Hinata of the White Lotus
Revelation
Tayuya stepped carefully along the ruined street, her sandals sloshing in the ankle-deep water that refused to fully drain. She surveyed the destruction with a mix of awe and frustration, her sharp eyes darting from the scorched walls to the warped foundations of the buildings. The streets of Higaoka City were in ruins, and the air still carried the faint tang of burned wood and ozone. The entire area felt like it had been torn apart by a hurricane rather than a battle between shinobi.
She and Kimimaro had been sent here by Orochimaru, chasing whispers of a Hyūga girl who had become a growing thorn in their master's side. For Kimimaro, his resolve burned brighter than ever. His loyalty to Orochimaru was absolute, and despite his failing health, he was determined to find this Hyūga girl, believing her to be a worthy opponent for his final battle. Tayuya glanced sideways at him, her thoughts flickering between irritation and reluctant respect. Kimimaro had dragged himself all the way out here, even though it was clear to anyone with eyes that he was barely holding himself together.
"As expected of the one who foiled Lord Orochimaru's plans," Kimimaro said quietly, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of admiration. His pale eyes swept across the destruction as if trying to piece together the battle that had taken place. "She will be a worthy final opponent."
Tayuya rolled her eyes but kept quiet. Kimimaro's single-minded devotion to his mission left little room for argument. "Worthy opponent" or not, this girl had clearly left behind a hell of a mess, Tayuya's sharp tongue momentarily silenced by the sheer scope of the devastation.
Tall trees loomed in unnatural clusters, their roots tearing through the stone streets like claws. They formed an impenetrable barrier around the battlefield, which had forced the pair to jump onto rooftops just to access this area. The ground itself was uneven, broken apart as if a massive force had erupted from beneath it. Deep scorch marks marred the walls of buildings, and what little water remained was littered with debris—wooden beams, shattered tiles, and what looked like the remains of a weapon or two.
"Damn…" Tayuya muttered, crouching near a particularly deep gouge in the wall. She ran her fingers over the scorched surface, frowning. "This wasn't just some run-of-the-mill shinobi fight. What the hell did they do here?"
Kimimaro didn't respond. He was focused, moving slowly through the shallow water as he searched for any clue that might lead them to their target. His expression remained calm, but Tayuya could see the tension in his movements—the way his hands clenched into fists every so often, as if he were willing his failing body to keep going.
"Hey," she called out after a moment, her voice sharper now. "What exactly are we looking for? There's nothing left here but rubble."
Kimimaro didn't answer immediately. He crouched near a patch of disturbed earth, brushing his fingers over a faint indentation that might have been a footprint. "There will be something," he said simply. "If she was here, she would have left behind a sign."
Tayuya huffed, crossing her arms. She was about to argue when something in the water caught her eye—a faint glint beneath the surface. "Wait a second," she muttered, bending down to retrieve the object. Her fingers closed around it, and she lifted it out of the murky water.
It was a ring, simple in design but oddly striking. The band was yellow, and the character for South was engraved on its surface. Tayuya turned it over in her hand, frowning as an unsettling feeling crept over her. The ring felt significant, though she couldn't explain why.
"Hey, I think I've got something!" she called out, holding the ring up for Kimimaro to see.
Kimimaro straightened and approached her, his gaze fixed on the small object. "What is it?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
Tayuya shrugged, shaking her head. "Hell if I know. It was just sitting in the water."
Kimimaro stared at the ring for a long moment, his pale eyes narrowing. "It doesn't belong here," he said finally. "This… might be connected to her."
Tayuya frowned, turning the ring over in her hand again. It looked ordinary enough, but she couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than it seemed. "Think it's worth anything?" she asked, half-joking.
"Keep it," Kimimaro said, already turning away to continue his search. "If it's tied to her, it may prove useful."
Tayuya slipped the ring into her pocket, her unease lingering. She didn't know what the ring's significance was—or if it even had any—but something about it made her skin crawl. Whatever had happened here, it was bigger than she'd expected.
The sudden sound of clapping broke the silence. Her fingers clenched tight around her flute, her eyes snapping up to see a man in an orange mask sitting casually in one of the gaping holes in a nearby building. His legs swung like a child on a swing, and he clapped enthusiastically, his voice ringing out like a delighted toddler.
"Oh! You found it! Yay!" he cheered, his tone so ridiculously cheerful it immediately set Tayuya's nerves on fire.
"What the hell!?" she barked, spinning toward him. Kimimaro's reaction was immediate and far more measured—he drew a bone blade from his shoulder, his expression as calm as ever. Tayuya, on the other hand, pointed her flute like it was a knife. "Who the fuck are you!?"
The masked man waved his hands frantically, as if warding off their hostility. "Ahhh! Please don't hurt me! I'm just a harmless little traveler!" His voice quivered dramatically, but the over-the-top act only made Tayuya's suspicion deepen.
He had appeared out of nowhere, perched so casually it was infuriating, and his body language didn't betray a single ounce of fear. That only put her more on guard. This guy was so confident in his strength that he didn't see the need to react to their weapons at all. Worse, it wasn't even clear how he'd managed to get there in the first place. One moment, the building had been empty. The next, he was just there.
"I'm not going to ask again…" Tayuya snarled.
"Who am I?" The masked man seemed to ponder the question for a moment before slapping his forehead with exaggerated flair. "Oh, silly me! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Tobi! Nice to meet you!"
"Like I give a shit about your name!" Tayuya snapped, her irritation bubbling over. "What do you want? And what the hell are you doing here!?"
Before he could respond, Kimimaro's quiet voice cut through her shouting. "Akatsuki."
