3,623KG: I remember the days where I wanted nothing more than to get older so I could do whatever I wanted. Man, being an adult sucks sometimes. Of course, there are some good things to it.
Wife: Me?
KG: Yes, you babe!
Music of the Week: The Five Rings by Twisted Jukebox
Quote: "Know what's important and what isn't. Have the wisdom to know the right thing to do, the integrity to do it, the character to stand up to those who don't, and the courage to stop those who won't," by Mark Goulston.
Amaru grimaced as she slowly opened her eyes. She looked up and noticed an underground roof over her head full of stalactites. The redhead then turned and saw large prison bars sealing off all avenues of escape. Her eyes slowly widened as she leaned up, memories slowly returning to her. "Master Shinnō!" she exclaimed only to wince when she felt a sharp pain on the back of her head. Touching the back of her head, she noticed a bandage wrapped around her head.
"Where am I?" Amaru said to herself as she slowly stood to her feet. Her legs wobbled for a moment and she could tell she was running a fever. Her breath was short, her chest was tight, and her forehead was burning. She also felt a little delirious. Nevertheless, she approached the prison bars but didn't touch them. Even in her haze, Amaru knew better than to touch them. She was an Uzumaki so she could tell seals meant to siphon chakra when she saw them. A good portion of her chakra had already been sucked into the bars and it would take considerable work for her to disarm them.
"What a time to test my knowledge of my clan's sacred arts," Amaru said to herself. She staggered toward the bars but each step made her weaker and weaker. She couldn't even make it halfway before she slumped to the ground. Panting deeply, Amaru felt her vision get hazier until she finally decided to step away and lean against the wall. Strangely enough, her symptoms slowly decreased the further away she got.
"Oh, it's also proximity-based. Great," Amaru said to herself. She slumped back to the ground and exhaled a tired breath. Closing her eyes momentarily, Amaru tried to recall what happened. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't hard and it wasn't a great feeling.
She'd been busy providing healing to some workers in a far country. There had been many performing work and construction, sustaining large injuries and spreading sickness. Amaru had been following her master, Shinnō, and learning from him what she could. It all happened when she awoke in the middle of the night to find Shinnō speaking with someone. She tried to listen in, something about her family's Shinigami Mask and its location. That was extremely sensitive information that no one in the clan was permitted to give without express permission. Amaru… had told Shinnō because she believed she could trust him. He was as much family as everyone else was.
That said, Amaru suddenly found herself captured when Uchiha Obito came up behind her. She tried to fight back as best she could, yet she'd severely neglected her shinobi training. She tried to call out to Shinnō for help but all it too was two senbon to the neck for her to fall comatose before waking up here. The last thing she saw before going unconscious was her master's sinister smirk.
Amaru sighed against the wall, trying to keep her thoughts together even as she felt delirious from the fever. "Doesn't help that I don't even know where I am," Amaru said to herself. Though she tried to resist, the Uzumaki medic slowly fell asleep.
Amaru wasn't sure how long she had been asleep but she realized that someone was coming. She tried to sense who it was by the prison bars were obstructing her focus. She could only watch as the footsteps got closer and closer. What she didn't expect was to see Shion approaching, flanked by five guards.
"S-Shion?" Amaru questioned.
The Uzumaki priestess noticed her cousin and gasped. "Amaru, you're awake!" she exclaimed. Shion then turned to the guards and ordered them to open the cell door. The guards stared at her for a moment before they deactivated the bars and opened Amaru's cell. Shion quickly stepped inside and knelt in front of her cousin. The guards then closed the door and reactivated the trap on the bars before walking away.
Shion grabbed Amaru and hugged her cousin. "Thank the Shinigami. I thought you were never going to wake up. How have you been feeling?" Shion inquired, touching Amaru's forehead.
Amaru chuckled softly. "Well, I guess I'm feeling pretty sick right now. Not to mention that I also feel my chakra being sucked away by those damn bars. I could break them if I had the chakra but it gets harder to focus the more I look at them. How did you end up here?" Amaru asked, smiling as she watched Shion check her over. Amaru already knew she wasn't going to like the explanation as judged by the glare on her cousin's face.
Shion told Amaru everything and it was as Amaru feared. Either her master was being controlled or he had truly betrayed them. Of course, Amaru hoped for the former, but it just seemed impossible. While not as adept in the shinobi arts, she would have known if her master of all people was being controlled. The thought was suffocating and maddening at the same time. Nevertheless, he wasn't here and there was no point in drowning in despair, simply because her fever wouldn't allow her to sustain the headache.
"And what happened to you? They didn't do anything to you did they?" Amaru asked.
Shion smiled sadly before she held up her hand. Amaru looked down and frowned when she saw a pyramid-shaped seal embedded into Shion's right hand. "Turht be told, Amaru. I really don't know what they did to me. Though I can tell it's nothing good. That man named Jigen seems to be the leader of these guys and the one allying with Obito and the Akatsuki. He's the one who implanted this thing in my hand. He called it a Kāma. While I don't know what he's planning, he obviously needs me for some reason," Shion claimed.
Amaru bit her lip for a moment before she exhaled. "It might have something to do with Shinigami-sama. They captured the Uzumaki priestess and… I told Master Shinnō about the Shinigami Mask," Amaru claimed.
Shion's eyes widened slightly as she realized what Amaru was saying. "You did what?! Amaru, of all the stupid, reckless things you could have done. You know Naruto's orders. No one in the family was supposed to discuss that with anyone without express permission, not even Kushina. Why would you…" Shion slowly ceased her tirade when she saw Amaru clench her fists, nearly on the verge of tears.
"S-Shinnō-sensei was family to me. He saved my life. I thought it would be okay if it was him," Amaru sobbed out while Shion slowly exhaled and held her head in her hands. Oh, this wasn't good. This really wasn't good. In hindsight, it was a good idea. The best way to protect the mask was to have it hidden in plain sight. It was also close to the Uzumaki shrine which was guarded 24/7. Plus, Shion, as a Uzumaki, was always nearby to sense for danger. What a fool she was to not expect danger from those close to her own family.
After a moment, Shion exhaled again. "Alright, it doesn't matter right now. But we have to find a way to contact Naruto and the others. I've tried praying to Shinigami-sama, but he has yet to answer. He might not answer at all. However, there are some things we'll have to rely on ourselves," Shion explained. She then touched the ground and closed her eyes, expanding her chakra to sense what she could. She had to work quickly. Her chakra was being drained by the bars and they wouldn't be left alone for long.
"What are you doing?" Amaru inquired hazily.
"Looking for any chakra signatures. By combining the little Honshou I have and the chakra within me, I should be able to sense the people around me without being discovered. And, if I can find them, then I can gather an outline of the structure we're in. Hopefully, there will be a way out before my chakra is absorbed," Shion claimed.
The Uzumaki Shrine Priestess then sensed the numerous chakra signatures around the underground labyrinth that she and her cousin had been confined to. She concentrated where she could, beads of sweat falling down her face. She even managed to locate Jigen and the members of Akatsuki. That said, she knew she'd been spotted because one of them glanced in her direction. Judging by his unique signature, she recognized it as The Regent.
A curse flew through Shion's mouth as she nearly stopped her snooping, only to realize that The Regent seemed hardly perturbed by her interference. He didn't even bother to alert the others that Shion had sensed them. He just kept moving forward. "Just who are you?" Shion thought to herself. Why wouldn't he tell them? Even then, why did his aura feel so… familiar?
Too many things weren't adding up, but Shion didn't have the time to figure them out at the moment. Instead, she continued to sweep through the underground labyrinth, taking note of those people whose chakra seemed almost… civilian-like and others who had as much as seasoned jonin, no perhaps even stronger than them.
