Chapter 1: Heavenly rebellion
The battlefield was a desolate wasteland, a testament to the clash of titanic forces that had raged for hours, perhaps days. The once-vibrant terrain was now a canvas of ruin, stretching for miles, scarred by the unrelenting fury of battle. Jagged chasms split the earth, and the sky above was darkened by ominous clouds, swirling with the residual energy of their conflict. In the distance, towering over the devastation, loomed the divine tree, its gnarled roots and sprawling branches entwined with the lifeless bodies of thousands, suspended in the eternal grasp of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Hagoromo's form tumbled through the air, bloodied and battered, before crashing into the ground with a bone-jarring thud. He groaned, trying to rise, but the weight of exhaustion and pain held him down. The energy in the air was thick, suffocating, as if the very atmosphere had been charged with malice. Above him, the skies seemed to tremble under the presence of Kaguya, her silhouette ominously outlined against the backdrop of the divine tree.
In an instant, Hamura was by his brother's side, his hands glowing with a soft, soothing light as he poured his chakra into Hagoromo's wounds. "Hang on, brother," Hamura murmured, his voice strained. He too bore the marks of battle—his robes torn and stained with blood, his face lined with fatigue—but his resolve was unwavering.
Hagoromo's eyes fluttered open, and he gave a small nod. "I'm alright, Hamura... we're not done yet."
High above, Kaguya watched them with an expression that was a mixture of sorrow and determination. Her long, flowing robes billowed in the wind, and her pale hair shone like silver under the dim light. She descended slowly, as if reluctant, yet driven by an inescapable duty.
"I never wanted this," Kaguya's voice echoed across the wasteland, carrying with it the weight of ages. "You are my sons... my precious sons. How did it come to this?" Her gaze was soft, filled with a sadness that pierced through the malevolence that surrounded her. "I had hoped you would understand... that you would see the truth, as I do. This world—this world is broken, tainted by the greed, hatred, and suffering of mankind. I only wish to restore it, to make it whole again."
Hagoromo staggered to his feet, his eyes burning with determination despite the pain. "Mother," he said, his voice resolute, "what you're doing is not restoration. It's destruction. You're forcing the world into submission, erasing everything that makes it what it is—the good and the bad. That is not the answer."
Kaguya's expression hardened, and a flicker of frustration crossed her features. "You don't understand, Hagoromo. I am the divine matron of this planet. I have seen the suffering of its people, the corruption that festers within their hearts. It is my duty—my destiny—to cleanse it, to create a haven of purity where only the righteous remain."
Hamura stepped forward, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and sorrow. "But you have no right!" he shouted. "No right to decide what should and shouldn't exist on this earth! The world is imperfect, yes, but that doesn't mean it needs to be ruled by an iron fist, by a goddess who dictates every facet of life. People have the right to make their own choices, to live their own lives, even if it means they make mistakes."
Kaguya's fists clenched, her frustration growing as her sons defied her. "You are young, naïve," she said, her voice shaking. "You do not see the grand design, the higher purpose that I have been entrusted with. I have borne witness to the truth of this world—its hidden darkness, its untapped potential. You speak of freedom, but freedom is what brought this world to its knees. It is my burden to bear, to guide this world to its rightful state."
Hagoromo shook his head, stepping closer to Hamura as they faced their mother. "No, Mother. The burden is not yours alone to bear. The world may be flawed, but it is also full of hope, of love, of the potential to grow and change for the better. What you're doing will strip humanity of everything that makes us human. We cannot allow that."
Hamura nodded in agreement, his voice steady as he spoke. "You've lost your way, Mother. Your vision has become twisted, and you can no longer see the value in what you seek to destroy. That's why we must stop you—because we love you, and we cannot let you become the very thing you once stood against."
Kaguya's eyes flashed with a dangerous light, her expression darkening as her patience wore thin. "You are mistaken," she hissed, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "You are both mistaken. You speak of love, of hope, but those are fleeting illusions, distractions from the truth. The world must be reborn, cleansed of its impurities. And I am the only one with the power and the wisdom to make it happen."
She raised her hands slowly, and a pulse of energy rippled through the air, causing the ground beneath them to tremble. "You are too late," she declared, her voice echoing with a finality that sent a chill through the air. "The Infinite Tsukuyomi has already begun. The divine tree has awakened, and with it, the Tenseigan." Her eyes gleamed with a blue, otherworldly light as she invoked the name of the celestial power she had attained. "I will carry out my destiny, and nothing—no one—can stop me."
Hagoromo clenched his fists, his heart heavy with the weight of what must be done. "We will stop you, Mother," he said, his voice resolute. "No matter what it takes, we won't let you go through with this."
Hamura's hand found its way to Hagoromo's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "We're in this together, brother. For the sake of the world, and for the sake of the mother we once knew, we will fight."
Kaguya's gaze softened for the briefest of moments, as if she were considering their words. But then, her expression hardened once more, and she extended her arm toward them. Dark orbs of chakra began to form around her, their ominous energy pulsing with lethal intent. The orbs shimmered, then began to turn white, radiating a blinding light that distorted the air around them.