The word made Tayuya freeze. She glanced over at Kimimaro, then back at the man in the orange mask. Sure enough, she noticed for the first time the black cloak adorned with red clouds. Her stomach dropped.
"Bingo!" Tobi said, his chipper tone unbothered by their reactions. "I mean, technically, I'm still a newbie, but that's not important. What is important," he continued, pointing at Tayuya, "is that pretty little ring you just picked up!"
Tayuya's fingers instinctively tightened around the ring in her pocket. "What the hell do you want with this thing?" she demanded, her voice filled with venom. "You think I'm just going to hand it over to you?"
"Pretty please?" Tobi tilted his head like a hopeful puppy. "It's very important to me! My senpai must have dropped it when he was dying—so careless of him, right? But if I have it, I can honor his memory by taking his place. It's like a promotion!" He gave them two thumbs up. "What do you say?"
"Go screw yourself," Tayuya spat. "Why the hell would we help you? Lord Orochimaru ditched your sorry excuse of an organization years ago."
Tobi placed a hand on his chin, humming thoughtfully. "Hmm, you know, that's a good point. Why would you help me? That is tricky…"
Tayuya blinked. For a moment, she thought he might actually give up. But then he snapped his fingers, his voice suddenly brimming with excitement. "Oh, I know! How about a trade?"
"What kind of trade?" Kimimaro asked, his voice even, but his grip on his bone blade tightened. He wasn't fooled by Tobi's antics.
Tobi leaned forward dramatically, his legs swinging even faster. "I hear you're looking for a certain Hyūga girl," he said, his tone sing-song but laced with something sharper. "Well, lucky for you, my team has the best tracker in the world. You give me the ring, and he'll lead you straight to her. Easy peasy!"
Tayuya scowled. "How do we know you're not just screwing with us?"
"Aw, come on," Tobi said, placing a hand over his chest as if offended. "Would I lie to you? We've only just met!"
Before Tayuya could spit out a retort, a new voice answered, its tone deep and unnervingly cheerful. "Tobi is a good boy."
Both Otonin spun around in an instant, weapons drawn, their movements sharp and practiced. The ground rippled unnaturally as a massive Venus flytrap emerged, its green, fleshy petals peeling apart to reveal a humanoid figure. Its face was bisected vertically—one half ghostly white, the other black as ink. The duality of its voice echoed, unnatural and grating.
"We are Zetsu," the creature introduced itself, the two halves speaking in eerie harmony. "The ground itself is part of us. So long as your target remains on the earth, they cannot hide from us."
Tayuya's grip on her flute tightened, her stomach twisting with revulsion. The thing's presence made her skin crawl, as though it exuded something vile and unnatural that lingered in the air.
Kimimaro's jaw clenched, and he shifted his gaze to Zetsu. For the first time, there was something like uncertainty in his stance, a flicker of internal conflict he couldn't quite hide. But when he turned back to Tayuya, that hesitation was gone. His expression was cold, absolute.
"Give them the ring." His voice was quiet but resolute, as if he were giving himself the order as much as her.
Tayuya snapped her head toward him, her disbelief hitting like a jolt of electricity. "What!?" she hissed, her tone teetering between shock and fury. "Are you serious right now?"
Kimimaro's pale eyes remained steady, but there was a shadow of hesitation in his expression—a rare crack in his otherwise impenetrable calm. For a brief moment, it seemed as though he might take back the command, the lines of his jaw tightening. But then his gaze sharpened, his resolve hardening like stone.
"Tayuya." His voice was low and unyielding, the weight of authority cutting through her anger.
Her mouth opened, ready to argue, but the sheer finality in his tone made her hesitate. She glared at him, her knuckles whitening around the ring in her hand. "Fuck," she growled under her breath, her voice laced with venom. Her eyes darted to Zetsu and then the masked man—Tobi, or whatever he called himself—both of whom stood unnervingly still, like predators waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Finally, with a snarl of frustration, she yanked the ring from her pocket and flicked it toward Tobi with as much force as she could muster. "Here! Take the damn thing."
Tobi caught it easily, his movements oddly fluid. He held it up to the hole in his mask, inspecting it with exaggerated enthusiasm, his childlike giggle completely at odds with the oppressive tension hanging in the air.
"Perfect!" he exclaimed. "You've made Tobi so happy!"
His voice suddenly shifted, dropping into a dark, bone-chilling tone. "One more thing."
Tayuya froze, her body instinctively stiffening. That voice didn't belong to the same man-child she'd been talking to moments ago. It was deeper, colder, and filled with unspoken authority.
"When you find the Hyūga girl," Tobi continued, his ominous tone cutting through the air like a blade, "She'll have some companions with her. Leave the blond one alive. Barely, if necessary. My associate will handle the rest."
The shift in atmosphere was palpable. Tayuya felt a shiver crawl up her spine, and she clutched her flute tightly, as though it might offer some kind of protection.
"And if we don't?" Kimimaro asked, his voice calm but edged with curiosity.
Tobi's demeanor snapped back to cheerful. "Oh, nothing, really! Just think of it as a favor between new friends!"
Kimimaro studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. The blond is yours. The girl is mine."
"Wonderful!" Tobi clapped his hands together, the sound sharp and jarring. "With that, I'll leave you to it. Bye-bye!"
Before anyone could respond, he vanished. One moment he was standing there, the next he was gone, leaving behind only a faint ripple in the air where he had been. The unnerving abruptness of his departure hung in the air, amplifying the unease left in his wake.
Tayuya stared at the spot where Tobi had been, her jaw tightening. "Creepy bastard," she muttered, her voice barely audible. She turned to Kimimaro, her frustration barely restrained. "You really think that lunatic isn't gonna screw us over?"
