She stood up, never taking her eyes off him. "Keep on that spirit. It will lead you to a glorious end."
Naruto just glared at the woman. Her views and approval were things he didn't care for or understand. He wasn't going to shut up when he knew what the right thing to do, not anymore, not after Han'ei was.
"Do what you must," Sigrun said as warmly as she could to her once life-long allies, walking away from the large table. "My sisters and I will do what we know best. I wish you a fortune in your endeavors and pray to the All-Father it won't lead to our downfall."
"Sigrun..." Mimir muttered sadly as he watched her go.
"Mimir may talk too much, but he is wise. Listen to his advice." She said with a considerable measure of respect, as much as her measured and controlled tone would allow.
"If you ever need help," The Sage of the Flames stepped forward, looking at her friend with neither pity nor condemnation. "You know where to find us."
Sigrun looked back at Tomoe, at her sincere smile and open promise that their friendship would not end this day, even if they could not agree on what path to take. In those horrible days, severing bonds as they had forged long ago was impossible.
The Valkyrie gave a firm nod, and with a flex of her back emerged shining golden wings that blurred the line between physical and intangible. With a leap and a beat of the wings, she ascended to the skies and flew quickly until she disappeared into the horizon.
"Well, little brother, you know how to make an impression, don't you." Mimir quipped dryly with a smirk. "Fact she let you live after insulting her speaks volumes."
Naruto grunted, "I know I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but what she is doing is just stupid." He huffed, crossing his arms.
A low chuckle came from the Toad Sage, "Bullheaded and stubborn like your parents, gaki."
"Oh, he was just like Kushi when she was little," Meihui snickered to said redhead's embarrassment, running her hands down her face.
Rubbing her eyes, Maiyuri spoke up, "At any rate. I would be honored to ally with the White Lotus." She looked to Tomoe, who smiled brightly at the declaration. "Many evils plague our world. And while I am not certain to be this 'Heir of Rama,' I know as Shogun I will do everything I can for my people and our nation."
"That is wonderful news to hear," Makeda addressed warmly before surprising the young woman with a motherly hug. "We will not let you down. And will endeavor to see your empire bring lasting peace to Gogyou-Koku." She detached from Maiyuri with a maternal smile.
"T-Thank you."
Better than what was expected, worse than it was hoped. But at the very least, Genryu was happy to see this outcome than it breaking down to where nothing happened at all. He just hoped Sigrun and her sisters would eventually return to them.
"Um," People shifted as Soujrio raised his hand, "May I speak?"
"This isn't some school class, boy," Enma declared, snorting, "what do you wish to say?"
"I wish to join the White Lotus as a Sage."
Reactions were varied. A mild surprise was the most common one. From the actual sages who expressed concerned and cautious curiosity at the boy's declaration. Stupor from his peers and cousins. And outright in Kushina's face as her nephew was under her care. Lyn certainly looked a bit panicked herself, as if fearing what Saito would say right now were he to hear this.
"Are... you sure?" Kya addressed the young man gently. She may not be as close to Soujiro as others, but he was still Lyn's nephew. This boy was her family as well. "Soujiro, the path of sagehood associated with the White Lotus is more than just power or understanding. It is a to join this quest, a monumental task looking after the safety of this world and its people."
"I am aware," The young swordsman replied with no hesitation, only gentle calmness like always. "And I want to do it."
"We brought you into this meeting so you would understand things because you were face to face with the Cult's machinations because your families have been involved with these terrible events for so long. We called Maiyuri here because we needed her support. After all, she needs to understand the sort of enemy she has made," Makeda stated, "At no point was this a 'pitch' for you young people."
"I see no difference, to be honest," The young man with wavy red locks merely nodded. "I still want to join. I... need to"
It was the first any of his relatives ever heard anything resembling hesitation in his voice.
Karin merely walked close to her cousin, already feeling the small wavering in the flow of his chakra. Unusually heavy emotions marred the usual gentle stream. For Soujiro, at least. "Why do you feel you need to?"
The young man pursed his lips slightly, and both his hands slowly went to rest over the pommel of his blade on his hip. "There were 1135, last I counted." His statement was met with confusion, which he soon clarified. "That is the number of bodies I saw for myself back in the Land of Trees."
And then, things clicked into place.