"You leave me no choice," Kaguya said, her voice tinged with a sadness that cut deeper than any blade. "If you will not see reason... then I must punish your insubordination." She raised her hand, and the orbs began to hum with deadly energy, poised to strike down the sons who had dared to defy her.
Hagoromo and Hamura braced themselves, the air between them crackling with the tension of the impending clash. The battle was far from over, and the fate of the world hung in the balance.
Kaguya's arm extended toward her sons, her pale fingers splayed wide. The dark orbs of chakra orbiting around her palm turned white. "Your insubordination must be punished."
[Silver wheel: Pheasant hunt]
From her open palm, a blazing, ethereal phoenix, born of pure chakra, erupted into existence, its fiery wings unfurling as it screeched through the air toward them. The heat from the phoenix seared the battlefield, its intensity threatening to incinerate anything in its path.
Hagoromo, eyes narrowed with resolve, raised his hand in response.
[Almighty push]
A forceful, invisible wave of energy exploded outward from his palm, colliding with the flaming phoenix. The two forces clashed, the flames raging against the unyielding push of gravity, until the phoenix dissipated into nothingness, its power consumed by Hagoromo's Almighty Push.
Before Hagoromo could catch his breath, Hamura darted forward, his movements swift and precise.
[Light Fang]
He steadied himself, releasing a sharp beam of light from his mouth. The beam tore through the air with blinding speed, aimed directly at Kaguya's chest.
Kaguya's eyes, glowing with the power of the Tenseigan, followed the beam as it approached. The orbs of chakra orbiting her arm turned a deep, ominous red.
[Crimson wheel: Yata mirror]
In an instant, a crimson shield, the legendary Yata Mirror, materialized in front of her. The Light Fang struck the shield, only to be reflected back with even greater ferocity. The blinding beam of light crashed into Hamura, grazing his shoulder and sending him hurtling toward the ground with devastating force.
"Brother!" Hagoromo shouted, as he watched Hamura plummet. He moved with urgency, his form blurring as he descended toward Hamura, catching him mid-air.
Kaguya's chakra orbs shifted to a vibrant green as she slowly raised both hands to her sides.
The earth rumbled ominously beneath them. Without warning, the ground beneath Hagoromo and Hamura erupted, a violent earthquake splitting the terrain. Pillars of rock and jagged earth spikes shot up, threatening to impale them both.
Reacting swiftly, Hagoromo soared into the air, grabbing Hamura as they evaded the chaotic onslaught below them, the very earth responding to Kaguya's will.
Hamura winced, his body aching from the reflected attack. But he placed a hand over his wounds, channeling healing chakra. "Thank you, Hagoromo," he muttered, his voice strained but determined.
"We can't keep this up forever," Hagoromo said, his tone grim as he watched Kaguya manipulate the elements against them. Jets of lava burst from the ground, their molten streams twisting and churning as they chased after the brothers.
"We need to end this now," Hamura replied, his gaze shifting to the Divine Tree in the distance. Its towering form loomed over the battlefield, its branches still holding the entrapped bodies of countless people. "If we don't destroy the tree, she'll drain the life from the planet."
Hagoromo nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of resolve and sorrow. "Then I'll take care of the tree. You keep her occupied."
Without another word, Hagoromo turned and shot toward the Divine Tree, his Susanoo form manifesting around him. The chakra warrior that enveloped him was a towering giant, nearly as large as the Divine Tree itself. The perfect Susanoo's wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the battlefield as it soared toward the tree.
Hamura gritted his teeth and launched himself toward Kaguya. His mother watched his approach, her face an unreadable mask. But just as Hamura was about to strike, Kaguya's voice rang out, cold and commanding.
"Heed me, time, and fall still," she declared.
A violet circle materialized beneath her, glowing with ancient symbols in it's border that pulsed with eldritch power. Hamura's body halted mid-strike, suspended in the air as time itself bent to Kaguya's command. His eyes widened, fury and fear mingling as he found himself trapped, frozen in her temporal web.
Kaguya glided closer, her gaze softening as she looked into Hamura's immobilized eyes. "My son," she murmured, her voice tinged with a haunting sorrow. Probing his mind with the Tenseigan, she uncovered their desperate plan to stall her while Hagoromo destroyed the Divine tree.
"I see..."
Kaguya's expression darkened, and she turned away, her hands forming a sequence of intricate hand signs. "Arise, Ten Tails," she intoned, her voice echoing with divine authority.
Meanwhile, Hagoromo reached the base of the Divine Tree, his eyes burning with determination.
[Amaterasu]
Black flames burst from his gaze, engulfing the tree in an inferno of unquenchable fire. The Divine Tree writhed and twisted, its branches burning as the cursed flames consumed it.. The flames roared larger, consuming the tree with an intensity that sent heat waves throughout the area.