Kimimaro didn't answer immediately. His pale eyes lingered on the ripple, his expression unreadable. Finally, he turned away, his shoulders rigid but his voice calm. "The mission comes first," he said, the words more for himself than for her. "Stay focused."
Before Tayuya could argue, Zetsu's grotesque flytrap body began to close in on itself, its fleshy petals folding with an organic squelch. As the creature sank back into the earth, its dual voices echoed eerily, reverberating through the ground.
"Follow our lead."
The earth beneath their feet trembled faintly as the creature burrowed deeper, its presence a ghostly shadow just below the surface. The unnatural movement of the ground sent shivers up Tayuya's spine, her grip tightening on her flute.
Kimimaro stepped forward, his movements deliberate and precise. "Lead the way," he said, his voice steady, though there was a faint edge of tension to it.
The ground rippled again, guiding them with undulating movements as Zetsu's voice continued to echo. "Do not stray. The earth can be unforgiving."
Tayuya shot a glance at Kimimaro, her unease still evident. "This whole thing feels like a trap," she muttered, keeping her voice low.
Kimimaro didn't respond. He kept his gaze ahead, his posture unyielding as they began to follow the strange path Zetsu carved. Yet, even he couldn't suppress the faint wariness in his stride.
As they set off, Tayuya cast one last glance over her shoulder, her stomach twisted in knots. Whatever they had just gotten themselves into, it was far bigger—and far more dangerous—than she'd anticipated.
"Great," she muttered, clutching her flute like a lifeline. "Just my damn luck."
Hinata opened her eyes to the Eight Trigrams Dimension, the vast, infinite void stretching out before her. It wasn't darkness in the conventional sense—it was deeper, richer, like the endless night sky devoid of stars. The faint hum of power resonated through the expanse, a soundless rhythm that she felt in her very bones.
Beneath her feet, the massive celestial diagram of the Eight Trigrams shimmered, its intricate lines glowing with ethereal light. Each segment of the diagram pulsed faintly, its energy rippling outward like the surface of a pond disturbed by a single drop. The runes carved into its edges seemed alive, shifting subtly as if whispering secrets too ancient and profound to comprehend.
The air was dense, charged with something beyond chakra—something primal. It wasn't oppressive, but it carried an undeniable weight, as though the space itself was aware of her presence. It felt alive, sentient even, as though the dimension were watching her, waiting for her to move, to act, to prove her worth.
Hinata exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the shimmering air like a wisp of light. This place wasn't just a realm—it was a reflection of something greater. It was the embodiment of potential, power, and purpose, and she stood at its heart, dwarfed by its immensity yet connected to it in a way that felt intimate and unyielding.
"You finally made it." Kali's voice carried through the space, calm yet laced with something that felt almost teasing. She was where she always was, seated cross-legged in her usual spot above the center of the Eight Trigrams, her figure gently illuminated by the swirling glow of the diagram below. Her white robe and flowing sash moved as if caught in an invisible breeze, and her serene expression was as unreadable as ever.
Unlike the battle in the Tsukuyomi, where Kali had moved with decisive power, here she seemed almost untouchable, ethereal. It was a strange contrast that made Hinata's unease grow. Kali had always exuded an otherworldly grace, but now, after witnessing her overwhelming might against Itachi, there was something about her stillness that felt unnatural.
"Kali…" Hinata hesitated, her voice quieter than she intended. Rising from her meditative position on the edge of the glowing Eight Trigrams, she took a tentative step toward the girl—no, the entity—that was somehow her and yet so far removed from who she knew herself to be. "What exactly… are you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
It was the only way she could phrase the question. She wanted to understand, to reconcile the powerful force she had seen in the Tsukuyomi with the calm, enigmatic figure before her now. Kali's power had been awe-inspiring, but it had also been terrifying. No human—no Hyūga—should possess the level of strength she had wielded.
Kali sighed, her expression softening into something almost apologetic. "Hmm… That is a difficult question," she admitted, as if even she wasn't entirely sure of the answer. Then, without warning, she did something she had never done before.
She moved.
Not floated, not shifted, but truly moved. Kali leapt lightly from her elevated position above the Trigrams and landed on the glowing runes below. The sound of her sandals meeting the surface was faint, but it reverberated through the air as if marking a profound moment. Hinata froze, her breath catching. She had always assumed Kali was floating, untethered to anything in this dimension, but now she realized that wasn't entirely true.
As Kali landed, the black disc that had always hovered beneath her shifted. It moved with a liquid grace, its shape melting and reforming in an instant. What was once a platform beneath Kali condensed into a perfect black sphere that floated obediently behind her, like a silent sentinel.
A Truthseeker Orb.
The realization hit Hinata like a blow. She had seen this just before—inside the Tsukuyomi, when Kali had forged a Gohei to unleash her devastating power. Now, seeing it again here, in this space that was supposed to be a sanctuary, was a stark reminder of just how alien Kali truly was. The orb radiated a quiet, ominous energy, its very presence a contradiction. It defied nature and logic, a compact vessel of absolute power that had no right to exist.
Kali took a few steps toward Hinata, her feet barely seeming to disturb the glowing runes beneath them. Her movements were deliberate yet unthreatening, her Truthseeker Orb trailing behind her as if tethered to her very will.
"Does that help answer your question?" Kali asked softly, her tone gentle but laden with unspoken meaning.
Hinata's gaze flicked between Kali and the orb, her mind racing. The orb wasn't just a tool—it was a part of Kali, as intrinsic to her existence as her Byakugan. This wasn't just power. This was control, mastery over forces Hinata couldn't begin to comprehend.
