Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
The Shinden Saga – Arc 4: The Otsutsuki War
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Chapter 150 – Me in all this?
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In Iwagakure, the queen goddess who took over the land roams around the establishments of the village to overcome her boredom. Walking through the shops of the village's main square, she receives the forced praise of the people who come out to greet her as she passes by. Some merchants of the area hand over gifts from their store to earn her mercy, but they all fail to get her consideration and attention.
Lacking entertainment, she is led by her wander to the ninja hospital of the village. There, most of the ninjas she had to neutralize are being artificially kept alive. This sudden rise of patients caused the mobilization of all the available medical workforce of the village. Walking through the hallways of the clinic, surrounded by busy ninja medics, Yasona uses her Byakugan to peek into the rooms and notices one certain patient who's receiving more attention than the others.
Up in the highest floor of the building, in a limited access area is the room where rests a short-sized man who looks too old to be alive as a human. Intrigued, she goes up there to see and stops a medic who runs past her to ask about this person's condition.
"Hey you, who's that geezer? Why does he look like he has 10 types of cancers at once?"
"Umm… He's not exactly ill, my queen. It's just biological decline…" the man answers.
"Well, he looks old enough to me. Why do you bother keeping such an expired thing alive?"
"We can't let him die. You see, he is the Lord 3rd Tsuchikage. He's the greatest figure of our history…"
"Isn't that a reason to let him go? He's quite obviously not enjoying this forced life."
"It's… by order of Lady 4th…" the ninja hesitatingly replies, unsure of how the mention of their true ruler could sound to the celestial queen.
Yasona doesn't react. She just confusingly stares at the old man and wonders what kind of torment would cause the Tsuchikage to refuse his passing. In an odd rush of sympathy, the goddess of beauty steps into the room and gets closer to Onoki, while all the medics step aside, afraid to stand in her way. Next to him, she lays her hand on his wrinkled forehead and spreads her chakra.
Ohoma Gatsuhi
Using her Hijutsu, she frees the dying man from all the physical pain his condition puts him through, purely out of pity. Then, without a word, thoughtfully, she turns around and flies out by the nearest window.
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Landed on the soil of the ninja academy, she uses Doton to carve an elevator under her feet, bringing her to the buried underground where she left the Tsuchikage and her faithful allies. There, she walks by Kurotsuchi and Daisuke, who are among the few that she left behind instead of bringing them to the hospital. She kneels next to Akatsuchi, the Tsuchikage's assistant, and undoes her Ohoma Gatsuhi's effect on him. Abruptly set free, he wakes up and crawls away from her, feeling too close.
"I've paid a visit to your former leader, the 3rd Tsuchikage." she says, without leaving him time to snap out of confusion. "The sweetheart lying over there seems to have some particular affection for him. I guess you all do." she adds, looking at Kurotsuchi.
"What? You…!" Akatsuchi yells before being interrupted by the goddess.
"Don't worry, fatty. I'm not gonna hurt him. He looks bad enough already." she explains. "But this just got me wondering… If I saved his life in return, would you guys comply to serve me?"
"Save his life? How would you do that?" the ninja asks, doubtful.
"It seems like his only condition is age. I happen to know a certain someone who recently received the title of goddess of youth. She has the ability to return any living being's body to a youthful state. And this, with just a touch."
Akatsuchi takes a moment to think of this possibility. If what she says is true, they could save Onoki and even bring him back to his prime. But something doesn't sound right. What would be the point of this, if he'd just have to kneel like the rest of them? Also, it wouldn't save Kurotsuchi.
"Tsk! We won't fall for bribery. You'll never rule over us, demon!" he declares, rejecting her offer.
Disappointed, Yasona just puffs her cheeks and reactivates Ohoma Gatsuhi, sending Akatsuchi back to the same vegetative state as the others. After standing up, she goes to stare at the Tsuchikage lying there, by her husband's side. In her wonders, she's surprised by a familiar chakra that she feels sinking through the soil above her.