A few more minutes passed as Shion tried to diligently work. Beads of sweat fell from her forehead as she sensed more and more. Yet, as she continued to descend, the chakra the priestess sensed only darker and darker, heavier and heavier. Pretty soon, she was so deep that she sensed what could only be described as a river of malice, despair, and anger. In some ways, this presence reminded her of Mōryō before he'd been taken under Naruto's power. Of course, being the creature that killed her mother, Shion still didn't favor Mōryō a lot. That aside, this power was a dark and foreboding one, so much so that she quickly pulled her senses back lest she find herself overwhelmed.
"What's down there? I'll need to… wait, what's that?!" Shion interrupted her own thoughts and quickly sensed several large signatures headed in the direction of the underground labyrinth. Immediately, she widened her eyes as she noticed Tayuya's chakra signature and Honshou. Not just her, she also sensed Sasuke, Itachi, Neji, and even Yuri's friend, Konan.
Acting quickly, Shion ceased her actions and opened her eyes. "Tayuya's and Sasuke-san are coming. Did someone inform them about our capture? But there's no way they would have found us so quickly. Either they're here investigating a separate matter or they're just passing through. Whatever, it's a coincidence that I'm going to take it!" Shion thought to herself.
The only problem was, how was she going to contact them? It would be a simple measure to just pulse her chakra. Nearly every Uzumaki, save for those in Kumo, knew each other's chakra at this point. Tayuya would have instantly recognized her. However, such a pulse, especially so deep down would have been felt by everyone else. That Jigen guy would have easily sensed her and apprehended her long before Tayuya and the others made it down here.
Then there was Amaru. Should she make a move like this with Amaru as sick as she was? It was obvious to her that Jigen was keeping his promise. They were treating Amaru, but only so much that Shion would remain complacent. Amaru, even with her body strengthened by limited Honshou, was still too weak at the moment, especially with her chakra being drained. Despite being a medic, she couldn't even treat herself.
"Wait… this could work," Shion said to herself before she grabbed her cousin's shoulders. She then lightly rocked her awake. It seemed that Amaru had fallen asleep in her exhaustion and sickness.
"H-Huh?" Amaru asked, feeling Shion gently wipe her forehead.
"Amaru, are you ready to start your acting career?" Shion inquired. Amaru raised an eyebrow. Shion then watched her cousin cough for a moment before she leaned her head back against the stone.
"If you're asking me to injure myself, well I could. But it'd be easily recognized by Shinnō-sensei. He probably knows my work by now," Amaru claimed tiredly.
Shion shook her head and grinned. "It doesn't matter. Let them believe what they want. With any luck, we might just find a way out of this situation. Now, act! Act like you've never acted in your whole life. Remember when Jashin fell upon the world? Act like that," Shion claimed.
Amaru looked at her cousin and then firmly nodded. Shion then collected whatever of her chakra remained, mixing it with the Honshou inside her. She then pulsed it as hard as she could as high as she could. She pulsed it several times, knowing that she reached Tayuya through the Uzumaki pattern of pulsing that they had all learned.
It was then that Amaru began screaming and writhing. She violently coughed, rapidly accelerating her heartbeat with what chakra she had left, which wasn't a lot. Shion quickly took her cousin in her arms and screamed for help. "Hurry up! I know you're all out there! Get in here!" Shion hollered at the top of her lungs.
Almost immediately, Jigen and several hooded figures appeared. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked with a frown before he noticed Shion scowl at him.
"I believe I told you to heal Amaru, not make her worse! Are your doctors really that incompetent?! How else am I supposed to get a hold of any of you? Get your doctors in here and help her!" Shion snarled.
Jigen frowned as he looked at Amaru, who was writhing in agony. He could even smell the blood from the side of her lip. That was odd. The doctors had just given her the bare minimum of treatment a few hours ago. Perhaps her illness was a tad more severe than Jigen thought. Whatever Shinnō did to her must have been more severe than Jigen assumed. Well, it could also be a ploy. Shion could have alerted someone and this was just a play to seek help. That said, none of his scouts had reported anything unusual.
"Help her," Jigen said. The guards opened the door and immediately shoved Shion away. They then picked up Amaru and rushed her out of the cell before abruptly closing the cell door. Jigen and Shion continued to glare at each other.
"You better behave yourself, Uzumaki Shion. I have been accommodating of you both as of late. Be assured that I can make your situation much worse if you think of standing against me. If I hear a single word of intruders in the base, then I will personally deliver your cousin's soul-less corpse to you," Jigen answered.
Shion slowly stood to her feet. "And if you follow through with your threat then I'll make sure Naruto makes you suffer in the belly of the Shinigami for the rest of eternity!" Shion growled while Jigen continued to look at her impassively. In the face of her threat, he simply walked away while the Uzumaki priestess watched him go. She sucked her teeth before she exhaled.
"Come on Tayuya. Please let this work. It's all we've got," Shion thought to herself before she sat on the ground and closed her eyes.
-x-
"It's right here," Tayuya said as the ground looked down at the ground. Sasuke and the others looked at the ground. It was just a patch of dirt in the middle of nowhere. The canyon was still far-stretching, yet Tayuya had quickly alerted the others that she sensed Shion. The others were heavily confused since Shion ought to be back in Uzushio. Yet, Tayuya guided them to this spot.
"Tayuya-san, I think you've been in the sun too long," Neji commented.
The redhead growled before she turned to Neji. "Femboy, if you weren't family I'd fucking shove a kunai up your ass. It was Shion! As much as it pisses me off, I think I'd know my own damn family's chakra signature. Now, if anyone here thinks they can sense even remotely like I can then I'm all for a fucking second opinion!" Tayuya claimed.
As expected, no one gave her an answer. After all, it was known that the Uzumaki were extraordinary sensor types. Even Amaru, who hadn't practiced the art much, was more adept at it than most jonin. If Tayuya sensed something, more than likely it was a proper feeling. "So either Shion-san's invisible, or she's underground. By the looks of it, very underground," Konan mentioned.
Sasuke frowned for a moment before he addressed the Kindred. "Think you could go down there and see where she is?" he asked.
"There is no need. Someone else has already taken care of it. Our priority is you and your team at the moment," Lamb answered. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, wondering about her meaning, yet he didn't bother for an explanation. Sasuke had no idea how Naruto dealt with these two day in and day out. They made the Uchiha want to tear his own hair out sometimes.
After a moment, the Uchiha opened his eyes again. "Unfortunately, we don't know the way inside yet. The guards haven't moved from their positions. Neji, can you make out anything?" Sasuke asked. Neji activated his Byakugan and stared at the ground. Unfortunately, Shion had to be further down than he could see because he saw numerous signatures but no one bearing the chakra of a Uzumaki.
"If she's down there, she's further down than I can see," Neji remarked.
Sasuke scowled, yet forced himself to think. "Alright, we'll…"
Before Sasuke could finish, he was cut off by a hand from Konan. "The guards are moving," she said. The others widened their eyes before they quickly hid in some deep crevices. Neji and Tayuya watched as the guards approached the canyon lands and sped across the plains. The group quickly followed after the guards. They dashed across the vast landscape, Konan summoning a wind jutsu to blow a small sandstorm over the canyon. With Neji as their eyes, there was no fear of getting lost. Tayuya's foot embedded in the ground before her chakra fractured the land. She blasted forward with a glare on her face. Whoever kidnapped her cousin, she was going to make them rue the fucking day they messed with her family.
Sasuke's team followed after the scouts from close behind following Neji's guidance. After ten minutes, they landed behind a large rock formation. "What do you see?" Sasuke asked against the duststorm.
