Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Z Abridged, or Naruto.
"Hello" - normal talking
'Hello' - thoughts
Far across the vast space, in a galaxy called Spiral, there was an abandoned planet, circling its path around its parent star. Ten moons hovered around it, casting a ghostly glow on its poisonous atmosphere and surface. This forgotten world had been untouched for many millennia, avoided by most due to its hostile environment and the lack of resources worth harvesting. Only the hardiest souls dared explore there, few came back alive, and those who came vowed to never return to this ghost planet.
Its history was shrouded in mystery, with no clear record left behind. All that lingered were myths, whispers of a once-great civilization, an ancient, thriving race rumored to have reached the pinnacle of enlightenment. Some tales told of the planet's core becoming unstable, forcing the inhabitants to flee. Others claimed civil war destroyed the civilization from within. Yet one myth loomed larger than the rest, a tale of two god-like beings who obliterated the entire civilization.
Though these were merely stories, the ruins hinted at something greater, a hidden truth, intentionally erased. What fragments remained held no answers, only broken clues and deadly traps for those who dared explore.
And yet, today, this planet has a visitor.
A spaceship approached, piercing the planet's storm-ravaged atmosphere. Bolts of lightning struck its hull, yet it continued, landing smoothly in the mountainous terrain, a place that resembled a desolate graveyard. Not far off stood the remnants of a temple, half-buried and destroyed.
The hatch hissed open, and a ramp extended to the ground. Seven figures emerged, six of them wrapped in heavy, protective spacesuits against the planet's poisonous air. But one man walked forward unshielded, breathing deeply as though the poisonous air were fresh mountain wind.
He looked ancient, a man whose frail body seemed to go against his age. His skin, ghostly white, was covered in the deep lines and spots of age, yet he walked tall, on the unforgiving landscape. White hair flowed down his back, nearly reaching his waist. Two great horns came from his forehead, his eyes were glowing large yellow iris with no pupils. His face bore strange black markings trailing down from the outer corners of his eyes.
Despite his frail frame, his presence was commanding, almost regal. He wore only a simple, high-collared white kimono robe to cover his frail body, and walked with his bare feet on the poisonous ground. His name was Inari Ōtsutsuki, he once sought to conquer heaven itself.
Inhaling the heavy, toxic air, Inari released a long, slow breath, his gaze fell over the broken land. "Ahhh… It has been so long," he murmured, a shadow of sadness passing over his face. "To return to this place, what a tragic sight it is! My people…my home."
Behind him, his six companions exchanged glances, unable to hear him, due to their protective suit. Inari soon began to walk toward the crumbling remains of the temple, his gaze fixed, and they followed close behind.
As they reached the fallen temple, Inari raised a frail-looking hand, and a red eye with multiple rings opened on his forehead, his Rinnegan blazing with power, his Chakra. The surrounding area trembled, the broken stone scattering under a sudden invisible force that fell on the ground, forming a massive crater. His chakra pulsed as he raised his fist, and a colossal stone door emerged from the crater, rising to float before them. Without hesitation, Inari stepped forward and pressed his palm against the door, black markings spread across it. The marks flared red before fading away.
A powerful gust of wind brushed over the group, and the door swung open, revealing a portal. "Enter, my puppets. The portal will close soon," Inari said, his voice echoing in their minds. One by one, they stepped through, to a place that looked like an ancient temple. The portal closed behind them.
Inside, Inari's voice filled their minds once again. "You may remove your suits, the air here is pure and breathable for all beings in the universe."
His six followers obeyed, pulling off their helmets. Underneath, they wore the typical armor of the Frieza Force. As they adjusted to the fresh air, a flicker of awe crossed their faces.
Raisin looked around, awe and disbelief in his eyes. "Where does this fresh air even come from? And what is this place… it doesn't seem real," he murmured, glancing over the towering stone pillars with strange carvings.
"How does this place even work? I mean, this planet's been abandoned for who knows how long. No power source could run for this long, let alone keep these air filters working… right?" Lakasei asked, he was on the same boat as his brother.
Raisin and Lakasei were twin brothers. They are both Beenz races from planet Been. Both of them had purple skins and big round heads with small spikes coming out the top of their heads and were the smallest members of the group, only standing at a height of 3'8".
Cacao, a cyborg, scanned the area carefully. "Negative. I can't detect any devices or power sources here. My sensors showed nothing." He frowned. His appearance is marked by cyborg components adorned over his skin. His armor was built by Frieza Force's engineers and has a large array of weapons built into it.
