"I fear I'm not the infallible hero they believe I am.

"The Great Sage speaks of two paths, a crossroads of fate. They say I'll lead them to salvation. What if the other's path is the true way forward? If their faith in me is misplaced? If I don't lead them to salvation, but to ruin instead?

"Each day, I doubt myself a little more."

出

発

12 — DEPARTURE

"MONKEY BUSINESS," Gojō said, hands set in a peculiar configuration. "Form Two. Come out, Kūten."

Naruto saw a flash of light, emanating from his hands. Then — although he didn't sense it much anymore — chakra pooled and released in the air. It burst forth with light, and the same winged creature he had seen at sea shimmered into existence. The shadowy being, although towering, seemed smaller than last time, Naruto thought. Glancing at Shinpachi, the other boy didn't seem entirely surprised. There was a curiosity in his eyes that made him look younger than usual, and closer to his actual age.

When Naruto glanced back toward his mother, she, on the other hand, seemed older. Her cheeks seemed a bit hollower, and her hair slightly thinner. Perhaps it was a trick of the light or his own anxieties. Still, the change struck him, and something inside his chest tightened.

The final moments in Uzushio passed in a drowsy, dreamlike haze. Nagato moved through the courtyard, stopping to greet several people along the way. Naruto didn't miss the way most of them looked at him — there was a sort of awe in them. It wasn't the sort of look you gave a person.

Gojō folded his arms and sighed, apparently impatient now, even as Shiori and Ryūjin drew closer. "You know," Gojō said, running a hand along the shadowy crest of his shikigami's head. "Had I known he would waste this much time on dramatics, I would've held off on summoning her."

For a moment, Naruto almost thought he saw the chakra construct preen in answer to his ministrations. But it was just a shikigami, wasn't it?

Ryūjin snorted. "Complaining about theatrics? You?"

"Yes," Gojō replied smoothly. "Me."

"Oh?" Ryūjin's eyebrow arched. "Then, care to explain what that whole mess was with Denjo's daughter?"

"Foolishness," Shiori cut in, her voice as sharp and steady as a blade. "Plain, unadulterated stupidity, the kind that will haunt him one day."

"Chiako's old enough to make her own choices, you know," Gojō said dryly. "If she wants to piss off her dad, who am I to refuse?"

"That's not the point she's making," Ryūjin sighed, casting Gojō a disappointed look. "And here I thought a year or two might've mellowed you out."

Gojō flashed a grin. "Certainly not." He shook his head, glancing toward the horizon. "And I stand by what I said about Nagato. Why is he shaking hands when he's late…? The flight's going to be long enough as is—"

"Gojō," Shiori chided, her voice low, a note of warning in it. "Not here."

"Truly?" Gojō frowned. "All of us are part of this journey, whether we want it or not. They should—"

"It is not any of us I am worried about," she said, glancing beyond the five of them.

"Suit yourself, then," Gojō sighed.

The woman then turned to the children. "I am Shiori of the Kizoku-ke. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Naruto. And of course, I have heard much about you, Shinpachi."

Naruto returned the nod with a formal bow, remembering what he had been taught. The same way Shinpachi did. "The honor is ours, Lady Shiori."

It wasn't long before Nagato returned, a calm, grounding presence.

"If that is all?" he asked.

"Same question," Gojō said.

Naruto's gaze wandered again, drawn first to his mother. Her arms were crossed, and her eyes... They said everything she wasn't saying. There was a weariness in them, and something more — a quiet sorrow.

He glanced at his friends. He glanced at Noboru — who, unlike the others, didn't look back. And then at the five members of the gathered team, wondering just what exactly he was about to step into. His feet felt rooted to the ground, and his heart pounded—

Shinpachi stood nearby, hands at his sides, watching everything with quiet intensity. He then caught Naruto's eye and gave him a nod — small, but meaningful.

He thought of Yasaka, alone out there, and strong.

Naruto took a deep breath, letting it fill his lungs, feeling the cool air calm the storm inside. The decision had already been made. If he didn't go now, he might never be able to.

Without looking back, Naruto stepped forward, his feet carrying him toward the large winged shikigami waiting nearby. Kūten's shadowy form rippled, the creature's wings twitching slightly as if sensing the moment. Gojō stood beside it, arms crossed, a patient, knowing look on his face, as though the world was moving too slowly for him.

