A/N: I do not own the characters used, (unless they are OC), rights to their respective Authors.
"Character Speaking"
"Character Thinking"
Jutsu.
[Summoning or Tailed Beast Speaking]
[Summoning or Tailed Beast Speaking]
Hi everybody, I got some reviews saying that they didn't like something. However they didn't elaborate, so if anybody doesn't like the way the story progresses and wants to express his/her opinion, please write it but at least tell me the reason or the thing you disliked.
Training Ground Seven, Konoha:
The morning sun cast long shadows across Training Ground Seven as three young Genin waited for their chronically late sensei. A week had passed since the formation of this year's teams, and Team Seven's daily routine had already become painfully predictable.
Sasuke Uchiha perched atop a weathered boulder, his obsidian eyes fixed on some distant point. Though his face remained carefully neutral, the slight tightening around his eyes betrayed his growing irritation. The last surviving Uchiha had better things to do than wait for their tardy instructor.
Beside him, Sakura Haruno stole yet another glance at her raven-haired teammate, a familiar blush creeping across her cheeks. Her bright pink hair caught the morning light as she fidgeted, trying and failing to be subtle in her observation of the object of her affection.
Sasuke noticed her attention, as always, and clicked his tongue in annoyance, turning away. Rather than deterring her, his reaction only caused Sakura's blush to deepen. 'Cha! Sasuke-kun is getting shy around me!' her inner voice squealed in delight.
"I still don't get what's so special about him," Kiba Inuzuka grumbled from his spot under a nearby tree, his canine companion Akamaru perched atop his wild brown hair. The distinctive red fang marks on his cheeks twisted as he frowned, a hint of jealousy coloring his voice. "Right, Akamaru?"
The small white pup yipped in agreement but quickly ducked behind his master's head as Sakura whirled around, her green eyes flashing dangerously. "As if you'd ever understand, you idiot!" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to make both boy and dog wince.
Kiba opened his mouth to retort, but a sudden puff of smoke interrupted their familiar argument. The smoke cleared to reveal their sensei, Kakashi Hatake, his nose buried in his ever-present orange book.
"Yo," he greeted casually, his visible eye curved in what they'd learned was his version of a smile.
"YOU'RE LATE!" all three Genin shouted in perfect unison, their momentary discord forgotten in the face of their shared frustration. It had become a daily ritual – Kakashi would arrive hours late, they would call him out on it, and he would offer some ridiculous excuse.
Today, however, proved slightly different. Kakashi's eye remained curved in that same smile, but there was something more serious in his bearing as he responded, "Sorry about that. The Hokage needed to discuss some matters with me."
The three Genin exchanged surprised glances. An actual legitimate excuse? That was new.
"So, what's on the agenda today, Sensei?" Kiba asked, Akamaru perking up with interest atop his head.
Instead of answering immediately, Kakashi studied his students with an unnervingly serious expression. Then, without warning, his hands formed a familiar seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Two perfect copies of their sensei materialized beside him in puffs of smoke, each wearing the same unreadable expression as the original.
Before any of the confused Genin could question this development, Kakashi spoke. "Sakura, Kiba, you'll each go with one of my clones for individual training sessions."
Kiba's face lit up with excitement, and even Akamaru gave an enthusiastic bark. Without hesitation, the pair bounded after one of the Kakashi clones, eager for whatever training awaited them.
Sakura's shoulders slumped slightly, her eyes darting longingly toward Sasuke before she trudged after the second clone. So much for trying to impress Sasuke-kun during training today.
Once the clones had departed with their students, Kakashi turned his full attention to his remaining genin. Sasuke Uchiha - arguably the most challenging member of Team Seven, given his tragic past and single-minded quest for vengeance. The Jounin had come prepared today, however, with a specific plan in mind.
"Alright, Sasuke," Kakashi announced, his usually lazy demeanor shifting subtly. "We're going to start with some Taijutsu training."
A ghost of a smile touched Sasuke's lips as he rose fluidly into a combat stance. "Finally, some real training," he muttered, anticipation gleaming in his dark eyes.
