3,664KG: So here we are at Chapter 100. Though, does this really count as 100 since some of those numbers are inflated by announcements? Either way, it's been such a journey. Never thought I would still be doing this hobby in my early thirties, but I don't regret it. It's still fun and it still gives me an excuse to listen to anime group podcasts. However, it's nice to know that my hobby helped someone's day, if only for a few minutes or hours. Either way, we're steadily creeping up on the end. It's rather melancholic but a nice ride. Thanks to all of you for being here with me in spite of me.
Music of the Month: Siege Towers by Audiomachine
Quote: "The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny" by James Allen
The next time Naruto awoke within the spirit pool, he quickly stood up and stepped away from the golden and violet gemstones. His mind had become a jumbled mess of nerves ever since the revelation from Otsutsuki Hamura came upon him. So stunned was he that he lost all the time to speak with the younger brother of Hagoromo before he returned to the real world.
"I'm gonna be Shin's next vessel?"
That single question seemed wrapped around thousands of others, of which the young Uzumaki had no answer. He'd lost five months of his life and now he was being told that he'd become the vessel of the god of Death. But… why? Why him? He was just… Naruto. He had no idea of the complexities of godhood. Hell, he didn't even want to be a god. All he desired was the power to keep his family and friends safe. For him, that was more than enough. Yet, the universe seemed determined to tell him that his dreams were impossible without the strength to back them up. Forces always seemed to target his family for higher plans. Jashin, the Otsutsuki… how many forces would come up against him? Of course, he wished for more power. If he had more power, he could have cared for those Otsutsuki guys anytime he wanted.
And yet, those two were temporary. Something told him that becoming the vessel of the Shinigami wasn't something he could back out of once he agreed. What was even the process? Would he even be himself anymore? Would it be the Shinigami married to his mother instead of him? Would they have a melding of their personalities? Would he even be him anymore?
Naruto stepped away from the platform and swiftly swam back to the surface. Once he made it back ground flooring, he walked back through the cave, his thoughts clouded in great confusion. What was worse was that he felt like there was no one to talk to. Kurama, Moryo, the Kindred, and the rest of his summons were all silent. The only one he could question was himself, and he simply didn't have what he needed. That is… until he noticed his mother, Yura, and Yuri waiting for him. However, as soon as they saw him they covered their eyes.
"Whoa whoa! Naruto-nii, stop right there! You're too bright!" Yuri exclaimed hurriedly, much to Naruto's confusion. He looked at himself and didn't notice anything different.
"Bright? What are you talking about?" he asked.
Unfortunately, Naruto wasn't able to see what they saw. Kushina, Yura, and Yuri had been concerned when Naruto didn't come back after the last five hours. They were stunned that he could travel so far after having only just returned to them since his recovery. It wasn't like they could help him either. He was too far and no matter how they strained themselves, the pool would have utterly consumed them if they tried to handle more of its might than what they had.
The Uzumaki Patriarch's lovers could only watch as a bright light in the depths of the cavern only got brighter. Pressure, the likes of which they had never felt before, came upon them and they were forced to squint. Yet, they knew it was Naruto. It could only be him. How he seemed to glow with such strength was beyond them but they had to stop him from getting too close. Even more than that, they had to stop him from returning to the surface. If he came up with that level of pressure, it'd likely be enough to knock out the entire island.
"Nii-sama, you're glowing! Just… stay there for a moment!" Yura claimed before she turned around and ran inside. She then grabbed some towels and threw them over to him.
"Put those on! Just for a little while!" Yura instructed.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki almost felt something akin to mock hurt before he saw the towel wading in the water. He then shrugged and picked up the towels. He wrapped them around his waist and then threw one over his head. He wrapped his body in the towels as best he could. Unfortunately, his view of his lovers was a little obstructed but he supposed he would have to put up with it because he heard their sighs of relief.
"Well, it's not perfect but it'll do. Naruto-nii, what happened to you?!" Yuri exclaimed as Naruto approached them. The pressure was still there and there were little pockets of light piercing through the towels but nothing unmanageable. They could deal with one or the other but not both.
Naruto stepped out of the pool and sat next to his lovers. Even without seeing his face, the three could tell that something was wrong. His head was dropped and he didn't speak immediately. After a moment, Kushina touched his covered cheek and shifted his gaze to her slowly. "It's alright, Sochi. We're right here. We're not going anywhere. No matter what happens, we're here for you. So tell us. Tell us what happened," Kushina said, her voice smooth and comforting, clearly no different from that of a mother seeking to comfort the cares and worries of her child.
Naruto looked in his mother's direction and then he felt Yuri and Yura touch him on the other side. He couldn't help lightly chuckling when he heard them say that. How many times had he said the same, especially when he was younger? Always moving ahead with bullheaded optimism. Then again, maybe that was how he had gotten so far in life.
"Well… you guys might not believe this but… I think I'm being tested to become the next vessel for The Shinigami," Naruto said.
…No, Kushina, Yuri, and Yura could most definitely NOT believe that.
Thus, Naruto began explaining everything that he had experienced when he made it to supposedly the far end of the cavern. Then he met Otsutsuki Hamura again. He claimed that the gold and violet gemstones were a test, one that he could very likely fail and even have his very soul consumed. And, save for mercy from Kami herself, there would be no coming back from something like that.
The more Naruto spoke, the sooner the light faded from his visage, allowing his lovers to look at him. They took the towel off him and noticed his expression. His face was surprisingly even. Neither joy nor anger could be found there and that seemed a little concerning. Yet, finally his eyes hardened and he turned to Yura and Yuri. Standing to his feet, he stood in front of them before getting onto his knees.
"Yura-chan, Yuri-chan, you both have put up with me for long enough. I was hoping to wait until the market recovered a little more but knowing how my life is turning out, I'm not going to leave anything to chance. While I was in that hospital bed, I thought about how you would have felt if I hadn't woken up. I don't know what will happen in the future, but if I take it with Kaa-chan, I also want to take it with both of you as well. Will, you spend the rest of your life with me as my wives?" Naruto asked.
Yura didn't even have time to be stunned by the proposal before Yuri crashed into Naruto and kissed him fervently. Kushina couldn't resist the large smile on her face as Yuri shoved her tongue inside Naruto's mouth. "Yesssh! Yesss Naruto-nii! I'll be your wife!" Yuri clamored over and over between kisses. That had been the last shred of resistance she had left as she rubbed his body. Elation was threatening to overwhelm her as she felt her lover's arousal against her flesh. Yuri could already imagine her wedding. She was elated to have one but was fine without it. She didn't need a public display of commitment. No other man would have her. If by some misfortune Naruto perished and she lived, then she would remain single for the rest of her life.