Naruto hesitated for just a second longer, stealing one last glance at the village — remembering the winding streets, the familiar faces that had watched him grow. His mother's distant figure stood out like a stone in a river; unyielding, but flowing with the tide of change anyway.

"Time to go," Gojō's voice cut through the air. Then, a bit quieter, he asked Naruto, "That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

The question was as neutral as it could be, considering. And its answer was a slow nod. Later, Gojō seemed to convey with his eyes.

"I will go to the front," Nagato decided. "Along with Gojō. You two," he said, meaning Shinpachi and Naruto, "will stay in between us all. If you would?"

Naruto swallowed the lump in his throat and climbed onto the shikigami's back. The shadowy feathers beneath him felt strangely cool, and insubstantial, like trying to sit on a cloud made of mist. Shinpachi followed in one fluid motion, his face set in a hard, unreadable expression.

Then came the others — Shiori, Ryūjin, Nagato, and Gojō. Each of them settled into place with an air of quiet finality.

With a powerful sweep of its wings, Kūten lifted off the ground. The first beat felt like a slow, deliberate ascent. The second was stronger, more forceful, and by the third, they were soaring higher, leaving solid ground behind. The courtyard below grew smaller, the waving people shrinking into specks as the rooftop and single road became nothing more than a distant blur of shapes and colors. Naruto watched as the southernmost island and then Uzushio slowly faded behind him, each beat of the shikigami's wings pulling him further away from everything he had ever known.

His stomach was so tight he was afraid he would vomit.

The wind rushed past, cool and biting, its sharpness cutting through the haze of emotions that clouded his mind. For just a moment, Naruto closed his eyes, letting the sensation wash over him — the weight of the past, the uncertainty of the future, the clarity of this present moment.

There was no turning back now.

Kūten dove sharply into the thick of a cloud, disappearing into the mist as Naruto's eyes snapped open once more. The world vanished in a blur of white, and Naruto's heart leaped into his throat. He could hear the wind howling around them, and could feel the air grow colder as the shikigami plummeted toward the sea below. His pulse quickened, and his grip on the shikigami's feathers tightened, chakra pooling to help him stick to whatever he could. He couldn't see anything — could just feel the swirling mass of clouds and the dizzying sensation of falling.

And then, just as abruptly, they burst out of the cloud. The vast, endless ocean spread out beneath them mirrored the sky above, a deep and boundless blue that stretched far beyond the horizon. There was no solid ground to be seen, and even Uzushio's islands were out of sight. There was only this. The notion of it was staggering, and Naruto's breath caught, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it.

Toward the sea, then, as the rumor had it...?

No.

They weren't falling anymore.

With a majestic sweep of its wings, Kūten flared wide, catching the air in a graceful arc. The sudden pull lifted them back into an ascent, steady and sure. They soared upward, climbing higher into the clouds, until the sea below became an afterthought. The sensation of flight was almost surreal, as if they were drifting between worlds.

But, he supposed, that was where he belonged, now.

Naruto exhaled slowly, his body relaxing into the surprisingly steady rhythm of Kūten's flight.

"We are far away now," Gojō said at last, before turning back again. "More than far enough."

They were above the clouds still, and compared to Uzushio, the air felt dry. Both Gojō and Nagato seemed entirely occupied with steering the shikigami and what seemed like meditation, respectively.

"…Far enough for what?" Naruto asked, his breath coming out in uneven bursts. He placed a hand on his chest, noticing the tightness spreading as he inhaled.

Shiori glanced at him. "Be vigilant. We are high enough that breathing's a struggle for the unprepared," she said, looking back over the clouds. Seemingly unbothered. "Up here, the air's thin — there's less oxygen to fill your lungs, and hardly any moisture left. No ocean spray to cling to your skin, no warmth left to hold it."

Naruto frowned, swiping his sleeve across his forehead, though it came away dry. He knew about most of this, in theory. Still, to experience high altitude without any sort of seals was a bit different. The air was crisp, almost biting in its coolness. He took another breath, this time slower, more measured, and even then, it felt like his lungs were straining.