"There is a cavern that they are standing in front of. Four have entered already. It seems that they are being checked one by one. I believe it would be best if we make our move now. Every time one of them enters, there's a large portion of chakra that seems to bar entry. It's meticulously layered. I'm not sure if Tayuya-san could break it in a reasonable amount of time. It's better if we infiltrate by using subduing tactics. We can then camouflage ourselves among them. No matter who this is, I find it hard to believe there's anyone who can stand against the hypnotizing techniques of the Sharingan. That would give us all an advantage," Neji explained.
Sasuke grunted. "Fine. Let's go!" he ordered. The others agreed and charged at the group of scouts. One of the scouts quickly noticed them through the duststorm but large bands of paper quickly wrapped around their heads and suffocated them into unconsciousness while Neji struck the chakra points of three others. Tayuya bashed one in the back of the head while Sasuke and Itachi charged into the cavern.
Enemies on the other side gasped as the Uchiha brothers popped through. Yet, they couldn't even shout a command before the two Uchiha revealed their Sharingan and effortlessly subdued by the Sharingan and sucked into a world of illusions. One by one, they fell to their knees while Tayuya, Neji, and Konan entered the cavern, dragging those they subdued with them.
"We've handed the mess outside," Konan claimed.
Sasuke nodded. "Good. Take their clothes, seal their chakra, and bind them up. We don't know who's the real threat and who's just a victim of circumstance. For now, subdue who you can unless necessary," Sasuke said.
The others agreed as Neji struck the chakra points of their captives. Konan wove her hand and bound them up while Tayuya stripped them all, throwing cloaks to everyone. "Just tell me how far down Shion is so I can kick the fucking ass of whoever kidnapped her," Tayuya claimed with a sharp snarl.
"While I understand Tayuya-san's eagerness, I'm reluctant to wonder what kind of person could sneak into the Land of Eddies and capture Shion like they did. Given the capabilities, I believe we have one possibility," Konan replied.
Itachi slowly nodded. "Uchiha Obito. His own Sharingan was a tricky sort. It's reasonable if Shion-san couldn't escape from him if he was the one to capture her. Plus, given that we haven't heard of any breach in the land's defenses, either Tobi managed to slip in on his own or…" Itachi paused while Tayuya gritted her teeth harder.
"Or someone let the fucker in past our defenses, someone who knew how most of our sealing structure worked. Fucking piece of shit!" The redhead exclaimed while Sasuke gathered the attention of his team. He threw his cloak over his head as did the others. With their forms masked, he addressed them.
"Enough. We will worry about the security of the village later. The others are still there and they're monitoring the situation on their own. We have our own worries here. Tayuya, you and I will focus on recovering Shion. Itachi, Konan, and Neji will work on tracking down the missing caravan and investigating the rest of the place. Find out what they're using these people for. As for how we'll meet up, I haven't thought of that yet, but if worse becomes worst then I will use the Kindred to communicate between us all. Now, let's move!" Sasuke ordered.
The others glanced off to the side. "And if we encounter the enemy?" Konan asked.
"As I said before, subdue them if you can. If you can't, then do what you need to. These people have been kidnapping shinobi and civilians. Naruto will sort them out on his own," Sasuke returned. Konan nodded before she noticed the Uchiha point to her.
"You'll assume command of the three-man team until Tayuya and I return. Now, let's move out," the Uchiha heir addressed. The group agreed as they marched further and further into the cave, keeping their cloaks on top of their heads.
As expected of a changing guard, it didn't take long for the five-man team to meet with the coming guards. Sasuke and Itachi quickly hypnotized them while Konan, Neji, and Tayuya incapacitated the others. Itachi and Sasuke then extracted whatever information they could from the guards. As expected, they were all civilians which didn't seem to know anything. They received their orders and went about their duties, simply being sentries. They were fed bread, water, and scraps of meat and vegetables before being sent on their way.
To that end, the group let them go, leaving them in a genjutsu to forget everything they saw on the way toward their destination. That way, they'd also forget the incapacitated guards that the group left at the entrance. Of course, this wasn't a fool-proof strategy. They'd get found out eventually, but hopefully, it wouldn't matter at that point.
The group descended further for about half an hour before they saw that the cave was starting to become a little more… modern. Rocky, underground roads soon turned into slabs of stone and perfectly sculpted walls. Stalagmites and stalactites were replaced with gloriously high pillars in deep, wide trenches. Everywhere they looked, more caves led to other parts of the underground. There were even doors with various seals on them, all while people walked around, heading into different parts of the cave.
"This… could be harder than we expected," Neji whispered.
Sasuke frowned for a moment as he turned to Neji. "Can you see anything?" he asked. The others watched as Neji activated his Byakugan. Almost immediately, his face scrunched up in worry. Even a bead of sweat fell down the side of his face.
"If Femboy's making a face like that, then I guess I wasn't the only one who sensed that fucking thing," Tayuya said. Sasuke, Itachi, and Konan looked to her. They saw the scowl on Tayuya's face.
"I don't know what the fuck's down here, but it's making my skin crawl. I didn't say anything because I thought it was just my mind and the dark messing with me, but if Femboy's seeing it, then I guess I wasn't wrong. There's some messed up shit down here. Way down here," Tayuya murmured next to the others.
"Is it even lower than Shion-san?" Konan inquired.
Neji quickly, yet subtly nodded as the group continued walking.
"Hey, you five! Mindless fucking drones. Two of you come here."
The five stopped walking and noticed a large man with a rather portly build. Even in the dark, his eyes were easily discernable by their yellow hue. The group made sure to give nothing away, though it seemed that they took too long before the man approached.
"Oi, do you not hear me talking to you? Stand in front of me immediately before I snap your fucking necks! Damn useless dogs. Why do I have to be one of the ones to babysit these worms?" The man said, muttering the last few parts to himself.
Sasuke immediately approached and so did Tayuya. The others stayed behind until the two stood in front of the man. "Fucking finally. Were your brains removed in real life too? And what are you three looking at?! Go about your business before I get even more pissed!" the man said.
Itachi stealthily bumped Konan and Neji's shoulders. He walked away and they quickly followed him without a word down one of the underground tunnel hallways. The man then turned to Sasuke and Tayuya. "Both of you follow me. You're not doing anything important anyway and I sure as hell am not about to perform manual labor when I've got two pets right here," He said.
Sasuke noticed the glare on Tayuya's face, yet she had the foresight to keep her glare off her face until the man turned around and walked away. "Great. What do we do now?" Tayuya asked.
"We follow him. Maybe he'll even lead us deeper in this structure. He walks like an important figure. Plus, it's better than roaming around in the dark. Stay close. If it's not getting us closer to our goal, then I can force him to take us to where Shion's located. He might know," Sasuke whispered.
Tayuya grunted, yet she didn't respond. The two quietly followed the man through the underground passageways, separating themselves from Neji, Itachi, and Konan. He took them through numerous corridors, looking around every area or open door they could, all while hearing the man complain about this and that. He led them down several levels, giving them more than enough time to take in the environment and internally map what they could. That said, Sasuke had to try on more than one occasion to keep Tayuya from bashing the guide's head in. The man was much like Naruto back in the day, talked way too much, boasting about this and that. However, at least Naruto was amusing. This guy was just grating on the nerves.
"You know, you mindless ants should be grateful. It's because of your sacrifice that the world shall welcome the coming godhood of the Otsutsuki Clan, and Isshiki has granted us privileged few the honor of not only becoming the trailblazers but even becoming gods ourselves. All I've heard for the last few months is 'Uzumaki Naruto' this or 'Uzumaki Naruto' that. It's grating on the nerves. Originally, I had such high hopes for him. The young man who, accepting the power of a god, felled a god himself. He could have led humanity into an age greater than we've ever dreamed. Yet, all he does is maintain this wretched sense of mortal peace and prosperity. He's a failure of an avatar. He has learned nothing from Jashin, but Kāra has. Isshiki has as well."