"Oh, you idiots!" scoffed Turles, arms crossed as he glanced back at them. "We just went through some fucking portal, why worry about power sources?" His dark eyes scanned the temple walls, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his mind. Turles was a low-class Saiyan, he looked oddly similar to Bardock, Naruto's father, down to his height and powerful build, only his skin was darker in tone. Diaz and Amond, two more low-class Saiyan fighters, stood beside him.
Diaz gave a slight nod. "But they have a point. Is anything on this planet still working? Raise's questions."
The Ōtsutsuki chuckled, amused by their cluelessness. "Ah, yes. You Saiyans are right, this place does not run on anything as… finite as the power sources you use. It's kept alive by chakra."
All three Saiyans blinked in confusion. "Chakra?" Turles questioned, he had never heard of such a power source before.
The old man smiled with pride in his eyes, "Yes. Chakra is the cosmic power that fuels the universe itself. Unlike ki, chakra is of a different power. It's ancient, and has existed since the creation itself." He explained as went deeper into the temple.
"Cosmic… power? Like cosmic background radiation?" Turles muttered, trying to fit the concept into his limited understanding. His gaze traced the dark symbols around them, symbols that seemed alive.
The Ōtsutsuki stopped, his gaze sharp. "I wouldn't expect you to know of it. In my time, life in the universe was young. We the Ōtsutsuki, the Namekians, and the Satyrans were among the only ones to wield chakra, wield its full power. I wiped the Satyrans from existence, they were a threat to my pursuit of power. The Namekians hid before I could reach them." His voice was as cold, as a dark aura surrounded him, chuckling, remembering those sweet memories.
"Enough of the past." His eyes glinted. "Now, come closer, stand near me." His puppets did what were told.
Soon they were all surrounded by markings on the ground. The reality began to warp around them, colors blurring. "What the…?! What's happening?" Raisin's voice shook in fear. Even Turles seemed on edge, his arms up, preparing for a fight.
"Nothing to fear. We're merely moving to another dimension," the old man smirked, watching them with amusement as they struggled with their balance.
"Another… dimension?" Turles's voice cracked in shock.
"Yes," the Ōtsutsuki laughed. "Chakra makes anything possible… you don't need to worry, minds as inferior as yours are too small to comprehend its true power!" he mocked, as reality shifted once more, drawing them deeper into an unknown realm. "We must pass through several dimensions before we reach the final temple. Our destination awaits."
"What exactly are we looking for?" Turles demanded, his voice hard as he tried to regain his composure.
The elder's gaze darkened, his voice a murmur. "I am looking for answers, something I am sure left behind by him."
"Him?" Turles prompted, but the Ōtsutsuki remained silent.
Soon reality came back to normal, before them was an icy wasteland stretched before them, where mountains of ice reached up to the sky. Turles looked around in confusion, unable to shake the unnatural feel of the place.
'What is this place?' Turles thought. 'Nothing but ice, yet I feel no cold…' He cast a wary glance at the elder leading them. 'I just hope this is worth it.'
He was promised power, power to achieve his goal. The power he needed to aid his prince. It's the only reason he and his team were following this frail old being. Yet he couldn't help but wonder why he was trusting this unknown person's words, what made him so trustworthy. He looked weak, yet here he was following his every command, getting mocked as if he and his team were nothing but inferior creatures to this pale being. A sharp pain ran through his mind, and in an instant, all doubt faded away from his mind.
Unbeknownst to Turles and his team, they had been under illusion since months ago, puppets bound to Inari's will. The illusion fed their mind with the promise of power, controlling their mind and soul, yet gave them little independence, so that they could think for themselves.
Inari smirked, he would dispose of them the moment they served his purpose. How had it all come to this?
…
Two Months Ago
Turles and his team had just wrapped up their mission and were heading to a planet called Eris. The mission itself hadn't been much of a challenge, their orders were to conquer a planet populated by a frail, weak species. Once they finished, they were supposed to report straight back to the main HQ, but Turles had other plans. Instead, he decided he'd make a stop to meet with the prince.
He hadn't shared his intention with some members of the squad, who were the Beenz duo, Cacao, and the pilot. The truth was, that Turles and his fellow Saiyans, Diaz and Almond, didn't trust them. Not one bit. Frieza had placed those lackeys there to keep an eye on them, a clear reminder that Frieza didn't trust any Saiyan…why would he?
After all, they weren't supposed to even exist. They were supposed to have died with Planet Vegeta, like the rest of their race. But here they were, survivors, and only because they had been on a mission when Frieza annihilated their planet.