That gleam quickly turned to irritation as Kakashi casually pulled out his infamous orange book. The blatant dismissal of his abilities made Sasuke's blood boil. He tensed, ready to launch himself at his seemingly distracted sensei—
Only to double over, blood and spittle flying from his mouth as Kakashi's fist buried itself in his stomach. The Jounin had moved faster than Sasuke's eyes could follow, appearing as nothing more than a silver blur.
Before the young Uchiha could recover, Kakashi's foot connected with his face in a devastating kick that sent him tumbling across the training ground. He crashed into a tree with enough force to shake leaves from its branches.
Sasuke bit back a cry of pain, forcing himself to his feet despite his protesting muscles. His breath came in ragged gasps as he glared at his instructor.
Kakashi stood motionless, studying his student with his single visible eye. When he spoke, his voice carried none of its usual lazy warmth.
"Weak."
The word hung in the air between them, sharp as a blade. But Kakashi wasn't finished. His next words were delivered with surgical precision.
"Itachi was already a Chunin at your age. A prodigy." He paused, letting the comparison sink in. "You're not even in his shadow."
The effect was instantaneous. Sasuke's body went rigid, his fingers curling into white-knuckled fists. The mere mention of that name shattered his composure like glass.
"Don't you dare—" Sasuke's voice trembled with barely contained fury.
"Dare what?" Kakashi's eye narrowed. "State the obvious? Your brother was a thousand times better than you'll ever be."
Something broke behind Sasuke's eyes. "SHUT UP!"
The roar tore from his throat as he launched himself at Kakashi, all technique forgotten in his blind rage. His attacks came wild and desperate – a flurry of punches and kicks that might as well have been moving through molasses for all the good they did.
Kakashi didn't even look up from his book as he weaved between the attacks, his casual evasion more insulting than any counter.
"And this," he mused, deflecting another wild swing, "is how you plan to kill Itachi?" The mockery in his voice was palpable.
"Pathetic."
Something snapped inside Sasuke. His vision sharpened, the world suddenly moving in crystal clarity as rage and desperation triggered a transformation in his eyes. The obsidian black bled into crimson, a single tomoe spinning into existence in each iris - the awakening of his clan's legendary Sharingan.
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled slightly, noting the change with satisfaction, though he kept his face carefully neutral.
Sasuke attacked again, his newly awakened Sharingan tracking Kakashi's movements. But the Jounin was ready. He caught Sasuke's wrist mid-punch, using the boy's own momentum to slam him into the ground. Without pause, he hurled the young Uchiha across the training field like a ragdoll.
Though every muscle screamed in protest, Sasuke struggled to his feet once more, determination warring with pain on his face. He gathered himself for another assault, but Kakashi's raised hand stopped him cold.
"That's enough," the Jounin commanded, his tone brooking no argument. The authority in his voice froze Sasuke in place more effectively than any jutsu.
As the adrenaline drained from his system, Sasuke's legs gave out. He collapsed to his knees, chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. Shame and frustration burned in his gut, somehow worse than the physical pain wracking his body.
Kakashi approached his defeated student, pulling a kunai from his pouch. "Take a look at your reflection," he said, his voice gentler now as he offered the blade to Sasuke.
Confusion flickered across the boy's face, but as he gazed into the polished metal, his eyes widened in shock. Instead of their usual onyx black, two crimson orbs stared back at him, each bearing a single tomoe. The Sharingan - his birthright, finally awakened.
The crimson reflection in the kunai's polished surface quickly calmed Sasuke's rage. His anger evaporated, replaced by stunned disbelief as he stared at the proof of his bloodline.
"My... my Sharingan," he whispered, the words barely making it past his lips.
Kakashi nodded, tucking the kunai away with practiced ease. "Yes. I needed to provoke you to test my theory."
"Theory?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed, though they remained that telling shade of red.