"No… it just makes me have more questions," Hinata admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked around the dimension, the green light casting shadows that flickered like living things, and for the first time, she felt small here. She had always found the Eight Trigrams Dimension to be a place of comfort, but now it felt like she was standing in the domain of a being far greater than herself.
Kali smiled faintly, tilting her head as if she understood Hinata's unspoken thoughts. "Good," she said. "Questions mean you're growing. But remember, Hinata—sometimes the answers you seek aren't the ones you want to hear."
There was a pregnant pause, then Kali told her story.
"My grandmother was once called the Rabbit Goddess," She began, her voice calm but tinged with an ancient weight. "She wasn't of this realm. She came from a distant world, a place far beyond your comprehension. To transcend the boundaries between dimensions like that requires an unfathomable amount of energy. It's why the gods and goddesses you worship in your shrines don't just appear here whenever they want. They need something to tether them—faith, devotion, sacrifices. Without it, they can only nudge your world, like ripples in a pond."
"Wait!" Hinata waved her hands in front of her, her Byakugan flickering with emotion. "The gods and goddesses… they're real?" Her voice trembled with disbelief. She had never thought much about the divine. The Hyūga clan prided itself on self-enlightenment, on internal strength, rather than relying on unseen beings. The idea of these celestial figures actually existing, actively influencing the world, sent her thoughts spiraling.
"Sure are," Kali replied with a casual shrug, as though discussing the weather. "Most of them are pretty small-time deities. You know, the kind you find at local shrines. Harmless narcissists, really. They get their kicks from being worshiped. In return, they'll make it rain once in a while if they're in a good mood." Kali's lips curled into a faint smirk, but it quickly faded. "The ones you really need to worry about, though, are the big players. Gods like the one that Itachi was recklessly borrowing power from. They're dangerous. If they ever managed to fully cross into this world, it wouldn't just be bad—it would be catastrophic."
Hinata's breath hitched. "Borrowing power? What do you mean by that?" She leaned forward slightly, her hands clenched into fists. She thought she understood the Mangekyō Sharingan. It was powerful, yes—terrifying, even—but she had always believed it was a tool of immense Genjutsu and Ninjutsu. The idea that it could be something more, something divine, was unnerving.
"Exactly what I said," Kali replied, tilting her head. "Think about it, Hinata. Doesn't it seem strange that Itachi named his Genjutsu after a known moon god? Tsukuyomi?"
Hinata frowned, her brows knitting together. She had never given much thought to the name. "I… I guess I never considered it. I thought it was just a name he chose."
Kali chuckled softly, her tone carrying a hint of pity. "He didn't name it, Hinata. He probably thinks he did, but that's not how it works. He was told to name it that. The god Tsukuyomi himself was exerting influence through Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan. The Sharingan served as a gateway, a crack between dimensions that allowed Tsukuyomi to extend his power into this world. Every time Itachi used that technique, the god was there, pulling strings, taking a piece of this reality for himself."
Hinata staggered back a step, her hand flying to her mouth. Her mind raced, piecing together fragments of understanding. "You're saying… Itachi wasn't the source of his own power? That he was just… a puppet for a god?" Her voice faltered. The implications were too vast, too destabilizing. Everything she thought she understood about their world, about its rules and boundaries, was crumbling like sand in her hands.
"Not exactly a puppet," Kali corrected, her tone sharper now. "More like a host. The Mangekyō Sharingan doesn't create power—it borrows it, drawing on forces beyond our world. But those forces aren't altruistic. Every bit of power comes at a cost. The gods demand their price, Hinata, and it's usually steep."
"And your power?" Hinata asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What about the Nichiren Byakugan? Is it… connected to a god too?"
Kali's expression softened, her eyes almost wistful. "Our power is different, Hinata. It doesn't come from them." She placed a hand over her heart, the glow of the Eight Trigrams below reflecting faintly in her eyes. "Our strength is born of the Rabbit Goddess herself—our grandmother. Her divinity flows through our veins. The Nichiren Byakugan is a reflection of that inheritance. We don't borrow power, Hinata. We are power."
Hinata's breath caught. Kali's words were simple, yet they carried a weight that settled deep in her chest. "So… the Nichiren Byakugan doesn't open a gateway?"
Kali shook her head. "No. It's self-contained, drawing from the natural world around us. We don't rely on gods to grant us strength. Our eyes channel the energy of the universe itself, weaving it into something divine. That's why your Byakugan can see natural energy. It's attuned to the flow of life itself, untainted by the whims of higher beings."
Hinata swallowed hard, her thoughts swirling like a storm. The revelation was overwhelming, but it also gave her a strange sense of clarity. The Nichiren Byakugan wasn't a borrowed power. It wasn't something she could lose. It was hers—an indelible part of her identity.
Kali stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Hinata's shoulder. "You'll understand more in time," she said softly, her voice a soothing balm to Hinata's turmoil. "For now, just know this: your power isn't a curse, and it isn't a gift. It's a legacy. One that you're destined to grow into."
Hinata nodded, the weight of Kali's words settling over her like a mantle. For the first time, she felt the faintest glimmer of pride in the eyes she had always thought made her weak.
Kali stretched her arms behind her head, a casual grin playing on her lips. "You know, it's a good thing I still remembered the original Caged Bird Seal," she said. "Without it, we might not have been able to pull off that little trick with Itachi. He's sharp—he would've seen through anything less precise."
Hinata's brow furrowed at the mention. "The original seal?" she echoed, stepping closer. "What do you mean by that? I thought you'd… modified it or something."