"I'd like to ask, then," Naruto said. "Is there a particular reason we are not bothering with any seals to do just that?"

"Good question." Ryūjin grinned. "Clever lad, aren't you?"

"Your hunch is right," Shiori answered humorlessly, her gaze steady. "We're keeping a low profile."

"What for?" Naruto asked.

She smiled coolly. "Why, to ensure you both arrive alive."

Naruto blinked. "...What?"

"Ah, that is quite harsh, Ma'am," Ryūjin said. "…Although it is true."

Shiori's gaze drifted to the horizon, where the clouds seemed to stretch forever.

"Konoha has no shortage of enemies," she murmured, a hint of dark amusement threading through her voice. For the first time, Naruto caught a shadow of a smile — faint, dry, as though it had endured a hundred storms, and laced with something sharper, self-loathing. "Maybe binding the clans through marriage was a mistake after all. Mito's presence in Konoha has drawn as much danger to both villages as it's deflected."

Naruto's voice dropped to a whisper. "What's going on, exactly?"

"There's a strong chance Uzushio's intelligence has been compromised," she replied. "Or Konoha's. Likely both. Moving the islands closer to the mainland now would be a risk to everyone. That's why Konoha and most of our people think we're traveling by boat, coming up from the south. Odds are, traps are already set, waiting for us on that route."

They sat in silence for a moment or two.

"Traps?" Naruto echoed at last, his voice low. "Of which sort?"

Shiori's expression didn't waver, but her crimson eyes opened, locking onto his and Shinpachi's in turn, with a weight that made the air between them feel even heavier. "Assassins," she said flatly, the word hitting like a cold iron bell. "For one. It's the reason we've changed course and leaked a false itinerary. They're not likely to be ordinary killers — rather, they might be highly skilled, leagues beyond common mercenaries."

Naruto's gaze flicked to Shinpachi, who sat to his right, posture rigid, sharp eyes tracking every word. Not a muscle moved, he was as unwavering as a drawn blade.

"…That's why Lord Nagato's with us, isn't it?" Naruto ventured. One of the most competent men available to Uzushio. "And why he's hiding us."

At least, that's what he supposed was happening. Masking an entire group was a difficult feat, and doing so while they were moving, was even more so. It was likely done by using the shikigami as the anchor for a concealment matrix.

"Just Nagato is fine," the younger man — and how young was he, in truth? — said from the front, without turning. His smile still could be felt.

Ryūjin chuckled softly. "I'm the one doing the cloaking this time," he said, his eyes glinting with a trace of pride in his ability. "Nagato's sweeping our perimeter, as cloaking and scanning together is a feat best done separately — even for him. Maybe we're being overly cautious, but I'd rather we take no chances with what's at stake."

Naruto's mind spun, the familiar sense of looming danger coiling tight in his chest. "Who would go this far?" he asked, though a part of him felt he already knew. Another village, perhaps? Which one?

"This far…?" Shiori's gaze hardened, her voice turning as sharp as the wind whipping past them. "That is the shinobi way. Anyone afraid of what the Uzumaki's strength represents."

Her eyes, cold and focused, seemed to cut through Naruto.

"And as you might have noticed," Gojō said from the front, after a beat of silence, "that leaves quite a lot of people."

Ryūjin gave a humorless chuckle, low and quiet. "Let's put it that way. Anyone who profits from weakening the alliance between Uzushio and Konoha… from pitting us against each other, even in the smallest possible ways, would do it. And, well…" He glanced ahead, where Nagato led their small formation with his usual silent vigilance. "Nagato's presence is both a shield and a lure. We tried to keep his involvement as quiet as possible, but secrets don't stay buried forever. By the time we reach the mainland, the plan may have changed entirely."

For a moment, the only sound was the wind, whispering around them, tugging at their cloaks. High above the clouds, with the world below hidden from view, it felt as though unseen eyes were already watching, waiting for a single slip.

And then, Gojō laughed, though his gaze stayed fixed on the horizon ahead.

"It's more than just traps and assassins, really," he said, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "The world you two are about to step into is a powder keg. And we're the ones carrying the match—"

Ryūjin's fist struck the back of his head with a swift, harmless thump. "Ouch!" Gojō yelped, rubbing the spot in indignation.