"The Sharingan," Kakashi explained, his voice taking on a teacher's calm authority, "typically awakens when an Uchiha experiences intense emotion." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "Given what happened during the massacre, I suspected you'd already awakened it. But sometimes, trauma can... block these things."
Sasuke's hands curled into fists at the mention of that night, his newly awakened Sharingan spinning with barely contained emotion. But Kakashi pressed on, his voice gentle yet firm.
"I had two objectives today. First, to see if remembering that night would reactivate your Sharingan. And second..." His visible eye crinkled slightly. "To help you release some of that anger you've been carrying."
The admission left Sasuke speechless. Conflicting emotions warred across his face – anger at Kakashi's manipulation, gratitude for the result, and something deeper, more vulnerable, that he quickly buried. After a long moment, he simply drew a steadying breath, letting the tension drain from his shoulders.
When he finally raised the kunai again, studying his reflection with newfound intensity, his thoughts turned dark. 'One step closer to my revenge.'
As if reading the shadows in his student's mind, Kakashi released a weary sigh. "Sasuke," he said, his voice carrying the weight of hard-earned wisdom, "I won't stand in the way of your vengeance. But remember this – obsession has a way of blinding you to everything else worth protecting."
Sasuke's head snapped up, a retort forming on his lips, but Kakashi continued. "Take ten minutes to rest," he instructed. "I need to check on the others." With that, he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving only his words hanging in the air.
Alone in the training ground, Sasuke stared at the space where his sensei had stood, the words echoing in his mind. For the first time since that bloody night, a small seed of doubt took root in the garden of his vengeance. He tried to push it aside, but Kakashi's warning lingered there.
Time Skip: 3 Weeks Later
It had been three weeks since Kakashi began the rigorous training regimen with his team, and as expected, the results were quite positive. For Sakura Haruno, the focus was on increasing her physical endurance and chakra reserves, which were notably low. However, her excellent chakra control allowed her to master chakra control exercises swiftly, demonstrating her potential.
Next was Kiba Inuzuka. The boy already displayed a well-balanced skill set, which wasn't surprising considering his mother, Tsume Inuzuka, was a renowned clan head. Kakashi concentrated on improving Kiba's chakra control, preparing him for elemental chakra training, which would take his abilities to the next level.
Finally, there was Sasuke Uchiha. Since reactivating his Sharingan, his progress had been remarkable. However, Kakashi noticed something peculiar—Sasuke's chakra reserves. As an Uchiha, it was expected that he would have larger reserves than the average shinobi of his generation, though not quite at Naruto's level. Yet, Sasuke's reserves were already comparable to those of a low-level Jounin, an unusual trait for an Uchiha, given that they typically did not stand out for their vast chakra reserves like the Senju or Uzumaki clans.
Thus, Kakashi prioritized chakra control training for Sasuke while also beginning his elemental training. To Kakashi's surprise, Sasuke had an affinity not only for Katon, like most Uchiha, but also for Raiton. Seeing as Kakashi himself shared an affinity for lightning, he decided to start Sasuke's elemental training with Raiton.
However, these three weeks weren't only about training. The team also undertook numerous D-rank missions: catching runaway cats, helping repair fences, and clearing out storage sheds. Despite how trivial these tasks seemed, they had a clear purpose for Kakashi. Initially, Sasuke considered them a waste of time, but over time, he realized how these missions forced the team to work together, understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses. Although they weren't glamorous, they helped build the foundation for teamwork that Kakashi was intent on developing.
Kakashi lifted his gaze from his book, watching as Sasuke attempted to light a bulb using Raiton chakra—a basic but crucial exercise for any shinobi mastering the lightning nature. Sasuke, holding the bulb, closed his eyes to concentrate, attempting to convert his chakra into electricity. After thirty seconds, the bulb flickered to life, causing Sasuke to open his eyes in surprise, but this also made him lose concentration, and the bulb quickly dimmed once again.
Sasuke let out a sigh, wiping sweat from his forehead. At that moment, someone extended a bottle of water to him. He turned, unsurprised to see his sensei with his typical one-eyed smile, his orange book still in his other hand.