Naruto clenched his fists. Sakura mournfully looked away as if she could avoid the memories flashing before her eyes. Sasuke did not have that luxury. He had witnessed those horrors with his Sharingan. Karin could only remember the foul stench of the sick chakra in the air, the sheer malice and overwhelming force of destruction that was the gashadokuro.
"There were people there," Soujiro continued. "Families, children, adults, elderly. Simple folk... and they died. Overwhelmed, afraid." His words were slow and collected. But the sadness in his voice was unmistakable. It would be subdued to most people. But someone like Soujiro was in constant control of his emotions and took whatever life threw at him without concern because he found his life happy and had no reason to express either complaint or sadness.
But what they had witnessed that terrible day. The tragedy of so many innocent lives lost in the fires of malevolence and evil brought about by greed and hatred.
Those lives were stolen that day. No mercy was given.
"An entire nation broken, so many people dead. And those who remain to grieve," He muttered, "I can't... I can't ignore those cries. The tragedy of our homeland is not distant to me, but I did not live through it... now I'm witnessing people living through that same tragedy."
Kushina was quick to be in front of him, kneeling, "Something like this is no simple choice. We need to discuss this with your father."
"I understand, Aunt Kushina." He turned around to Maiyuri, "Will this affect my status as a royal guard?"
"I don't see why it would. But as Kushina-dono stated, speak with your father before making this decision."
"Hai."
Yuma sighed, "This day was anything but boring."
"Indeed," Makeda nodded before speaking to Enma, "Was there anything else to discuss today?"
The monkey shook his head, "We did what we needed for today. And gained potentially strong allies. I believe this meeting is done. Who is handling Mimir?"
"Not me!" Sindri called out in a panicked tone, waving his hands fearfully.
"Ah yes, I recall the last I spent a century with the Huldra Brothers. Ya, wee fucks Damn near left me in the middle of a fucking tundra! Bad enough being a reanimated severed head! Do you know how fucking cold that was!"
Tomoe sighed, "Might as well take care of him myself. Which means he'll stay around here for the most part." She gave an apologetic smile to Enma, "This IS the new base for the White Lotus, after all."
"Oh, joy," The monkey king droned out, "If I wanted an old coot telling stories all day, I'd visit my drunk-ass uncle."
The head glared back. "I have stories about your great-great-grandma that would turn your hair even whiter than it already is, you ape! Don't test me!"
"This is the thanks I get for giving you my lands for this..." Enma droned.
"Well, I certainly wasn't going to give mine," The dragon chief harrumphed. "That'd mean hosting everyone. Do you know how wild things got even in the old days? We were fortunate the high temple didn't just fall apart. You monkeys, however, thrive on such conditions."
"That is true," The white-haired monkey mused. "We follow great Wukong's will after all 'if something doesn't break, it ain't a party.'"
"Of course, that woman would call 'saving the world' a 'party,'" Tomoe deadpanned, red eyes looking dim and tired at the memories.
Laughter was exchanged by the various older members of the White Lotus, and Naruto could see the powerful bonds of camaraderie at play here. He had heard the story. He had caught glimpses of the fights they waged side by with the world's fate at stake. Thousands of years later, they were about to do the same again.
He couldn't help but admire these brave warriors so much...
Maiyuri shook her head, amused, "Thank you all for what you shared with me today. I will keep it close to heart in the times ahead." She bowed to the old masters. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I started a war and must wage it. My honored warriors," She addressed Kushina, Kakashi, Kosuke, and the youths. "I will meet you back in Amotsu later."
"Let me take you back," Hiruzen smiled at the young woman, "my shogun."
Maiyuri smiled in gratitude at the recognition and waved her goodbyes to everyone as she and Yuma followed after Hiruzen. "Later, guys!" The swordmaster waved and smiled widely. "Let's catch up another time!" And walked away until they were far from sight.
"We mostly have everything wrapped up," Tomoe said to the others, "You may rest up for a moment before returning to your duties. However, Kushina, Lyn, Kosuke, I'd like you to stay back for a minute."
Sharing a look between themselves, the three Uzu nodded their heads as they stayed back. Kya and the others are already walking away.
"Come on," Kya smiled gently at the youngsters and urged them to follow her. "Let me show you the training grounds. I imagine you'd enjoy seeing how many people are in our cause already."