As Kaguya's spell resonated through the Divine Tree, it began to shift and writhe. Hagoromo watched in horror as the tree absorbed the thousands of trapped souls into its roots and branches. The air crackled with dark energy as the tree began to morph, its massive form contorting and transforming into a monstrous creature—the Ten Tails.
The beast's roar shattered the sky, its voice a cacophony of despair and rage. Hagoromo's Susanoo raised its colossal sword as the Ten Tails launched a tailed beast bomb at him. With a swift motion, Hagoromo blocked the attack with his Susanoo's shield, deflecting the massive energy sphere far into the distance. The bomb exploded in the horizon, its impact lighting up the sky with a violent flash, and the shockwave that followed rattled Hagoromo's Susanoo.
The Ten Tails lashed out with its tails, each one wielding the power to level mountains, aiming to crush Hagoromo beneath their weight. But Hagoromo's Susanoo was swift, its blade slicing through the tails. Yet, for every tail severed, another simply grew in its place.
"It's connected to the planet," Hagoromo muttered, his mind racing. "As long as the earth exists, I can't truly kill it."
The Ten Tails roared again, unleashing a concentrated blast of energy from its body. The attack hit Hagoromo's Susanoo with incredible force, sending him tumbling backward. But Hagoromo quickly stabilized himself, the wings of his Susanoo spreading wide to keep him aloft. Just as he regained his balance, a bright beam of energy struck him from below, originating from the Ten tails mouth. Hagoromo barely managed to block it with his sword, splitting the beam in two and sending the energy streaking into the sky, igniting the clouds and setting off a rumbling thunderstorm.
Meanwhile, Hamura, trapped in Kaguya's timeless circle, strained against his bonds. The moon seal on his palm Hagoromo had prepared for them pulsed, it's power coursing through him, offering a sliver of resistance to Kaguya's time magic. With great effort, Hamura managed to teleport out of the circle, reappearing at a teleportation seal several meters away.
He took a deep breath, his body trembling with the exertion. "It worked," he whispered, relief washing over him as he studied the moon seal on his palm.
Kaguya's eyes widened in surprise as she saw Hamura escape her trap. The chakra orbs floating around her shifted to her front, spinning rapidly until they turned a deep purple.
In an instant, she manifested several spears of chakra and launched them toward Hamura with deadly precision.
But Hamura was ready. With a wave of his hand, he created a small black hole in the path of the spears, absorbing them into its gravitational pull.
[Sage art: Black pull]
"I can catch her off guard..." Hamura thought, as the spears were absorbed into his portal jutsu.
Simultaneously, another wormhole appeared behind Kaguya, spitting the spears out toward her from behind.
Kaguya, her Tenseigan active, sensed the attack before it even reached her. She muttered, "Heed me, time, and return."
The glowing circle appeared beneath her again. The spears halted in mid-air, frozen in time, before they began to move backward, reversing their trajectory. The wormhole behind Kaguya shrank and collapsed as time rewound itself, erasing the spears and the hole from existence.
Kaguya slowly descended from the sky, her gaze never leaving Hamura. As she approached, Hamura raised his hand to the sky, summoning a storm of lightning bolts.
[Divine thunder]
The air crackled with energy as the bolts streaked toward Kaguya, their power enough to level mountains. But Kaguya's chakra orbs spun again, turning a deep, ominous red. A barrier formed around her, rendering the lightning bolts useless as they crashed against her shield.
Hamura cursed under his breath, frustration boiling inside him. No matter what he did, Kaguya seemed untouchable. She watched him with a cold, detached expression, her power overwhelming.
"Why?" Kaguya finally spoke, her voice carrying a weight of sadness. "Why do you and your brother continue to defy me, your mother? All I have done is for the good of this world. Yet you rise against me."
Hamura's eyes narrowed, his heart heavy with the burden of what they had to do. "Because, Mother," he replied, his voice resolute, "the world you seek to create is not one of peace. It is one of tyranny. We may be your sons, but we cannot stand by and allow you to destroy everything that we hold dear."
Kaguya's gaze softened, but only for a moment. "You are mistaken, Hamura. I am the divine matron of this world. I know what is best for it."
Hamura clenched his fist, his resolve hardening. "Perhaps you did once. But now, you've lost your way. And we have no choice but to stop you."
Kaguya's expression darkened, her disappointment palpable. "Then so be it," she said quietly.
Hamura glanced at the moon seal on his palm, the symbol glowing faintly with the energy stored within. He knew him and his brother had their work cut out for them, but even if they stuck to the plan of sealing Kaguya, he didn't know how they were going to overcome her overwhelming power in conjunction with the rampaging Ten tails.
Locked in his own battle in the distance, Hagoromo dodged a tailed beast bomb from the Ten tails, the explosion leveling the terrain on the horizon.
[Gale style: Laser circus]
He extended his hands, attacking the beast with a barrage of white beams of energy, causing it to roar in anger.
But the Ten tails didn't slow down.
It ran towards Hagoromo's Susanoo with a roar, the terrain shaking beneath it's colossal weight. Hagoromo gripped his sword tighter as the beast approached, preparing himself for the battle to decide the fate of their world.