Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
The Shinden Saga – Arc 4: The Otsutsuki War
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Chapter 143 – Trading Lives
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In a little village of the land of Fire, the Kage are united for a council. The Hokage is here with Kakashi Hatake and Izuna Uchiha. The Kazekage is with Shinki and Kankuro. The Raikage is with C and Aoki. The Mizukage is with Suigetsu Hozuki, Kokoro and Takeshi Minamoto. And the Tsuchikage came with Akatsuchi, Genki Shintaro and Abachi Shintaro.
As they were discussing the latest intervention of the Ryu Shinsen in Konoha, they were interrupted by the visit of Naobi Otsutsuki, goddess of order, who is here with a new proposition for peace.
"To keep these Tenshin away forever and offer true peace?" C wonders aloud, behind the Raikage. "How would you proceed?"
Naobi gets lower and comes closer to the table. She crosses her legs and keeps levitating to sit in the air.. She lets her staff go and makes it levitate in front of her above her knees. Surrounded by the council, she answers.
"In order to resurrect the victims of deicide, the Tenshin have to hunt down their murderers. To this end, they would inevitably have to come in contact with Uchiha Sasuke, discover the wonderful power that humans can achieve, and seek to conquer it. By dealing only with me before any threat of conflict appears, they will not be involved and therefore never even aware of what potential power to covet from your world."
Chojuro looks at Kurotsuchi. Takeshi crosses the gaze of Izuna. The Raikage stares at Gaara. Naruto looks over his shoulder at Kakashi. All the people in the room look at each other to see if any of them could already sense a catch in her offer or if it is still too soon. One thing is sure, they are all way too pessimistic to anticipate a positive reply.
"My unique jutsu, Kami Musubi, is the pinnacle of Genjutsu and Shinjutsu." Naobi explains. "It can fashion the past, the present, the future. More than a simple unbreakable illusion, I can bend its effect within reality itself to make any of your wishes come true. If the criminals among your kind accept to forfeit their lives for me to reincarnate their victims, the mission of the Tenshin on Earth will be fulfilled without their implication. And so nothing will ever bring their attention to the ninja world."
After this short explanation, she looks at Chojuro, the Mizukage, and briefly at Takeshi before that.
"My fellow residing in your hidden village currently, Sakitsuki, will be brought back by my side where she belongs. Your memories as well as every proof of existence of my kind, and the sacrificed criminals will be erased and properly replaced. All within just a single effort of myself. The ninja world will go on, cleansed of the conflicts it currently suffers the most from, and will prosper in the peace that the 7th Hokage has brought."
After this surely promising but too easy tale, Naruto, seemingly the only one in immediate disapproval, promptly answers.
"So not only do you demand that I give up on Sasuke and Boruto, but also that I completely forget them and lose all little reminders I could have had of them? This offer is just as ridiculous as Yamitsuki's. You clearly never had children of your own to think that someone would accept that."
"On the contrary, Hokage, I know very well what I am talking about. I myself had to give up on any child I foresaw for myself in order to maintain order in all universes. What I ask of you, unlike Yamitsuki, is to make the same painful effort. I conceive that it may be worse, as you have already had the chance to know your son, but the reward is also much clearer for you. The doom your world could avoid thanks to this is imminent. Think of all the victims that my rogue fellows already made, and of all those they will make in the future without this. To some extent, we may even be talking about the fate of the whole multiverse."
Naruto, frustrated by the bright and extreme description she makes of the situation, clenches his teeth and his fists on the table and quiets his reaction. Most other people in the room are still too confused to follow. How can this promise even be real? How can someone really pretend to have a power that can just rewrite reality as easily as that? To bring a final period to her offer, Naobi proposes a terrible reward in addition.
"In exchange for your abandonment and their sacrifice, I can gift to this world the resurrection of regretted souls. I can bring back whoever you wish to be reunited with." she declares, to everyone's quiet amazement and wonders.
"At what cost?" Kurotsuchi promptly breaks her silence, surprising Akatsuchi and his students.