Sasuke and Tayuya glanced at each other for a moment. The latter hardened her gaze when the man suddenly turned to her and looked at her. By sheer force of her own will, Tayuya erased the unbridled fury that had shown on her visage when the man looked at her. "You know, your chakra feels a little familiar. What's your name?"
The frown on Sasuke's face deepened as the man invaded Tayuya's personal space. The Uchiha's glare hardened, especially when Tayuya didn't respond. "Hey, ant, I'm talking to you. What's your name?" he asked a little harder, even lightly slapping Tayuya across the face. Sasuke's gaze darkened as he quickly activated the Sharingan. He was prepared to make his move, especially when the man grabbed Tayuya by the throat and held her up.
"You know, I could snap your fucking neck right here, right now, you damned ant. Not many people dare ignore me when I ask them a question. Do you know how many people revere me?" He asked, his grip tightening in her throat. Nevertheless, Tayuya remained silent. If anything his grip didn't hurt that much. It was more annoying than anything, especially being touched by what might as well have been a giant ogre.
The man, either having had enough or bored, threw Tayuya at the wall. Her body cracked its stone body before she slumped to the ground. The man sucked his teeth. "Oh right, I forgot that you ants can't speak. I guess you were one of the ones who got their tongue ripped out. A shame, but I guess I'll find out if I just take you to see your medical file later. Get up and let's go. We don't pay you to laze around! Then again, I guess we don't pay you ants at all," he said as he walked away.
Sasuke turned to Tayuya as she got up. The two shared a gaze for only a moment and Sasuke was treated to the angriest glare and snarl that he'd ever seen on Tayuya's face. She had gotten angry plenty of times before, but this… this was unlike any of those other times. "I'm gonna fucking skin that shithead from head to toe when I get my fucking hands on him!"
Following that brief matter, Sasuke and Tayuya continued following the man. All the while, they passed by numerous other rooms and descended down, watching others run past them. Pretty soon, the man spotted one of them.
"What's the matter?" He asked.
"Issihiki wishes to increase security around the area. One of the prisoners made a ruckus and believes she alerted someone from the outside. The other prisoner's been taken to the medical unit!" one of the Inners exclaimed, hurriedly pushing past them to continue his own work. Meanwhile, the man Sasuke and Tayuya were following sucked his teeth.
"Useless troublemaker. I'll have a word with her after I'm finished. You two, come on!" He said.
Sasuke and Tayuya glanced at each other, both nodding to the other before they followed the man. Down and down he went until Sasuke's gaze hardened. "Was this what Tayuya was sensing? Why can I only sense it now that we're so far down here? Its chakra is even darker than what Orochimaru had. What's even down here?" Sasuke thought to himself.
Ultimately, the Uchiha received his answer when the man opened a large door, pillars of rock and stone sliding to welcome the trio. "What the fuck is that?" Tayuya thought as she stared at an impossibly large black box with a demon-like mask on each of its four sides. However, sitting on top of the box in some sort of container, seemed to be some type of leech, eel… thing with a white mask over its face. It slithered about the container like a snake. Yet, why was it making Tayuya shiver?
Even Sasuke frowned as he looked at the box and the beast on top of it. There was a lot of chakra in here, so much chakra that ordinary people would perish just from standing too close to it. In fact, it was like a diluted version of the might of Jashin. Neither Sasuke nor Tayuya knew what they were supposed to be looking at, but they knew it wasn't supposed to be good.
"Shit, Sasuke, look," Tayuya hissed.
The Uchiha turned his head and noticed Kisame and Zetsu standing there. So this was where the remaining members of the Akatsuki had holed up. However, if those two were here, then that meant that the Regent and Obito were here as well. As for what they were doing here, that was a concern.
Suddenly, everyone heard banging. Looking up, everyone noticed the masked beast in the container slamming its head into the glass bowl, its body pointing at Tayuya. It's mouth opened, revealing its sharp teeth.
Soon enough, all eyes were on Tayuya as a bead of sweat fell down her face. Kisame laughed. "Hahahaha, seems like the damn thing's got a preference after all. Oi, guppie, who's that? Seems we found its next meal," Kisame said.
The man who'd been leading them shrugged his shoulders. "Do I look like I have the time to know the face of every ant? Though, this one certainly seemed to be a queen amongst them all. Let's find out," he said.
Tayuya tensed as he grabbed her hood. However, before he could lift it up, everyone noticed the beast suddenly roar as it slammed its head into the top of the glass container. Everyone watched as the giant box hummed momentarily while the beast's tendrils absorbed chakra from the box. Soon enough, all eyes were turned to it but Sasuke swiftly managed to place their guide under a genjutsu. It had to be quick, but one glance was all the Uchiha needed. Their guide's pupils morphed into the Sharingan.
"Hey, Ants! Pick up those boxes and follow me!" he said.
Sasuke and Tayuya picked up some strange boxes filled with tools while the man grinned. "We have to inform Isshiki that the Reibi is reacting to The Box! Both of you come with me!" he said.
Sasuke and Tayuya felt their breaths ease as Sasuke controlled the guide to lead them out of the room. Either Kisame and Zetsu were too focused on the coiled, yet masked beast to care or they had just lost interest in potentially discovering Tayuya's identity. In the end, it didn't matter. It was a boon for Sasuke and Tayuya, having allowed enough time to pass.
Once they were gone, Sasuke and Tayuya dropped the boxes. "What's your name?" he asked.
"My name is Boro, the man who will become the savior of the Elemental Nations," the man said. Sasuke and Tayuya glanced at each other for a moment. They then turned back to the man named Boro.
"Walk while we talk. Speak slow and low. If you see anyone coming, keep your mouth shut!" Sasuke ordered.
Boro quickly nodded as Sasuke spoke next. "Good. Now take us to where Uzumaki Shion is located," he demanded. The larger man nodded again and began to guide them away. Once they were a fair distance away, Sasuke turned to Boro.
"Speak. What is this organization and why are you kidnapping people?" The Uchiha inquired.
Boro continued to look forward, his body not under his own control as he answered. "We are Kāra, led under the might of Otsutsuki Isshiki. Our goal is the great evolution, the ascension into godhood by way of The Great Otsutsuki Will. The organization is made up of Inners and O-Outers! We I-I-Inners a-a-as the name suggests knowing the inner workings of the entire organization. We have O-O-O-Outers who support our cause, yet are simply expendable worker ants. We p-p-p-p-plan to undermine the authority of the Elemental Nations and Uzumaki Naruto!" he said, stammering every now and then.
Sasuke snarled before he ordered Boro to face him. He then asserted more control over the man with his Sharingan. "What's wrong?" Tayuya asked.
"He's fighting me. I know it's not impossible, but the dobe's power has been increasing the potency of my abilities. That he can resist when I have this shows that these guys aren't ordinary. He also mentioned the Otsutsuki just like Naruto warned. We can't allow these guys to live," Sasuke replied. Naruto had more than warned them all about the threat of the Otsutsuki. Sasuke was not about to have a second invasion on his hands. He'd already had to witness Yuna and his mother dying, twice for the latter. He was not in the mood for more.
Tayuya scowled before Sasuke managed to reign in control of Boro. "What was that box and that beast on top of it?" he asked, as they continued walking through the tunnels.
"That Box is the Box of Ultimate Bliss. We discovered it before the world was destroyed. Isshiki sent it to his pocket dimension before we were all killed. The Box is said to grant the wish of anyone who uses it, but that's a lie. Instead, it houses hundreds, if not thousands of negative chakra siphoned from people who were corrupted by its touch. It possesses such strength that was rumored that Kusagakure nearly took over the world with it back in the day. As for the beast, you can call it 'The Bijuu That The World Forgot' or better known as the Reibi, the Zero-Tailed Beast," Boro answered.
