Inaba didn't know how much time had passed. She didn't want to open her eyes, afraid of finding out what had happened to her during her slumber. Besides, she felt no sensation on her body. It seemed like she hadn't started regenerating.

"Should I slumber a bit more?" thought Inaba to herself. However as she started to drift once more, a voice called out to her.

"Wake up, poor child.."

The voice sounded divine, just like Amaterasu's it echoed in Inaba's mind. However, the voice was that of a male, deep, yet calming.

"To leave you in this condition, body scattered, eaten by the wolves and the tigers who called my mountains home.. It's unimaginable. Did they not know who you are?"

"Who?" Inaba replied with her mind's voice.

"Ah, wait.. Let us talk more comfortably.."

Inaba heard a snap. With it, the darkness surrounding her dispersed, bringing her into a white space. In the middle of it, A male God, blanketed by forest colored cloth from head to toe, stood solemnly.

From left to right: Kisame, Itachi, Mitsuki unsealed (mortal form), Mitsuki divinity form, young Inaba (pre clan wipeout), Amaterasu, Oyamatsumi

As Inaba looked down, she saw her body reconstructing out of nothing.

"That's just your mind's body. Your real body is still being reconstructed. That's the least I could do to make it up for you," said the male God. Even though his eye looked sleepy and devoid of spirit, his voice was gentle and his tone sincere. Seeing Inaba's confused face, the male God introduced himself.

"Oh, right.. You might not know me yet. My name is Oyamatsumi, Amaterasu's older brother. Some referred to me as the God of War, some said I'm the God of the Sea, but my true designation is God of Mountain, and this mountain range is my home," without any change in his expression, Oyamatsumi introduced himself. Hearing the introduction, Inaba realised who he was, and kneeled.

"Forgive me for what had happened to your shrine. I didn't mean to have it desecrated," said Inaba.

"It's fine, I heard you the first time," said Oyamatsumi as he approached and lowered his body to look at Inaba in the eye.

"As you've thought, I've only recently woke up from my slumber, and upon seeing the shrine that my precious follower had built for me desecrated, I've delivered unto the humans God's Wrath.." said Oyamatsumi as he lifted Inaba's chin with his hand, taking a closer look at her.

"I didn't think that they would blame you for that, Tsukuyomi's granddaughter.. Ah, no, I guess now that you've taken his place, you've become my sister.."

Hearing his words, Inaba shook her head sadly.

"I don't get it.. Why did you not resist? You could have taken their life, I wouldn't mind.. Why did you go to such extent to go along and becoming their sacrifice?"

Inaba lowered her head once more as she tried to find the answer within her mind and her heart.

"Because.. I think that what they said was right. I could have prevented this all from happening, if only I'm more careful.. So does my clan's demise.. " she replied. As Oyamatsumi kept his quiet, Inaba continued.

"I.. when they told me how I was about to let them all die without batting an eye, even after they've taken care of me for so many years, I realised.."

"Maybe I'm the ruthless one here, maybe I didn't value their lives enough, thinking that they are beneath me, that Gods knew better. I've destroyed their trust and disappointed them by doing that.." Inaba's voice quivered as she gave words unto her own feelings. Upon her response, Oyamatsumi shook his head.

"It's a given. With our long live, we have witnessed more death than any humans could ever have. After all, they are mortals with such short lifespan. If we were to grief every life lost, there would be no end to our grief."

"Yet, my grandfather decided that we should live closer to humanities, see the way they live and learn from each other," said Inaba with melancholy in her voice. Maybe the indifference was wrong after all. How could she help the humanities if she couldn't understand them, if she saw them as beneath her, even if she had never stopped loving them?

Oyamatsumi could only sigh in response to Inaba's reply.

"You are far too kind. Even after what they have brought upon your clan, how come you held no anger against them?"

"After all, it was my lack of ability who brought it upon my people.." Inaba smiled wryly as she answered Oyamatsumi's question.

"You blame yourself too much, child.. If there's anything you should learn from them it's how to free yourself from your guilt," remarked Oyamatsumi tiredly. "Humans are greedy, egoistic creature. That's how I've seen them during my long existence. Warring, they will wish for other's demise, blaming their suffering unto other, yet they brought suffering upon their enemies as well remorselessly. Even in their daily life, they are quick to place the blame on something else. Blame one another, blame other creatures, blame the land, blame curses, and even blame the Gods. Do you think we've ever asked for human bride? Frail, short living humans?" Oyamatsumi laughed sarcastically. "Yet they kept doing that again and again, thinking that it pleases their Gods, and if it doesn't work, they will blame it unto the girl and her family. If we ever ceased our anger after such sacrifice, it's out of pity upon the innocent girl and those who loved her."