From the ceiling, she sees droplets rapidly fall and merge into a humanoid shape. It is Kuboshiki, one of her loyal servants, who used his liquefaction to join her underground.
"What are you doing here, Kubo?" she asks, visibly upset. "You have no right to be on Earth. Only the Shinden were given this freedom."
"I know, Lady Yasona, but I just couldn't hold myself back." the Otsutsuki answers, bowing to greet his mistress. "I needed your presence. I need to know how your plans are progressing."
"There's no progress. I'm just enjoying boredom down here while I wait for the rest of this world to make a move."
"I see. They seem quite unbothered by your reign… Yet you are the only one of the Shinden who made a move so far."
"The yellow fox and the Rinnegan user are too busy keeping their eyes on Yamitsuki and Tokubei, it seems. So my only enemies are my future subordinates. Nothing I can't handle, of course."
"May I suggest I handle it for you?" Kuboshiki says, standing up to come closer to her.
Yasona looks at him walking toward her and expecting instructions. She obviously doesn't want to send him after any human population, as she has no intention of pointlessly harming those she wants to rule. If he's so eager to be useful to her, the least she can ask for is to take on her role here.
"I don't need you to fight for me, but if there's one thing you can do to serve me…" she says, turning around to look at Daisuke, Kurotsuchi and the other surrounding ninjas. "Hydrate their bodies. Nourish them."
"Why? Judging by their state, I assume they opposed your authority." Kuboshiki argues. "Shouldn't they be punished?"
"Of course not, silly." the goddess answers. "How would they pledge allegiance to me if they're dead? Victory is not to kill your enemies, but to rule them."
"I see. Such wisdom and pure intentions… As expected from you, dear mistress." the celestial says as he kneels to execute her demand.
By spreading his chakra through the bodies of all the ninjas left in this underground, he heals their dehydration, allowing them all to survive longer. For the last few weeks, Yasona used to take care of this task by herself. But now, with Kuboshiki's talent in Suiton, just a sample of his chakra will be enough to keep them alive as long as they stay buried here.
"What else can I do for you?" her pupil asks, still willing to spend as much time alone with her as he can.
"Nothing." Yasona coldly replies as she uses her space-time jutsu, Jiku Hikido, to summon a sliding door to her outer dimensional domain, the Kannogu. She opens the door and holds it while looking at him insistingly, signing him to go through.
"There has to be something!" Kuboshiki exclaims, refusing to leave. "On the way, I sensed the monsters living in the mountains of this land. They must be the other parts of princess Kaguya's power. I can capture them for you!"
"What for? Get the yellow fox on your ass?" the goddess argues before calmly breathing. She raises her hand to caress the face of her subordinate and gently holds him by the chin.
"Please, Yasona-sama. I just want to serve you." he demands, uncontrollably melting into liquid from her touch.
"Oh I know that, Kubo…" she answers, whispering into his ear. "But I said no." she adds, before pulling him by the chin and throwing him through the open gate.
Kuboshiki falls on his back on the other side, mesmerized by the remaining feeling of her breath in his neck. Yasona looks down at him with somewhat disgust, but comprehension. Only she can make someone like him, a celestial being that could easily take down nations by himself, act so pathetically.
Just as she prepares to shut the door, she feels a small hand catching her wrist. There, coming from behind the door, inside the temple, is Chishiki. Seeing another of her pupils, Yasona peeks through the door, hoping to find Torushiki, the uni-corned colossus who is her youngest servant. Yet she doesn't find him, and feels let down for a second. To get her attention, Chishiki takes a step forward and holds tighter on Yasona's wrist.
With her other hand, she hands over her 9 feet long spear, expecting Yasona to take it. The goddess of beauty looks at this weapon, the Ame no Nuhoko, created by her ancestor Ayaka Otsutsuki and passed down to her. She offered it as a valuable gift to her favorite servant and will certainly not accept it back. So she just pushes the spear's tip back through the door.
"I'm not giving it back." Chishiki quietly tells her. "But you might need it more than I do."