"Y-Yuri!" Yura clamored despite the heavy blush on her cheeks. Of course, she was happy, overwhelmed with joy even. She'd been fantasizing about the idea of being married to Naruto for a very long time. They had even talked about it in their downtime. Something always seemed to get in the way and while Yura assumed that Naruto's proposal was just as much concern over the future as was love for them, she could feel his sincerity and devotion.
"Alright you, don't stop getting it on yet," Kushina said as she plucked Yuri off her fiancee.
"Don't try to stop me! I've been waiting for this!" Yuri growled before Kushina pinched the Sanbi Jinchuuriki's cheeks.
"We really need to work on your cooperation. Hasn't someone been waiting just as long, if not longer than you to keep the promise she made to your parents? Give her a turn!" Kushina said as Yuri's eyes widened. Everyone turned to Yura who appeared like a wild deer caught by hunters. Her eyes were like saucers as Yuri gasped.
"OH! Well? Go on, Yura-nee. I know you're dying to kiss him too!" Yuri claimed, embarrassing her sister even more than before. Yet, all her thoughts were washed away when Naruto cupped her cheeks and kissed her next. The kiss was just like many others and the pleasure that ran through her mind was like being overrun by a warm waterfall over her head. His tongue against hers, her entire body felt like a bundle of nerves being wound up. She simply couldn't take the feeling, desiring more of it as their lips smacked together. Her lover pushed her until her head rested against the cavern wall.
N-Nii-sama…" she panted, his lips asking for her answer. Yet, she already knew the answer. She knew it as soon as the question came out of Naruto's mouth.
"Y-Yes, I accept too. I want to be your wife as well," Yura answered making Naruto's heart soar with joy again that the two sisters had accepted his proposal. Of course, he was ashamed that he didn't have any rings to present to them but he already knew that he would correct that mistake when given the time.
Meanwhile, Kushina watched the proceedings and finally clapped her hands together. "Alright, I believe this is a separate cause for celebration. However, I think we should all relax before you two decide to jump my son's bones, not that I don't understand the temptation. Now, I believe we should continue this conversation," Kushina suggested.
At the very least, Yuri had the nerve to feel sheepish. She rubbed the back of her head while Yura cleared her throat. That said, Naruto was the only one with a rather smug smile on his face. It was one Kushina couldn't say she appreciated in jest. Her son was looking positively pleased with himself. Then again, when you had three beautiful redheads as your wife and two fiancees, then perhaps you could feel a little happy.
Kushina pulled her son's cheek and smiled a little annoyedly. "And you, wipe that grin off your face. Don't think you're in for an easy time. Now, keep up with the story while we all get dressed. I think we've trained enough for today," the Matriarch of the Uzumaki Clan said.
The others agreed and so Naruto continued with what Hamura told him as they exited the pools. The journey back to the surface gave the pressure from Naruto more than enough time to normalize as they walked outside. Once they were done, Kushina, Yura, and Yuri were pretty much brought up to speed on the entire thing and they still weren't sure what to think of it. They were also aware of the concerns Naruto was facing.
"But if you don't do it, then it's likely that you won't be able to contend with those Otsutsuki guys. Just battling their avatars took you and Kushina that long. It is a tempting offer. Isn't that basically an invitation for Nii-sama to become a divine being?" Yura inquired.
Kushina placed a finger beneath her chin and continued to think on the issue. "It's unfortunate that the Shinigami cannot answer any inquiries. However, it's likely that he has always been preparing you for this moment. Tell us, what do you want to do?" the older redhead asked, turning her attention to her son.
The group of four continued to walk along the paths of the Land of Eddies. The air was clean and the roads were quiet. The trees blew in the wind as Naruto contemplated how best to answer this question. "If you asked me immediately, I would have done my best Sasuke impression and said that I wouldn't mind taking the power. After all, even if Amaru had a hand in what happened, it still stands that if I had been stronger then I likely could have prevented a lot of that. And, I could keep all of you safe. That means the world to me," he explained.
"Naruto-nii, there is no life worth living if we don't have you. But, I think given these circumstances, there's going to be trouble whether you become the Shinigami or not. If you can't prevent the trouble, then simply get us through it. Sometimes, that's the best thing that can be done. At least that's what I believe. Besides, it sounds like Geezer Sage Hamura hasn't changed much. Though, if he's talking to you, and he's supposed to be the current vessel of the Shinigami, then… why can't you ask him what's going on?" Yuri asked.
Naruto's lips thinned. "Cause something tells me he wouldn't answer. He reminds me of Gramps Sandaime. Old guys love to be cryptic. I also believe this is something I'll have to figure out on my own. And I'll have to do it quickly. Those guys wouldn't orchestrate that whole thing if they didn't have something planned," he answered.
Kushina glanced off to the side for a moment before she hummed. "We still haven't discovered the person who attacked Sasuke, Kakashi, and Yuna some time ago. Perhaps that was also a part of their plan," the Matriarch of the Uzumaki Clan theorized.
"But if that was the case, then why didn't they show up when all that stuff was going down five months ago?" Yuri inquired.
Unfortunately, that was a question that simply had no answers. Instead, there was only a lot of conjecture and hypotheses. The group continued to walk in silence, heading back to the clan compound. On the way back, Yura steadily fostered a thought that came to her as she looked at her new fiancé. "Nii-sama, say that you do become the newest vessel of Shinigami-sama. Wouldn't that make you capable of traveling to a place like the moon easily? Perhaps it could be the route to the answers we're looking for," Yura suggested.
Naruto thought on this matter and agreed that this could be a possible outcome. "Yura-nee, Naruto-nii just came out of a coma and you want him to go back to fighting again?!" Yuri questioned exasperatedly. The Sanbi Jinchuuriki was just on her way to getting married. They just got Naruto back. What if this took even more years away from him? Then again, he'd become a god. Would that not mean he was outside the boundaries of time and space? But what about the rest of them?
Yura, startled by her little sister's outburst, quickly shook her head. "No! That wasn't what I was saying. I just believe that…"
A clap of Kushina's hands stopped Yura's potential excuse for her actions. "Yuri knows perfectly well what you meant, Yura. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Naruto still has to complete the trial given to him. We also do not know if becoming the vessel of the Shinigami is the only way to battle these guys. While we must take this situation seriously, we must equally express caution. Naruto's already acting strange, given that he was in a coma for five months and yet surpassed all of us in one day. Never mind that I still can't feel any energy within him, even though he spent at least four hours down there. As Naruto stated, we could have prevented that disaster if we had taken our training seriously. So, we will continue our training. We will decide once Naruto has had time to adjust," Kushina suggested.
Yuri and Yura nodded as the group of four approached the house. However, before they could enter, Naruto watched Kushina grin as she grabbed Yuri and Yura. "And now, Naruto, it's time for the man to get lost! We'll meet up with you later!" Kushina claimed eagerly as she dragged Yuri and Yura away, the two sisters groaning as Kushina led them down the road, likely to the part of the land where the civilians lived. It was then that Naruto understood what was going on and simply laughed.