"Don't be cryptic with the kids," Ryūjin warned. "Kid."

"Don't hit me if you don't want us all to go plunging into the sea!" Gojō shot back. "Who do you think is steering this ship, old man?"

"Some fool, I'd venture?"

Naruto cleared his throat. "What was that, about a match?"

There was silence.

"Well?" Gojō asked, throwing a pointed look at Ryūjin and Shiori. As though it had been the goal all along. "Don't you think we should at least tell them what to expect?"

Shiori sighed. "…You are as irreverent as ever."

"My mother always said it was part of my charm."

"Who's your mother?" Naruto asked, before he could think twice about it — or notice Ryūjin burying his face in his hand.

"No idea," Gojō chuckled. "Never met her. But I'm sure she was a real piece of work, given how I turned out."

Naruto frowned, lips pressed into a tight line.

"Oh, who knows?" Gojō added with a lazy wave of his hand. "She probably had my dazzling golden eyes—"

"…Look." Ryūjin threw him a rather unimpressed look. "If you truly believe this is doing them a service, then fine, let us continue right now. Let's tell them about Nobu."

When Gojō glanced back, the usual lightness in his expression had faded. "As they just said, there isn't a single 'Great' Nation, or even a 'lesser' one, that wouldn't be pleased to see you both dead before you reach Konoha," he said, his voice losing its levity. "And the same goes for the golden—... Nagato. Powerful men and women would gladly send their finest assassins to ensure either thing."

He paused, then added, "Lady Yume wrestled with the decision to involve him, weighing every risk again and again. In the end, she decided you'd be safer with him — and with us, though I suspect some wouldn't mind if I don't make it there with you. That Nagato's here at all... says a lot, doesn't it?" Another pause lingered between them. "The moment you left Uzushio, you were marked. Or maybe it started even before that."

Gojō's gaze flickered between them. "There's talk that Konoha's working on some kind of tool. Word is, you two might be part of its making before long, with Lady Mito getting on in years. We don't know much beyond that yet — but if there's any truth to it, you'll find out soon enough."

Naruto felt his chest tighten.

"...Who was Nobu?" Shinpachi asked, his voice calm, though Naruto could see the hard line of his mouth. He didn't seem surprised in the slightest.

"There are things you don't know?" Naruto blurted out, before cursing himself for his smart mouth. But Gojō laughed, and Ryūjin's mouth quirked in a barely concealed grin when Shinpachi glared at him, cheeks flushing angry red. And then, silence resumed.

Shiori answered, her voice softer than usual. "He was the boy who was sent to Konoha along with Tenjin."

"…Where is he now?" Naruto asked, though he felt the answer settle within him. Tenjin, he already knew — Konoha's latest master Sealweaver, and unmistakably dead. "This Nobu?"

"He never made it."

Of course.

Shiori then shook her head, lifting a hand to her face, brushing her thumb against her lips in a rare, almost anxious gesture that almost let Naruto see the dignified, elderly woman as she had been as a child — barefoot on the worn, sun-bleached docks of old Uzushio, hair tangled by the sea's salt-laden breeze; she'd squint against the sharp glare of sunlight on water, her hands calloused from mending fishing nets and knotting ropes, and stained with ink too; she'd laugh freely, rough and hoarse and irreverent as she said Gojō was, like waves crashing against stone, long before she had grown tough like the rocks themselves, shaped by hardship and the endless rhythm of tides. Then Naruto blinked, and she was Lady Shiori once more.

Nagato, silent at the front, opened his eyes briefly, meeting Naruto's gaze curiously.

"Poison." Shiori's voice was steady, though the word lingered, sharp and bitter in the air. "Nobu was just a boy, in many aspects… one who couldn't resist a sweet. A convincing smile, and he'd have taken it without a second thought."

Naruto felt a chill settle over him as Shiori continued.

"I was part of their escort," she said, her voice rougher now. "Tenjin. Nobu. Kazahaya. Suzushiro. Most of us made it to Konoha then, but to this day, out of five, only I remain." Her gaze darkened, and a flicker of something haunted passed over her face. "And I feel as though I have doomed these two boys to their fates."

She then glanced at Naruto and Shinpachi, her eyes saying what she wouldn't.