"A condemned criminal, an undesired unborn child, or even a vulgar animal." Naobi answers. "Any form of life, with the will of your demand, is sufficient to cause such a miracle. The only boundary to my power is my mind, which surpasses anything you can imagine."
Kakashi, not willing to participate in the discussion, squints and thinks. Despite what she says about her Genjutsu, it seems that it has at least one obvious limit. Like all other reincarnation jutsu he knows, It cannot work without a sacrifice. Otherwise, Sasuke and Boruto wouldn't have to die for their victims to come back. Or so he thinks, based on the details he has now.
"What exactly are you pretending to be able to offer?" Gaara exclaims in a mistrustful tone to get Naobi's attention. "A soul for the treacherous deliverance of another? We already know such a jutsu. We call it Edo Tensei and it is forbidden to us."
"I am not speaking of Impure reincarnation. It is a perfectly pure resurrection of the dead. A person brought back among the living, as alive as you, or even as if they never even died within your memories."
"What you mean, as well as the perfect peace you promise, are nothing more than illusions." Darui answers, staying pessimistic.
"No…" Kokoro answers, just as Takeshi, having witnessed it in person, thinks the same to himself. "It's true. She can really undo total death. Even rewrite the past and modify reality."
When they hear that, all the Kage and their guards first stare at Kokoro, and then at the Hokage, whom they expect to tell if she is being manipulated by the enemy or trapped in a Genjutsu. Yet she isn't. Kokoro said that perfectly consciously. Then, everyone stares at Takeshi, the one who knows Sakitsuki best and, if this declaration is true, should be the best to know. To this unsaid question, he answers by simply nodding his head with eyes closed. Seeing them all admit the truth about her divine abilities, Naobi gives one last detail about her power to make sure there is no misunderstanding.
"Just like the Izanagi of the Uchiha costs only a pupil, Kami Musubi will only require the sacrifice of one's chakra or one of my tomoe. As an ode to your world, I will consume as much as needed to guarantee peace among our people. You only need to give up on Sasuke, Takeshi and Boruto, and I will save you from the Tenshin and bring back whoever you want."
Takeshi is startled by this phrase. Not only because it confirms, by mentioning the cost of a tomoe, that the jutsu she talks about is the same as Tojiki's. But also because of the unexpected mention of his name among those of Sasuke and Boruto. Was it a mistake? Tentoki, Makura, and even the Daitengu, noticed the same thing and are troubled as well. Naobi was only tickled by a sensation that made her feel like his name belonged there. Seeing the reaction of the Minamoto, she leans forward and decides to tempt him first.
"It could be Karasu." she proposes, startling Takeshi again who doesn't want his past friendship to be revealed so carelessly. "Or Tokiwa, your mother." Naobi adds, which feels like a sharp blade through the heart for Takeshi who trembles and looks away.
"Or I could resurrect Mizuno and her daughter." she starts to say to Chojuro and Suigetsu before giving more personal examples. "Or even Ao, Mangetsu, and Ameyuri."
The Mizukage and his right hand breathe in and do their best to stay calm despite the temptation. She then looks at Kokoro who worriedly stares back, already knowing what she may hear.
"You can ask to see Shibata again." Naobi says to the kunoichi who swallows her dry saliva. Tentoki, within Takeshi, is angered by this and audibly growls in the Minamoto's mind.
Naobi then lets her body move to face the Kazekage.
"I could bring back your uncle Yashamaru, or your mother Karura." she says, which shocks Gaara. He didn't expect the mention of such personal details here and, before he can show any weakness, is preceded by Kankuro who angrily steps forward, ready to intervene. The puppet master is however held back by his nephew Shinki, who stays calm.
"Or it could be the 3rd Raikage and Fukai." she adds as she turns around to see the Raikage and C. These two look at each other, to avoid eye contact with the goddess, leaving only Aoki as prey for Naobi's wonders. "Or… What if the young Saeko never disappeared and kept going as a kunoichi of Kumo?"
Aoki gasps aloud, frightened by how personal the celestial's suggestions are. Next to the people of Kumo, Naobi notices the Tsuchikage deep in her thoughts, She seems to actually think of who could be mentioned.