"I guess Kaa-chan always wanted to plan a wedding for me, though I doubt she expected the first one to be with her," The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki thought before he entered the house. As soon as he did, he found a large stack of papers shoved into his arms. The blond gasped before he easily held them up.
"What the-" Naruto uttered before he noticed Komachi on the other side.
"Ah, good morning. Shi… told me… to deliver these to you. Now that you're awake, you can… complete your work," Komachi replied as Naruto looked at the massive stack of documents. He then frowned as he realized another reason why his mother had run away with Yura and Yuri.
"How is it this much? Wasn't Kaa-chan handling it?" Naruto inquired. This was ridiculous. The paperwork was going all the way to the ceiling. He hadn't had this level of paperwork in a very long time.
"Ah, I'm not sure. It has been piling up outside your door," Komachi answered.
Naruto grimaced as he looked at the stack before meticulously taking them to his office. He then set them on his desk and looked at their ridiculous number. After a moment, he pinched the bridge of his nose before he quickly got to work. With a quick scan of the compound, he then realized that he was the only one around. Even Komachi had vanished, which made the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki grin annoyedly.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Alright guys! Two can play at that game! You all don't know who you're messing with!" The blond answered to himself before he began on his work.
-x-
Yuna looked at Mikoto evenly as she stood in the kitchen area with a large smile on her face. "There is no way I was like that when I got kissed," Yuna thought to herself as she saw Mikoto continue to smile as if her mind was going a thousand miles a second. Well, at least it proved that Sasuke finally got his shit together. Granted, Yuna wasn't sure how… adjusted she was going to become from this outcome but that look on Mikoto's face almost made it worth it.
"She's been like that since this morning."
Yuna turned her head and noticed Itachi standing next to her. He seemed particularly amused with the sight while Yuna scrunched up her face. "I guess, but it's starting to kind of freak me out. Then again, I guess I was the enabler of this whole thing, so I'm only reaping what I sowed," Yuna claimed, folding her arms before she heard Itachi chuckle.
"So I believe the term 'sister wives' now applies to you. I must inquire, how does it feel?" the older of Mikoto's children questioned.
Yuna rolled her eyes and shoved her hands in her coat pocket. "I liked you better when you were depressing," she said as she turned and walked out the door. Itachi watched her go and chuckled. Truth be told, this was a lot more fun than he thought it might be. Of course, Itachi always hoped things would work out for the best, but something was amusing about this whole thing, especially given his little brother's personality. Sasuke, despite his good looks, most definitely did not have the personality for relationships. That he would find himself involved with two women was something out of the realm of fiction as Itachi saw it.
"Oh, Itachi! How long have you been standing there?" Mikoto asked, a gentle smile on her face. Itachi's smile evened out as he realized that he had been caught. Then again, it wasn't like he was trying to hide himself. Even then, it wasn't like his mother hadn't noticed them. No matter how happy she was, she was still a highly trained kunoichi. Maybe she just played the bit or she didn't mind. Either way, Itachi answered.
"Long enough, Kaa-san. I also see that you are in a particularly good mood. I haven't seen you smile like this in a long time. What could be the reason?" Itachi inquired.
Mikoto quickly blushed and slapped her son's shoulder. "Now, now, don't tease your mother. You're a perceptive man, Itachi. Now, off with you," his mother remarked.
Taking the hint, Itachi removed himself from the compound just as Sasuke appeared. He turned and noticed his mother smiling at him. He looked at her before he looked away. The Uchiha couldn't believe what they did last night. Yet, all those dreams and fantasies that seemed to toy with his mind had finally become a reality. What was even stranger was… how comfortable he was with all of it. Perhaps the only thing he found himself embarrassed with was just… the thought that he, Uchiha Sasuke, would be stupid enough to follow in Naruto's footsteps.
"And I can't even tell if it's a good or bad thing," Sasuke thought. Yet, it was the path that he chose, and he wasn't going to insult his mother by backing out of it now. Maybe Sasuke had a commitment problem. Well, perhaps there was no better time to be committed as a man than to have two lovers.
The Uchiha approached his mother and kissed her. It quickly became clear that even Mikoto would have to get used to this before she returned the kiss a little more measurely. When they pulled back, they contemplated the moment before Sasuke cleared his throat.
"What was that for?" Mikoto asked, her cheeks rather flushed from the unexpected display of affection. Then again, perhaps young people were getting bolder these days.
Sasuke looked at his mother momentarily, wondering if he'd been a little impulsive. His mother wasn't Yuna. They were very much different, and he'd have to work on learning that.
"Did you… not like that? I figured I didn't need a reason to kiss you now," Sasuke said rather meekly. His question was expressed in such a way that Mikoto felt a little bad for her own question. She then smiled and touched her son's cheek.
"No, no. I liked it. I just… we Uchiha aren't the most expressive people. I certainly didn't feel much with your father. Plus, this is still a very new relationship, one with unnavigated desires. I'm happy you wish to be more affectionate. If that's what you want, then I will endeavor to do the same as well," Mikoto claimed.
Sasuke looked at his mother for a long moment before he nodded. "I would like that then," he said with a grin before the two heard the door open. In came Itachi. Instantly, Sasuke and Mikoto could tell that something was wrong because Itachi's sharingan was active and his gaze was as dark as when Sasuke and Yuna fought him.
"Itachi? Itachi, what's wrong?" Mikoto asked, dropping everything and approaching her eldest son. She grabbed his arms, her eyes filled with worry and seriousness. Her years of experience as a kunoichi blossomed in an instant. From all facial expressions, eye motions, and body posture, Itachi came back to deliver something to Sasuke. Of that, Mikoto had no doubts.
Itachi turned to Sasuke. "You have a guest, Sasuke. I suggest you not wait to greet them. They have Yuna," Itachi said.
It was quick but a shadow of unholy rage came upon Sasuke's face. Just from Itachi's statement alone, Sasuke was able to draw several conclusions. Not only was Yuna captured, but the enemy was someone who could best her and Itachi, and do it without alerting even Kushina or Naruto on the island.
Sasuke's eyes hardened as he approached the door. He then opened it. As soon as he stepped outside, he noticed nothing out of the ordinary. However, once he continued, the Uchiha quickly noticed his surroundings warp around him. The skies turned as red as blood and the sun became cloaked in pulsing, burning black fire. Time itself seemed to slow down as Sasuke noticed a woman leaning against a tree. Her eyes seemed as dark as the night sky and her hair as black as Orochimaru's heart. There was a strange smile on her face and a pressure that he didn't like. It brought him back to when he was a genin, facing Zabuza or Orochimaru for the first time. That said, this felt insurmountably worse than those. This was like… the same when he laid his eyes on Jashin for the first time. When he looked at this woman, it was like his very sanity was being disentangled. Bit by bit, piece by piece, he struggled to maintain himself, not even realizing that he'd activated his Sharingan. Even his eyes started to bleed as his heart began racing.