Kali tilted her head, her expression slipping into something more cautious. "Ah, well," she began, scratching the back of her head. "About that…" Her hesitation made Hinata's stomach twist, a strange sense of foreboding settling over her as she awaited the explanation.
That was when Kali sighed, meeting Hinata's gaze with a rare seriousness. "It's… more complicated than you think."
Hinata's eyes widened as Kali's words sunk in, the implications crashing over her like a tidal wave. The tranquil glow of the Eight Trigrams Dimension around them suddenly felt oppressive, the symbols beneath her feet thrumming faintly as if reflecting her inner turmoil.
Kali folded her arms, her expression uncharacteristically sheepish. "You're probably going to hate me for this." She glanced away, her confidence seeming to falter for the first time. "But it wasn't a modification at all. It was my own original creation."
"Your… creation?" Hinata's voice cracked, her heart racing. "But that means—" She stopped mid-sentence, her thoughts spiraling as realization struck her like a hammer.
Kali's gaze met hers, a rare mixture of guilt and vulnerability in her eyes. "Your ancestors didn't create the Caged Bird Seal from nothing," she said slowly. "They found my designs and… let's just say they took some creative liberties with them."
The pit in Hinata's stomach deepened into a chasm. She stumbled back a step, her breaths growing shallow. "No…" she whispered, shaking her head as if the action could dispel Kali's words. "No, that can't be true. If you made the original…" Her voice wavered, and her knees buckled as she fell to the ground. "Then you're the reason the Caged Bird Seal exists. You… I… we're the reason for everything. Neji's curse mark, my uncle's death, the division in the clan—it all started with you."
Kali's face darkened, her usually steady presence trembling under the weight of Hinata's anguish. "I won't lie to you, Hinata," she said quietly. "You're right. It did start with me."
"Why!?" Hinata shouted, her voice breaking as tears began to stream down her face. "Why would you create something so horrible?"
Kali took a deep breath, her tone heavy with regret. "Because I wasn't who I am now," she admitted. "When I created that seal, I was young, reckless, and consumed by ambition. Back then, I was a warrior, a warmonger, and I saw power as the only way to achieve peace. My name—Kali—comes from an old word that means 'time,' but also 'death.' It wasn't just a name; it was who I was. I was wrathful, destructive, and proud."
Hinata's trembling hands clenched into fists, but she remained silent, listening intently despite the storm raging within her.
"The original seal was never meant for your clan," Kali continued. "I created it to suppress Indra, my cousin. His power was beyond anything anyone could control, and I believed it was my responsibility to ensure he couldn't destroy everything Asura and his father were trying to build. But Asura… he stopped me. He told me that trust and compassion were stronger than any seal I could place. And he was right."
Kali's voice softened, the fire in her eyes dimming. "I never used the seal. I should have destroyed it, but I didn't. I was arrogant enough to think it might still be useful someday. And then it disappeared with my death… only for my half-brother—your ancestor—to find it and twist it into something far worse."
Hinata's tears fell freely now, her breathing ragged as the truth tore through her. She wanted to lash out, to scream at Kali for what she had done, but deep down, she couldn't bring herself to blame her past incarnation entirely. This was her burden too, she thought bitterly. She was her reincarnation. She shared her sins.
"I didn't mean for it to be this way," Kali said softly, crouching beside Hinata. "I know that doesn't change anything, but I want you to know that I regret it. I regret everything."
Hinata wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her jaw trembling. "Regret won't change what's already been done," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But… maybe we can fix it."
Kali blinked, startled. "Fix it?"
"Yes," Hinata said, her voice growing steadier as a spark of determination lit within her. "If you created the original seal, then you must know how to undo it. And if we can undo yours… maybe we can find a way to undo the Caged Bird Seal too."
Kali hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she considered Hinata's words. "It's… not that simple," she said cautiously. "The seal I designed didn't have a backdoor. I didn't think I'd ever need one. And what your ancestors did to it—it's not the same seal anymore. Even if I can dismantle my own design, I'm not sure I can apply the same process to theirs."
"Then I'll learn," Hinata said firmly, standing up despite the tremor in her legs. "I'll study Fuinjutsu. I'll do whatever it takes to understand the Caged Bird Seal and undo it. This is my clan's burden. My burden."
Kali stared at her for a moment, then a small, proud smile crossed her lips. "You've come a long way, Hinata. I'll help you however I can."
Hinata closed her eyes, her tears finally slowing as she clung to the ember of hope Kali had reignited. "The Caged Bird Seal ends with me," she vowed. "No matter what it takes."
"There's an order to things, though," Kali said, her voice taking on a measured tone. "Unless you've forgotten about your mission to save your teacher?"
"Of course I haven't," Hinata replied quickly, shaking her head. Yet as the words left her mouth, she felt the weight of everything she had taken on pressing down on her shoulders. It wasn't just about finding the Moonfire Blossom anymore. It wasn't just about completing their mission or saving Kurenai-sensei. The list of things she needed to do—and wanted to do—was growing faster than she could manage.
She thought of the Moonfire Blossom, the shrine near the volcano where Kali's task awaited her, and her own clan's burden: the Caged Bird Seal. Neji's face flashed in her mind, his defiant eyes filled with resentment. She had once hoped to simply reconcile with him, to apologize for the unspoken weight her position placed on his shoulders. But now… now she wanted more than that. She wanted to set him free. She had to.
Each goal felt monumental, almost impossible on its own. Yet here she was, daring to take them all on. "It's overwhelming," she admitted softly, her hands curling into fists by her sides. "But I can't stop. If there's even a chance I can make a difference… I have to."