"…But no matter how I feel about my duty," she continued, her voice hardening, "it is my duty. And I will see it through."

Nagato, leading their formation, nodded solemnly.

"…Well, that was quite heavy," Gojō said lightly. "Mind if we talk about something pleasant, now? Music, maybe?"

Ryūjin grunted, his eyes narrowing at Gojō. "You brought that on everyone," he muttered. "You're the one who asked for serious talk before we even reached."

"Oh, come on, now," Gojō replied. "They needed to know, and now it's done. We'll give them the rest of the briefing as we go. Not everything has to be doom and gloom. Do you need to go through life's tragedies to appreciate its better tunes?"

"You always do that, kid," Ryūjin muttered. "Always."

"Music?" Shinpachi raised an eyebrow, seemingly curious. "May I ask you, then, Master Gojō—"

"Gojō," the young man interrupted, looking slightly exasperated. "What the hell. Just call me Gojō."

Shinpachi gave a slight nod, though the formality somehow still lingered in his tone. "Gojō… do you play an instrument?"

Gojō's face lit up. "Ah, finally, a question I like. Lately, I've taken to the shamisen. Now there's an instrument for a man of taste — unlike, say…"

Nagato, who had been listening in silence at the front, unexpectedly joined in, his tone dry but carrying a hint of amusement. "The flute is the choice of a thoughtful man."

"Oh, yes, the flute," Gojō replied with feigned consideration, raising a finger theatrically. "A fine choice… for those inclined to chase birds." He waved a dismissive hand, then turned to Shinpachi again. "But the shamisen? That's an instrument with presence. It's got soul, depth, character — a bit like me, if I may."

Shinpachi arched an eyebrow, unmoved by the young man's dramatic flair.

"What about you?" Gojō asked.

"I don't think I'd be any good with an instrument," Shinpachi said.

"And how do you know that?"

Shinpachi gave a small shrug, glancing away as if embarrassed. "I just… I don't know. Never tried, I suppose."

"Well, there's always time," Gojō said. "And besides, it's not about being good or bad. It's about finding something that feels like yours. And well, doing something that's not work." He paused, looking at both Naruto and Shinpachi. "…Yeah, it might just do you both some good."

"Us both?" Naruto asked, frowning. "Why—?"

"Do either of you care for poetry?" Gojō asked abruptly.

Ryūjin let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Oh no. Please, not that again."

"Something wrong with poetry?" Gojō raised a brow, mock-offended.

"Just with yours," Ryūjin replied, smirking.

Gojō scoffed. "Don't listen to the old man. Poetry's a great way to practice your sealing."

"…How so?" Naruto asked, curious despite himself. Gojō grinned, and if skyhawks could grin, that was how Naruto imagined they would do it.

"Shodō, of course," Gojō replied, leaning in with a gleam in his eye. "Poetry and calligraphy, brought together. Each stroke has weight, and purpose. Not unlike sealing."

Naruto's frown deepened, not entirely convinced. "I suppose I can see the calligraphy part…?"

"Don't encourage him." Ryūjin rolled his eyes. "Next thing you know, he'll tell you it's the key to enlightenment."

"Nah," Gojō said as he straightened, letting his gaze drift over the group before a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "That's all I'll say. I'm done." He cast another glance at the vast stretch of sky in front of them.

"Tell me," he said, addressing Nagato. "Are we…?"

"We are still facing the right direction, yes," Nagato said. "According to my estimations, at least."

Gojō glanced at him, eyebrow raised. "Can you verify this again? I'll be too worn out to do this twice, likely. And, well, you know how my technique works."

"Certainly." Nagato closed his eyes and adjusted his stance, fingers forming a Tiger seal. Ryūjin grunted beside Naruto, undoubtedly intensifying (or adjusting) the chakra-trapping barrier he maintained around them all. Nagato pressed on, his focus unbroken.

"With our current angle, and if you can hold steady, we're within just under a degree of alignment," he said calmly. "But the wind… it's shifting, especially in the last hour. Gusts from the west are pushing us off-course by about half a kilometer every fifteen minutes. If it keeps up, we'll have to compensate, or we'll drift by a significant amount — and that drift will add up fast."

"How far to the target?" Gojō asked, eyes narrowed.