Whether out of unconscious fear or worry, the Uchiha heir then turned his head and saw Yuna resting against the base of the tree. She seemed to be breathing, though the Uchiha noticed the hand imprints around her throat. Yuna had likely been strangled into unconsciousness while this woman fought off Itachi. She must have bested him, which explained his tense expression and his willingness to deliver a message to Sasuke and Mikoto. This was also the reason why neither Sasuke nor his mother heard the battle. This woman likely isolated the space and, given that neither Naruto nor Kushina were here then…
"I'm here like you wanted. Now, tell me who you are and what you want," Sasuke said, his voice measured yet tense. Of course, he was angry about his lover, but he knew that he had to approach this matter carefully.
The woman then spoke. "You know, you are in my good graces so far. Do not ruin it with passive belligerent speech. However, I am willing to admit that my approach was hardly becoming of me. In the future, tell your woman to be less aggressive when one inquires about you," The woman said. Sasuke's eyes widened, hearing her voice behind him. He turned his head and saw the black-haired woman standing behind him with a mysterious smile.
"Even the Sharingan couldn't track her movements? No, I shouldn't be surprised. I'm likely dealing with a divine being," Sasuke thought before he turned his head and noticed the woman back in front of him. Sasuke was about to speak but he found his mouth forced shut.
"And I would advise you not to ruin the opportunity of which I am about to present to you with your idle chatter and questions. If you care about my brother's summoner and this world, then you shall be quick to listen and slow to speak, Uchiha Sasuke," she said rather blatantly.
Sasuke's glare hardened, but the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat as the woman continued onward. The longer Sasuke looked at her, the more he realized he had met this woman before. He watched the way she moved and remembered those eyes as she approached his battered form and touched his forehead, forcefully taking the memories from him.
When the woman looked at him, she noticed his expression and released a simple chuckle. "It seems as if you remember me. Good. Then, I shall speak. Uchiha Sasuke, I, Amaterasu Omikami, deem you worthy enough to become my summoner," she said, her voice radiating with strength that seemed to echo through the fabric of eternity itself.
Even for him, Sasuke couldn't believe his ears. Hell, there was even some sort of humorous sense of irony here, given that all Sasuke wanted was power to defeat his brother and avenge his clan. Now that he had done all of that, a literal goddess was granting him the same power that resided within Naruto.
While Sasuke was sorting his thoughts, he looked up and noticed Amaterasu wagging her finger. "First lesson we shall have to work on is your thoughts. They are much too decipherable. What I shall give you is not what my brother would give your friend. You shall simply play your role in preparing him for what shall come. In preparing him, you shall prosper as well. Besides, I believe you and your clan have used my name enough. Consider this my form of restitution," Amaterasu said while Sasuke continued to look at her. Even if he wanted to say something to her, he couldn't.
The black-haired goddess recognized this and sighed. "You may now speak," Amaterasu said.
Just like that, the words that seemed to burn up in Sasuke's throat were freed. He staggered back for a moment before he continued to glare at the goddess of the Sun. Oh believe him, he had plenty he wanted to say to this woman, especially in regards to her methods. Yet, he focused on Yuna first.
"May I retrieve Yuna, please?" he asked. Even having to do it politely was enough to make him grit his teeth. He knew it, and Amaterasu knew it.
"You may, mortal," she replied.
Sasuke approached, watching the goddess carefully before he made it to Yuna. He carefully took her in his arms and returned to his side of the field. He continued to hold his lover in his arms before he turned to Amaterasu, though not looking completely at her. "Why me?" he asked.
The smile on Amaterasu's face irritated Sasuke. It was like watching Orochimaru smile at you. It was a smile that seemed to tell Sasuke that he knew absolutely nothing. There wasn't a single card in his hand that he could use against her. The only reason he could even stand before her was likely because she allowed him to do so.
"I have actually had my eye on you for a little while. You personally piqued my interest back when my brother's summoner faced Jashin. However, do not think yourself a particular exception. The friends of my brother's summoner have all been greeted, or will be greeted eventually. All you need to know is that my mother claims she is 'evening the playing field', so to speak. After all, I suppose it was our fault things happened as they did, given that the false god's followers should not have been allowed to enter into this plane to begin with. Additionally, you may consider this a test of sorts. Now, I do believe that if I allowed you, then you'd simply ask me thousands of questions, of which I could provide no answer as you are not ready to gather such information for yourself. So, I shall allow you to ask me three questions and, based on my judgment, I shall offer you answers. However, I shall take your third question to mean that you will agree with being my summoner. If not, then I suggest you stop at the first and second questions," Amaterasu advised, the smile remaining on her face as she continued to stare at the Uchiha heir.
Sasuke glanced down at Yuna, perhaps using her as a way to give himself time to think. He only had three, no two questions that he could ask. Even then, he had to choose them carefully since it was likely that she wouldn't even give him an answer to his inquiries. While Sasuke didn't want to play into this, how many people could say they got to ask a goddess anything?
"What is this danger that's coming?" Sasuke asked.
He tried to hold his gaze with the goddess of the Sun, yet he lost that battle very quickly. He looked to the side before she spoke. "That's one question," she replied.
Sasuke gritted his teeth upon hearing her response, growing angrier at her dismissal. Every instinct told him to question why she wouldn't answer, but that would simply be question two, and he'd learn nothing. Well, he'd already learned nothing.
"No wait. Her refusal to answer is an answer in and of itself. So clearly, it's something disastrous. It could be a resurgence of Jashin, or it could be related to those Otsutsuki who attacked us those months ago. By her expression, at least we have the benefit of time on our side for right now. Additionally, if she's involved, then it must be something big enough to affect the planet. And she knows that I know that. Even if I refuse, we'd just be dragged in anyway," Sasuke thought, not appreciating the look that Amaterasu was giving him. It was like she could see what he was thinking. Her eyes were calm, focused, measured, the very limit of concentration and control emphasized.
"Will we win if I accept?" Sasuke then asked.
Amaterasu raised an eyebrow and glanced off to the side for a moment. "Only Mother knows the End from the Beginning. As for your question, shall you truly believe that you stand a better chance against this threat without my aid? That is, unless you would like to go through the motions with Jashin again," Amaterasu replied.
Sasuke continued to look at her. That answer was a little more telling, and thankfully, he got an answer. If she didn't even answer that, then Sasuke was more than tempted to walk away. However, having her answer left him with a lot of concerns. The Uchiha noticed the goddess shift as her dress rode up her leg.