"Well, it's fine," Kali said with a nod of approval, her expression softening. "Your enthusiasm reminds me of how I used to be. Just don't become too much like me, or you'll wind up repeating my mistakes." Her voice carried an ominous warning, and for a moment, her eyes seemed to darken, as if weighed down by memories she would rather forget.
Hinata met her gaze, determined. "I won't," she promised. She didn't say it out loud, but in her heart, she knew Kali wouldn't let her go that far. Not when Kali seemed so determined to guide her away from the very path she herself had once walked.
"Do you think Itachi-san is actually alive?" Hinata asked after a moment. The question came out hesitantly, her mind turning to the Uchiha she had seen die with her own eyes. If Kali was going to test her theoretical unsealing algorithm, they would need him. But could someone who had fallen so definitively in battle truly have survived?
"He's alive," Kali assured her, her voice steady and certain. "I have no doubt he borrowed the power of another god: this one is known as Izanagi." Her tone darkened, laced with frustration. "It's a miracle the Uchiha clan hasn't created a rift big enough for one of those gods to slip through with their abuse of such power."
"Is it really that bad?" Hinata asked, her brow furrowing. She didn't fully understand the scope of Kali's concern, but the gravity in her voice made her stomach twist. If the Tsukuyomi was only a fraction of a god's power, as Kali suggested, then she could barely fathom what true divine influence could wreak upon their world.
"It's worse," Kali replied grimly, her arms crossing as her gaze drifted away, lost in thought. "It took the power of my uncle and father together to defeat just one goddess—and even then, they could only seal her. Not destroy her, not banish her. Just… contain her." She shook her head slowly, her expression hardening. "I won't lie to you, Hinata. Taking on a god is possible, but not without cost. You would need help. A lot of it."
Hinata's throat felt dry, but she swallowed and nodded. She could feel the tension in Kali's voice, the weight of her experiences pressing down on her words. Yet Kali's next statement caught her off guard.
"That's why my reincarnations always preferred the appeasement route," Kali said with a small, self-deprecating chuckle. "Praying at the shrines, keeping them happy, avoiding conflict. No need to tempt fate."
Hinata blinked in surprise. For someone as bold and brash as Kali claimed to have been, this seemed almost… cautious. "They prayed to them? Even after everything?"
Kali shrugged, her tone casual but her expression solemn. "You don't poke the bear unless you're ready to deal with the claws. Gods are capricious. You can fight them, sure, but why risk it if you can avoid it? It's not cowardice; it's survival."
Hinata nodded slowly, her mind spinning. The enormity of her tasks loomed over her, but Kali's words gave her a strange sense of reassurance. No matter how daunting her goals seemed, Kali's unshakable confidence reminded her that she wasn't alone. She had guidance, she had allies, and most importantly, she had her own resolve.
And with that, she knew she could face what lay ahead.
Then a thought struck her, something that had been in the back of her mind since Itachi's revelations. "What about the Kyūbi?" she asked hesitantly.
Kali tilted her head, considering the question. "Ah, him…" she replied as if only just remembering what a Kyūbi was. "Asura's previous reincarnation is the one who helped create the Jinchūriki system in the first place. Now he's the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki—a bit too much of a convenience to just be a coincidence, don't you think? I haven't spoken to the fox in a long time, but I doubt he's eager to make alliances with humans after being imprisoned like that."
"You knew Naruto-kun was a Jinchūriki?" Hinata asked, startled. The revelation was overwhelming, not just because Kali knew but because of the implications. Kali had once spoken to the demon fox itself. There was so much to unpack, but Hinata could only manage one question at a time.
"I did," Kali admitted with a nonchalant shrug. "The Tailed Beasts were left in Asura's care by his father. They fall outside my responsibilities, which focus on tending to the Impurities. That's also why I've kept my distance. Indra—and by extension, the Mangekyō Sharingan—were always Asura's self-imposed burdens to carry." Kali crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "I only step in when I absolutely have to."
Hinata frowned, her confusion deepening. "But you were worried about those other gods getting in, weren't you? How are they not related?" It didn't make sense. If the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Kyūbi were tied to these dimensional forces, how could Kali simply choose not to involve herself?
"The Mangekyō Sharingan is only one way for those gods to exert their influence," Kali explained, her tone grim. "I told you my grandmother made it to this realm before, right? When impurities grow unstable enough, they release a massive burst of dimensional energy. If one of the gods is nearby at the right moment, they can use that energy as fuel to cross over." She sighed, the weight of her knowledge palpable. "My focus has always been on preventing that particular avenue. Asura was supposed to handle the rest."
Hinata processed the explanation, her brow furrowed in thought. It made sense now—Kali wasn't ignoring the threat. She was simply working to contain it from a different angle. But the implications left Hinata uneasy. "Naruto-kun doesn't know about any of this, does he?" she asked softly. It was hard enough to reconcile her own reincarnation; the idea that Naruto might be carrying similar burdens without knowing was almost unbearable.
"To the best of my knowledge, Asura rarely communicates with his reincarnations the way I speak to mine," Kali said with a faint smile. "Even so, he's always drawn to Indra. It's why the Senju and Uchiha warred for so long. Though… something about that dynamic changed in the last cycle. I don't know what, but it's different this time." Her expression darkened, though her tone remained calm.
Hinata swallowed hard, her thoughts turning to Naruto. Whether or not he was aware of the Kyūbi sealed within him was still unclear, but he deserved to know why people like Itachi had been after him. "I think I should speak with Naruto-kun," she said after a moment of deliberation.
Kali nodded, her approval quiet but evident. "I'll trust you to decide how much to tell him," she said, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "Things are different this time, Hinata. People are wielding powers they barely understand. Asura is a Jinchūriki now. And something's developing with the Mangekyō Sharingan—something even I don't fully grasp yet." She paused, looking directly at Hinata. "You won't be able to handle this the way your past lives have. We need to be ready for anything."