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke said gratefully, taking a sip of the water.
"Take ten minutes to rest, then we'll continue the exercise," Kakashi replied, sitting beside him while continuing to read his book.
Sasuke nodded, setting the bulb aside and reflecting on everything that had happened in the last three weeks with his team. He didn't know why, but he'd never felt like this before. There was a strange sense of contentment—a feeling that was unfamiliar but welcome. In some way, he was happy. It was difficult for him to admit, but he found a kind of comfort in spending time with his team, especially with Kakashi. The Jounin was the only one he truly spoke to, and as they spent more time together, a question had been lingering in his mind.
Sasuke decided it was time to ask. "Kakashi-sensei, there's something I'd like to know," he said, drawing the Jounin's attention. Kakashi nodded, indicating that he could continue.
"How do you know so much about the Sharingan?" Sasuke asked directly.
Kakashi sighed, knowing this question would arise eventually. It wasn't a great secret, so he decided to be straightforward. "Sasuke, the reason I know so much about your bloodline limit is because of this." He lifted his headband, revealing a Sharingan with three tomoe.
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. He had no idea there was another Sharingan user in the village. Now, it made sense why his sensei knew so much about his Dōjutsu. However, this revelation also brought a new question—how did Kakashi acquire it?
Kakashi, understanding where Sasuke's thoughts were heading, answered the unspoken question. "This eye was the final gift from my teammate before he passed away." Sasuke was taken aback once again, but he simply nodded, satisfied with the answer and unwilling to pry further into such a delicate matter.
They both settled into a comfortable silence, enjoying the pleasant Konoha weather. Before they knew it, the ten-minute break was over, and Sasuke returned to his training, under Kakashi's watchful eye. For a brief moment, Kakashi looked up at the sky, smiling beneath his mask. "I wonder what you're doing now, Naruto?" the Hatake thought.
Unknown Location:
In a dark and shadowy place, two figures stood facing each other. One was a man, while the other—although humanoid in form—had the head of an enormous Venus flytrap.
"Is that everything, Zetsu?" asked the man in a deep, resonant voice. He wore a black cloak adorned with red clouds, and an orange mask with a swirling pattern that had a single eyehole.
The figure identified as Zetsu, who wore the same cloak, had a face split down the middle—half black, half white. "Yes, Madara-sama," Zetsu responded.
The masked man simply nodded. "Perfect. We're getting close to completing the plan," he said, more to himself than to Zetsu. Then, without another word, he vanished from the area.
Zetsu lingered a moment longer, seeming to contemplate something, until a white, humanoid figure emerged from the darkness beside him. "He has awakened," said the figure, its voice echoing in the gloom.
Zetsu nodded wordlessly, and both figures melted into the ground, disappearing from sight.
Minutes later, Zetsu resurfaced in a stark white room. He glanced around, taking in the numerous monitors that surrounded a bed in the center of the room, each screen flickering with data. The figure on the bed was finally awake—a person with snow-white hair and equally pale skin, his face marked by black lines along his chin and forehead. Two long black horns protruded from his head, their tips fading into white.
"So, you're finally awake," Zetsu said, drawing the attention of the figure on the bed. The person turned to face him, his eyes narrowing slightly. Before he could speak, Zetsu continued, cutting straight to the point. "What happened, Momoshiki?"
Momoshiki sighed, his eyes reflecting a mixture of irritation and exhaustion. "I went to the place you told me, with Kinshiki. He was there..."
Flashback:
In an expansive meadow surrounded by lush vegetation, a man sat cross-legged with a scroll leaning against his back. His long black hair cascaded down his back, and he wore armor reminiscent of a samurai, crimson in color, with a distinct emblem on the left side of the collar. This man was none other than Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage of the newly formed Hidden Leaf Village.