"Last question, Uchiha Sasuke. Shall you ask, or shall you walk away?" Amaterasu inquired, her gaze as fiery as the rays of the sun.
As for Sasuke, he… simply continued to look at her, his grip on Yuna tightening all the more.
-x-
Kushina expected a few things when she returned home after abandoning her son to his fate of paperwork. She'd been out the whole day with Yuri and Yura, helping them begin planning their weddings. Naruto seemed to keep Yura waiting a bit longer than any of them knew. The older sister had a notebook of things that she'd been planning, much to her embarrassment. They spent much of the day making arrangements with shops, stalls, and dressmakers.
Compared to Yura, Yuri wasn't nearly as enthused about the details. Of course, she was happy for a wedding, but Kushina knew that the younger sister would be completely fine with a few friends and the blessings of their union. As far as she was concerned, the rest was just a lot of fluff. Though something told Kushina that Yuri really wanted the festivities after the wedding more than the wedding itself. Honestly, how that girl hadn't gotten pregnant already was beyond Kushina. It certainly seemed like they tried hard enough.
Either way, Kushina had been expecting to be laughing, watching her son buried under mountains of paperwork just like she was. She'd then kiss his cheek while he glared at her angrily. They would then share a laugh, and everything would be alright. Unfortunately, she found the desk, the completed paperwork, and even the stamp for the Uzumaki Clan seal on the table, but… her son was missing.
"I have a very bad feeling about this," Kushina thought as she entered the room. She tried to sense her son but found herself oddly unable to do so. She stepped inside the room carefully, looking at anything that might seem out of place. After all, her son was a prankster, and he had ways of unleashing his revenge on others. She still remembered when he pranked Risa and somehow got her to think Tayuya did it. The mother and daughter were at each other's throats for weeks.
After a thorough search, Kushina concluded that she was simply being paranoid. Her son was nowhere to be found, and that only made her more concerned. A part of her wondered if her son was angrier than she thought. Maybe she shouldn't have thrown him to the wolves like that, but it wasn't like she made the rest of her family vacate the compound.
"I'm gonna be looking over my shoulder the whole day, aren't I?" Kushina thought to herself before she picked up one of the pieces of paper. Her thoughts became clouded with thoughts of her son and where he might be.
Unfortunately for Kushina, Naruto wasn't anywhere close by. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki had been walking through the forest where the battle took place five months ago. Yes, this walk was to get some time away from his family before he dunked them all in ink, but he was also here to do his own search. With the Shinigami gone, and his summons strangely silent, Naruto only had his family and the people to rely on for information. Unfortunately, most usually came to him when it came to the more spiritual matters regarding the happenings of the gods. If even he didn't know, then would any of them likely do any better?
With that being the case, Naruto pushed through the trees and the forested areas. There seemed to be a pleasant breeze this time as he was left in his thoughts. He thought about the pool back at home and what Hamura said to him. He thought about that domain he'd been in with the other iterations of the Shinigami, the holders and wielders of the god of Death. Hamura was the current god of Death, and Naruto was set to be the next. Just… what did that even mean?
Naruto continued through the forests until he sensed the residue of Honshou and chakra. He placed all his thoughts at the back of his mind. He pierced through the overgrowth and made it to the area where the battle took place. As expected, a large, violent crater, unyielding in its stain upon the earth only brought to the blond's mind that this new world had already known conflict. Not even a decade passed and yet everything seemed so wrong. Peace was already destroyed, and Naruto had no idea of how the rest of the nations were taking this development, how the rest of the world was taking it.
"Ero-sennin always said that one day we'd find the answer to true peace. Even now, I bet he hasn't stopped looking. I still remember that stupid look on his face when he visited me, giving me another one of his pervy novels as a get-well gift," The blond thought to himself as he walked down the road and entered the lands that had once been a massive canyon filled with mountain-like ridges and groves.
"Even I can tell that hatred is spreading. I wanted to do something about it … but I don't know what … but I believe … that someday the day will come when people truly understand one another! If I can't find the answer, it will be up to you to do it!"
"Aren't you expecting too much out of me, Ero-sennin? I'm just one guy," Naruto thought to himself as he noticed the signs barring civilian entry into the canyon. Evidence of shinobi work and investigations was left with a few papers blowing in the wind. The distant howl of the crater's body gave it a kind of lonely feeling. The caves had been boarded up with seals from the participating seal masters, or at least those unrecognized by the Uzumaki clan.
Peace. Something so simple, yet so alien at the same time. How did people define… peace? One person's peace was another person's hell. Naruto wasn't so naive to think that everyone enjoyed the state of the world. Mercenaries, warriors, enthusiastic businessmen, greedy purveyors of money, and those looking for more were never satisfied. For many, peace was keeping everyone and everything beneath them without a single attempt to rise against them. It was wrong. Naruto knew it was wrong, but… the clash of ideals was why people fought. People simply could not seem to agree, and even if they did, many did the wrong thing anyway. Because wrong… seemed exciting.
Naruto deactivated the seals and stepped inside the tunnels. As expected, they were very dark. He wasn't sure what he was expecting when he came inside. Yet, his hands touched the walls, thinking about the men and women who had been taken and how long they had been down here. Did not everyone have a different version of peace? Who was Naruto to claim what the right type of peace was? In fact, what if people… simply didn't want to understand each other? What if a world like that existed? What if people were perfectly content, happy even, with not understanding each other?
Naruto shook his head and sighed. "What the hell am I even doing down here?" he questioned. Right, he was supposed to be investigating a few things, but there didn't seem to be anything down here except for ghosts of the past, a past that he couldn't remember. Naruto lit a broken branch and walked further into the cave.
The roads within the darkness, illuminated by only a small torch, seemed to wind and twist, no doubt evidence of the battle that took place five months ago. Naruto touched the walls again, wondering what mysterious force led him to continue descending here. No one was here, least of all his enemies. They'd have to be either stupid or bold to come back here. Though given that Naruto didn't know what happened to the Shinigami, it was perhaps not in his best interest to start picking fights.
Come to think of it, if he were selected as the next vessel for the Shinigami, then what would happen to Hamura? What would happen to Naruto himself if another vessel came along? Would he just fade away? What would that mean for his lovers? Would he leave them? Would they leave him? Damn, when was the last time death scared him like this?
Naruto slowly lost track of the time as he navigated the tunnels. The scars of battle were etched into the walls but Naruto couldn't say for sure if it was his friends' or the enemies'. Did it even really matter at this point?
With his aimless walking, Naruto found himself in an opening. Nothing was connecting the opening, and a massive pit lay below it. Feeling like his body was not his own, he slid down the rocky edge until he made it to the very bottom. Strange, he just slid on rock and stone. That should have hurt, or at the very least tickled. Instead, he felt nothing. It was like he was sliding on a sea of grass, even though he heard the rocks and stones shift against his weight.
