Chapter XXV: No Longer Human
"I'm done with waiting," Gyatsō declares, his voice low and dripping with impatience. His arms are crossed tightly over his chest, his posture rigid and commanding. The dim light of the cave flickers, casting eerie shadows across the room as his Shaolin pulses violently, filling the air with an almost tangible pressure. The faint hum of his evil chakra reverberates off the stone walls, adding to the tension.
The cavernous room is dominated by three large pods, each one towering and ominous. They are interconnected by a network of tubes and wires, their surfaces glowing faintly with an otherworldly blue light. Inside the pods, a bubbling, viscous blue liquid churns, its surface rippling as if alive. Above the pods, a massive monitor and keyboard sit, their screens displaying streams of data and cryptic symbols that flicker and scroll endlessly.
Hide steps forward, his movements unhurried. He approaches the pod on the far right, his snake-like eyes glinting with a cold, calculating focus. With a hiss of releasing pressure, he opens the pod, revealing its hollow interior. Without hesitation, he hoists Itachi's unconscious body and tosses it inside, the Uchiha's form slumping against the glass as the pod seals shut behind him. The blue liquid begins to envelop Itachi, its bubbles intensifying as if reacting to his presence.
Seiko stands nearby; her fists clenched at her sides. Her teeth grit as she bows her head slightly toward Gyatsō, though her face betrays her worry. "Lord Gyatsō," she begins, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound composed, "Master Sebbech still hasn't returned. With all due respect, Lord Yamikage, I think you should wait for hi—"
Her words are abruptly cut off as Gyatsō's hand lashes out, the back of it striking her cheek with a sharp, resounding crack. The force sends her stumbling backward, her body hitting the ground with a dull thud. Hikari, standing nearby, sidesteps calmly to avoid the commotion, his expression blank and unbothered. Seiko glares at the ground, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and humiliation.
Gyatsō looms over her, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Nothing is more important than this fusion," he snarls, his eyes blazing with fury. "Show me such disrespect again, and I'll kill you on the spot. Is that understood?"
Seiko remains silent, her jaw clenched as she refuses to meet his gaze. In an instant, Gyatsō is upon her, his movements impossibly fast. He grabs a fistful of her bright orange hair, yanking her up to force her to look at him. Her eyes widen in pain and fear as she's pulled to her feet, her body tense under his grip.
Hikari then glances over, his usual calm demeanor faltering for a moment as his teeth grit slightly. Damnit, Seiko, he thinks. Just answer him before he kills you.
The ever-sly Hide watches the scene unfold with silent fascination, his snakelike eyes gleaming with interest. He leans casually against one of the pods, his arms crossed as he observes the confrontation, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Is... that... understood?" Gyatsō repeats, his voice low and menacing, each word dripping with increasing emphasis. Seiko grits her teeth, her jaw clenched tightly as she nods silently, refusing to speak. Gyatsō doesn't release his grip on her hair, his fingers tightening as he turns his gaze toward Hide, his expression dark and commanding.
"I'll say it again," Gyatsō growls, his voice echoing through the cavern. "I'm done with waiting. Commence the preparations for the fusion."
Hide responds with a raspy, obedient "Yes, my lord," before striding over to the keyboard. His fingers move swiftly, pressing keys with practiced precision. The blue liquid inside the pods begins to shift, its color deepening into a vibrant purple as the bubbling intensifies, the fluid churning violently. Inside the pod, Itachi's body begins to change, his form growing slightly thinner, as if the liquid is draining something from him. Gyatsō notices this immediately, his smirk widening with satisfaction as he finally releases Seiko, letting her slump to the ground.
"You're about to witness the transformation... of the strongest form I can possibly attain!" Gyatsō declares, his voice booming with pride. Hikari and the others exchange smirks, their anticipation palpable as they watch the process unfold.
"Hikari," Gyatsō continues, his tone sharp and commanding, "I hereby appoint you as the supreme leader of the Hidden Dark's invasion forces. You will commence your attack after my fusion. Only then will we invade the Hidden Leaf, dispose of the Hokage, and take control of the village. Orochimaru's Hidden Sound forces will join us in the assault against the remaining Great Nations. The smaller villages bordering them will have no choice but to surrender... or be destroyed."
Hikari nods, his expression serious as he glances over at Zuko's pod. The young shinobi lies motionless inside, his body submerged in a bubbling red fluid designed for regeneration. Oh, Zuko,Hikari thinks, a flicker of sympathy crossing his mind. It must greatly sadden you to not be able to witness Lord Gyatsō's ultimate rise to godhood. Perhaps you'll be too injured to participate in the war, too. Don't worry, friend. I'll destroy Ketsueki for what he did to you.
Seiko slowly rises to her feet, her movements shaky but gentle. She watches as Gyatsō tears off his Osore cloak, revealing his blue mesh armor beneath. With a sharp motion, he removes the armor as well, standing bare-chested and unflinching. Hide, Hikari, and a small group of Hidden Sound shinobi watch in silence as Gyatsō steps toward the pod on the far left, his presence radiating power and authority.
He pauses for a moment, deactivating his Shaolin, and glances over at Itachi's motionless body. A faint smile crosses his lips. Fret not, Uchiha, he thinks, his mind echoing Itachi's earlier defiance. You'll see the destruction of your home village... in OUR consciousness!