Hashirama sat in a meditative position, his eyes closed. The gentle breeze swept through the area, rustling the leaves and flowers, which seemed to grow even more vibrant as if reacting to his presence. Small flowers began to bloom around Hashirama, and for a moment, black markings appeared on his face, only to fade as quickly as they had come. He opened his eyes, revealing deep brown irises.
He looked down at a small stone in his hand, with the word Flee inscribed on it.
"Madara," Hashirama thought, sadness flickering in his eyes as he looked at the stone. It had been almost six months since his last battle against his friend, the battle that ended with him killing Madara for the greater good. Those memories had plagued his mind since that day, and today he decided to take a break, hoping to clear his thoughts. He had come to this remote place, far from the village, for some peace.
Hashirama glanced at the sky; it was almost noon. He decided it was about time to head home. Rising from the ground, he grabbed the scroll and strapped it to his back, ready to leave. But just as he took a step, he had to leap to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike from a massive red axe.
The weapon crashed into the ground, leaving a small crater and kicking up a cloud of dust, making it difficult for Hashirama to see his attacker. To avoid further surprises, he quickly jumped back, creating distance between himself and the unknown assailant.
As the dust settled, Hashirama's eyes widened in surprise. Standing before him was a figure with pale skin, short bluish-gray hair, and a beard that connected to his hair, along with a horn-like protrusion above his left eye. He wore a light blue shirt with a high collar and a dark accessory around it, along with a gray sash wrapped around his waist. Over this, he had a short tunic with blue edges that ended in triangular shapes, gray pants, and black flat shoes with lifted toes.
However, it wasn't his appearance that shocked Hashirama the most, but his eyes—pupil-less white eyes, characteristic of the Hyuuga clan's Byakugan. But something about this man seemed far beyond any member of the Hyuuga clan.
"Who are you?" Hashirama asked, his hand moving to the scroll on his back.
The stranger looked at him for a moment. "I am Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki. Prepare yourself." As soon as he spoke, a red energy manifested behind him, crackling ominously.
Hashirama felt a strange familiarity with the name but had no time to ponder. The red energy coalesced into a long spear, and Kinshiki grabbed it, lunging toward him.
Without hesitation, Hashirama opened the scroll and infused it with his chakra, summoning multiple swords and a few shuriken. He grabbed two swords and intercepted Kinshiki's attack.
CLANG
The clash of weapons echoed through the clearing as both fighters pushed against each other, neither gaining the upper hand. Hashirama, realizing that brute force wasn't the answer, disengaged and dodged Kinshiki's strike, countering with a horizontal slash that Kinshiki barely blocked. The two immediately became locked in an intense kenjutsu battle.
Clang
Clang
The only sound in the meadow was the ringing of clashing blades, with sparks flying each time their weapons met. Despite their relentless strikes, neither could land a decisive blow.
Seeing that this wasn't getting anywhere, Hashirama jumped back. When Kinshiki moved to follow, wooden branches erupted from the ground, quickly wrapping around Kinshiki's body, immobilizing him. "What?!" Kinshiki thought, visibly taken aback.
Hashirama seized the opportunity, charging forward with his sword poised for a decapitating strike. Kinshiki, sensing the danger, applied more force, breaking free just enough to duck under the strike. Unfortunately for him, his horn wasn't as lucky, as it was sliced clean off. Hashirama clicked his tongue in frustration at the missed target, but he spun and prepared another frontal assault.
However, his attack was interrupted by a water dragon rushing from his right side, forcing Hashirama to leap back. Turning towards the source, he saw another figure who looked similar to Kinshiki. This newcomer had pale skin and bluish-gray hair tied into a ponytail, with bangs framing his face in a zigzag pattern. Two large horns protruded from the back of his head, curving forward, and like Kinshiki, he had the Byakugan.
His attire consisted of a traditional white hunting robe, loose pants, and a pair of tengu-geta. His delicate facial features and short eyebrows gave him an air of nobility. The newly arrived Ōtsutsuki glared at Hashirama before speaking.
Kinshiki, now freed from his wooden binds, quickly moved to stand beside the newcomer. "Momoshiki-sama, I apologize for my carelessness," Kinshiki said, bowing slightly.