Yasona widely opens her eyes, noticing the worried look on Chishiki's face. That she invites her to use this divine weapon shows a suspicious level of concern. She doesn't think her mistress is safe as the only Shinden on this planet, on her own. Yet, to Yasona, this isn't a lack of trust, but a sign of love. Touched by this consideration, she slowly slides her hand down the spear and lays it on top of Chishiki's head, between her two hair spikes.
"Don't you worry, Chishi." she says as she bends over before laying her lips on the girl's forehead to kiss it. "Next time we meet, I'll be the queen of this world."
With this overconfident yet reassuring gesture, she made Chishiki lower her guard and loosen her muscles. This allows her to easily slide the door of Jiku Hikido past the little woman's foot blocking the way. As she sees the door closing, Chishiki and Kuboshiki catch a glimpse of the bright smiling face of their mistress, left with admiration, but no less doubts.
Left alone, Yasona thinks of what Kubo asked and sighs. She doesn't care about how he feels being rejected, but has to admit he is right about one thing. She really is all alone on this planet for now. No other Shinden will do what she does. Yamitsuki's declaration about the status of Earth may have been intentionally a reaction to his meeting with the Hokage.
But what about her in all this? Why did he give freedom of action to all the Shinden? He certainly knew that she'd do that, so what outcome does he expect for her? Because he certainly doesn't plan to let this world become hers. Pissed off by her thoughts, she leaves this underground and seals it again, to seek distraction anywhere else.
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Outside of the village, someone is cluelessly walking around without attempting to come in. It is Fuyuko Yamanaka, who's able to sense the barrier veiling the village to hide all energy inside. He's been free of his prison for 2 weeks. After a stop for comfort and intel gathering in another village, he reached Iwa this morning and kept walking around since then.
On her side, Seiki Tomoe found her way to the land of Wind and is currently crossing deserts and villages toward the south border of the land. Unlike her, Fuyuko has reached his first destination, but doesn't seem well on his way to the end of his trip. There is definitely something wrong with Iwa that he wasn't warned about.
After a more mindful analysis of the veil, he deduces that it certainly isn't supposed to detect the people going in and out. Whoever put this thing up either isn't skilled enough to do so, or has good enough sensory abilities not to need it. Whatever, Fuyuko shrugs his shoulders and leaps in to lean against the massive wall surrounding the village.
Now inside, he focuses to sense the chakra of any person of interest. There, for an instant, he can sense the enormous and atypical energy of Yasona Otsutsuki, before she hides her print to seem more friendly to the villagers she visits. What he felt was enough for him to consider stepping back and just heading to Konoha by foot. But after weighing the difficulty and time cost of this possibility, he decides to stay.
He'll go with his original plan, which was to get in touch with the Tsuchikage in order to contact Konoha and be brought back to his jail. Considering the current situation of the village, it'd be more relevant to first ask about it. And so he manages to identify the chakra of Kurotsuchi, seemingly inactive, but very much awake. Using the Yamanaka clan's jutsu, he immediately speaks to her in her mind.
"Hello there! Lady Tsuchikage, I know I sound like a voice in your head, but I am not an early sign of psychosis, don't worry."
"… Who the hell are you? What do you want?" Kurotsuchi replies with slowly flowing thoughts.
"My name's Fuyuko Yamanaka, ma'am. You may have heard of me before. I was in Kakumei."
"Fuyuko Yamanaka?" she answers. "Never heard of you. I remember a girl named Akiko, but not a guy named Fuyuko."
"That was my sister. I was with her when we blew up that Daimyo temple, and I made that cool monologue about how great of a character Oshio was, remember? Then my sis was killed by Takeshi, I sought vengeance and he beat my ass… Ah, anyway, I was put in jail in Konoha but stuff happened and I ended up here. Honestly I just want to go back to my cell. So I hoped that you, the Tsuchikage, could get in touch with the Hokage and tell him to pick me up. But I guess that's gonna have to wait."
"Hah… I guess."