Hinata nodded, feeling the weight of Kali's words settle over her. There was so much to do. So much to consider. Her teacher's life hung in the balance. The Hyūga clan's future loomed over her. And now, Naruto's safety was in question too. It was daunting, but it also ignited a fierce determination within her. "I understand. Thank you, Kali," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging in her mind.
As she prepared to leave the Eight Trigrams Dimension, Hinata hesitated, turning back to Kali. "I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier," she said softly. "I know you only created that seal because you thought it was best. Even you couldn't have foreseen how it would be used."
Kali's expression softened, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's fine, Hinata," she said. "You're the first of my reincarnations to even think about trying to fix it. That already makes you remarkable."
Hinata blushed at the praise, her heart swelling with a mix of pride and humility. "Thank you," she murmured, before sitting down, crossing her legs, and closing her eyes to exit the dimension.
As the Eight Trigrams Dimension faded, she carried Kali's words with her. Things were different this time—and that difference started with her.
When Hinata opened her eyes, she was back in the darkness of the forest. The faint crackle of the campfire greeted her ears, its orange light illuminating the surrounding trees and casting long, flickering shadows into the gloom. The air was damp, the scent of pine and earth mingling with the faint smoke from the fire.
After the chaos in the city, they had unanimously agreed to avoid any populated areas for their next stop. It was safer for everyone this way—safer for innocent civilians who might otherwise get caught in the crossfire. But even knowing they had done the right thing, the tension was palpable. Every member of her team seemed tightly wound, as if expecting the forest itself to rise up against them.
Still seated, Hinata activated her Nichiren Byakugan and scanned the area, her chakra flowing to her eyes. The familiar, intricate network of the forest's energy came into view, revealing every life form within range. Birds nested quietly in the trees, small animals skittered along the forest floor, but no human chakra signatures appeared in her vision. For the moment, at least, they were alone.
She turned her attention back to the campfire, where her team sat in silence, each perched on their makeshift log seats. Shino sat motionless, his hands buried in his coat pockets. The firelight reflected off his dark glasses, hiding whatever thoughts might have been behind them. Kiba sat with his legs sprawled out, stroking Akamaru, who was curled up and fast asleep on his lap. But Kiba's face was unusually tense, his ears twitching at every snap of a twig or rustle in the underbrush. Naruto, seated directly across from her, was perhaps the most concerning. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his eyes vacant and unfocused as if his mind were far away. No one spoke, the silence broken only by the occasional pop of the fire.
Hinata cleared her throat softly, drawing their attention. She hadn't expected the intensity of their reaction. All three heads snapped toward her, their gazes sharp and alert, like cornered animals bracing for an attack. The sight made her heart ache. She tried her best to smile at them, a small, reassuring gesture to let them know that, for now, they were safe. Slowly, they relaxed. Their shoulders loosened, and the tension in the air lessened—if only slightly.
"That was one hell of a meditation you were in," Kiba remarked, his tone attempting to be light but failing to fully mask his frustration. He smirked faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I actually thought you'd fallen asleep at one point."
"Sorry," Hinata apologized instinctively. "Did I miss anything important?" She glanced between them, trying to gauge their moods.
"Nothing of note," Shino replied evenly, his voice calm but detached. He turned his gaze back to the fire as if it held the answers to the universe. "We tried to see if Naruto knew anything about why those two were after him. But… he claims to be genuinely clueless."
Shino's tone was even, but the words hung heavy in the air, carrying an unintended sharpness. It was impossible not to pick up on the implication: Shino wasn't convinced Naruto was telling the truth.
"You pickin' a fight!?" Naruto was on his feet in an instant, his voice rising as he glared at Shino. His fists were clenched, his body rigid with anger. "I already told you, I don't know! What the hell is your problem!?"
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata was on her feet just as quickly, stepping between him and Shino. She held a hand out toward him, her voice soft but firm. "Please, calm down. Shino-kun didn't mean anything by it."
Naruto's nostrils flared, but he didn't lash out further. His eyes flicked to Hinata, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. He looked down, muttering under his breath, though she couldn't make out the words.
Kiba, however, wasn't helping. "Look, nobody's calling you a liar, Naruto," he said, though his tone was anything but reassuring. His hand absently scratched Akamaru's ears, his eyes narrowing at Naruto. "But you gotta admit, it's kinda weird. Why would those guys go to all that trouble just for you?"
"Shut up, Kiba!" Naruto snapped, rounding on him now. "Like you're some kind of expert on why people do anything!"
"Enough!" Hinata's voice rang out louder than she had intended, surprising even herself. Both boys turned to her, stunned into silence. She took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "We're all on edge," she said, her tone softer now. "Let's not fight with each other. We've already got enough to deal with."
She stepped over to the water buckets, crouching to pick one up. "Naruto-kun, why don't you come with me to fetch some water from the river?" she suggested, her voice calm and inviting. She glanced back at him, giving him a small, encouraging smile. "It'll give us a chance to cool off."
Naruto hesitated, his gaze flickering between Shino, Kiba, and Hinata. Finally, with a reluctant nod, he stepped away from the fire. "Yeah… fine," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he followed her.
Hinata shot a grateful look at Shino and Kiba, silently asking them to let it go. Kiba grumbled under his breath, and Shino said nothing, but neither pursued the argument further. With the bucket in hand and Naruto trailing behind her, Hinata stepped into the dark woods, leaving the campfire—and the tension—behind.