Nagato's voice remained steady. "Slightly under four hundred kilometers. Far enough that even a slight misalignment will cause us trouble. Again, just a degree off could put us tens of kilometers wide of our mark by the time we reach our destination."

"Better to go now, then."

"If you can — safely," Nagato said as he glanced down, eyes on the thin layer of clouds ahead. "Visibility's steady for now and likely still clear on the way, but if a storm front rolls in, that'll change things. We'll need to monitor our descent closely anyway — any angle too steep, and we overshoot. Too shallow, and we'll miss the landing zone entirely."

Gojō gave a slow nod, his gaze focused on Nagato. "Then stay sharp. I don't plan on drifting beyond ten kilometers. If we miss… Well, cleaning it up falls on you. Hopefully, you have a technique for that."

He stood up, a paper tag suddenly in hand, and took a long inhale.

"The coast is as clear as it should be, right?" he asked again.

Nagato nodded mutely.

Gojō brought his hands together, fingers forming a practiced, intricate seal around his shikigami tag. He then closed his eyes.

"…Where are we to land?" Naruto asked quietly. Since it wasn't a boat...

Ryūjin's focus didn't waver. "On a moving target, unfortunately. You'll see."

Naruto glanced at Shinpachi. But the latter's mouth was hanging slightly open, and his eyes were entirely focused toward the front, more so on Gojō than Nagato.

And Gojō… was chanting.

"Soul of sky," he intoned, low and resonant. "Feather and fury."

For a man who rarely seemed drawn to anything occult, the sheer intensity of Gojō's voice and presence spoke volumes to Naruto about the ritualistic weight of his art. More than anything else could have, it convinced Naruto that some things went beyond what was considered conventional logic.

The words he spoke weren't merely sounds — they held a force of their own. Stirring power, which gathered in the air like a thickening storm, clinging to his every breath. Shinpachi watched, utterly transfixed.

"Is that…?" Naruto murmured, leaning in.

"Yes," Shinpachi replied quietly, his eyes barely leaving Gojō. "Not just Fūinjutsu... or even Ninjutsu. Kototamajutsu, too."

Mastery of the two former arts was rare enough, but as for the latter…

Kototamajutsu was the art of the spoken word; it was the meaning embedded within speech, the power of intention voiced. Some called it the soul of a technique, and believed that a chant wasn't merely a spell — it was a binding force, giving form to the intangible, pulling something from the depths of the unseen and grounding it here. Most, on the other hand, called it a useless, or misguided effort at best.

It didn't seem quite so misguided to Naruto now.

Gojō's voice grew quieter, each word like the strike of a hammer against tempered steel, resonating in the air around them — and it felt charged, humming as if alive.

Kūten's shadow grew denser on the clouds below, the faint outline of its wings stretching wider, feathers rippling with unearthly energy. Something primal and deeply woven into the fabric of the world.

"To weave all three together," Shinpachi breathed out, as though in a trance — as though it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Fūinjutsu to bind, Ninjutsu to channel, and Kototamajutsu to awaken."

Gojō's hand traced a subtle pattern in the air, each movement precise, and controlled, as if he were drawing lines only he could see. With every phrase he chanted, Kūten seemed to respond, its form solidifying, becoming more present. Naruto felt it too, that strange pull between them and Kūten, as though the space itself was bending, as though the construct was sustained solely by the strength of Gojō's words.

At once, the wind picked up, circling them like a whispering vortex, and Kūten's eyes flickered open, now gleaming with a sharp thing that could only be called awareness. It looked back at them as if it saw them, truly saw them, for the first time.

To give shape to the formless. That was what crafting a shikigami truly meant, and Naruto realized it with a slight shiver. To call forth something that wasn't just chakra. Something closer to true creation.

Gojō finally fell still, his chant having long faded into stillness. Beneath them, Kūten hovered in the sky, twin pairs of wings stretched wide, casting a dark, sheltering shadow over the vast, billowing sea of clouds. That was what he'd done with Enkō last time, Naruto realized — some kind of powerful, ritualistic amplification. A process he now understood, thanks to Shinpachi, was likely bound by deliberate, self-imposed restrictions.