Sasuke and Tayuya looked at each other again. "The fucking what?" Tayuya inquired.
"The Reibi. A doctor from Uzushiogakure was recruited to our cause. I don't care about all those details but Isshiki plans to have the Reibi siphon off the dark, negative chakra from the Box of Ultimate Bliss. The Reibi has the ability to create refined dark chakra, a power source of unprecedented might. Plus, Isshiki-sama has been experimenting with a piece of the power which flows through Uzumaki Naruto. He believes that by becoming the host of the Reibi and the demon in the Box, Satori, along with fusing himself with Uzumaki Naruto's power, he will ascend to a level even further than what Uzumaki Naruto is capable of! Who knows, he might have the power to even fell Jashin should the false god return. Then… Isshiki will reward us with the same bodies. Bodies that don't age, don't get sick, don't decay, and don't perish!" Boro claimed.
Tayuya's glare hardened. She then sucked her teeth. "Fucking stupid. Mortals can't make use of that power. In fact, I hope your fucking leader takes it so he can writhe in agony before his death!" Tayuya spat.
To Sasuke's confusion, Boro showed no expression to her words. It was then that the Uchiha's red eyes hummed in the darkness. "If that's the case, then why did you capture Uzumaki Shion? What do you need her for?"
"Now that, I d-d-don't know. However, she was captured along with a Shinigami mask. Isshiki claims that she is the key to everything."
Sasuke and Tayuya stiffened almost immediately. The latter quickly punched Boro across the face with such force that she broke his jaw. She then slammed him against the wall. "Where. Is. That. Fucking. MASK?! Where is it dammit?!" Tayuya snarled as Boro groaned in pain and agony, his mouth bleeding as a few of his teeth fell on the ground.
"I… don't… gnhow!" Boro claimed, his mouth aching from Tayuya's blow while she gripped his arm behind his back.
Sasuke was more than tempted to let her finish as a bead of sweat fell down the side of his face. He had been one of the few that Naruto told about the mask. How did this group find it? Even more than that, how did they find it without the wrath of the Uzumaki, Hyuga, and Uchiha coming down on them?
Finally, Sasuke grabbed Tayuya's arm. "We still need him. He said he's one of these Inners. If we kill him, we don't know if getting another will be as easy. We still need him to find Shion. Once we've secured her, we can begin looking for the mask," Sasuke said.
Tayuya gritted her teeth before she looked down at Sasuke's stomach. "Hey, you fucking furries! Don't you think you should return to the shithead and let him know how fucking fucked this whole situation is?! Go get him!" Tayuya growled out.
"She is quite the rude one, Dear Wolf. Regardless of her tirade, we were ordered to attend to you, Uchiha Sasuke. Regardless of the circumstances, we cannot leave your side at this time," Lamb said as Wolf snarled at Tayuya for the names.
Sasuke sucked his teeth before he bit his thumb. "They can't help and this mission's become a major issue," the Uchiha heir claimed before he slammed his hand on the ground and summoned a small snake. He then took out a scroll and wrote on it.
"Give this to Itachi, Konan, and Neji. Once you're done, come back to me," Sasuke ordered. The snake quickly nodded and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Tayuya watched Sasuke stand up and turn to her before she grit her teeth. She released Boro by throwing him to the ground. "Fucking dammit. So much for hiding in plain sight. I told those idiots that damn mask was too vulnerable. Now we have to deal with this shit," the redhead claimed.
Sasuke patted her shoulder. *Yet, they haven't used it at the moment. Either they are waiting for something, or they're not fully sure how it works. What we do know is that one of your theories was correct. It should have been impossible for them to find that mask without someone leading it to them, especially being so close to Shion. Someone leaked information and we'll find them, but now we have to focus on finding Shion," Sasuke urged, his glare just as heated as Tayuya's.
"Fine, whatever," Tayuya said as Boro slowly stood to his feet. Sasuke then ordered the man to take them to Shion even quicker. He did so and began walking a bit faster. The trio walked through the underground hallways, easily dodging glances or looks from others.
Finally, Boro led them up a flight of stairs and they quickly noticed a long hallway lined with prison cells. It seemed so strange to Sasuke that the area wasn't guarded. However, he noticed the redheaded Uzumaki looking at the bars with a deep frown on her face.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked.
"What's wrong is these fucking bars. I can feel my chakra being sapped away the longer we stay near them," Tayuya replied. Well, at least that seemed to answer Sasuke's internal question of why there were no guards posted.
The trio surveyed the cells until they finally noticed Shion. The sight made Tayuya's blood run cold as the Uzumaki priestess lay on the ground unconscious. "Shit, Shion!" Tayuya exclaimed.
Sasuke looked at the bars, quickly taking note of the complex sealing formula on them. "Can you get rid of these seals?" he asked.
Tayuya looked at the iron bars and sucked her teeth. "What a fucking time to practice!" Tayuya said before she reached into her pouch and pulled out an ink brush. The time it took to disarm the seals on the bars was longer than she would have liked, especially while having her chakra drained at the same time. Yet, she managed it and Sasuke effortlessly picked the lock.
The door opened and Tayuya rushed inside, picking up Shion slowly. "Come on, you dumb prissy bitch. Don't you fucking die on me down here! Wake up!" Tayuya exclaimed, gently checking Shion's pulse. To her relief, her cousin was breathing.
Shion groaned for a moment and opened her eyes. "Y-You're as… c-c-crass as… always, Tayuya," Shion murmured. The redhead Uzumaki looked at her cousin and grinned.
"Shut up, you dumbass. Hang on, we'll get you out of here," Tayuya answered back quickly before she noticed Shion shake her head.
"A-A-Amaru is here somewhere. She was captured as well. Y-You must hurry, they have the Shinigami Mask. N-Naruto and Kushina have to be warned," Shion gasped out. Tayuya sucked her teeth before she threw Shion's arm over her shoulder.
"Tell me something I don't know. This whole mission's turned to shit right now. Even Amaru's here?!" Tayuya growled out as she carefully dragged the Uzumaki priestess out of the cell. Shion weakly lifted her head and noticed Sasuke looking at her. She then turned her head and noticed one of Jigen's Inners looking at them blankly. Curiously, his jaw was disgustingly dislocated. He also looked completely out of it.
"He's helping you?" Shion asked weakly.
"Yes, he is. Albeit very reluctantly. As for you, what's that?" Sasuke asked, pointing toward Shion's hand. Tayuya looked down as Shion revealed the Kāma that Jigen had implanted on her hand. Tayuya lifted her cousin's hand and scowled.
"Did those fuckers do something to you?" she asked.
Shion opened and closed her mouth. "I don't know," she answered.
The two Uzumaki and the Uchiha traded looks before Sasuke heard a sound in the distance. Feeling a sense of unease, the Uchiha turned to the others. "We'll figure it out later. We can't stay here," Sasuke said. He then turned to Boro.
"Tayuya, get Shion out of here. It won't be long before someone finds the people we left at the entrance. Once Shion's safe, then find some way to contact Naruto and Kushina. Much as I hate relying on the dobe, I think he's going to want to see this," Sasuke said.
Tayuya was about to nod before Shion coughed. "Don't worry, Naruto's already been notified. Though… I'm a little worried why he isn't here yet," Shion said.
Sasuke sucked his teeth, unaware of how Naruto could be contacted. Then again, it was possible for a spirit to be following them. It wouldn't be out of the imagination. "Dammit, what's that loser doing?" Sasuke thought to himself.
"Fine, then. Change of plans," Sasuke said before he turned to Boro. "You, take Tayuya and Shion to your medical facilities. We'll get Amaru out of here as fast as we can."