Momoshiki simply looked at Hashirama, a smile stretching across his face. "Do not worry, Kinshiki. But... I never thought that an inferior creature like a human could possess so much chakra," Momoshiki mused, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I dare say this creature has more chakra than some of the chakra fruits I've consumed."
Though Kinshiki was surprised by this, he showed no outward reaction and simply stood beside Momoshiki, awaiting orders.
"Imagine..."
"Who are you?" Hashirama interrupted, his stern voice cutting through Momoshiki's musings. The Ōtsutsuki leader scowled at the interruption but quickly regained his composure.
"That is none of your concern, insect," Kinshiki snapped, before glancing at Momoshiki, who nodded, understanding the message.
Hashirama frowned, trying to analyze the scant information he had, but his thoughts were interrupted as Kinshiki charged at him, a red axe in hand.
Without hesitation, Hashirama wielded his twin swords, meeting Kinshiki's strike head-on. Once again, sparks flew as their weapons collided. Hashirama took a moment to glance at where his other weapons lay. In that instant, a root emerged from the ground, grabbing hold of an oversized shuriken and launching it towards them.
Kinshiki noticed the incoming attack and leapt into the air, easily dodging the shuriken. But Hashirama anticipated this and quickly formed a hand sign.
"Ninpo: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique," Hashirama muttered, and both he and the shuriken vanished in a puff of smoke. In their place, four shurikens appeared, surrounding Kinshiki. They, too, exploded in a cloud of smoke, revealing four Hashirama's charging at him.
Kinshiki had no time to react. He was struck on the head by a hammer blow that sent him hurtling through the clearing, the four Hashiramas in pursuit.
Momoshiki, watching the battle unfold from a nearby tree, was astonished that this "inferior creature" was managing to go toe-to-toe with Kinshiki. His thoughts were cut short when one of the Hashiramas suddenly appeared behind him.
"I won't ask again—what do you want with me?" Hashirama demanded, his voice carrying a serious, commanding tone.
Momoshiki scowled, refusing to answer. Hashirama sighed, realizing he wouldn't get anything out of them willingly. He quickly formed a hand seal. "Suiton: Taihōdan!" he called out, releasing a powerful jet of water from his mouth.
Momoshiki made no move to avoid the attack. Hashirama was confused for a moment but was then shocked to see Momoshiki raise his right hand, revealing a crimson eye with a ripple pattern and a faint, purplish-gray iris—the Rinnegan.
"The Rinnegan..." Hashirama thought, his eyes widening in disbelief. The water jet was absorbed completely by the Rinnegan, leaving Hashirama in shock. He quickly gathered himself, refocusing on his opponent.
"Such an interesting technique..." Momoshiki mused before raising his left hand, which held another Rinnegan.
Hashirama braced himself, knowing this battle was about to take a drastic turn. He had heard of the Rinnegan, the legendary dōjutsu of the Sage of Six Paths, a god-like figure among shinobi, but no one knew its true power. If this man possessed such a dōjutsu, Hashirama knew he needed to be prepared for anything.
"...Now imagine what happens when that power is doubled," Momoshiki declared, his voice cold. Hashirama watched as the left Rinnegan emitted the same water jet he'd used earlier, amplified in strength. The attack was so swift that it barely gave Hashirama time to react. The blast pierced straight through his body, and Momoshiki approached slowly.
"It seems you weren't as formidable as I thought," Momoshiki said dismissively, raising his right hand to absorb Hashirama's chakra.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Momoshiki's feet cracked, drawing his attention for a split second—just enough for Hashirama's body to turn into thick wooden tendrils that wrapped around the Ōtsutsuki, immobilizing him. Two more Hashiramas emerged from the surrounding trees, each wielding a blade.
Momoshiki remained unfazed. "You think such a simple clone technique will fool me?" he sneered, activating his Byakugan. However, his eyes widened in shock—he couldn't distinguish the real Hashirama from the clones.