Naruto's gaze lingered on Gojō, the intricate workings of his technique beginning to take shape in his mind. He could almost sense it — elements of Restriction, at the very least. Adaptability, Balance... or perhaps something else entirely? He knew he couldn't truly understand it without asking. One thing stood out to him, however. As Shinpachi had said, such a complex technique could not solely depend on the paper tags he carried.

Within himself, Naruto understood. Of course. It's all inscribed within him, carved into his very body or soul. No wonder—

In the silence that followed, Gojō looked back at them, his expression calm, almost serene, but his eyes glimmered with a burning inner light.

"Ready?" he asked, voice low but steady.

Naruto and Shinpachi exchanged a glance. They nodded, resolute.

"Hang on tight, then."

There was hardly a need to say it; the chakra threads from both Ryūjin and Shiori anchored them firmly to Kūten, a silent warning of what was to come; Nagato's hands blurred into another hand seal.

With no further words, Gojō turned forward, crouching down and placing his hand upon his shikigami, Kūten's powerful wings shifting in anticipation.

It hit like a thunderclap; a flash of gold.

A fierce surge of power rocketed through them, and it felt as if the entire sky bent forward in response. The acceleration pressed them down, so intense that Naruto felt his chest tighten, his lungs struggling to draw breath as Kūten launched forward with a speed that defied reason.

Reality tore past them in a silent roar, its cold bite sharp against their skin, but even that was secondary to the sheer pressure holding them in place, pinning them to Kūten's back like gravity itself had doubled. Naruto's vision blurred at the edges, and his body felt impossibly heavy, locked in place by the crushing force of the shikigami's unnatural momentum. Every muscle tensed instinctively, resisting the urge to buckle under the intensity.

Don't break, he begged of himself. Don't break now.

Kūten's wings cut through the sky with razor precision, unnaturally still after the initial beat, flying in a way no bird did and closer to falling horizontally, a creature that shouldn't have existed, fueled by Gojō's fierce will alone.

There was a terrifying beauty in this silent fall: a raw, unrestrained speed that Naruto had never experienced before, not even in his fastest sprints or leaps.

Beside him, Shinpachi's fingers clenched tighter, and Naruto knew that even he, with all his training, was feeling the strain. They were moving like a fiery comet through the heavens, hurtling toward their destination with a momentum that felt impossible to control — and yet, under Gojō's hand, Kūten held steady, an unbreakable force tearing through the sky.

Time stretched, twisting into something elusive, slipping just out of reach. Seconds crawled by, blurring in slow motion, yet somehow vanishing in an instant — as though caught between the pulse of a heartbeat and an endless descent into the void.

Naruto couldn't tell how long they'd been hurtling forward. The speed blurred everything, dissolving his grip on reality until only the sensation of being propelled through the sky remained, locked into the shikigami's relentless momentum. Blue and white streaked past, and somewhere above, the sun seemed to burn harsher.

Then, they slowed.

The fierce, crushing acceleration eased, a sudden shift that felt like an abrupt halt; sound rushed back in a wave, almost like a dam breaking, a surreal, compressed flood. A shrill scream cut through — the shikigami's wings, nearly scorched from the sheer speed, slicing the air. They were still gliding high above the clouds, but the world felt calmer again, the rush of wind softening around them.

They slowed down some more.

Naruto took a steadying breath, feeling his chest loosen, and dared to look out at the clear sky.

In the distance, he saw it — a shape looming on the horizon, unfamiliar and rather large, suspended in the air. Moving, not unlike Uzushio did.

But that couldn't be, because they were said to be unique. He squinted, trying to make sense of it. It wasn't a bird, wasn't any living creature he'd ever seen — and didn't seem alive at all. The structure looked somewhat rigid from here. Likely heavy, but somehow held aloft as though gravity itself had bent to let it exist.

"What is that…?" he murmured, half to himself.

Nagato glanced over, catching his look, and a faint smile crossed his face. "That," he said, voice steady, "is our target." He turned to Gojō, inclining his head. "Thank you. Seems my estimation wasn't so far off, after all."

"Not bad at all," Gojō replied, voice slightly rough. "I'll give you that much."

The thing hung in the distance, a dark shadow against the sky, tugging at Naruto's curiosity despite himself.

