CHAPTER 1: ONCE AGAIN…
About a year and a half after the Moon Conflict concerning the Tenseigan…
"Yeah… He'll return soon." The current Hokage, Hatake Kakashi, muttered while looking outside of his office.
"Indeed. It has been quite a while since you assigned him to that so-called S-Rank mission." Haruno Sakura retorted to the former Team Seven sensei. She was standing together with Sai in front of the Hokage desk. "Well… it's not like you have any other choice for the matter."
"But still, the timing of that mission still was kinda off… and borderline mean on your part," Sai added. "You see, you gave Naruto this mission a few weeks right after he and Hinata finally admitted their feelings to each other. Sure, Naruto is always smiling and all, but I've never seen him that genuinely happy aside from those few weeks that he had with Hinata after the Moon Conflict."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. That's why before I officially gave him that mission, I made sure that Hinata was with him so I can explain the rationale of that mission." Kakashi gave a sad smile. "Naruto complained, as expected, while Hinata shed a tear. The mission is something only Naruto can do, and will greatly affect not only their future but all of the Shinobi World. So in the end, it all worked out. Naruto finally accepted that mission and now he's coming back."
"A very confidential S-Rank mission that only Naruto can do… with the Hokage and his fiancée, Hinata, being the only ones knowing its entire whereabouts…" Sai muttered to himself.
"Well, Hinata ain't that much active anymore on taking high-ranking and difficult missions since the Moon Incident." Sakura said with a small smile. "Since Naruto's departure, she enrolled in a cooking school. And last time we met, she admitted helping on Hyuuga manor's household chores despite being literally the Princess of her clan, as if preparing herself to become a perfect wife."
"As for my observation, she still was kinda normal for me. She doesn't show any hint of sadness during the get-together of our generation. Maybe Naruto and Hinata were communicating in some form or another." Sai said while looking towards Sakura.
"A long-distance relationship huh…" Sakura said as she also looked outside, thru the transparent window of Hokage office, remembering the same situation with her fiancée, Uchiha Sasuke.
"Well, Sasuke will also be returning soon." Kakashi looked towards the two with his signature eye-smile. "Or rather… he's already here…"
All of a sudden, a space-time portal suddenly appeared on one of the Hokage office walls. From that portal, came out the lone survivor of the clan of Sharingan, Uchiha Sasuke.
"…" Sasuke gave a neutral look towards Sai, a small nod towards Sakura, then walked straight towards Kakashi's table.
"We need to talk about something very important." Sasuke immediately said. "And we need the Five Kages so we can discuss all the intel that I have gathered thus far."
"Straight-forward with no-nonsense, as always…" Kakashi replied with a neutral expression. "But for someone like you to say something like that while also requiring the Five Kages presence, just what kind of dangerous information do you have, Sasuke…?"
"…" As if contemplating a bit before deciding the most precise word he can say at the moment, Sasuke said the word in a very serious tone.
"…Otsutsuki…"
With just that one word, Kakashi narrowed his eyes while Sakura and Sai displayed a mix of surprised and worried expressions.
"Indeed… any Otsutsuki matter is definitely a Five Kage matter." Kakashi looked down while lightly slamming both his hands towards his table. "If that's the case, we will also need to include Naruto, since the two of you are currently the only ones with direct links and also have already fought against an Otsutsuki."
"It is already a given." Sasuke once again replied in a no-nonsense gesture. "All these are very dangerous information and will cause chaos if known by the populace. So we better keep this confidential while preparing the best course of action." Sasuke said as he also looked towards Sakura and Sai.
Tension immediately filled the entire room. After almost a minute of silence…
"So… is Naruto still in that place?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes. But he'll be returning soon." Kakashi replied. "Might be tomorrow, might be in three days, but not more than a week."
"Hnn…" Sasuke nodded. "Good to know that I'm not the only one preparing for whatever this future might hold. Once he returns, I'd also like to see how much he has grown before I relay everything that I happen to know."
"Alright. However, if the two of you will ever gonna do some sparring match, then do it somewhere far away. It would be bad if the two of you destroys the village accidentally just by flexing." Kakashi gave a wry smile. Sakura and Sai also gave a difficult expression due to Sasuke's previous statement.
"Well, for now, I am glad you returned home in one piece." Sakura walked towards Sasuke. "I think I'll have you rest for now and serve you a nice warm meal."
Sasuke looked towards her, then lessen his personal tension.
"Yeah. I guess I'll take your offer." Sasuke said with a small smile.