"What if Deidara never deserted Iwa, and was there as your right hand?" she suggests, which seems to have no effect. Naobi tries something more surprising. "Or I could save the 3rd Tsuchikage."
These words shake the soul of Kurotsuchi who widely opens her eyes and visibly sweats. This odd proposition confuses everyone in the room. Naruto Uzumaki feels the pain in his colleague's heart and steps up for her.
"That's enough!" he says as he abruptly stands up to get the attention of everyone.
Naobi slowly turns around and inhales, prepared to speak of the last of the 5 villages.
"At last, who could benefit more from my offer than Konoha, the village that worships and honors the will of its martyrs." she says. "Don't take these calls as menaces. They are like a hand held out to end your torments."
Naobi stares at the Hokage for a long time, trying to read his thoughts through his gaze, and then looks at Izuna Uchiha, terribly troubled by the fact that this same power she offers to use is what stole his older brother from his mother.
"I can revive Tsunade." she suggests to Izuna who tries to stay unmoved. "Or your uncle Itachi."
Seeing no reaction from the Uchiha, she looks over the Hokage's other shoulder and sees Kakashi. To insist on the dark past of this man, she deeply but quietly breathes in.
"Kakashi Hatake. I can save your father from suicide. I can bring back Rin Nohara. Or redeem Obito Uchiha."
"Stop that!" Naruto exclaims to interrupt the train of thought of his sensei, and finally gathers Naobi's attention on him.
"Naruto Uzumaki, are you afraid to hear the dreams I can make real?" she questions him. "You, in this room, are clearly the most crushed by pain and grief despite your indomitable pride and memory."
She makes a short pause to slowly come closer, and troubles his mind like she did the others.
"Don't you want to know?… What if Jiraiya had lived to see you fulfill your dream? What if Neji didn't have to die for you? What if your parents, Minato and Kushina, were there today as grandparents for Himawari?"
Naruto stands agape at these questions. What bothers him particularly is how Naobi uses the simple first names of the people she mentions to make these interrogations feel much more inner and personal. In the Hokage's mind, Kurama senses his trouble and calls him back to senses. At the same time, Gaara stands up for his friend, just like he did earlier for the Tsuchikage.
"We've heard enough, Lady Naobi." the Kazekage says to get the celestial's attention. "And we will not tolerate more of your remarks."
"Lady Naobi!" Naruto exclaims to make her look at him again, full of confidence and determination. "These people… My parents, Neji, Jiraiya… They all gave their lives for me without expecting anything in return other than making my dream come true and making their souls live on with my memories. They didn't expect to be here to see it, because they trusted me. Their sacrifice made me who I am today. The same goes for all the other names you called."
"… Only pride, it is." Naobi remarks, before discreetly staring at Kurotsuchi who notices her and takes it personally. "Once alone at night with the moonlight, you will feel the pain of grief and remorse again and understand the needed relief."
"We won't!" Naruto insists. "Especially not considering that your suggestions can be made possible only with the grief of another life."
"Paying with the life of a convicted criminal will not hurt your values." Naobi argues. "Death sentence has existed in your societies longer than chakra, and even longer than in my clan. Almost every populated world creates it as a solution. Even if you or your student won't, everyone in this room would agree with that."
Darui, slightly bothered that she speaks in his name, supports his colleague.
"If you can really bring back the dead at a fair cost from our perspective, Lady Naobi, why not simply bring back Sasuke Uchiha and Boruto Hyuga right after their sacrifice?"
This suggestion, for Naruto makes perfect sense and actually makes him consider it as a genuine solution for a moment. But Naobi now has to explain why she didn't directly suggest this.
"It would obviously be in my power to do so." she says. "But no matter in what shape, if their souls live, the stigmata, symbol of their crime, will remain. Only the Tenshin's punishment can erase it. So to prevent their coming, the bearer of a stigmata has to be taken out of this world."
"Then don't expect us to change our minds." Naruto yells. "No matter what you offer, I will fight the Shinden, and then the Tenshin, and anybody who'd come after them before I ever think of giving up my son and my best friend!"