"Ever seen anything like it?" he asked Shinpachi, whose eyes hadn't left the shape.

"No." Shinpachi shook his head slowly. "I don't think so."

They were flying toward it, Kūten's shadow drifting over the endless sea of clouds, growing fainter, slowing. Was this what Gojō had meant?

They were going to land on that thing, Naruto was certain of that much.

He understood it would carry them back to land.

But an unsettling feeling lingered, a quiet certainty that, once he set foot on that floating vessel, everything he believed about the world would shift in ways he couldn't reverse.

The sky stretched vast and unending, and in a single fleeting moment, Naruto felt the depth of it, his own smallness in its shadow.

"Well," Gojō murmured, blinking through his fatigue. "There's our airship. Let's get on board — I need my beauty sleep."

lensdump:

i/vlYZ6F : Gojō and Nagato

Annex — On Kototamajutsu: The Art of the Spoken Word

Kototamajutsu, the art of shaping reality through voice alone, is another way to bind the speaker's Will — or perhaps Intent — to the fabric of the world.

It stems from the belief that words, names, and the essence of language hold hidden power.

A word spoken with perfect clarity stirs unseen forces, linking the speaker's spirit to the world itself. With a chant, this effect deepens, each verse pulling the unseen closer still.

Perhaps it is why shinobi are said to often shout the names of their techniques; the naming and recalling of it gives their art sharper form. Or why even many seasoned sealmasters murmur "Seal" in that final moment, grounding their Will in something spoken, something real.

Perhaps. It is, in truth, a rather elusive craft.

Thus writes Naruto of the Hōshi-ke, on the eleventh day of May, in the Year 211 of the Fire Cycle.

Annex — The Uzumaki Houses

Kizoku-ke
"The Noble House" - Governance and policy-making
Leads the village by making high-level decisions on laws, policies, and long-term planning, ensuring the prosperity and stability of Uzushiogakure.

Bushi-ke
"The Warrior House" - Defense and law enforcement
Defends against external threats and maintains internal peace, with members skilled in combat, protection, and enforcing the laws of Uzushiogakure.

Gakusha-ke
"The Scholar House" - Education and knowledge preservation
Preserves and advances knowledge, focusing on teaching, research, and passing down Uzushiogakure's cultural, historical, and intellectual heritage.

Iryō-ke
"The Medical House" - Healthcare and healing
Provides medical care and healing practices, combining traditional remedies and advanced techniques to maintain the physical and mental health of the village.

Shokunin-ke
"The Artisan House" - Craftsmanship and construction
Creates essential tools, infrastructure, and artistic works, blending practical skills with cultural artistry to build and beautify village spaces.

Reikō-ke
"The Spiritual House" - Spiritual guidance and rituals
Conducts ceremonies, honors traditions, and provides spiritual support to strengthen the village's connection to its ancestral and mystical roots.

Bōeki-ke
"The Trade House" - Commerce and trade management
Oversees trade relations and economic activities, securing resources and forging connections beyond Uzushiogakure to support its prosperity.

Kaihatsu-ke
"The Development House" - Infrastructure and technological advancement
Leads innovation in building and technology, ensuring that village structures and defenses evolve with new techniques, including sealing advancements.

Sakugen-ke
"The Environmental House" - Conservation and natural resource management
Manages natural resources and sustainability practices, protecting the land, water, and forests to support the village's environmental needs long-term.

Koden-ke
"The Record House" - Archiving and historical record-keeping
Maintains archives of historical events, family lineages, and official records, preserving knowledge and legal documentation for future generations.

Hōshi-ke
"The Service House" - Administrative and support services
Provides essential support in administration, clerical duties, and personal assistance to ensure daily village functions run smoothly and efficiently.

Gimu-ke
"The Duty House" - General labor and community upkeep
Handles maintenance, cleaning, and repairs, performing practical tasks that keep the village infrastructure functional and in good condition.

Hinin-ke
"The Non-Person House" or "The Outcast House" - Marginalized labor and essential services
Performs tasks considered undesirable, like waste management and burial duties, essential to the village's hygiene and order despite their low status.

Thus writes Shiori of the Kizoku-ke, on the third day of April, in the Year 189 of the Fire Cycle.

AN: There we go.

Next chapter: Altitudes