"Okay so~… How about you stop making yourself sound like a depressed victim and maybe tell me what the fuck is going on here?"
"Speak to me like that again and I'll chop your dick off. That'll make you more like your sister."
"Jokes on you, my sis had a wiener too! But anyway, that sounds more like the Tsuchikage I heard about! Problem is it doesn't look like you can do anything more than talking. I guess whoever I sensed over here earlier has taken over."
"Is that so?… You must be talking about the Otsutsuki woman."
"Otsutsuki? Right, this isn't much of a surprise. Well yes, seems like that woman rules this land now. People were vaguely talking about a new queen even in other villages, but they don't really know what's up. What does she look like?" Fuyuko asks to check if this is the same woman who freed him from prison, which he doubts, based on her apparent peaceful intentions.
"Can't say much… All I remember is that 7 feet tall girl coming in and me getting bodied in 2 seconds…" sadly answers Kurotsuchi. "I don't even know where or how I am right now. Or what happened to my son. To my husband, my father, the old Onoki, or anyone in the village…"
"Damn… Not that I don't care, though I kinda, but what about me in all this? I just wanna get back to jail, ma'am."
"… Well, as long as I'm like that, I can't help you, and I doubt that this Otsutsuki lady will do anything for you… Where are you exactly? And do you know where I am?"
"I'm just sitting outside of the village, with my ass against your wall. And you must be somewhere inside."
"Say, Fuyuko Yamanaka, … Do you think you could help me out of here?"
The roaming prisoner obviously expected this demand to be made. Now that he heard it, he tries to think of his answer choices. What exactly is he supposed to do against someone who one-tapped the Tsuchikage? Refusing seems more coherent. However, if he doesn't want to make his way to Konoha by foot and risk an undiplomatic return, he has to say yes. He's also kind of curious about what a 7 feet tall woman looks like, since he never saw any girl taller than 6 feet.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on? How am I supposed to be relevant to the plot here?" he complains to himself as he stands up before giving an answer to Kurotsuchi. "I guess I don't have a choice, ma'am… I'll find a way in."
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The same day, in Konoha, on the same training ground where they have been at work since they arrived in the village, Boruto and Toneri are still experimenting with the Gudodama. After 2 and half weeks, now used to the atmosphere, gravity and clock of Earth after 2 years on the moon, the Hyuga prince is in proper health and condition again. The last few days, he's made tremendous progress on his synergy with his powers, but is now questioning the point of this training.
With his Tenseigan he brought to life a humanoid steel puppet that Toneri ordered from Tenten for training purposes. Obeying to whom animated it, the puppet serves as a sparing partner for Boruto and currently just evades strikes, following every thought of his master. With his Gudodama following his hands and feet, the shinobi elegantly uses them as weapons to ensure a continuous short distance between the puppet and him.
Of course, an articulated steel body can't equal the skills and speed of a super powered prodigy like Boruto. So, he eventually outspeeds himself and locks his artificial partner in a cage formed from his Gudodama. In the movement, he throws a final Juken strike through the cage and accidentally blows the puppets to pieces.
"No!… Shit!" he exclaims, disappointed and kind of sad for the puppet.
"Calm down. Even if your Tenseigan gives it a mind and will, it is still just a puppet." Toneri tries to reassure him.
This remark makes Boruto thoughtful. He remembers the first time he succeeded in bringing a puppet to life. It was the recently built feminine figure that Toneri named Nijuu, as the 20th of his collection. As soon as alive, she tried to attack him and ran away. This looked like survival instinct. If the objects he animates are capable of such behavior, doesn't that make them actual sentient beings?
Of course, he is intrigued by the power to bring life in such a way, but more importantly, he questions his legitimacy to control these things. As their creator, does he really have the right to use them? Toneri seems to think the opposite, but this philosophy feels… evil. Maybe his master still has trouble understanding others.
Toneri, not bothered by the same questions, picks up and gathers the pieces of the puppet.