Tayuya frowned. "And what about you, dickhead?"
Sasuke ignored the name-calling and sensed the dark chakra beneath his feet. "I'm going to find out more about that box and that beast inside the container. If I can stop or slow down whatever they're doing, then it's a benefit to protecting the peace that Naruto and all of us created," Sasuke claimed.
Tayuya looked at Sasuke for a long while. It was almost hard to believe this was that same cocksucker who was going after Orochimaru for power, much like her before her death. "Just don't do anything stupid," Tayuya said as she draped her cloak over Shion's head. She'd just have to steal another one at some point.
Boro led the two Uzumaki away while Sasuke turned down a tunnel. He pulled up his own cloak and dashed off.
-x-
Far off in Iwa, Naruto continued to moderate the Five Kage Summit while Yukimaru and Hanabi continued to take minutes for the meetings. It had been a long number of days, some more exhaustive than others. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki was currently in the midst of speaking regarding the matter of resource management before his gaze hardened when Pakura returned to him.
"Shikyō-sama, we have a problem. Uchiha Sasuke has discovered what seems to be an organization designed to usurp the authority of the Elemental Nations. They have been kidnapping civilians by unknown means and seem to be cultivating a demonic-like spirit. They have also kidnapped Uzumaki Shion and Amaru. It seems likely that… Amaru-san's master, Shinnō has betrayed her and Uzushiogakure. They… also took the Shinigami Mask from the Uzumaki Shrine that was relocated to the island," Pakura explained.
On the outside, everyone noticed that Naruto stopped talking, yet none of the Kage dared speak to even ask him what the problem was. Everyone could feel the divine, yet soul-crushing power of the Shinigami slowly starting to radiate from the Uzumaki Patriarch's body as his face turned angrier and angrier. The floor beneath his feet splintered before he addressed the Kage.
"The meeting is adjourned for now. I gotta go!" Naruto exclaimed.
"What? Why?" Kurotsuchi inquired. Unfortunately, Naruto didn't answer her question as he summoned his Shinigami Mask and placed it on his face. His Shinigami cloak wrapped around his shoulders. The Kage, Yukimaru, and Hanabi watched in awe as Naruto's blond hair turned silver and his eyes illuminated with power. The Summoner of the Shinigami then dashed out of the room and flew out the nearest window.
The blond scowled as he floated in the air for only a moment. "Dan, stay behind and inform the Kage of the situation!" Naruto ordered. Dan immediately acknowledged the order and flew out of Naruto's body and down to the building.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki then held up a handsign and unleashed a surge of Honshou, shaking the land of Iwagakure, along with its visitors and citizens. In an instant, Kushina came flying toward him, floating next to him with a frown on her face. Just like him, her usual red hair had turned silver. Her own cloak lay upon her shoulders, filling her with its power.
"Sochi, what's the matter?" Kushina inquired.
"Sasuke and his team uncovered something troublesome. Shion and Amaru were captured, and the Shinigami Mask from the temple was stolen. It seems Shinnō had something to do with it. Pakura spoke with Shion and it sounds like we're dealing with the Otsutsuki because she was embedded with a Kama," Naruto claimed.
Kushina's eyes hardened upon her son's news. "I see. Then we had better head there quickly," Kushina claimed.
Naruto quickly agreed before he summoned Pakura. "Take us there," he ordered. Pakura quickly bowed to them both and flew off with the Summoner of the Shinigami and his wife close behind her.
Pakura flew fast over the Elemental Nations with Naruto and Kushina close behind her. The leaves of the trees shifted in the air as they flew past. "How did they find out about the mask? It should only have been told only to the Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Hyuuga," Kushina said while Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"From what Pakura told me it sounds like Amaru trusted Shinnō enough and told him. He was reported to be cooperating with Obito. Either he's being controlled or he's betrayal is real. We'll find out when we…"
Naruto suddenly stopped talking. "Pakura, stop!" the blond roared. Immediately, Pakura obeyed and stopped flying. Kushina turned to her son. She looked at him, clearly confused before she felt the presence of great, almost insurmountable danger. The two Uzumaki turned their heads and they noticed that they weren't alone in the air. The Uzumaki patriarch noticed the two hooded figures from before, floating there just a few feet away.
Acting quickly, Pakura flew back into Naruto's body while Kurama scowled. "Careful, brat. They don't look like they want to talk this time," The fox spoke. His white fur shivered with tension. The smell of battle came upon his nostrils and he recognized the sight of those eager for the lust of blood. The same was true for Mōryō. The former demon could sense their inner desires as well and just the drops that he had managed to gleam were enough to make his numerous heads tremble.
"I'm aware. I don't know what would have happened to Pakura if she'd kept flying," Naruto replied while Kushina turned to face the two who suddenly stood in front of them.
"So these are the two you spoke about. I see what you mean. I never thought I'd tremble from anything after dealing with Jashin, but my senses are warning me against them," Kushina whispered, her voice still filled with power.
"Yeah, but they shouldn't be able to stay here. They told me that just them staying in this plane is enough to make the threads of the universe snap. Although, given that their Otsutsuki, then something tells me that they don't want us interfering with that Otsutsuki group we were headed towards," Naruto whispered back.
"Turn back, Lower Heir. What The Great Will hath ordained no one shall intervene. Take one more step forward and we shall repel your advance. You would do well to heed our warning and do not think that simply because we cannot stand upon this plane for an extended period that we have not the means to deal with you. If you do not back away immediately, we will force you back," The male Otsutsuki said, the tone of his voice non-threatening to the untrained ear. However, it was the confidence in his speech that made the two Uzumaki wary.
"And do not involve the matters of the gods unto our affair. Bring the lesser god and The Great Will shall intervene. While you might fell us, you shall suffer in the process for your soul hath not recovered from its merger with the god of Death. And do not try any of your feeble techniques. We exist beyond the realm of the Elemental Nations. Such abilities are but a mere annoyance," the female Otsutsuki replied, her gaze much more aggressive than the man's.
Naruto and Kushina glared at the two before Kushina slowly drew her sword from its hilt. The sharp, long length of its metal glimmered in the sun. "You give a lot of orders with a rather pompous attitude. Why are you here?" Kushina asked.
Rather than answer the question, the two Otsutsuki simply continued to stare at them. "You will back away now, Uzumaki Naruto. Do not…" The male Otsutsuki paused as Naruto instantly appeared in front of him with his sword drawn. The blond swung his blade through the air before the male Otsutsuki turned his head and caught the blond's sword with his hand.
Immediately, Naruto and Kushina noticed the very world around them change. A blue sky with a sea of green forests slowly into a realm filled with stars and overgrown black pyramid-shaped pillars.
The male Otsutsuki continued to hold the blond's blade before he turned to his sister. "Nanashiki, take care of the woman. I shall handle the lower heir," the man said while the female Otsutuski, Nanashiki, removed her cloak. As expected of an Otsutsuki, two horns protruded from her head while her eyes maintained their pupil-less shape. Yet, one of those eyes was fully black and the other fully white.
"You will regret this, wretch!" Nanashiki claimed as she charged at Kushina. The redhead barely found the time to block as the realm ruptured. Kushina felt her entire body tremble. The mother and wife of Uzumaki Naruto felt her cloak flap from the force as Nanashiki's fist collided with her sword.
Meanwhile, the male Otsutsuki turned to Naruto. "You have made a grave mistake, Lower Heir. From now on, you will know of a life worse than death at the hands of Otsutsuki Nonoshiki," he said before a burst of chakra forced Naruto a few feet away. The blond raised his sword and quickly unleashed the power of the Honshou within him. The blond merged with Kurama and Mōryō, Kagura, and the rest of his summons. He held nothing back as his cloak lengthened, its ends turning into nine tails like those of the Kyuubi.