After Sakura lightly bowed to their former Sensei, she linked her left arm with Sasuke's right arm, then walked out of the Hokage Office. Kakashi then instructed the remaining Shinobi in his Office.
"Tell the communication-in-charge about what you have heard. An emergency Five Kage summit must commence this week."
"As you wish, Hokage-sama."
With Sai leaving his front desk, Kakashi then sat on his desk and sighed.
"Sasuke has returned, and Naruto will also be here in a few more days."Kakashi thought. "I can no longer prolong the implementation of that law. Or the economic side of Konoha will suffer because of those Daimyos."
-Scene Change-
Night time, just outside of Konoha's Shopping District…
Hinata Hyuuga casually walked on her way home with her left hand carrying plastic bags and her right hand gently hugging a paper bag. She's walking while humming in a very low, quiet voice…
After crossing a few intersections before the Hyuuga Manor, she then looked towards one specific location… it was a two-floor apartment where someone so dear to her used to live…
"To think that you used to live here, Naruto-kun." Hinata muttered to herself. "Once your current mission is over, I'll make sure to never leave your side ever again…" She said as she resumed her walk on her way home…
-Scene Change-
A few days later…
"And here I thought we'll have a Kage Summit thru online communication…" Kakashi said with a dead-panned face while looking towards the other four Kages from other respective hidden villages.
The Five Kages and their respective escorts, together with the Konoha 11 and Uchiha Sasuke, and other excited citizens of Konoha were now standing in front of the gate of the East Wing of Konohagakure.
"It is an Otsutsuki matter. So to prevent the information leak, it will be better to discuss everything about it face-to-face, closed door." Mei Terumi said to Kakashi in a low voice to ensure that the ordinary citizens behind them won't hear him.
"Well, but that doesn't mean you'll have to be inconvenienced like this, I mean, waiting for someone to arrive in the middle of the day together with us." Kakashi rebutted.
"Well, that someone happens to be the Hero of the 4th Shinobi World War, and also the one who defeated that Otsutsuki from the Moon that threatened our planet's destruction." Oonoki replied to Kakashi this time, levitating with his arms crossed and having a huge smirk on his old face.
"It will be a privilege to welcome him back not as a Kage, but as his friend." Gaara said with a peaceful smile on his face.
"Hmm… I wonder if I should challenge him to a spar to see how much stronger he had already become." The Raikage said while flexing both his fingers.
"I don't think you'll ever be a match against him at this point." Sasuke said to the Raikage without looking, making the Raikage's eyebrow twitch in annoyance. The Raikage was about to rebut but Kakashi positioned himself in the middle of the two.
"Not now, gentlemen." Kakashi said, as he looked towards the gate. "It's about time… he's here."
"…."
Everyone looked towards the gate with expecting eyes. Most of them were expecting something flashy to happen, knowing Naruto's usual hyperactive demeanor, during his arrival. However, much to their surprise, they just saw a man in a hooded cloak, with tattered hemline of that said cloak touching the ground, entering their field of vision. No fancy something or anything. Just a man casually walking towards their direction, to the point that they even wonder who that hooded person is.
All of a sudden, Hinata ran from the crowd towards the direction of the hooded man, while Sasuke gave a small sigh, then gave a small smirk.
"It's him." Sasuke said, much to the surprise of Sakura who's standing beside him.
"But his presence is entirely different!" Sakura replied to Sasuke.
"Hnn." Sasuke just closed his eyes, still maintaining the same confident smirk.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata threw herself towards the hooded person, while the hooded person immediately caught the girl, and the two hugged each other. The hug removed the hood and the tattered clothing that was concealing the person, revealing the same blonde, spiky haired Shinobi complete with his signature whisker marks on his cheeks.
"I'm home, Hinata." Naruto whispered with a smile to the girl hugging him. The two tightened their embrace for a few more seconds, before releasing each other.
Naruto then raised his right arm, fist-pumping upwards.
"I'm back –ttebayo!" His confident voice echoed, making those waiting at the gates cheered after confirming the return of their hero. The children then ran towards him while Hinata stepped backward a bit, still teary-eyed due to their reunion.
"Wow. It really is Naruto... but at the same time, he feels like an entirely different person…" Tenten commented. Indeed, Naruto's facial and physical appearance was still almost the same as that of when they were fighting against the exploding humans during the Ketsuryugan incident that happened more than a year and a half ago, from his long-sleeved black shirt and orange-colored pants, and with the same short, neat looking hair back then.