Naruto held up his torch and only found more emptiness. This could be what Ero-sennin called Soul-Searching. Who knows. Either way, Naruto sensed the natural, yet oddly vile chakra in the air. It must have been from that Box of Ultimate Bliss. Naruto never really got a good look at it. He mostly had to rely on sketches from those who managed to catch glimpses of it. Luckily, Sasuke was there. Of course, the Sharingan granted some a better memory than others. As if that thing didn't have enough advantages already.
Still, for all his complaining, perhaps Naruto should have been happy that they had those advantages. Shaking his head, Naruto continued on his way through the sheer unending darkness, lost in his thoughts.
His travels took him into another part of the tunnels. Now, he was starting to find evidence of lived-in spaces. Stone was too perfectly carved to be natural, and the curvature of some of the walls indicated pillars and structures. When he saw some of the seals on the pillars, he reasoned that these parts had long been investigated. The malicious chakra from the Box of Ultimate Bliss continued to spread through the air. Yet, for Naruto, it wasn't particularly disconcerting. It was like when a strong wind tried to blow in your face, making you close your eyes. A bit annoying, but nothing to lose one's head over.
More hours passed for Naruto as he journeyed through the depths. In some strange way, these caves reminded him of that dark, gigantic mansion back when he was doing his training in the pools. Of course, these caves weren't quite as spectacular as those grand halls in that castle. Though, the air and sense of scale felt no less foreboding.
"Okay, I'm here. Now what?" Naruto thought as he found himself at the very bottom of the cavern. In his journey down here, he hadn't seen very much. Based on Sasuke's description, this certainly looked like the part of the cave where he found the box and the rest of Isshiki's little group. This was certainly where the chakra felt heaviest. At this point, it was more like a shiver than a strong breeze. Sort of like the difference between a heavy wind and a cold one.
What exactly was he expecting to see or find? He had more than enough time to answer this question for himself on his way down. Yet, now that he was here, he simply stood in the center of this vile chakra, the flame in his torch steadily going out. The light couldn't even reach the top of the cavern, barely shimmering against the walls.
Naruto closed his eyes and opened them again. As expected, there was only darkness and howling sounds permeating the air.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! My future dream is to be the greatest Hokage! Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody, somebody important!"
Naruto's lips thinned when he heard the ghost of his past come into his mind. Why did he have that thought? He had long since resolved that maybe Neji was right. Perhaps some people were destined to become Hokage, and he wasn't one of them. Maybe Naruto was still holding onto that somewhat. Then again, people always remembered the dreams that they could never accomplish. Perhaps that was how regrets were formed, wishes to do things differently, considering alternate paths. Among the paths lay an always-defining question for many.
What if I hadn't…
"So, even the great Uzumaki Naruto can be rather philosophical? Did you never believe yourself capable of such thoughts?"
Naruto widened his eyes and turned his head. He saw an elderly woman standing next to him, covered in ragged cloth and holding a wooden cane. There was a smile on her face that only seemed to give more weight to the wrinkles on her face. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki quickly frowned. Did an old lady just sneak up on him? There was no way five months would have deteriorated his skills that much, would it?
Even then, he couldn't sense anything from this woman. For some strange reason, his mother and others couldn't sense him, but he could feel them. It was like his natural abilities as an Uzumaki had clearly been strengthened in his downtime. Yet, when he looked at this woman, it was like he was looking at nothing at all. Could she have been living down here? Possible, but highly unlikely.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked.
The woman said nothing for a little bit as Naruto kept his eyes trained on her. Even in this darkness, he could make her out like a fly next to a powerful light.
The woman then gave a small cackle. "I believe it is polite to introduce one's self first before requesting others. Your new station seems to have left you lax in manners, boy," the woman said in such a way that Naruto felt himself fault for a moment. He opened and closed his mouth before a thought suddenly came to him.
"...then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody, somebody important."
Naruto frowned for a moment and exhaled. "Right. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. May I please have your name nOW!" the blond yelled before he was smacked over the head by the cane.
"Foolish boy, I know who you are! Who doesn't know the name of the Great Uzumaki Naruto? Do you take me for a senile old bird?" the woman asked, cackling as she waved her cane around in the air. Naruto clutched the back of his head. Why the hell did that hurt?! That damn cane hurt worse than anything Jshin ever did to him.
"Dammit! What was that for?!" Naruto asked before he straightened up when the woman pointed her cane in his face.
"What was that for? That little brain of yours seemed to be rattling, so I hit you to shake some of those nasty thoughts out. Surely you should thank me for taking time out of my busy schedule to help you," she said, laughing like her throat had been deprived of water.
Naruto continued to rub his head as he gritted his teeth. He was set to open his mouth against before the woman spoke again. "Young man, what do you think Death is? Have you come to truly understand its touch, its purpose, its struggle? This is why you are confused. You have tried using it for something that it is not. In doing so, you have clouded your thoughts and those thoughts have left you unfocused. Such thoughts are unfitted for someone like you, Uzumaki Naruto," The elderly woman said.
Naruto looked at this old woman strangely. Her manner of speech sounded oddly familiar, yet it seemed mixed in a way that he couldn't properly explain. He stopped rubbing his head and looked down at her. "And what's that supposed to mean? No offense, Baa-chan, but I think I… AHHHH!" Naruto cursed as the woman smacked him over the head again.
"You, young brats. That's your problem. You spend too much time talking and not enough time listening. I already know what you're going to say. You've been in the presence of the Shinigami and have kissed death numerous times, so you believe that makes you the only expert on the subject. I must say, you've gotten rather conceited with your power, Uzumaki Naruto," The old lady said, cackling all the more before Naruto grabbed her cane.
"Hey! Quit hitting me!" The blonde exclaimed angrily. He'd gotten enough of that from Sakura and a ton of other violent women that he meant. He wasn't about to get his butt kicked by an old lady. Well, a second old lady, a certain Godaime coming to mind.
Naruto tried to pull the cane out of the woman's grasp but was surprised when he met resistance, so much resistance that the cane didn't even move from her hand. "Boohoo, to bully a poor old woman in a cave and take her cane. I certainly misjudged you, Uzumaki Naruto," the woman claimed, bawling her eyes out with one hand to cover her face… all while Naruto's grip tightened on the cane, pulling it with all his strength.
"Stop your fake crying! You're not fooling anyooooooooooooooone!" Naruto yelled as he found his breath lost when he was thrown through the air and slammed into the far wall, its body cracking from the force. Strangely, it wasn't like the throw into the wall hurt. It was more of surprise than anything. He'd never been thrown like that in his whole life. Okay, maybe that was a lie. He still remembered when Jiraiya threw him off that cliff.