"Hm… I doubt everyone else in the room takes it as personally as you do, Hokage." Naobi provokes him, in an attempt to weaken the sympathy of the others. It however seems to have the opposite effect. Chojuro abruptly stands up and declines together with Gaara.
"No." they exclaim at the same time, before the Mizukage goes on alone. "We stand with the Hokage."
"Indeed." Darui adds as he stands up as well. "Sorry, but no proper father would think of sacrificing his child's life before his own."
Naobi takes a long look across the room and squints, disappointed by this categorical refusal. She closes her eyes, unfolds her legs, catches her floating staff and sighs.
"My apologies, council of the Kage." she says. "I underestimated your union and your resolve. It saddens me, but it seems that you'd rather be destroyed by your pride."
She then looks at Takeshi Minamoto and speaks to him about who is by his side.
"Sakitsuki is like a daughter to me. And she has a strong affection for this world. So I am willing to help you just as much as my own people… If you ever change your mind and feel the need to summon my power, you would just have to call my name, and I will appear."
After this last mystic proposition, Naobi Otsutsuki vanishes in thin air, using the same jutsu that she used to come into this room in the first place. Now alone, all standing except the Tsuchikage, the Kage and their guards maintain a long and confusing silence. Noticing the only one still sitting, Naruto timidly asks a terrible question.
"Kurotsuchi… Why did she cite Onoki?" he asks, which intrigues everyone else as well.
The Tsuchikage stays inert and looks at the table emptily to avoid eye contact with anyone, pretending she didn't hear. Feeling the curious gazes of her colleagues, she swallows her dry saliva and tries to hold back her lips from trembling. Akatsuchi, knowing that ignoring them is inappropriate, breathes to calm down and answers for her.
"Lord Onoki is still alive, but in critical condition. Recovery is deemed impossible. It is not surprising, considering his age, but according to our medical support, he will probably pass away in the next month."
"… and bring the secret of Jinton in the tomb with him, without passing it on…" Kurotsuchi whispers to herself with a sorrowful voice.
Aoki, the Raikage's daughter, is the only one not from Iwa who heard this quiet comment. She doesn't speak of it, but sympathizes. Meanwhile in the room, everyone is shaken by the news and gets back to their seats to have a little pause before continuing the meeting.
Izuna, still behind the Hokage, worriedly wonders about the one who just left and her power, Kami Musubi. She is the one who trapped his father in another dimension for over 2 months, which led to him having to fight Oshio on his own. And her jutsu is what Momoshiki Otsutsuki used to make Oshio the son of another woman.
Considering this, that she pretends to be able to completely remake reality is not unreal. What is painful, however, is that all the past and futures she offers to make, have to exclude his father. How would she proceed, if the only difference has to be his father's existence? Would history, from the extinction of the Uchiha to today, be changed to something where Sasuke Uchiha never existed? And the same has to go about Boruto?
Suddenly, as he thinks of it, he remembers having heard another name be mentioned. Back to his senses, he stares at Takeshi, who seems as thoughtful as him, and asks.
"Hey, Friend,… Is it me or… did she say your name along with Boruto and my father?"
Takeshi looks at him, glad to hear that he isn't the only one who heard this. It seems like Kakashi, and Chojuro were also attentive enough to notice that even though she didn't insist on it. Yet, whatever it may have meant, they can't ask her anymore now. She left and her offer was declined. The Ninja World has to prepare for the coming of the unleashed Otsutsuki clan.
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Meanwhile, after Naobi Otsutsuki left the council, another member of the Shinden enters the atmosphere of Earth. Yasona Otsutsuki, the goddess of beauty and mischief, analyzes the lands of this planet and feels particularly attracted to the 5 great nations, on the largest continent. This is where her Byakugan sees nearly 100% of the chakra of this world. It seems like only a few individuals represent most of it.
Behind her, by her side as always, are Chishiki, Kuboshiki and Torushiki. Only Chishiki, her favorite disciple, has come to this world before, when she leaked her chakra in the land of Fire to cause a poison epidemic.
Yasona stops moving around and focuses on the special individuals she sees, mostly in the land of Fire. She first looks at Konoha.