"Yeah… he looks much more mature and dependable than he used to... Must be that 'Sage' cloak that he's wearing right now." Ino said while observing the blonde Shinobi. Indeed, on top of his long-sleeved black shirt, he is now wearing a Jounin vest, while also donning the same red Sage Cloak that he used to wear during his fight against Pain, albeit much longer now as its black, flame-like designed hemline now nearly touching the ground and a high collar similar to the 4th Hokage's coat.
"Looking at him like that, no one can dispute now that this classmate of ours is indeed the son of the 4th Hokage." Shikamaru said with a huge grin on his face. After all, aside from minor facial features and hairstyle differences, Naruto's appearance right now is nearly identical to that of the 4th Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
After a few more minutes of cheers and celebration, Kakashi instructed everyone to dismiss, as the committee began moving in preparation of the Five Kage Summit that was scheduled to happen in the evening…
-Scene Change-
"Uh… I just arrived after more than a year of doing that mission, and all of a sudden, I suddenly am with you guys for the Five Kage Summit?" Naruto said with a complaining tone. Beside her was Hinata in her casual clothing, her left arm linked with Naruto's right arm.
The Hokage's Conference Room was now occupied by the Five Kages, each of them having their most trusted Shinobi standing right behind them, The Kages are sitting in a semi-circle, facing Sasuke who was currently standing in front of them together with Sakura, while Naruto was standing a meter or two behind the Kages with Hinata.
"That mission, you mean 'training mission'." Sasuke rebutted with a small smirk. "You don't mind if I disclose that now that you have already returned, right?"
"An S-Rank training mission that specifically only Naruto-kun can do…" Hinata said with a small voice.
"Training, huh?" Gaara side-glanced towards Naruto.
"Well, you know what happened during the Moon Incident, right? We fought another Otsutsuki. And that Otsutsuki can rival the power of my Bijuu Sage Mode back then. He might not be as powerful as Kaguya, but still, ordinary Shinobi won't have any chance of fighting against him." Naruto said, remembering his clash with Toneri Otsutsuki on the moon.
"That alone should give us an overview of how powerful each Otsutsuki was," Hinata added, this time with confident tone.
"As far as I know, you didn't use your most powerful form against that Otsutsuki from the moon. I mean, that form you used against Uchiha Madara and Kaguya Otsutsuki" Raikage A replied, him referring to Naruto's Six Paths Sage Mode. "So there still is a window for you and Uchiha Sasuke if ever another powerful Otsutsuki threatens our world once again."
"Might be. But what if the next Otsutsuki to appear will be on the same level on the likes of Kaguya, or even stronger?" Tsuchikage Oonoki replied. "Remember that Naruto and the Uchiha weren't actually able to defeat the mother of all chakra."
"So that's what you were thinking, old man?" Mizukage Mei Terumi sighed as she spoke. "While that might be possible in the lowest chance, ain't that a bit too farfetched?"
"Not really." Sasuke intervened. "And that's the reason itself why I have Kakashi gather you all here immediately."
"I don't like the feel of this." Gaara narrowed his eyes.
"About Kaguya Otsutsuki, the so-called mother of all Chakra that Naruto and I fought and sealed together using the power we acquired from the Sage of the Six Paths…" Sasuke closed his eyes. "She is indeed an all-powerful being, comparable to a god. However…"
"…regardless of how powerful she is, she still created thousands of thousands of White Zetsus using the Shinju in preparation for something. Just imagining a being like her preparing that huge army for something gnaws me. So I have Kakashi sent me on a mission to investigate whatever traces or remnants that might point out any information, no matter how trivial it may be."
"And what did you find out during your mission?" Kakashi said as he looked towards Sasuke seriously.
"Using the Rinnegan, I have verified that the White Zetsu Army that were used by Obito and Madara during the war were the same White Zetsus that Kaguya have created eons ago. Those White Zetsus were sealed somewhere during the same time that the Sage of the Six Paths and the Sage of the Moon sealed Kaguya from the past. And that seal was unlocked during the time that Madara awakened his Rinnegan allowing Obito to access and use that army during the previous war."
"And what does this all mean?" The Raikage clenched his fists.
"Just a hypothesis, but a very logical one unless further information invalidates this…" Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Kaguya Otsutsuki, with all her powers and abilities, is very wary of something that she can foresee. And that something is so dangerous that someone like her needs to create an army in preparation for it."
"And that something, and I am hoping I might be wrong, is the threat of an existence even greater than Kaguya herself. And with Kaguya and the White Zetsu army now gone for good, that threat might soon appear in this very era we're on."