"The powerful Uzumaki Naruto being humbled by me? This must be the greatest day of my life. I can't wait to tell all my friends!" The woman said while Naruto staggered to his feet. He clenched his fists.
"I don't know who you are, but I'm gonna find out. You're going down, Baa-chan!" Naruto hollered as he charged at the woman.
This began the most humiliating thirty minutes of Naruto's life as he landed flat on his back, panting as the woman's laughing echoed in the dee nothingness. "If anyone's going down, it seems to be you, sonny! Twenty minutes and you're already out of breath? How are you married? No wife likes a husband with no stamina!" she laughed while Naruto heaved for air.
"Shut… up!" he panted.
It was definitely clear to him now. This woman was a divine being. At first, he assumed her to be Kami, but she was much too mean or too much of a jokester. Her aura wasn't quite as oppressive as Kami's was back when he met her, either. Perhaps that was for the best because Naruto could still remember trembling when he stood so close to her.
Was she Amaterasu? Tsukuyomi? Could one of the male gods craft a womanly body? Too many questions popped into his head, all buried under a mountain of pain and exhaustion.
The blond grimaced when he felt the woman jab her cane into his chest. "Such wasted energy. You worry about who I am, yet you worry more about who you will become. This conflict has left you weaker than you ought to be. A divine being cannot question their own self. For to question self is to disappear, never to return. What god can exist when they question what they are supposed to do?" She asked as Naruto struggled to raise his head yet found himself pinned beneath the cane.
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm fine!" Naruto grumbled before he found himself jabbed in the head by the cane.
"Do not interrupt me, Goldilocks. You should consider yourself lucky. No one else is gonna give you such a needed talk. And, judging by the state of your being, you seem to need it badly. Now then, I hope you weren't planning on going back home anytime soon. We have a long time ahead of us. And just so you know, I would suggest you not try to teleport away. Do it and you'll no doubt fail that test in the pool. I would suggest you put up with this 'Baa-chan' as you claimed," The old woman said, her cackling strengthening while Naruto looked up at her. He gritted his teeth, wondering what the hell was about to befall him
-x-
"And no one's seen him since he completed the paperwork?" Amaru asked as the Uzumaki Clan came together when no one on the island had seen hide nor hair of the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Everyone assumed he'd come back eventually but as the time got later and later, they all began to grow concerned.
"Dammit, Kushina! I told you that joke was a stupid idea. Naruto just got out of a coma. We all should have helped him!" Risa growled out and Kushina lowered her eyes. She sat on the couch with her head in her hands. She had already sent out her summons to look for Naruto, yet they still hadn't returned.
Yuri and Yura comforted her while the Uzumaki Matriarch sighed. "He seemed fine. I thought it'd be good for some hand coordination. Was it… really that much?" Kushina asked, biting her lip. She'd spent five months worrying about her son and husband, wondering when he would wake up. Now he was gone again, and she had no idea where he was. Somehow, she couldn't tell which was worse. At least she got to see his face every day while he was in the hospital bed.
"The first rule of recovery is to never assume. Many patients have claimed they are fine, only to find out that they aren't as fine as we first thought. I agree that we should have eased Naruto into his duties after so much time from them," Amaru claimed. Granted, she was only saying this from a medical perspective. She was not about to lord wrongdoing over the others. She was still paying for hers after all.
The members of the Uzuamki Clan glanced at each other. "Well, if he's not on the island, then should we simply put out an alert to look for him? It would be better to have more eyes than just ours since…" the youngest of the Uzumaki, Yukimaru, found his words interrupted when the group became aware of a bright light in the center of the room.
Everyone tensed as Guren grabbed Yukimaru. Their eyes squinted at the harshness of its glow before its light settled. Immediately, they all gazed upon Suiren, one of Naruto's summons.
"Members of the Uzumaki Clan, ease your hearts of your worries. Shikyō-sama is well. Do not look for him. He shall appear when he is granted the opportunity to do so."
No one even got to answer a question further. No one even got the time to make sense of Suiren's words before she was already gone like a wisp in the wind. They continued to stare at the spot she'd been standing in for a whole minute, almost as if wondering if something else was going to happen, yet nothing ever did.
"What the fuck?! So the shithead's fine and couldn't even give us a better message than that?!" Tayuya clamored, throwing her head up.
"I would have put it as crudely as my short-stacked cousin, but I'm inclined to agree. Sometimes I feel like Naruto enjoys making us worry about him," Fuka chuckled with her hand over her mouth. Of course, she and everyone else knew that wasn't true, but it certainly felt like it sometimes.
"Perhaps he can't. It has been known that his body has been rather unusual since waking up. Besides, she seemed to suggest that he will come back. Perhaps we will simply have to wait until then," Shi explained. His explanation seemed to placate everyone, though by how much was not known.
Komachi lowered her head. She'd been busy with work and hadn't found the time to meet her cousin a whole lot. Of course, the same was no different for Karin, Shi, Guren, Fuka, Risa, Yukimaru, and Tayuya.
After a moment of reflection, Kushina stood up and placed a hand over her face. "Alright. We'll just… wait for Naruto to give us an explanation. Everyone can go about their business," she said as she walked up the stairs, not even waiting for everyone else to go.
They watched her leave, disappearing down the upper hallways. Yuri stood to her feet along with Yura. "She's really beating herself up about this," Yuri said.
Guren scratched her head and sighed. "Well, it's not like I don't understand. If I was Naruto, I would be a little pissed too. If we all helped him out with the work a little, then maybe it would have been done faster. Kushina's just being the worried mother… wife. I'll never get comfortable saying that. Either way, it sounds like his summons know where he is, which doesn't mean he's in any danger. Perhaps we should just let him cool off for now," Guren asserted.
With Guren's words being said, the Uzumaki Clan slowly exited the living room, each going about their business either in the Uzushio or in the compound. That silence was what Kushina heard as she sat on her bed. She brushed a hand through her long hair before the door to her and Naruto's room opened. She looked up and saw the two Uzumaki sisters come through.
"Kushina-san, it will be okay. Nii-sama isn't a vengeful person. Besides, it was a fairly harmless joke," Yura said, hoping to ease the Uzumaki Matriarch's worries.
Kushina looked at her son's other lovers and released a sigh. "It's not really the joke. I know Naruto would forgive me if I simply asked. It's just… the timing of it. We'd been apart for so long and he should have been taking it easy, a fine body or not. Plus, I simply worry that… all these things he's being trained for. What if… we can't keep up? What if he has to shoulder them all alone… again? I can't help feeling like I'm repeating the same mistakes, leaving him, and being unable to do anything about it. I wish to grow stronger, but… I have no idea how. We've been going into the pool every day since Naruto went into a coma, but in one day, he's grown more than anyone anticipated. Have… we not changed at all?" Kushina asked.