The truth was clear, Frieza had called every Saiyan back to Planet Vegeta, and their prince sensed something was wrong. He trusted his instincts and chose not to return.
It wasn't long before they received the news. A message from the Frieza Force, announcing that Planet Vegeta had been struck by an asteroid, wiping out their entire race in an instant along with the planet itself. That was the moment the prince knew without a doubt that Frieza had destroyed their planet. The so-called "asteroid" was a lie.
Any Saiyan with half the brain of a monkey would have known if an asteroid was coming, they had the technology to detect the upcoming disaster. It was Frieza's doing, every one of them understood that. Well, everyone except Raditz, who was for some reason way too loyal to the frost demon.
From that day on, they had one purpose, revenge. The remaining Saiyans trained tirelessly, growing stronger in secret. They even learned how to hide their power level and at the same time sense others' power levels, making it impossible for Frieza's scouters to measure their increased power. Their prince's strength was growing with each day, already closer to Frieza's level. It was only a matter of time.
As the spaceship drifted into space, suddenly the ship's alarms went off. A sudden jolt sent a tremor through the entire ship, as it stopped, floating on the space. Everyone ran to the cockpit. The dark-skinned Saiyan Turles, Diaz, and Almond's brow furrowed as they demanded, "What happened? Are we under attack?"
The pilot's fingers raced over the controls, his voice tight with frustration. "I don't know, sir. The ship started acting strange, and then two of our main engines got knocked out, maybe by a powerful EMP. But… our Scouters are still online, which shouldn't be the case if it was an EMP."
Diaz's eyes narrowed as the ship shook again, throwing them balance. "Check the radar! See if any ship is out there gunning for us!"
"No enemy ships on radar," the pilot reported, fingers hovering helplessly over darkened controls. Panic crept into his voice as the lights flickered out. "The main power's down… switching to backup."
Silence. The backup power didn't kick in.
Diaz's anger flared, his fists tightening as his large figure overshadowed the pilot. "Well? Turn on the damn backup power! We'll freeze to death out here if you don't!" Already, the temperature had started to plummet, and their breath was beginning to fog in the thin air.
"I'm trying, Diaz!" the pilot snapped. "Whatever hit us must have damaged the backup, too."
Amond's hand on Diaz's shoulder was firm, keeping him in check. "Calm down. We're not solving anything by tearing each other apart," he warned, his gaze stern. Turles backed him up, his voice low but commanding. "He's right. Don't let anger make things worse, Diaz."
Diaz clenched his jaw. Struggling to suppress his rage against the useless pilot, but he nodded.
Cacao, the cyborg, surveyed the cockpit with a calm demeanor. "I'll go activate the repair bots, and see if they can patch the damage." His armored cyborg body already connected itself with the bots, commanding them "Meanwhile, the rest of you should remain here and watch for any potential threats."
Turles turned to Diaz and Amond. "You two, keep an eye out. Use your Scouters. If there's something out there, I want to know about it." He looked to the Beenz brothers. "You two, check around the cockpit. Look for anything that might have gone unnoticed."
Just then, the pilot glanced over his shoulder, a little hesitant to ask "Sir, I could use a hand with something." He gestured to a small compartment at the back. "There's an emergency battery stashed away. If you can get it hooked up, we'll have some power to the cockpit and get the temperature under control, temporarily."
Turles didn't hesitate. He retrieved the battery and connected it to the cockpit. The lights flickered back on, the dim warmth slowly filling the cockpit. The pilot exhaled in relief. "This'll give us about thirty minutes," he said, tapping his scouter he asked, "Cacao, are you there?"
"Affirmative, Loud, and clear," Cacao replied, his oddly calm mechanical tone cutting through the comm link.
"We have power to the cockpit," the pilot reported. "System check shows that three out of four reactors are offline. They're not damaged, just… unresponsive. We need you to check them out in case there's a malfunction."
"Understood. Re-routing the repair bots to the reactor compartments," Cacao replied.
Raisin emerged from beneath the console, wiping his hands. "Nothing on this side, Turles," he muttered in frustration "What about you, Lakasei?"
Lakasei's voice came from beneath the cockpit. "Found something." He wriggled out, holding up a small, burned device. "The AI chip controller was fried," he said, tossing it to the pilot, who examined it.
"It looks like it overheated," the pilot said grimly, turning it over in his hands.
Lakasei scowled. "The cooling system that was supposed to regulate it probably got damaged too."