Gyatsō leaps onto the edge of the pod, his movements fluid and precise. He looks down into the bubbling liquid, his expression calm and resolute. Slowly, he closes his eyes and lets himself fall into the pod. The lid seals shut immediately, the sound of locking mechanisms echoing through the room.
Hide's fingers fly across the keyboard once more, and the liquid inside the pods shifts again, this time turning a deep, ominous red. The bubbling intensifies, the fluid churning so violently that Gyatsō and Itachi's bodies are completely obscured. The room fills with the sound of rushing liquid and the hum of machinery.
"Behold!" Hide shouts, his voice filled with excitement as he types a final command.
The Osore and the gathered shinobi watch with bated breath as the red liquid begins to drain from the pods. A new, glowing green liquid pours into the central pod, its light casting eerie shadows across the room. Gasps ripple through the crowd as they sense the immense, overwhelming chakra emanating from the pod. It's unlike anything they've ever felt—raw, infinite, and growing stronger by the second.
What the fuck?! Seiko thinks, her face pale and sweaty. What is this chakra?! It... it doesn't stop growing!
The pods containing Itachi and Gyatsō's bodies are now empty, their liquids fully drained. A tense silence fills the room as the central pod begins to crack, fissures spreading across its surface. With a loud shatter, the pod explodes, green liquid raining down like a storm.
Everyone looks up, their eyes wide with awe, as a figure levitates in the air. His long, white hair flows around him, and his toned muscles glisten in the dim light. His irises are a dark, piercing red, and his presence radiates an almost unbearable pressure. He raises a hand, examining it with a calm, almost detached curiosity, before lowering his gaze to the crowd below.
No one dares to speak until Hide finally breaks the silence. "Lord... Gyatsō?" he mutters, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
The figure's left eye shifts, morphing into Itachi's Mangekyou Sharingan, while his right eye transforms into Gyatsō's fully powered Shaolin. He tilts his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
"I suppose," he begins, his voice deep and resonant. The Mangekyou Sharingan in his left eye shifts again, transforming into a Shaolin with six lines perfectly intersecting, its color changing from pure crimson to a fiery red-orange. "You can still address me by that name..."
The Shaolin in his right eye undergoes a similar transformation, four more lines appearing to complete its design.
There it is... the Mūgetsu Shaolin, Hide thinks, his excitement barely contained.
The figure—Gyatsō—smirks widely, his power radiating like a storm. He slaps a hand over his eyes, his voice low and commanding. "This... power... I must savor it. Everyone, go... fulfill your duties."
On his command, the room empties, the shinobi scattering to carry out their tasks. Hikari leaps to the top of the cave, the wind whipping through his thick blonde hair as he sits down and performs a single hand seal. A faint smile plays on his lips as he mutters, "We of the Hidden Dark... declare war on all Five Great Nations. Let the Fifth Great Ninja War... begin!"
Across the Hidden Leaf Village, chaos erupts as multiple devastating explosions rock the village. The deafening blasts are accompanied by panicked screams and the sickening crunch of collapsing buildings. Thick plumes of smoke rise into the sky, casting a dark shadow over the once-peaceful streets. Fires rage uncontrollably, their flames licking hungrily at the remains of homes and shops.
Nori's eyes widen in shock as an explosion detonates directly above her. Instinct takes over, and she leaps through the nearest window just as the ceiling caves in behind her. She lands gracefully on the ground, her heart pounding as she takes in the horrifying scene around her. Villagers are trapped under piles of rubble, their cries for help drowned out by the chaos. Others sprint through the streets, their faces etched with terror as they search for safety.
"What the hell is going on?!" one villager screams, his voice trembling with fear. He doesn't notice the massive chunk of stone hurtling toward him from above.
Nori moves in a flash, her body a blur as she appears above the man. With a powerful punch, she smashes the stone into pieces, sending the debris flying into a nearby wall. She grabs the villager by the arm and dashes toward the village's designated rescue area. After setting him down, the Hokage grits her teeth, her mind racing to make sense of the situation.
Iruka Umino, a Jonin of the village, rushes toward her, his face streaked with soot and sweat. His back is severely burned, the skin raw and blistered, a clear sign he was caught in one of the explosions. "L-Lady Sixth!" he shouts; his voice strained as he struggles to catch his breath. "The village is under attack!"
Nori's eyes dart around, taking in the destruction. Her fists clench so tightly that her nails dig into her palms. Who's behind this?! And why?! she thinks. I knew there was something weird going on, but I never thought the village would be attacked like this!
"Iruka!" she yells, her voice cutting through the cacophony of screams and explosions. "Gather the other Jonin and Chunin and focus on rescuing the villagers! I'll get the Anbu to hunt down any intruders!"
"Right!" Iruka replies without hesitation, already turning to sprint toward the heart of the chaos. Nori takes off in the opposite direction, her senses on high alert. The air is thick with smoke, and she coughs as it fills her lungs, but she pushes forward, determined to protect her village.
Suddenly, she freezes, her body going rigid. A searing pain tears through her chest, and she looks down to see a deep, bloody gash. Her blood drips to the ground, forming a small, crimson pool at her feet. Time seems to slow as she turns her head, her eyes locking onto the cold, calculating gaze of Orochimaru.
The Sannin stands behind her, his expression eerily calm, a faint smirk playing on his lips. His hand is still extended, the faint glint of a blade visible in the dim light.
"Where do you think you're going, Hokage...?"