"I'll see if the shop owner can put them back together." he says. "Do you think it will be expensive to ask for reparation?" he adds, since Boruto is obviously who will have to pay, as he doesn't have any ninja currency.
Boruto doesn't answer this question. By the carelessness of his master, he's just brought to wonder about the relevance of this training again, and complains out loud.
"I don't get it…" he starts, getting Toneri's attention. "If even Sasuke-sensei and my dad stood no chance against that guy, what am I training for? Even if the Gudodama are the way to go, I won't go further in their mastery than my dad anyway. If one of us manages to reach that guy's level, it's him, not me."
"It's certain that even your dad won't reach the Dragon Sage's level." Toneri replies. "He can get close, but he will never be able to face him alone. For me, this fight is to reclaim the territory of my ancestors. But for him, it's probably a matter of survival for the ninja world. This is why you need to fight. Not only to help me get the moon back, but to make this fight possible for your father. You are the only one who can. You've already learned all you could know about these Gudodama."
"Yeah but these things are just not my way!" Boruto exclaims as he slaps one of his orbs away, out of frustration. "I see how powerful the Tenseigan and the Gudodama are. But all that you've taught me… That's just not how I'm used to fight."
Toneri doesn't answer. He just looks down, embarrassed. He's been training Boruto for 2 years, and could only pass down all that he knows about the eye he's studied his whole life. He doesn't know the ways of his student well enough to satisfy him. Actually, he doesn't know anyone enough to please them selflessly. He just lacks the needed empathy.
"Then maybe we could help!" says someone answering Boruto's complaint.
The yellow haired ninja and his master look behind them and see Hanabi Hyuga come to them with Sasuke Uchiha. The two people who taught his style to Boruto.
"Oh! Aunt Hanabi! It's been a while." he says.
"We've seen each other at least 3 times these last two weeks and you greeted me like that every time." she boringly replies.
Toneri silently looks at the Hyuga clan head and steps back. She is the teenager he abducted and took her eyes from 20 years ago. Yet, here she is, not even minding his presence. Is she even aware of who he is? Sasuke, noticing this discomfort, gets to the reason for their visit.
"Boruto, your complaint is right." he says. "What you've been doing so far is learn how to manipulate new key tools that aren't like anything you've had before. It's not useless, but it doesn't fit into your ways. Using them, you have to put everything you knew until now aside. What we could, and should do is fit this knowledge into your fighting style."
"And how would we do that?" Boruto asks.
"May I?" Sasuke politely asks Toneri for the authorization to step in this training, to which the Otsutsuki just answers with another step aside, to leave room for the Uchiha.
"If I understood Naruto's training correctly, Gudodama are no more than partial clones of your mind, in the shape of flexible chakra orbs." Sasuke explains as he comes to stand face to face with his student. "Each of them is made of your energy, and is simultaneously any formula existing within your body."
Boruto, trying to connect this speech with all that he's learned from Sasuke, has his mind triggered when he hears the word formula.
"You mean I could use any of them as marks for Hiraishin at any time?" he suggests.
Sasuke lightly smiles and raises his eyebrows. He did think of this, but it isn't what he intended to suggest now. He's glad that Boruto could figure it out so simply by himself, and didn't expect less from his student. But he keeps these praises silent.
"You'll try that later. What I meant to say is…" he says before lifting his cape and pulling his Kusanagi out of its scabbard. "… As material objects filled with your chakra and hosting your mind, they are also extensions of your body, that you can think of just like arms or legs."
"I know that…" Boruto answers doubtfully before understanding what his sensei means to say, focused on the blade he just pulled out. "Oh! You mean… Just like you taught me to think of my sword!"
Raikiri Katana
Before validating his student's guess, Sasuke lets his Raiton spread through his blade to demonstrate what he means. With a simple hand gesture he demands that Boruto unleashes his sword as well, which he does.
"Think of it as the purpose of this training is to let you infuse the best of the Tenseigan's power into your own fighting style." the Uchiha says. "If Gudodama is your chakra and, like your blade, is you. What comes to your mind?"