Yuri and Yura glanced at each other, both unsure of what to say for several minutes. After the bout of silence, the latter of the two answered. "Kushina-san…" Yura said.
"When I remember our parents, I always wish I had the power to save them from what happened, or if you and Minato-san had the power to stop Obito-san from what he did. But you always told the story of what happened during Naruto's birth. You said she trusted him with the future. Then, shouldn't we trust him now? I think… if we want strength, then we should be strong enough to let him protect us. We're his wives after all," Yura said, providing her best smile.
Unfortunately, she gasped when Yuri nudged her shoulder. "Wives, huh? Someone's presumptuous already, Yura-nee!" Yuri claimed as Yura's cheeks reddened.
"Y-Yuri!" Yura stammered while Kushina watched them. She looked at the two sisters and then finally laughed.
"Be strong enough that he can protect us, huh?" Kushina inquired with a small smirk before she nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea, Yura. Thank you."
Yura solemnly nodded, matching Kushina's smile. Yuri patted her sister's shoulder before the three redheads got ready for bed. Yura swiftly said her prayers to the Shinigami before she climbed into the master bed with Kushina and Yuri.
Kushina turned out the light before they slowly fell asleep. The nights were rather cold, so they bundled together for warmth. Then again, since Naruto had fallen asleep, they had been doing this a lot lately. The Uzumaki household, quiet and peaceful, stood as its members sought rest for the day.
In the dead of night, two steps appeared on the carpet of the master bedroom. Naruto looked at his wife and mother, and his fiancées. He approached the bed and brushed their foreheads. His hands were so soft it was like being touched by the blankets on the bed. He brushed their beautiful faces, and his face took on a more even expression. That old lady was already calling him away, ranting in the depths of his mind that he was already overstaying his welcome.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki then leaned down and kissed each of their foreheads. The smile on his face was a serene one before he pulled away. "I'll be back soon. I promise," he claimed before a light swiftly came upon him and then enveloped him. Yuri groaned as she opened her eyes but briefly, yet she wasn't able to see Naruto as he disappeared from the room. The pleasant silence lulled her back to sleep soon enough.
As hours passed by, Kushina suddenly shot open her eyes and leaned up. She turned to the window. Her hands clenched into fists before she removed herself from the bed, waking up Yura and Yuri. "Huh… w-whaaaazhaaa…?" Yuri questioned with a loud yawn.
Kushina felt her feet hit the carpet. Yura stretched for a moment. "Something wrong?" she asked.
"I'm about to find out," Kushina claimed with layered unease. Yura and Yuri slipped out of bed before they saw Kushina summon her white cloak. Her red hair turned its vibrant silver color, and her eyes gleamed with power.
"Should we come with you?" Yura asked.
Kushina nodded. "Yeah, but be on standby. Let our mysterious guests focus on me. Maybe they won't sense the two of you if I'm there. It's better to keep all our cards hidden," Kushina explained.
The Uzumaki sisters quickly agreed. Yura gathered the Flames of The Beginning and The End. The violet wings sprouted from her back while Yuri summoned her chakra cloak. Kushina supplied the latter with her power and the three flew out of the compound, quickly passing through the clouds and even beyond the boundaries of the earth itself. Yura and Yuri then remained, floating in the upper firmament of the earth while Kushina continued onward.
-x-
"So… this is the planet that they mentioned. The one Kaguya and Isshiki were supposed to have harvested already. Indeed, I sense a strange, yet overwhelmingly powerful presence here. However, I find it hard to believe the power here poses such a threat to our people. There are perhaps three… no, five lifeforms of the millions that might prove a decent challenge," a man said, his eyes lacking pupils, their face as blank as the eyes of a certain clan wielding the famous Byakugan. Atop his head were two horn-like protrusions. His body was clothed in noble robes, yet his visage held the most unnoble expression, staring at the earth with something akin to disinterest.
"Indeed, none of them are a challenge for you, Momoshiki-sama. However, it's equally clear that we must not let these forces continue to grow more powerful. I can sense the chakra of Kaguya in the moon and throughout each of these lifeforms on this planet. It will be prudent to craft a god fruit from this planet, especially with its rich abundance. However, I do find it strange how Isshiki could fall to a planet such as this. Even on his own, he should have the strength to subdue it, especially with Kaguya," another said, his frame notably more bulky than the other's. His eyes were just like his partner's, though his voice was deeper, more profound than the other's, carrying with it a weight of distinction.
The one named Momoshiki narrowed his eyes for a moment in thought. "Yes, that is true. It would be a waste to get rid of potential such as this. Besides, these powerful individuals could be useful for the Kāma. After all, we appreciate strength, even if it is from lower lifeforms. However, that isn't why we are here. We're here to confirm the existence of Otsutsuki Kagura-sama, the Princess of the Otsutsuki Main Branch. It was claimed that she was on this planet as well. That said, I don't sense any of her chakra. To look for her, we are to look for one named… Uzumaki Naruto. Kinshiki, let's begin," Momoshiki said, his gaze hardening as he looked at the planet of land and water.
"..."
The younger, more elegant-looking Otsutsuki received no response. Momoshiki had been with Kinshiki for an incredibly long time, longer than most beings lived even ten lifetimes. Every time, Kinshiki never failed to answer him when they were in the same vicinity. Never.
Momoshiki turned his head, and his face scrunched up when he noticed that Kinshiki was nowhere to be seen. A sudden feeling of unease came upon him. He looked left and right, hoping to lock in on Kinshiki's chakra signature. However, he discovered nothing. Even across the known universe, Momoshiki was capable of sensing Kinshiki. The man wasn't hard to miss either.
"Kinshiki?" Momoshiki inquired.
"He's not here. And if you don't want to go where he went, I suggest you don't do anything stupid."
Momoshiki's eyes widened before he slowly turned his head. His once arrogant visage quickly turned into sheer anger as he gazed upon Kushina, floating above him. Her sword dripped with recently spilled blood. Yet, in the face of her immense power, the blood burned off the sword until nothing was left. The Uzumaki Matriarch stared down at her adversary, her eyes brimming with strength.
"Or do. Make my night."
KG: Now, I'll be honest, this chapter would not cooperate sometimes, either from my workload or other matters, but I finally managed it. I always imagined what it would be if I remade this story, gave it a fresh coat of paint like Riot gives Ryze a rework every other year. I never like putting time or chapters to things, but as I mentioned previously, we're slowly coming up on the end. It's a little funny to think that had I not stepped away, I would have finished this by now. But, there's no use crying over spilled milk. Now, as for the Old Woman, if you'll look carefully, you'll know who she is, which might confuse you even more but all these things are indeed happening to Naruto for a reason. Sometimes, I found Naruto at his best when he did not have all the answers, that the problems we face are not solved quickly, days, months, even years pass sometimes.
KG: CHEESECAKE!