The two Hashiramas didn't waste time. They launched at Momoshiki, who barely managed to absorb the wood binding him before evading the dual assault. Momoshiki retaliated, aiming at one of the Hashiramas with his left hand, black rods shooting out towards him. The target couldn't react in time, and three rods pierced his body, but the Hashirama merely turned into a wooden statue.
A smirk crossed Momoshiki's face, and he dodged a strike from the second Hashirama, attempting to counter with another barrage of black rods. Yet, this time, the Hashirama clone vanished in a puff of smoke.
Scanning the area with his Byakugan, Momoshiki ensured there were no more surprises, intending to head back to Kinshiki. But suddenly, a figure flew past him at incredible speed, crashing into the trees behind him. When he turned to see what had happened, he couldn't believe his eyes.
Kinshiki lay battered, his clothes in tatters, and his entire body covered in blood. The worst part—his right arm was missing. He struggled to rise, but before he could, a massive wooden dragon erupted from the ground, coiling around him and rendering him completely incapacitated.
"This will be the last time I ask: what do you want?" Hashirama's voice cut through the clearing. Momoshiki turned to see Hashirama walking calmly, twin swords in hand, each blade enveloped in purple chakra.
Moments Earlier:
After taking the hit, Kinshiki was sent hurtling toward the forest surrounding the clearing. In mid-air, the Ōtsutsuki managed to correct his stance and landed on his feet, but he immediately had to leap away to dodge a strike from Hashirama. With a swift swing of his axe, Kinshiki split his opponent in two—only for the halves to transform into mere wood.
Three more Hashirama clones landed on the treetops, encircling the Ōtsutsuki. The two opponents locked eyes, tension thick between them, and in the next instant, the three Hashiramas leaped toward Kinshiki to attack. The first lunged forward with a downward stab, which Kinshiki blocked before retaliating with a powerful kick that sent the clone flying backward.
Kinshiki turned his attention to the second Hashirama, who was still in the air. His axe quickly morphed into a long spear, which he used to impale the clone in the head—only for it to, once again, transform into wood. Kinshiki gritted his teeth, frustration flickering across his features. "These tricks... they will not work forever," he thought, irritated as he realized he was being outmaneuvered.
This diversion, however, provided enough time for the last Hashirama to appear behind him, transforming into thick wooden roots that wrapped around Kinshiki's body, immobilizing him on the ground. Kinshiki's eyes widened briefly before narrowing, and he exerted his strength, his muscles straining as he began to break free.
Though this wasn't much of a problem for the Ōtsutsuki, it gave enough time for another Hashirama to appear before him, delivering a powerful uppercut to Kinshiki's chin. The blow was strong enough to send the Ōtsutsuki several meters into the air, where yet another Hashirama clone was waiting above him, delivering a crushing kick that sent Kinshiki plummeting back to the ground.
Kinshiki crashed hard into the earth, creating a deep crater. Pain shot through his body, but he refused to let it slow him down. He barely had a moment to catch his breath before needing to roll to the side, narrowly avoiding having his head cleaved off by a blade-wielding Hashirama.
With swift movements, Kinshiki got back on his feet and charged at the two Hashirama clones, his eyes blazing with determination. One of the clones placed both hands on the ground. "Doton: Doryūheki!" called out the clone, summoning two walls of earth in quick succession. Without hesitation, the clone then retrieved a large number of explosive tags and attached them to the first wall.
When Kinshiki saw the earth wall rise before him, he remained unfazed. "A mere wall won't stop me!" he thought, smashing through the first wall with ease. As he moved to do the same to the second wall—
¡BOOM!
The wall exploded unexpectedly, and Kinshiki was blown back at incredible speed, crashing through the forest and taking down several trees in the process. The area filled with smoke, which slowly began to clear, revealing Kinshiki, now covered in dirt, his clothes torn and his face twisted in anger. He wiped a streak of blood from his mouth, glaring in the direction of his attackers.