"That place must be the hidden village where I sent you, Chishi. There's someone who feels almost just like Shiva there." she notices Sakura. "Oh and with them, it must be the Rinnegan user. So evil and tormented… And there's a purple stain, likely the Tenseigan boy that Aritsuki talked about."
She then looks aside, where the Kage council is taking place.
"There's a very sexy one over there as well. It is purely white in appearance, but feels as dark as even Isshiki's chakra." she comments about Takeshi Minamoto. "And… There is also something else that looks kinda like the Sengo, but also like the Uchiha. Probably their offspring." she adds, about Izuna. "And that bright enormous energy must be the yellow fox… Quite impressive." she comments on Naruto before following several chakra connections she can see across the continent, all leading to him. "All these other huge reserves are linked to him. They're all as red as a Juubi. These should be the Biju."
"… They look like pieces of an incomplete puzzle. Will you try to gather them?" Chishiki asks, curious to know what her mistress is gathering intel for exactly.
"Is there anything I can do to assist you, Yasona-sama?" Kuboshiki asks, willing to be useful in any way for the goddess of beauty.
Yasona before answering, waits for Torushiki, the tallest of the band, to make his comment too. But he stays as quiet as ever. Slightly disappointed by this lack of concern once again, she coldly replies to Kubo, as usual.
"There's nothing I want you to do, and nothing you can do, Kubo." she says. "It is the Shinden only who have been allowed to treat this world like a free territory, not anyone else."
Kuboshiki doesn't react. He sure would have liked to help her, but is satisfied only to hear her say his name. While she analyzes the landscapes, she is distracted by the splendid lines and reliefs drawn by the mountain chains in the largest land of the largest continent. The land of Earth.
While looking around, she notices Torushiki turning around and looking away, seemingly seeking a way back home. Not really wanting to have her subordinates too far from her, Yasona remembers all that Aritsuki told her about what the inhabitant of the moon said. He did mention that Yamitsuki visited him to claim his territory. With a quick gaze through the satellite with her Dojutsu she sees it empty of advanced life.
"Toru, you can stay close to me even if you can't come to this world." she says, before deactivating her Byakugan and looking at the three of them. "If you don't want to spend all the mean time waiting in the Kannogu, make yourself at home on that moon. It is free to take anyway."
Kuboshiki would have been okay with staying in his mistress' mystic palace. But Torushiki and Chishiki are more curious about this new territory. Toru, god of Thunder, moves forward, drawn toward the moon by his compliance.
"And where will you go, Yasona-sama?" Chishiki asks.
"I will come with you for now." the Shinden answers. "But then, as the daughter of Gaiya, I think I know my right place on this planet." she adds, staring at the mountains again.
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The next morning in Konoha, Boruto Hyuga wakes up a bit late in his room. The same place where he used to sleep as a teenager, in his family's house. Feeling an odd lack of intention in the morning, he stays sat in his bed, looks through the window and thinks. He hasn't been very social since he came back.
Oddly, when he woke up just now, he didn't expect to be in this bed, nor in his room in Toneri's castle, but simply in the forest, like 2 years ago when he was training and traveling with Sasuke. Coming back to Konoha makes him realize that what he felt nostalgic about these last 2 years wasn't his family and friends, but his adventures with his master.
While in his thoughts, he's brought back to the real world when he senses his little sister, Himawari, shyly opening the door. She stays half hidden behind the wall and looks at him without saying anything. Only now does Boruto realize that he hasn't seen her in almost 3 years.
"Um… Hi." he says confusingly, noticing how different she looks. Her hair is more voluminous, her face more like their mother's. "You… look stronger." he comments.
"Hm… I'm still only an academy student." she quietly answers before stepping in the room, relaxed.
She must be 12 years old now, Boruto thinks. Maybe what makes her seem so similar to their mom is… her behavior. She is acting timidly, like Hinata at the same age, even though she used to be very cheerful. It's like puberty hit her the same way it did Izuna. She is also seeing her brother for the first time in a while, and notices differences too, besides his hair.
"And you look strong too…" she comments while looking at his belly.