The waxing moon bathed the forest in silver, its light reflecting off the gently rippling river. The soft illumination was enough for Naruto to see without trouble, though he still stumbled a bit as he crouched down to fill one of the buckets. The quiet burble of the water mingled with the occasional rustle of leaves, creating a fragile, peaceful atmosphere. Yet, beneath the stillness, there was tension.
Naruto glanced back at Hinata when she didn't immediately join him. She stood frozen on the bank, clutching the other bucket, her pale eyes glimmering faintly in the moonlight. He tilted his head in silent question, his blue eyes catching the light in a way that made them seem almost luminous.
"Umm…" Hinata shifted on her feet, her voice tentative as she tried to form the right words. "You really don't know why they were after you, right?" She asked carefully, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.
Naruto froze, his hands still submerged in the cool water. His expression tightened for a moment, then softened as he looked back at her. "I really have no idea," he said plainly. Unlike with Shino earlier, there was no defensiveness in his tone. He knew Hinata wasn't accusing him, and he trusted her enough to be honest.
"I see…" Hinata murmured, nodding slowly. She set the bucket down beside her, her hands fidgeting nervously in front of her. There was no easy way to broach the topic, but she couldn't let it linger. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she pressed forward. "Naruto-kun… what do you know about the Kyūbi no Yōko?"
Naruto went rigid. The change was immediate and striking, as if the mere mention of the name had paralyzed him. His hands gripped the edge of the bucket, his knuckles turning white. He didn't move, didn't speak, his breath caught in his throat. It was as if every part of him had locked up, a taut spring ready to snap.
"How do you know about that?" His voice, low and sharp, finally broke the silence. It wasn't anger, exactly, but there was an edge of urgency to it, like he needed to understand how much she knew—and why.
Hinata felt her heart ache at the tension in his voice, the pain he tried so hard to mask. She could see it now, how heavy this secret must have weighed on him all his life. She took a small step closer, trying to ease his fear. "I can see it," she admitted softly. "With my Nichiren Byakugan. The chakra… it's different. It's sealed, but I can see how it's tied to you."
Naruto's shoulders sagged slightly, the fight draining out of him. He let out a slow, shaky breath, his eyes dropping to the water. "That… kinda makes sense," he mumbled. "I thought it was weird that someone our age would know about it, but if you can see it…" He trailed off, his voice heavy with resignation.
Hinata felt a pang of guilt. She had been careful with her words, avoiding mentioning what Itachi had revealed. She knew the truth now, but she didn't want to overwhelm him. "Itachi-san also said they were after the Kyūbi," she added, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the delicate balance between them.
Naruto's jaw tightened, and he abruptly yanked the bucket out of the river, sloshing water everywhere as he tossed it to the side. "Damn it," he muttered, his voice thick with frustration. "I'm screwing everything up. You went out of your way to pick me for this mission, and now—now I'm putting everyone in danger."
"No!" Hinata moved before she could think, crouching beside him and resting a hand on his back. "That's not true, Naruto-kun! I… I picked you because I believe in you. No matter what, that hasn't changed." Her voice was firm, though her hands trembled slightly.
Naruto glanced at her, his expression conflicted. Slowly, he shook his head. "I don't get you," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "You don't hate me? For the fox?"
Hinata's chest tightened at the vulnerability in his voice. She shook her head emphatically, her fingers clutching the fabric of his jacket. "I don't care about that," she said, her voice trembling with sincerity. "The Kyūbi… whatever it is, it doesn't change who you are. You're Naruto-kun. The boy who never gives up. The boy who inspired me to be better, to be stronger. That's all that matters to me."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, the pain and doubt seemed to melt away. He looked at her, truly looked at her, and gave her a small, genuine smile. It was unlike any expression she had ever seen from him before—soft, warm, and completely unguarded.
"You're… weird," he said, his voice carrying a faint, teasing lilt. But the words didn't sting. If anything, they made her heart flutter.
Hinata's face burned, her breath catching in her throat. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She was utterly captivated, her mind blank as she tried to process the boy in front of her.
Naruto's gaze shifted, breaking the moment as he glanced back toward the campfire. "Do we have to tell Kiba and Shino?" he asked, his voice returning to its usual tone. "I mean… they'd probably figure it out eventually, right?"
Hinata blinked, startled by the question. She quickly composed herself, shaking her head. "No," she said softly. "We don't have to tell them. They're our friends, Naruto-kun. They'd understand if you did… but you don't have to share anything you're not ready to. This is your choice."
Naruto studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Maybe some other time," he said, his voice lighter now. "Thanks, Hinata. If anyone had to find out… I'm glad it was you."
Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt her cheeks flush again. "I-I'm glad I know, too," she stammered, her voice barely audible. She wanted to say more, to express just how much his trust meant to her, but the words caught in her throat.
In the moonlit clearing, surrounded by the quiet murmur of the river and the faint rustle of leaves, Hinata felt a sense of calm she hadn't known in days. She still didn't know what the future held, but as she stood beside Naruto, she felt something she hadn't dared to hope for: strength.
With him by her side, she could face anything.
Chapter End
AN: So now I would like to talk about those implications I teased a couple chapters back. In this AU, the gods like Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, etc. are real beings similar to Kaguya and are equally dangerous. A lot of the inspiration this time is from old Japanese mythology and Shinto belief, with massive narrative liberties taken. This will be a fairly major plot point going forward. I know Canon kind of explains beings like Kaguya away as aliens, but rather than aliens, this story chooses to interpret them as Gods from higher planes.
In addition, the origin of the Caged Bird Seal is also explained, originally a tool Kali created to deal with Indra, but later repurposed by the Hyūga clan in this story.