"And I'll make you regret getting in my way. Whatever Sasuke and the others are suffering, I'll make sure you receive ten times that!" Naruto snarled. Nonoshiki frowned before he grabbed his cloak and threw it off, revealing his abnormally muscular body. His eyes were just like Nanashiki's, however, there was a large red eye in the center of his chest filled with numerous tomoe. Naruto quickly recognized it as a Sharingan-variant.
Nonoshiki stared at the Summoner of the Shinigami. The two then charged at each other. Drawing their fists back, they crashed into each other. Nanashiki and Kushina were violently shoved away from the force of the colliding blows before the latter took the opportunity to spin her body. She slammed her foot against Nanashiki's face, blasting the female Otsutsuki through three pyramid-like structures. She crashed into the ground before leaning up, nary a scratch on her.
"Damn, just hitting her is tough. It's like Sochi said. These aren't normal Otsutsuki. Then again, Kagura isn't exactly normal either. I'll have to do this carefully," Kushina thought to herself before she held up a handsign. Her sword became coated in violet flames with their sapphire center. The Flames of The End surrounded her sword before Nanashiki flew into the air. She patted herself down.
"The blessings of the lower god are wasted upon you, wretch. I expected more from a lower lifeform who managed to fell the god of Slaughter. Enjoy this free lesson on how to utilize the blessings as a Higher Heir properly. The cost of this lesson shall be your very life!" Nanashiki claimed. Kushina's glare hardened as Nanashiki raised her hand and ripped a hundred structures out of the ground. She then swung her hand down and fired them toward Kushina.
The Uzumaki matriarch raised her sword and swung it, releasing an arc of violet fire from her blade. Her eyes narrowed when the flames crashed into the structures, only to watch the structures absorbing the flames until they were all gone. Acting quickly, Kushina flew off as the massive pyramids fell upon her. She swung her sword and cleaved them in two, one after the other. Through the debris, she gasped when she saw Nanashiki appear in front of her. The Otsutsuki pulled her fist back and slammed it into Kushina's face. The redhead grunted before she turned into a puff of smoke, revealing one of the shards of the structures that her opponent used.
Nanashiki frowned and turned her head where she saw Kushina floating above her. Yet, the former smirked when she saw Kushina brush the side of her cheek. Kushina touched her cheek and felt the taste of blood on her tongue. "I substituted perfectly and yet she still managed to damage me. No, it's like her blow tracked me. I'll have to deal with this carefully," Kushina thought.
Nanashiki turned to her opponent and grinned. "Fret not. Your suffering has only just begun to flourish!"
On the far side of the mysterious plane, the air boomed as Naruto and Nonoshiki traded blow after blow. The Summoner of the Shinigami summoned two rasenshurikens in his hands, each of them strengthened by the might of Kurama, Mōryō, Kagura, and the others. "Shisenpō: Rasenshuriken: Rasenkōhai (Death Sage Mode: Spiralling Devastation)!" Naruto roared as he through the two shuriken at Nonoshiki. The Otsutsuki watched the spinning blades slowly grow larger and larger, hurdling toward him at a pace that no mortal could so easily dodge.
Nonoshiki frowned for a moment, gazing upon the technique with a rather uninterested expression before he held up his hands. He was ready to intercept the cataclysmic jutsu until he found himself tied down by white chains. An immense weight of pressure instantly burdened his body. He lifted his head as the two shurikens slammed into his body, their force imploding the strange, colorless realm they all found themselves.
"Think not that this was enough. Such rudimentary techniques will not defeat these Otsutsuki," Kagura claimed as Naruto shifted the handle of his sword through his fingers.
"I'm aware…" Naruto replied as the explosions continued. Yet, he noticed, in their force, that Otsutsuki Nonoshiki continued to stand at the heart of it all. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki barely had the time to block the fist that was aimed at his head. He then pulled his fist back and slammed it into Nonoshiki's stomach. A small smirk came to the blond's face when he heard Nonoshiki grunt. He then pulled the Otsutsuki's head up, crashing his fists into the man's face repeatedly. Each blow was filled with the flames of The End, coating the Otsutsuki's body in black seals. The blond then twisted his body and slammed his heel over Nonoshiki's head, blasting him into the ground below.
His summons flew out of his body and landed on each side of the rupturing explosion. They sped through their handsigns before they slammed their palms on the ground. Seals spread along the mysterious realm from their hands. Immediately a pillar of celestial strength circled the explosion and soared high into the air. Inside the pillar, a door with the face of the Shinigami opened. The door opened and out poured a stream of violet flames, changing the color of the explosion until it seemed as black as the void itself.
Naruto gritted his teeth as he felt Nonoshiki amidst the rupturing chaos. Even his summons snarled as they felt the weight of what seemed to be boundless power bashing against the pillar barrier that they had all erected. Finally, Naruto opened his mouth as Kurama mixed Honshou with chakra. Mōryō manifested himself as his numerous dragon-like heads sprouted from Naruto's body. Naruto weaved a handsign and opened up the barrier. "Shisenpō: Bijuudama: Iriguchi Tenshinpan (Death Sage Mode: Tailed Beast Bomb: Gateway to Divine Judgement)!" Naruto roared as he fired the bijuu blast from his mouth while Mōryō released a wave of the Flames of the End with it. Both blasts flew into the pillar and shook the realm with such force that even Kushina and Nanashiki.
The ground seemed to cave in on itself, the pyramid-like structures collapsing against each other as they were blown away. Naruto's eyes squinted for a moment from the harsh light as the Flames of The End continued to spread. Yet, what the Summoner of the Shinigami didn't expect was for the flames to suddenly swirl about and launch toward him. The blond found himself consumed in the flames until they washed over him. As his vision cleared, he noticed Nonoshiki on the ground. Though the land looked destroyed, there wasn't a single scratch on him. He stared at the Uzumaki Patriarch. In the end, he uttered one word.
"Disappointing."
Otsutsuki Nonoshiki glared up at the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki while Naruto glared back. His other summons stared in surprise. They swiftly flew back to Naruto and floated at his side. "This might be more problematic than we thought, Shikyō-sama," Gari replied as they all began to fill the power and celestial strength pour out of the Otsutsuki's body. Naruto's sword blazed with the Flames of The End. The silver-haired summoner exhaled slowly as black lightning crashed through the ground.
-x-
Sasuke frowned as he dragged an unconscious man into a dark hallway. He took the man's cloak and wrapped it over his head. "You do know you're putting yourself at risk. Now is not the time for you to go off alone!" Wolf claimed within the Uchiha's head as Sasuke lurked back to the lower levels of the cavern. He kept himself hidden, passing by and hypnotizing anyone who got too close.
"I am not going to hide away simply because my life is in danger. I would have never become a shinobi if I was afraid of such a fate. Besides, the dobe needs to know what he's dealing with. The last time we were caught unaware, a bunch of cultists managed to summon that bastard, Jashin, into the Elemental Nations. If there's even a rumor of such a fate returning to us, then it must be stopped immediately! I will not allow anyone to wrench my family from me again!" Sasuke returned as he made his way back down until he found himself in front of the massively large door again. He touched the door for a moment before he thought he heard someone approaching.
Acting quickly, he ran up one of the pillars and hid himself in the darkness of the ceiling. He silently watched as a monk-like man was followed by the remaining members of the Akatsuki. Almost immediately, Sasuke felt himself shudder when he looked at the man. Even the Kindred looked at the man strangely. "Tread carefully, Uchiha Sasuke. This is no normal mortal. He bears the aura of an Otsutsuki. A very powerful one at that," Lamb claimed.