Turles's face darkened in realization. "The ship's AI controls every automated system. That means we've been hurtling through space with a compromised AI, no shields, no real-time diagnostics." His voice grew louder. "We've been completely exposed to every radiation out here"
Raisin's mouth fell "If the reactor's damaged, that's it. No way we'll survive."
"We still have the pods, right?" Raisin's brother, Lakasei, suggested, "We can bail out and use the emergency pod to get to the nearest station."
Turles shook his head. "The pods were built for short-range travel only. They wouldn't last long enough to get us back to the nearest station, the best they can do is to take us to the nearest planet. We will be stranded there. Our only hope is to stabilize the reactors."
"Then we better hope Cacao can get it fixed," Amond muttered.
As the team tried to figure out their potential escape plan, Lakasei drifted toward the cockpit, his gaze on space outside the ship's windscreen. Something faintly glowed in the distance. At first, he dismissed it as a lone star, but then he remembered that this region was devoid of any stars. Out of Curiosity, he tapped his scouter, watching in surprise as it detected a life signature.
"Uh... guys? The scouter's picking up something alive… out there," Lakasei pointed to the mysterious glow, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The glowing object suddenly released a powerful gamma shockwave, which rocked the entire ship, suddenly the controls spark to life just as the lights flickered on again.
"Thank the lord, the power's back," the pilot exhaled. "Cacao must've fixed the issue. Zooming in now." The screen brought the glowing object into focus, and everyone went silent, staring at what seemed like a tear in space itself, a crack expanding, inch by inch.
"Is that… a wormhole?" Turles asked, brow furrowed. "I've never seen one look like this. Are we really picking up life from there?"
Cacao rushed into the cockpit, and after a quick explanation, Cacao's eyes narrowed as he pieced together what had happened. "That thing… it's radiating intense gamma energy. It must've blasted the ship when our shields failed, shutting down everything." He tapped his scanner, though the data told him nothing.
Just then, the crack stretched wider, and another wave of gamma radiation pulsed, they were kept safe by the reactivated shields. Pulse after pulse of the Gamma wave hit the ship. Then suddenly, in an instant, the tear in space vanished, leaving the crew staring into the empty dark void once more.
"What… what just happened?" Turles asked.
"The gamma waves… they've stopped," Cacao replied.
Diaz tapped his scouter again, frowning. "I'm still reading a life signature, power level… zero. It's coming from… there." The pilot zoomed in again, and this time, they spotted a shape drifting in the void. Closer inspection revealed it was a body, cloaked in tattered white garments, floating in space.
"That thing," Turles muttered, "Whatever it is, it caused that anomaly somehow. And it's alive." Then he thought for a moment "Get the tractor beam ready, bring that thing on board."
"But is it safe to bring it aboard?" Amond questioned, his instinct felt uneasy for some reason.
Turles rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze never leaving the screen. "I have a hunch about this… Whatever it is, it's worth the risk. If it's giving off a life signature, it might even be valuable, Lord Frieza might reward us if this thing proves useful."
But the truth was he just wanted Frieza off of his back, if this thing turns interesting, it might keep that frost demon occupied, for a while.
The others agreed, and the pilot activated the tractor beam, guiding the frail body carefully into the ship. After that they brought it to the ship's medical bay. Up close, they saw it was a humanoid creature, pale, old, and heavily wounded, though unlike any race they had seen before. They secured it in a healing tank, the medical systems flickering as they scanned the strange body.
"I can't feel any Ki from it," Turles slowly murmured, trying to detect any hint of power from the being. "Diaz? Amond?"
Both shook their heads, their scouters showing nothing nor they could sense its power. Cacao tapped the console, running a blood analysis. "No match to any known species. It has regenerative abilities and somehow can survive the vacuum of space. That's all I've got."
The pilot looked up and asked. "So what now?"
"We're heading to the nearest station to get the ship checked," Turles decided. "If this thing is worth anything, we're taking it to Lord Frieza. Maybe we'll get more than a pat on the back for finding it."
The pilot nodded, pulling up the coordinator "The nearest station is about twenty-three days from here. Once we've repaired the ship, we'll decide whether to continue with the plan and meet Vegeta or head straight to HQ."
With that, Turles left the med bay, and one by one, the crew returned to their quarters. In the cockpit, the pilot prepared for their new course, and the engines came to life as the ship began to move towards its new destination.
But in the medical bay, in the dim green glow of the healing tank, the strange being's eyes flickered open, just for a moment, before they closed again, falling back to their slumber.