Waiting for the others to leave, the leaders of the reforged White Lotus stared at the three Uzumaki with varying degrees of apprehension. "There is one more thing we wanted to discuss with you," Tomoe said, her tone suddenly becoming serious.
"What is it about?" Kushina prompted.
"This is a daunting task for all of us," Mimir said heavily, "We need as many people as possible. We need people with talent and experience in such matters to face the great powers that will come for us in the coming years."
"We need to find those we lost," Meihui said, and the Uzu noticed the pain and longing in her eyes. "It is time we try to find her once again."
Realization dawned on them, hope and worry evident in their eyes.
"You..." Lyn stammered, "You mean..."
"Yes," Genryu said, his voice determined yet underlined with heartache. "It is time we find Tsukiko."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
The training grounds were utterly massive as the blond sat near one of the monkey statues while observing the others chatting with the inductees of the White Lotus. Karin glanced at her brother but waved off her worries with a small grin and gave a thumbs up. His eyes grew distant as he mentally stood at Kurama's prison.
"Must be something important for you to come in here," The fox said lazily as he lay on the ground, his maw on his crossed furry claws. His tone and gaze were still detached from his normal self.
But the blond doubted he'd say what was wrong, so he shook it off. "You ever heard about this cult?"
"...The fox clan informed me about it. Even hunted a few of the bastards myself."
"What were they like?"
Kurama gave his jailor an even look, "Fanatical lunatics who worship a dead goddess. No doubt that bastard Yamata has his worshipers in that bunch. But they all serve Ishtar and no one else." The fox paused, "I had figured you were going to ask about my origins."
At that, he saw the blond look conflicted, "I mean... I have questions and all, but..." He looked the fox in the eye, "As much as I want to know about Hagoromo-Jiji and all that. Feels too personal to ask." Kurama's crimson eyes were unreadable, but the boy spoke again, "You worked with the White Lotus?"
"The White Lotus was a fairy tale in those days. And I avoided humanity for a reason. But I kept to my purpose in bringing down evil across the lands."
"Right..." Naruto slowly said. "And how does that translate to you getting along so badly with the fox clan now?"
Rather than rage or throw insults and threats, Kurama was oddly solemn. "I made mistakes."
And choose not to elaborate beyond that.
"Hmm," Naruto merely put his hands in his pockets, his gaze lost.
"It ain't like you to be so quiet," Kurama noted, feeling the boy's trepidation. "What you learned there got to you, didn't it?"
"So many people died in the Land of Trees," His tenant shook his head. "And now I'm learning that was just one time those assholes did something like this."
How could someone relish in so much death? To enjoy the pain and grief of others as they trampled over lives with the sole purpose of destruction. He saw no reason, no logic behind their actions. All he saw was the pain of their victims.
"Evil, Naruto," The great fox said. "You've faced it before, with Orochimaru, with bandits, with the scum of the Earth, and now you face it at a level you have not thought possible. If you ever learn something from me, let it be this: Never underestimate the sheer malice in people's hearts. Even if it comes from pain, even if that evil is born from a wounded soul... they will step over the broken backs of their victims for their goals. The worst will relish on their pain," He leaned slightly against the gates of his seal, "to some, the pain of others is the goal..."
That... had to be the wisest advice Kurama ever gave him. And it was good advice to take heart. But moreover, could he do anything to stop those bastards from hurting more people?
"I wish to join the White Lotus as a Sage."
The words of his cousin filled his mind as it came to him. "What's your opinion on Sages?"
"From my father to the sages of old, I hold them in high respect. That perverted idiot who does your part-time training not so much."
At that, the blond deadpans, "He at least tries."
"Tries bring the right word for it, boy. Why bring this up?"
"I think... I want to be a sage, Kurama."
The fox looked at him for the longest time. "The way of the sage is far from easy. Your new occupation as the royal guard would be just as challenging."
"But could it help me protect the world's people from not just the Cult, but any other twisted ass hat who wants to hurt people for shits and giggles?" Now that made the fox cocked a brow, "I want to... I want to help everyone. I don't want another Lad of Trees to happen again, families slaughtered, kids orphaned just for kicks by people who want to."
Naruto glowed with resolve, "I need to become a Sage."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