Inaba smiled with complicated feeling in her heart as she playfully asked, "Speaking from experience?"

Oyamatsumi didn't respond to Inaba's question. Instead he continued with his warning.

"Inaba, it's good to have forgiving heart, however, remember.. Don't get too close to them, it would only bring you pain. Remember, we are not humans. Even with your mortal body, you're still part of the Kamigami, especially now that you have obtained my brother's divinity."

Inaba was not sure on how to answer Oyamatsumi. She knew well of the risk, but in the other hand, she'd want to understand the humans better. If not, how could she do her duty properly, without knowing them, without understanding their needs and point of view.. It was not only about her duty as well.. She just couldn't bear another failure. To betray the expectations of those who trusted her, she felt like it would be a disappointment both to Amaterasu, as well as her clan who had sacrificed themselves for her.

Noticing that his words had been answered with silence, Oyamatsumi gave Inaba a pat and took her hand, prompting her to stand.

"Stand up, you did nothing wrong.. Also, I've almost finished reconstructing your body. It's about time you go back to it."

"Thank you, Oyamatsumi-sama.." Inaba smiled with guilt in her eyes, prompting Oyamatsumi to give her a pat.

"Call me onii-sama. We are siblings now after all," Oyamatsumi smiled gently with his tired eye, and Inaba smiled back, nodding.

"I will, onii-sama," she answered. With her answer, Inaba's form disperse back into a glowing orb, and Oyamatsumi sent the orb out of the empty, white space.

When Inaba opened her eyes, she looked down. Apart from losing her clothes, it was as if nothing had ever happened to her body. Wondering how Oyamatsumi could have done it, considering what he said about her body had been eaten by the wild animals, Inaba tried to move her body and stood. When she noticed, a fox was approaching her, carrying a bundle of clothes with its snout. As soon as Inaba finished putting on the fox's gift, she patted the fox and thanked her, before suddenly, a voice spoke from behind her.

"How do you like it?" the voice asked.

"! Oyama.. I mean, onii-sama!" Inaba exclaimed in surprise as she heard the voice and turned her head towards the source. The fox trotted happily towards the Mountain God as well the moment she saw him. Gently, Oyamatsumi lifted the fox unto his cradle and gave the fox pats on the head.

"I think it fits just fine, thank you," Inaba said with an awkward smile. "Why are you..?"

"It's just for a while. I forgot to give you something. Take it as apology and parting gift from your brother. After all, it's unlikely that I will come to the mortal plane personally again unless it's really necessary."

"Gift?" Inaba's eye widened in surprise upon hearing Oyamatsumi's words. Suddenly, Oyamatsumi snapped his finger, and green dots of light appeared and entered Inaba's chest. Confused, Inaba was struck with silence.

"In case something like this happened again.. I've boosted your regeneration, and gifted you with the Mountain's Eternity, or as human would call it, eternal youth. That way, you're safer, and by the time you're going back to Takamagahara, I wouldn't feel weird calling you my little sister," Oyamatsumi chuckled as he joked. As Inaba smiled in response, Oyamatsumi gave her another pat.

"Also, I hope you won't ever need this, but I've give you authority over your new body's sense of pain. Since I couldn't have asked my children to return your flesh to you, that is the least I can do. With these, even wounds wouldn't linger on you, and even losing your limbs, you would be able to grow it back as well."

Inaba froze upon the information. Could she still call her body one of a mortal's like that? Not noticing Inaba's hesitation, Oyamatsumi continued.

"And one last thing, I've told my children about you. From now on they will be on your beck and call, helping you in times of needs. Think of it as them protecting you in my place, my dear little sister," Oyamatsumi smiled gently as he laid his eyes gently upon Inaba's complicated expression. Inaba understood that by his children, Oyamatsumi meant the animal of the mountains, like how the fox had helped her procuring her a new set of clothes. Wondering where the clothes even came from, Inaba frowned worriedly, but somehow, she couldn't help but smile at her 'brother's kindness. Seeing Inaba's smile, Oyamatsumi gave her another pat.

"Are you feeling better now? I hope it can help ease the pain in your heart even if just a little," Oyamatsumi's voice sounded very gentle. Even with his tired tone and tired eye, his warmth was apparent, giving Inaba the encouragement that she needed to continue on.

Author's note:

Onii-samaaa~

Inaba's onii-sama don't like hooman tho =w= hope everything would be fine

Oh, one late note, but Inaba's appearance during this section of the past is technically simplification of her divine form. She purposedly put some divinity on display to gain trust of her subject, but kept it simple enough off duty so it won't bother her activities. Imagine it as unsealed Mitsuki with her miko clothes and golden hair eye, but without the halo and the accessories.