…
It didn't take long for Turles and his team to arrive at the nearest Frieza force station. In fact, they reached the station earlier than anticipated. This was one of the countless stations scattered across many galaxies under Frieza's control, only reserved for members of Frieza's forces. From ship repairs to medical aid, all necessary supplies for the empire's soldiers were available here.
The rest of Turles' team gathered in the canteen area. Turles, however, excused himself, stepping away with a small nod at Diaz and Amond, who gave knowing glances. They understood why he'd slipped away, there were things he couldn't afford to discuss over here.
Once Turles was far enough from the canteen, Turles glanced around making sure no one was three. He pulled out a small communication device. The Scouters given to Frieza's soldiers were constantly monitored, transmitting everything back to Frieza's network. It can not be used for direct communication with someone who was very far away. But this device was discreet and had greater range.
Clearing his throat, he spoke, "My prince, can you hear me?"
The voice that responded was sharp, almost impatient. "Turles, where the hell are you? You were supposed to report two days ago."
"My apologies, my prince. We were on our way, but our ship was sabotaged," Turles replied with restrained calm. "The AI and cooling systems were damaged. We barely made our way to the nearest station."
"Sabotaged?" The prince's tone shifted, colder and more intense. "Weren't the maintenance checks done before you set out?"
"Yes, and that's why I suspect someone intentionally did it. It wouldn't be the first time someone's tampered with our ship… but this time, it was more severe. I think Frieza intended for us not to make it back." Turles didn't hesitate to voice out his suspicion. "My prince, he wants us gone, he is getting suspicious of us."
A silence stretched over the line before the prince responded, his tone calm yet angry. "It's not just you. Lately, Frieza has been sending us on missions with no end in sight and forcing me to take more of his 'best' men into our ranks. I sense he's planning something. We may need to move our plans forward sooner than we thought."
"But… is that wise, my prince?" Turles asked cautiously. "With all due respect, we're still not powerful enough to face Frieza's elite fighters, and turning into Oozaru has too many downsides. We'd only be more vulnerable. And with King Cold and Cooler…" He trailed off. "We need time."
The prince paused, his voice thoughtful "You're right, Turles. Taking out Frieza is one thing, but his entire army? It's suicide right now, not to mention his family's presence in the sector. But I've heard rumors... Frieza's sudden interest in a planet called Namek. You've heard this too, haven't you?"
"Yes, my lord. Word has spread through the ranks that Frieza's desperately hunting for planet Namek's location. He's raided numerous Galactic Patrol stations, hoping to find any information. So far, nothing."
A low, dark chuckle came from the line. "Well, they haven't succeeded, but I have. On my last mission, my team encountered a high-ranking Galactic Patrol officer. Knowing Frieza's interest, I obtained Namek's coordinates, home of Namekians." Turles could already guess the officer didn't give the coordinates willingly.
"You have the coordinates?"
"Indeed. But for now, it remains our secret. Frieza will be sending me on yet another mission soon, and once I'm done, I'll personally visit Namek. I want to see firsthand what's drawn Frieza's attention. If there's something of value, it might be the edge we need."
"I understand, my prince. I will await your orders." The dark-skinned Saiyen was about to end the line, but a thought occurred in his mind "My prince, I might have some clue about what that Frieza is looking for. I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard rumors, Frieza is looking for wish-granting orbs. Maybe this is why he is seeking Namek."
There was a pause from the other side of the line "I see, even if that is true, I can't make my move right now. Frieza's men are watching over my every move,"
"That's unfortunate, my prince."
"Keep this between us, Turles. We're closer than Frieza realizes, and we'll need every advantage if we're to topple him. Until then, lay low. Let Frieza think we're just soldiers following orders."
With a respectful nod, even though his prince couldn't see it, "Yes, my prince. Long live the Prince, Long live the Saiyans." The line went silent.
…
The pilot was returning to his ship to check if the mechanics had found any more issues, but as he approached, he was met with nothing but silence. He glanced around, puzzled. "Where did everyone go? The place was crawling with mechanics just a while ago... maybe they're inside." For some reason, he felt uneasy, like something was off as he cautiously stepped into the ship.
Inside, his eyes went wide in fear. Across the ship's floor lay a corpse or what was left of it. It looked as if every last drop of life had been drained, leaving only an empty husk in its place. He knelt trembling, as he checked the body. "What happened to him?" he whispered. Without hesitation, he drew his ray gun, holding it tightly, remembering his training as he went farther inside.
As he walked on, he was met with multiple coups, just like that one, they all felt like empty husks. "Dear god… they were all running from something." He tapped his scouter. "Come on, pick up!" But there was no reply. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath. It was time to choose, be brave and stupid, or be wise and retreat. Unfortunately, he chose the first. Following the corps trail, he went towards the med bay.