Boruto follows her gaze and sees his own upper body emerging from the blanket. He notices the damaged skin on his hands and arms, and his well drawn abs and pectorals. Embarrassed to appear like that before his sister, he sighs and smoothly brings his shirt to him with his Dojutsu's Tendo.
"How did you do that?" Hima calmly asks while stepping further in the room as he puts on his white shirt.
"Tenseigan thing." he simply says. "How have you been, Hima?"
"Good I guess. It's my last year at the academy." she says with a tone that sounds more like she used to. "I'm with Hanaka-sensei now. She often talks about you… Mostly in a positive way."
Boruto quietly reminds himself of his time at the academy, Hanaka-sensei, and his performance. It's true that his record scores will likely remain the best in the village for long, if not forever. He suddenly feels more curious about his sister and how well she does. How her friends are. How she feels about her soon-to-begin ninja career. They may both have become oddly awkward compared to 4 years ago, but it appears that finding someone alike to him is what he needed to unlock his sociability.
This sibling reunion is however gently interrupted. When he stands up, Boruto makes sure not to trip on a mattress lying on the ground next to his bed, and notices that it is empty. Just as he sees that, the one who sleeps there walks in the room and catches Himawari's attention.
It is Toneri Otsutsuki, holding a newspaper in his hand and fully dressed as he just came back from an early walk in the village. Unable to return to his castle for now, the last survivor of the parallel branch had to stay with Boruto, sharing his room. He could have taken the guest chamber or the living room, but he was afraid of asking, while Hinata was too shy to invite him.
Right now, he meets the sister of his student for the first time. Seeing her facial features mixing both her dad's and mother's, he gets the same feeling of defeat as when he first met Boruto. Yet, her gender, expression and hair color make her much more alike to her mom. For a moment, Toneri feels like his 20 year old self again, when he was keeping an eye on a young Hinata. Boruto, noticing his master's confusion, breaks the silence.
"Hima, this is Toneri. He is teaching me how to use my eyes." he says to his sister, before addressing his master. "Toneri-sensei, this is Himawari, my younger sister."
"Hello sir…" Hima timidly says, seeing no reaction from the stranger. "… What is it you're holding?" she asks, about the papers in his hand.
"Oh?" Toneri reacts and raises the newspaper he's holding. "Boruto, your name is in all these papyri."
"Papyri?" Boruto remarks mockingly yet quietly. "These are newspapers, sensei. They're made for people to be informed about stuff that happens and that could bother them."
Himawari raises her hands and gently asks to have the journal without a word. Toneri lets her take it and bring it to her brother.
"It's kinda just about you being back." she quickly reads the paper.
Boruto stands up to stretch, feeling weird in his shirt and jeans. He didn't wear regular modern clothes during all his time on the moon, yet he feels much more comfortable this way. While doing so, he thinks about what Hima just said. He's still the celeb he used to be for this village. So that his name is all over the newspaper isn't a surprise. But of course, as he'd expect, something else also got the media's attention.
"… Most of it is still about Dad's fight…" Hima sadly notices.
She sits on her brother's bed next to him and lets him see the pictures of the confused and defeated ninjas of Konoha in the streets of the village, and pictures of his father and sensei being carried to the hospital. There is however no image of the Ryu Shinsen that could be captured. The content of the articles are mostly theories about what might have happened and a few information about what is to come. Gladly, there is nothing that mentions Toneri, as his name and face are unknown to the masses.
The said Otsutsuki stares thoughtfully at the photograph of the defeated Hokage and Uchiha, and brings his student's attention back to more important issues.
"Come on, Boruto, let's go." he says as he turns around to leave the house.
"What? Where?" the yellow haired ninja asks, in total sync with his sister who has the same question.
"Is it not obvious?" Toneri replies. "What is told and shown in this papyrus is exactly the reason why I requested your power in the first place. The Ryu Shinsen had foreseen and planned this outcome. He now threatens to destroy your planet and has chased me away from mine. Him and his fellows are who we've expected all this time, and we are still not ready. So what we will do is train, just like we were doing before this started. You still have much to learn."
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End of Chapter 143 – Next Chapter: The first state of matter