"…" Silence then filled the conference room. A mere thought of a threat greater than the Goddess of Chakra alone was too much to handle, even for Kages like them.
"You mean, there's actually something more powerful than Kaguya was out there, somewhere?" Sakura exclaimed.
"It's definitely a possibility, and it actually won't be that surprising if it is not just a single being, but multiple beings, each with around the same level of power as her." Sasuke replied monotonously.
"So what now? How do we tell the populace about such a threat? The entire world was just in the middle of recuperating from the effects of all the previous wars that this world has been through." Mei Terumi asked in a down-casted expression.
"We won't tell anyone, for now," Oonoki said in a resolute tone. "It might be a very logical hypothesis, but still no different than a hunch. We will need to mobilize preparations within the shadows like we always used to. For now, let an old man like me enjoy my tenure before I step down as a Tsuchikage."
"That's right." Sasuke nodded. "For now, I'll just continue my investigation regarding the matter. And I need to act alone. Do not let my actions be known aside from those who are in attendance in this room. I'll continue my top-secret mission."
"Are you sure you don't want me to tag along, Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"No need. Someone like you needs to stay in the village." Sasuke replied. "You have just returned after your mission. And besides, it will only create unnecessary problems if you come with me."
"Harsh as always eh?" Naruto sighed in defeat.
"But still, what kind of training did you do for it to be considered as an S-Class mission?" Sakura asked, more in a complaining tone. "I bet Sasuke and even me can do whatever S-Rank training mission you've been through."
"I did it to complete my training course as the next Toad Sage, as the Ero-Sennin's successor," Naruto said with a sad smile.
Everyone in the room understood what Naruto meant. The former Toad Sage, Jiraiya, was a very important person for Naruto's growth, as a Shinobi and as a person. The old Sage sacrificed his life to create a better future for the blonde Shinobi, and that sacrifice became one of the most important stepping stones that made the world as it is right now.
"So, you're now a fully trained, certified Toad Sage, Naruto?" Kakashi said with an eye-smile.
"Yeah. And I'll make sure to make Ero-Sennin proud!" Naruto replied with his usual confident grin.
"However, I still have one question. I know that we have already talked about this since the previous Kage Summit. But you can't blame me for being redundant." Raikage asked with a serious expression. "Is it really alright for all the nine Bijuus to be sealed into one person? Ain't that will give too much power to that single person, let alone the Village he's affiliated with?"
Everyone in the conference room, except Sasuke and Sakura, looked towards Kakashi, then at Naruto. Kakashi looked towards the Raikage with unwavering eyes while Naruto simply scratched the back of his head with a goofy expression.
Indeed, after the 4th Shinobi World War, both the Yin and the Yang Kurama decided to stay and be sealed within Naruto, as the Ninetails have grown too accustomed to the only Jinchuuriki whom he actually had a mutual connection with. However, due to them being separated for too long, both Kyuubis have regenerated their lost 'halves' and such, technically became separate entities with each of their respective Chakra prowess comparable to that of their Chakra level before being split in half by the 4th Hokage's Shiki Fujin. This made Naruto the Jinchuuriki of the two Kyuubis.
However, after and Moon Incident, all the other Bijuus, from Shukaku to Gyuuki, have decided to also be sealed together within Naruto despite some protests from Raikage and Mizukage under the pretense of 'absolute power corrupts absolutely. However, it was the Tailed Beasts themselves that decided to be sealed within Naruto out of their own free will, with their reasoning that some powerful beings like another Otsutsuki might still be lurking out there, so Naruto needs as much power as he could acquire to combat such threats. And the decision became a done deal after the threat of Toneri Otsutsuki.
Kakashi also reasoned that while the Hidden Villages and the entirety of the Elemental Nations approved a treaty to never approach the Tailed Beasts again, some half-baked hidden organizations tried to abduct some of the Bijuus to use their power or control them. While the Bijuus were able to fend them off and the offenders were apprehended and punished accordingly, Kakashi pointed out that as long as there were such individuals, the Bijuus will always be considered as tools to be used to stir chaos within the Shinobi World.
And since Naruto already has a fragment of all the Tailed Beasts that he acquired during the 4th War, it became a sound agreement that Naruto should become the Jinchuuriki of all the Tailed Beasts as he was the only Shinobi capable of properly communicating and has a mutual connection with them.