Half an hour Earlier
Within the confines of the healing tank, the pale old man's eyes flickered open. Yellow, pupil-less eyes looked around, clouded by the thick greenish liquid. "Where am I?" he murmured, his voice a raspy whisper in the tank. "Could I have… broken free?" His heart raced, hoping it wasn't just another dream. "Is this freedom… or yet another hallucination?"
His body stirred, slowly at first but it quickly turned into a struggle inside the tank. Each body movement slowed down by the dense green fluid, but slowly, painfully, he began thrashing against the tank's glass confines. With a final push, he broke free, painfully collapsing onto the floor, limbs scattered, and gasping for air.
Though his body was weak, he forced himself to stand. At that moment, a single eye opened upon his forehead, red eyes with several rings 'Rinnegan'. He threw his head back, a loud victorious laugh erupting from his lips, filling the empty room with chilling laughter.
"Hehehe… HAHAHA… I'M FREE! I TOLD YOU, KAGUYA… I TOLD YOU, NARUTO… NO ONE CAN KEEP INARI ŌTSUTSUKI SEALED FOREVER!" His laughter bounced through the metal walls.
Inari glanced around the infirmary, noticing strange alien technology scattered around. "Tenseigan!" he commanded, attempting to channel his chakra… but nothing happened. He gritted his teeth, a flicker of anger blazing through his yellow pupilless eyes. "Damn it, my Tenseigan is gone, along with my immortality… I need power, divine Chakra... at least ten divine fruits to reclaim what is lost." His Byakugan activated, granting him a 36o degree X-ray view of the ship's metal corridors and rooms.
"Hmm... thirty creatures on this vessel… and one approaching me now." His gaze locked onto the figure drawing closer.
As the mechanic entered, a glowing chain sprang from Inari's hand, bounded the mechanic. The terrified alien man struggled, but when he faced the ghostly figure before him, his mind was filled with fear. "W-what?! Hey, let me go, you freak!"
The language was foreign to Inari, a gibberish he didn't bother to decipher. He gave a sinister smile. "Your soul will reveal all I need to know." The mechanic's eyes widened, he cried for his life as Inari put his hand over the poor man's head.
Chakra pulsed from his rinnegan eye, the mechanic's body sagged, his life force sucked dry. Soon Inari was holding a white glowing orb, it was the mechanic's soul, Inari brought it to his mouth and devoured it, like it was a juicy fruit with a satisfied grin.
The alien man's memories came rushing to him like a river, each image, each word, each thought flowed itself in Inari's mind. His face twisted with pleasure as he absorbed the knowledge. "Ah… there's nothing like consuming a soul."
It took a while for him to absorb and digest all the new knowledge, "I see, from what I have gathered, it seems so I'm near my home galaxy… far away from where I was sealed away. How much time has passed I can roughly guess. Life has flourished in my absence, species that I have never heard or seen are thriving." The ancient Ōtsutsuki anger flared, his voice dropping to a bitter growl. "Kaguya… and your mongrel… Naruto… just wait. When I regain my full strength, I will end you both."
He paused, his mind swirling with half-formed suspicions. "Wait! I didn't just break free on my own. No, the seal was broken…" He thought this over, frowning. "Which could only mean she's already dead. And that mongrel, Naruto… But I still don't understand. Could they really be…?" Shaking his head, he brushed off the thought.
"Whatever the reason, I'll find out. But first, I have to get back to my home planet. She may have left nothing behind but ashes." His jaw tightened as the memories of her betrayal seared through him, the humiliation, the defeat he faced on their hands. He knew his people had only a handful of capable warriors, his children, and a few chosen guards. No one could stand against Kaguya's power combined with Naruto's when he couldn't. He would need to see for himself if anything remained.
The hunger fell upon him. Consuming the mechanic's life energy and memories had only made him crave more. Extending his arms, he released a mass of Chakra chains from his hands, snaking them through the ship's walls. With his all-seeing eye, he guided each chain to pierce through every life on board, absorbing every soul on the ship.
…
The pilot reached the med deck and froze in shock. The stranger they had rescued was out of the healing tank, standing over a fresh corpse. "D-D-Did you do this?" He stuttered, raising his gun toward the pale figure.
Inari's eyes flicked to the pilot, he flashed a predatory grin. "Oh, my apologies. I didn't notice you there, I was too busy… savoring the souls I just devoured. Heh." His grin stretched wider, and his voice had shifted to match the pilot's language, thanks to the memories he had devoured.