Sasuke slowly nodded. "I can tell. He doesn't feel normal at all. Even when he's standing against a chakra monster like Kisame, the others still seem to pale in comparison. Then there's that thing and that box. However, it doesn't make any sense. Why do I sense the presence of Honshou in him? It's like I sense the dobe standing down there, albeit… heavily diluted," Sasuke thought back to Lamb.
Lamb and Wolf glanced at each other while Sasuke activated his Sharingan. He looked at the monk and a shiver ran through his spine. "What the hell is that?" Sasuke thought to himself. He swore that he saw three different energies swirling around the man in some sort of chaotic unity. White and black energies swirled about within in him malicious droves. A bead of sweat fell from Sasuke's face, especially when he saw the way the chakra from behind the massive door stretched out to reach for the monk's body. He soaked it in like a damned sponge, feeding off it to such a degree that it made Sasuke sick. What was even stranger was the fact that this man was even more powerful than the person who attacked them before.
The Uchiha watched the door open, his eyes translating the movements of the lips of the Akatsuki and the monk.
"Since you're calling us, I assume that all your planning has finally borne fruit?" Kisame asked with a sharp grin on his face, lugging Samehada over his shoulder.
"It has. The results aren't as profitable as I wished, but they are still worth it. Today begins the final culmination of months of planning, and you have all worked exceptionally. With Uzumaki Naruto occupied with the Kage Summit, this was the perfect time to begin. Should we continue to wait, it will not take long for him to realize that the Uzumaki Priestess has been taken. In fact, his forces might already have infiltrated this base."
Sasuke's gaze hardened when he read those lip movements. It didn't seem like they had been discovered, yet he couldn't hide this strange feeling of unease. As a ninja, he'd grown used to paranoia, yet none was stronger than now. He sucked his teeth and wondered if he should call off the rest of the mission. The only problem was that he had no idea when the others would find Amaru. He wasn't going to leave her here.
The Uchiha shivered when he noticed the monk turn his head. The Uchiha moved quickly, holding to get behind one of the hanging stalactites. He hid behind one when Jigen stared up at the ceiling. His eyes narrowed for a moment until he turned his attention back to the large door. Sasuke snuck a peek and noticed the Akatsuki walk inside. Following behind them seemed to be about three people with hoods over their heads. However, leading them Sasuke noticed Shinnō, Amaru's teacher, walking with a rather confident, arrogant grin on his face. The Uchiha took the time to look at the man's chakra network and the frown on his face deepened.
"He's not under any genjutsu. It also looks like he's real comfy here. I think that solved the issue of his allegiance. That idiot's gonna have to really do a reorganizing of the island's structure when he learns about this," Sasuke thought to himself before he noticed the hooded figures head inside as well. He slowly dropped down and with a quick step, asserted himself into the group, keeping his head low.
Sasuke stepped with the hooded group until he went inside as well. The large doors closed behind him as he lifted his eyes toward the room. As usual, he noticed the beast trapped in a large glass bowl seated atop the monstrously big, black box. He then noticed Obito take a step forward.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Obito claimed, looking as Sasuke noticed the monk stand in front of the black box. Either Jigen decided to answer with his actions or he didn't care about Obito's opinion in the matter. However, he simply stood in a summoning circle while the hooded figures approached. Sasuke approached as well, finding himself caught in imitating the group. They all stood around Jigen as the monk turned a glance in Sasuke's direction.
"That is the purpose of the Kāma. The greatest strategists do not have disadvantages. Every situation is an advantage. The divine energy within me is immense, even grander than I dared dream. It's so enormous that even my body is breaking down just trying to hold it in. To that end, either we shall feed this energy to the Box of Ultimate Bliss and the Reibi, or all energy shall become mine and I shall evolve into the realm of He Who Ascended First. And once I have evolved, I shall ascend you all with me. You shall receive the world that you wished for, Uchiha Obito, a reality fit for one such as yourself," Jigen said before he turned to one of the hooded figures.
"Begin," he ordered.
The hooded figures didn't even notice. They swiftly sped through handsigns and Sasuke, with the help of the Sharingan, easily matched their pace. Given that he was the extra man, he figured that he could get away with adding no chakra into the mix.
Thankfully, his guess was correct as the seal lit up. Unfortunately, the Uchiha and the Kindred quickly noticed the chakra from the so-called Reibi and Box of Ultimate Bliss siphon off the chakra from Jigen. One of the Box's masks opened, its maw like a neverending void of nothingness. The Reibi screamed in its cage while the ground beneath Jigen's feet cracked.
"HeheheheheheheHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHA! Amazing. I can feel it, every inch covering my body. This is the key, the key to the evolution of the Otsutsuki. In the steps of Otsutsuki Shibai, we shall ascend beyond the very tethers which hold this very plane of existence together. All worlds, all planes, all realities, all existence belongs to the Otsutsuki," Jigen claimed as he found himself drunk on the power being absorbed and siphoned through his body. The Honshou within him battled aggressively with the dark chakra of the Reibi and the Box, Jigen's body the vessel for them both. Yet, the dark chakra soared further and further, bending and twisting the Honshou around, corrupting it with so much essence that it seemed to rend in on itself. Dark swirls of chakra struck the ceiling and the walls. Those too slowly to move were quickly consumed by the dark chakra as Jigen's eyes gleamed. In the middle of his forehead, an eye appeared and Sasuke quickly recognized it by its numerous circular patterns around the pupil.
"The Rinnegan?" Sasuke thought to himself before he heard Wolf snarl.
"What the fuck are you doing, brat?! Stop him!" Wolf roared. Immediately, Sasuke was sapped out of his reverly as he watched Jigen amassing more and more chakra, the Honshou somehow growing in response to its might.
And, that was the time that Sasuke struck. He had no idea what was going on, but every instinct told him that it wasn't good. Before everyone could move, Sasuke quickly lunged forward.
"Chidori!" Sasuke shouted as his left hand surged with lightning. Jigen turned his head as Sasuke thrust his arm through the man's chest. The force of the blow knocked the hood off his head and everyone gasped.
"Uchiha Sasuke!" Obito snarled while Kisame dropped Samehada to the ground and grinned maliciously.
"Well, well, it looks like Jigen was right after all. Itachi-san's little brother actually managed to sneak in here," Kisame claimed.
Strangely, Zetsu and the Regent were silent while the hooded figures moved to intercept the Uchiha heir. Sasuke turned his head to them while his Sharingan morphed into the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Instantly, a wall of black flames blasted over the hooded figures, making them scream as they were swiftly burned to death. Sasuke then pulled his fist out of Jigen's chest. In the back of his head, he heard the Reibi scream against its prison.
Slowly, the theatrics of the Jigen's might begun to fade as the monk fell to the ground while Sasuke stepped over his body. The black flames of the Amaterasu slowly wrapped around the Chidori in Sasuke's left hand. The lightning chakra poured off his body and tore through the ground. As he stepped, his red eyes hummed with power, the glimmers of Honshou behind them. The Uchiha then grabbed his sword and swung it through the air, lightning cackling about in ever-increasing strength.
"Don't feel for him if you are. You'll all be joining him soon enough!"
KG: So naturally, I understand that some people think that the fic is dragging on. I'm not sure why they think that is as I properly explained that I have an endpoint in mind already. I additionally understand why some might not like the fic. Of course, it's not the greatest fic. Far from it, and I find myself writing in a vacuum sometimes, yet I still love doing it. Announce your criticisms to your heart's content. However, I seek to finish this story also for myself. I understand that I, like many authors, have a history of unfinished fics. Of all my stories, this one the one I truly wished to see some fulfillment, and indeed it is getting there. For those who claim I am too slow, then I am sorry. Becoming a man means managing your priorities, and this remains but a hobby not a way to pay for my family or my expenses. Thank you!