"Well, I know that you guys still were wary about it but…" Naruto said with a small smile, "The Bijuus were like siblings created by the Sage of the Six Paths directly from the Juubi. They were roaming all over the land for centuries, treated as dangerous beings, being used as tools, and using them as such were one of the main reasons why our world became as it is. However, they are still their own individual. They have their own wills. Ain't it a bit too much to still treat them as tools and weapons just because of their power, and still not treat them as another sentient being just like the rest of us?"
"…" The Raikage looked seriously towards Naruto.
"Octopops treated the Hachibi as a comrade. You know that better than anyone else, Raikage old man. It was painful for Gyuuki to leave Octopops behind, but he still left him fragments of his Chakra as his pseudo-Jinchuuriki. It is proof that they have a strong bond. What I mean to say is, it's not like I want to become the Jinchuuriki of all the Tailed Beasts, and also that doesn't mean that I don't like them either to be with me. This is their choice. They want to do their part in preserving our current peace. If we still can't accept their own choice, aren't we just the same as Madara and Kaguya who intended to impose their will against us?"
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata looked towards Naruto with sad, understanding eyes. Now she finally understood why Naruto accepted the S-Rank training mission…
Silence filled the room for a few tens of seconds after Naruto's speech. And as if to break the ice…
"Hnn." Sasuke lightly grunted. "Anyways, I believe that Sage Training wasn't the only thing you did for more than a year."
"Well of course. You've been refining your mastery over Rinnegan during the same time period, right?" Naruto said with a confident smirk. "So I need some few additional tricks up my sleeve to level the playing field."
"Interesting," Sasuke said with a smirk. "Why don't we have a little spar then? Since we still don't have any concrete information of what lies ahead, and with the two of us might be the only ones capable of battling against an Otsutsuki, I need to have an overview of what you're currently capable of."
"Yeah. I also am training while thinking of how I will be able to fight properly against you and your powerful eyes, Sasuke." Naruto smirked towards his best friend and rival. "To the training grounds, then."
"Wait, you two." Kakashi halted his former students. "I can't allow the two of you to do your 'spar' on the regular training grounds. You might accidentally destroy the village if things got too heated up."
"In that case…" Sasuke then created a space-time portal using his Rinnegan eyes. "With my current mastery over Rinnegan, I am capable of doing this space-time portal. With this, I can travel through Kaguya's dimensions and continue doing my investigation about the Otsutsukis."
"So we'll be doing our thing in there, right?" Naruto replied.
"Yes. However, my mastery over this space-time jutsu is still quite low and consumes a lot of Chakra. So I can only take a few of you with me."
"So the Naruto, Sasuke, the Five Kages, with Hinata and Sakura." Kakashi announced.
Everyone in the room reluctantly agreed, as if they were also interested in how things will turn out. The right-hand Shinobi of each Kage, on the other hand, didn't rebut, as they accepted to be left behind.
"Once we arrived at one of Kaguya's dimensions, I'll have Sakura patch up the Chakra I used for this jutsu's activation. Because I have a feeling that doing this spar against you with such handicap won't do me any good." Sasuke said as he walked inside the portal. Sakura nodded in response.
The Kages agreed as they followed the Rinnegan user within the portal, then followed by Sakura. Naruto then looked towards Hinata, then gave her a comforting smirk.
"Sorry, Hinata, as much as I want to spend time with you right after I return, things became like this. We need to do this one way or another. But I promise you that we'll spend time together right after this."
"Yes. I missed you so much." Hinata leaned her head softly into Naruto's shoulder. "Just be careful out there, okay?"
Naruto then flashed his signature grin towards his loving girlfriend as the two walked together as they enter the portal.
-Scene Change-
The Five Kages with Sakura and Hinata stood in one of the elevated grounds of Kaguya Otsutsuki's Genesis Dimension. Just like in the Shinobi World, a moon was visible thousands of kilometers above the ground. And it was no other than the Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei that Naruto and Sasuke have created to seal the Goddess of Chakra during the climax of the 4th Shinobi World War.
Standing a few hundred meters away from them were Naruto and Sasuke, tens of meters away from each other. The two looked towards each other, both with a confident grin and slight seriousness in their gestures.
"I won during our first battle. I admitted my loss on the 2nd battle. Both happened at the Valley of the End." Sasuke said in monotone.
"Both of us have a lot on our shoulders back then," Naruto replied. "But this time, we'll be fighting as fellow Shinobi of Konoha, as equals."
And with a flick of the blowing wind, the two vanished from where they were currently standing, followed by a massive impact and succeeding shockwaves in a fragment of a second…