The pilot's hands trembled as he kept the gun aimed. "Stay where you are… or I'll shoot."
Inari's smile never went away, he linked amusedly "Oh? You think that little toy will hurt me?"
The pilot fired without hesitation, the laser made a hole through Inari's shoulder. Inari winced in pain, but his shoulder immediately began to heal, the wound sealing itself in moments.
"I warned you," the pilot barked, readying another shot. But before he could pull the trigger, Inari blurred from his sight, Inari grabbed the pilot by the throat, lifting him effortlessly to eye level. As he drained the pilot's soul, he tossed the lifeless body aside like trash, smirking.
"Ah, so this was the pilot of the ship, and he and his team were the ones who saved me." Inari took a moment to think, realizing he couldn't reach his planet on his own with his current power. The remaining crew would have to become his puppets, his expendable protection.
"I haven't sensed anyone here with knowledge of the Ōtsutsuki, or even of Kaguya and Naruto. But if some of my people survived… perhaps they are still waiting for me." He noticed the ship's hatch opening as a new presence entered.
…
Six new figures had just entered the ship. The newcomers moved with purpose, and with his Byakugan, Inari quickly assessed their power. "Impressive… especially the three with tails. Saiyans, they're called. There were no such creatures when I was last free. Just how many years have truly passed?" He pushed aside the question, the answers could wait.
Inari looked down at his naked form and, with a pulse of his chakra, white flames enveloped him, Turning solid, into a white robe. Satisfied, he readied himself for their arrival. He could sense the Saiyans' power, they were strong and he couldn't underestimate them, at least not now. His only chance was to put them all into an illusion at once. The cost would be high, draining a dangerous amount of chakra, but it would be worth it.
As they finally entered, he faced them "Gentlemen," he said, his Rinnegan eye glowed red, "I need you to look into my eye… Kotoamatsukami."
Inari felt the immense drain of his chakra as he cast the powerful technique, bending their wills to his own. For a moment, the Saiyans hesitated, the Rinnegan pattern glowed over their own eyes. Inari grinned darkly, satisfied, as he sensed the success of his plan.
Kotoamatsukami was one of his favorite techniques. It bends the victim's mind and will to his own without them noticing any difference, giving them the illusion of freedom. And keeping them at bay with false hope.
The Saiyans stood before him now, blank-faced, moments later they returned to normal. They looked at the pale man and awaited his command. Inari let out a low chuckle. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"
…
Present Time
"We're here," Inari said, as he led the group forward. After crossing through five different pocket dimensions, each stranger than the last, they finally stood before a towering temple seemingly carved from pure blue crystal. The structure radiated a cold, otherworldly glow that made Turles and the others uneasy as they followed him inside.
The temple's interior was massive, far larger than the outside had hinted. Seals covered the walls and floor, pulsating with a faint energy. Moving deeper, they reached a large chamber at the back, where a statue of a tree, crafted from a rare black crystal, stood tall.
"A… tree? Who builds a statue of a tree?" Turles asked, puzzled.
Inari chuckled, "Not just any tree. This is a statue of the Divine Tree, the Ōtsutsuki's greatest achievement."
"What's so special about it?" Turles pressed. "I mean no disrespect, but could you explain why we came all this way?"
Inari gave a casual shrug, though his eyes were mocking. "Well, explaining the full extent of my race's accomplishments and the Divine Tree's significance would take time, and I doubt your limited minds could grasp it all," he sneered, mocking them. They didn't flinch, the illusion holding their mind firmly.
"Fine. I'll give you the short version," he continued, with a casual wave. "To attain godhood, sacrifices must be made. The Divine Tree was our answer to that. We Ōtsutsuki devised a way to harness cosmic power by merging the bodies and souls of thousands of our kind into a single seed. Planting this seed on a habitable planet rich with life would cause it to grow into a towering tree that would stretch into the heavens. Over the next ten thousand years, it would harvest the planet's natural energy and the cosmic power around it, eventually producing fruit, a divine fruit that grants god-like power."
Diaz asked with hesitation, "But if you Ōtsutsuki were so god-like… what happened to you? Why did you vanish?"
The question hit a nerve. Inari's expression darkened, shadows covered his face. "It was because of a traitor, my own daughter, Kaguya," he admitted, his voice dropping to a bitter tone. "She was born weak, destined to be sacrificed, to become part of the seed. But instead of embracing her purpose, she betrayed me… stabbed my back." His words dripped with a mix of fury and sorrow as he remembered how Kaguya betrayed him, how she humiliated him.