The Ōtsutsuki wasted no time, immediately activating his Byakugan to locate his enemies. "I won't be caught off guard again," he muttered. But it did him no good—Hashirama was already upon him, seizing Kinshiki by the head and delivering a fierce knee strike directly to his face, momentarily disorienting him.
Hashirama took advantage of this opening, leaping backward while summoning two clones from his back. The clones positioned themselves in front of Kinshiki, then transformed into enormous roots that wrapped around Kinshiki's entire body, tightening with every second.
Kinshiki struggled against the binds, his frustration evident. "This... can't hold me!" he roared, his muscles bulging as he fought to break free, but Hashirama didn't give him a chance. Behind him, a massive golem emerged from the earth. Without hesitation, the golem brought its massive hand down, smashing the area where Kinshiki was held.
A few moments later, Kinshiki struggled to rise from the rubble, blood dripping from his mouth. His body ached as hell, however, before he could mount a counterattack, Hashirama was already upon him, wielding a sword enveloped in purple chakra. Hashirama swung the blade down in a vertical arc, and although Kinshiki managed to dodge it, his right arm wasn't so lucky—it was severed from his body.
"AHHHHHH!" Kinshiki roared in pain, his eyes wide with shock. He stumbled backward, trying to regain his balance, but Hashirama wasn't done yet. He followed up with a diagonal slash, striking Kinshiki and sending him flying backward.
Without hesitation, Hashirama formed a hand seal. "Mokuton: Mokuryū no Jutsu.!" An enormous wooden dragon erupted from the earth at incredible speed, bearing down on its target. Kinshiki, now weakened and unable to defend himself, took the full force of the dragon's strike.
Kinshiki was hurled across the clearing, passing by Momoshiki before crashing into the trees beyond.
Present Time:
Momoshiki could hardly believe what he had just witnessed. This human had managed to leave Kinshiki half-dead—Kinshiki, who, though not the strongest in their clan, was still not someone to be taken lightly.
The Ōtsutsuki eyed the Senju cautiously and realized that, for the first time in his life, he would have to take a fight seriously.
Hashirama, seeing that his opponent still refused to respond, sighed and, in a flash, used Shunshin to appear directly in front of the Rinnegan user. He swung his sword in a horizontal arc.
Momoshiki snapped out of his thoughts just in time, dodging the attack at the last possible moment. Thanks to his Byakugan, he saw the path of destruction left by the blade—much of the forest behind him had been cut clean through.
A bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he silently thanked his luck that he hadn't been struck. Momoshiki knew he stood no chance in close-quarters combat against this opponent, so he ascended into the air, hovering about ten meters above the ground. Without hesitation, he unleashed a barrage of black rods aimed at his enemy.
Hashirama leaped back, evading the attack, then drove both swords into the ground. Quickly forming a hand seal, he called out, "Wood Release Secret Technique: Deep Forest Emergence!"
The ground trembled, and Momoshiki watched as small branches emerged from the earth. Before he could react, those small branches grew into enormous roots, reaching fifteen meters in height and attempting to ensnare him.
Momoshiki tried to evade the roots, but it was impossible. Within seconds, the massive roots caught hold of his arms and legs, locking him in place. He attempted to absorb the jutsu, but realized that his Rinnegan couldn't focus on the branches—his eyes couldn't point at them properly to absorb or counter the technique.
"Damn it," Momoshiki cursed under his breath, struggling to move his hands to free at least one of his Rinnegan. But it felt as if the wood itself was alive, tightening around him with every movement.
Before he could formulate a plan, an enormous wooden dragon appeared above him. Without wasting a moment, the dragon lunged, crashing into the trapped Ōtsutsuki with brutal force.
"Damn—" Momoshiki couldn't finish his thought as the dragon drove him into the ground, shattering the entire structure as it slammed him down.
...
..
.
And DONE.
I know a lot of people don't like the otsusukis, me included, but that doesn't mean I can't see potential and I want to use them in the story.
Some of you would already started notice how different things are on the table already, I just ask patience and everthing will be explained as the story progresses.