Though he knew his puppets were under his complete control. Speaking his heart out loud brought a strange sense of relief.
Inari took a few careful steps toward the crystal tree statue. He reached out and pressed his hand against the cold surface, channeling his chakra into it. Slowly, a flickering hologram appeared above the statue. The hologram showed a figure of a pale man with a large horn on his forehead, a familiar face to Inari.
"My lord," the hologram said in a steady tone. "It is good to know that you are still alive and well."
Inari's eyes widened, "Tenjin, my most loyal man. Even in death, you've continued to serve me," he murmured. Despite knowing this was only a recording, he couldn't stop himself from speaking as if his old friend were truly there.
"If you are seeing this," Tenjin began, "then it's too late. I regret to inform you that the royal family, I, and every Ōtsutsuki are no more." He paused, glancing over his shoulder as if already sensing the coming threat. "Two unknown beings...they've hunted all royal members down, wiped out our warriors."
Inari clenched his fists, his heart bitter with rage. "Unknown beings," he muttered, almost to himself. Of course, he thought, my traitorous daughter and that wretched dog must have killed my family and all those loyal to me, slaughtering my people without remorse.
Tenjin's hologram flickered as he continued. "My lord, we tried to fight, but even our mightiest warriors fell effortlessly. They declared you are no more, but I know better. I know you're still out there…somewhere."
"Tenjin," Inari murmured, "You were like a brother to me. No one understood me like you did. Forgive me…for not being there to protect you all." His voice showed a rare hint of sadness.
The hologram continued. "My lord, do not mourn for us. I have left you a final gift…" Tenjin's words gave Inari hope, and finally, something his hungry heart really wanted to hear. "I have succeeded with my project. I sacrificed every last of our people to create the ultimate seed for the divine tree."
Inari's heart raced faster, eyes filled with unrestrained excitement. The lives of his kin meant little to him, he was only sad because he couldn't sacrifice them himself. Yet a pang of regret echoed for his sons and daughters who might have served him in greater ways.
"My lord, this seed," Tenjin explained, his voice filled with pride "Will offer you power worth ten divine fruits you have consumed before. And more, it will leave seeds for more divine trees to grow. With each fruit, a new seed will be born, needing no further sacrifice of the Ōtsutsuki. It is my final creation…my last offering to you. This divine tree will make you stronger than you ever were, If consumed enough you will surpass the power of the destroyer himself"
As he spoke, an explosion rocked the scene on the hologram, and Tenjin dropped to his knees. "They're already here," he gasped, struggling to hold his composure. "My lord, I have to go, but remember, the seed is inside the statue, and only your chakra can unlock it…" With that, the image flickered and vanished, leaving only silence.
Inari stared at the place where Tenjin's image had been, his hands still resting against the statue. "Tenjin… even in death, you were faithful." Inari clenched his jaw, as he poured more chakra into the statue. "Thank you, Tenjin," he whispered, "for giving me a chance to fulfill the destiny of the Ōtsutsuki… my destiny"
The statue responded to his Chakra again, a seal glowed at the statue's body, a seal, only he could break. He smirked, as the statue shattered into shards, revealing a large, red, tomoe-shaped seed among the fragments.
The seed hovered over to his hand, Inari turned to his puppets behind him, his eyes filled with dark amusement. "I have what I came for. To all those who sacrificed themselves for the greater good... of me and only me… you've served your purpose." He chuckled, and soon started to laugh, his sinister laughter filled the silent temple.
As he held the seed, pieces of the puzzle began to settle in his mind, and his smirk widened. After his wretched, traitorous daughter and that mongrel Naruto sealed him away, they must have turned their attention to the rest of the Ōtsutsuki, destroying his clan. Although he knew his sons and daughters were powerful but not enough to pose a threat to them. Both Naruto and Kaguya were formidable, but they were not immortal.
He could only guess that both of them perished by the hand of time. The seal that bound him had weakened in their absence, its power slowly decaying with the over millennia. By the time it finally crumbled, the universe had changed beyond recognition, with species he had never seen now venturing across the universe, making a mockery of the Ōtsutsuki's once-dominant name.
As he gazed down at the seed in his hand, a dark aura released from his body. The old Ōtsutsuki felt no need to be cautious now. They were dead. He had outlasted them all. And the planet he once sought to consume… he hoped if it still remained, he would see it turn to dust by his hand.
"Come," he called to the six mind-controlled Frieza force's soldiers at his side, his voice dripping with malice. "We're going back to the place where it all began."
Finished