Boruto stays silent for a long moment and lets his Tenseigan's power flow through his body and leak into his sword. As he sees the blade be coated in purple chakra, he sees the Gudodama taking on the same color as they spin in a circle in front of him. And what Sasuke wants occurs to him.
"Kinrin Tensei Baku" he says the name of his most powerful jutsu. The blade that can bisect worlds.
"Exactly. You did refer to it as a blade to me." Sasuke finishes his explanation. "But you were only ever able to use it for a single swing. Because you lack control of it."
"But I can control this one." Boruto completes, confidently staring at his sword as he hurries to put into practice his sensei's advice. He lets his 9 Gudodama shape into a golden chakra ring around his sword's handle.
Hanabi stands aside, and stares with a smile at her nephew who seems to enjoy this lesson. Toneri is amazed by the ideas suggested by Sasuke, but keeps looking aside to Hanabi next to him. He's still confused that she doesn't appear to hold any grudge against him. Meanwhile, Boruto succeeds in his task.
Kinrin Tensei no Ken (Blade of the Golden Wheel Rebirth)
The sword that his grandfather gave him becomes the divine strike itself. A long golden blade that breathes purple chakra. Hanabi joyfully jumps up and gently hits Toneri on the shoulder to get his attention, which startles him.
"See how it's done, moonling!" she exclaims.
Toneri trembles, takes a step away and confusingly stares at her. She really acts like he never did anything to her? Did Hinata never speak of this with her? Sasuke, standing in front of Boruto, takes off his cape and throws it off his shoulders before leaping into action to test his student.
When his sword is suddenly pulled into a confrontation with Sasuke's Kusanagi, Boruto focuses and gets in the mood. They get in a swift sword fight during which the Hyuga realizes the incredible control he has over his divine sword. Sasuke, done with this demonstration, leaps back to see his student's reaction. To his surprise, he sees him elongate the Kinrin as he pushes it toward him, so he quickly takes cover.
Susanoo
With a wing of his armor, he deflects the strike that Boruto handles to prevent any damage to the environment. To end this fight, the Uchiha raises his hand and remotely absorbs the chakra of his student with his Rinnegan, making him lose focus on his blade and dispelling it. Now that the fight is over, Sasuke takes a gentle step back and lets his cloak, which was still falling, land back on his shoulder.
"Wow! That was amazing, sensei!" Boruto exclaims.
"Yep! My turn now!" Hanabi says as she goes to face Boruto and leaves Sasuke to step back. "Let's talk about those blue eyes of yours."
After this remark, she activates her Byakugan and engages in a hand-to-hand fight. Boruto, to reply, uses his Byakugan's sight through his Tenseigan, and stays on defense.
"I see that you're already using them like the evolution of your Byakugan." his aunt speaks while fighting. "So they can also improve your Taijutsu. Not only like the Byakugan. But their aura, their orb-like things… You already know how to do it. Show me."
Following her advice, Boruto activates his Tensei Chakra Mode and uses the Gudodama to make them follow his movements. When he misses a gentle strike on Hanabi, he immediately catches up with an orb in the shape of a chakra gauntlet, landing what he just missed. Hanabi, who took cover with the Hakkesho Kaiten, startles him by leaping through his defenses.
"That's great! Now imagine how well this could improve the 128 Palms of Hakke." she says as she spins around with her arms held out.
Hanabi-ryu – Hakke Rokujuyon Sho (64 Palms of Hakke)
She lands 64 strikes of her own custom Juken into Boruto's tenketsu, pushing him back with the last. Her nephew, who's Chakra Mode quickly makes all his chakra points recover, understands her point but doubts its relevance.
"But this wouldn't work against an Otsutsuki." he argues. "They don't have tenketsu. Just raw natural energy swimming in their body."
"Come on, use your brain, kid!" Hanabi says, still in action. "Didn't you learn anything about the Tenseigan with Sasuke-senpai?"
Once again, Boruto quickly understands and tries to show it in practice. After avoiding a series of Hanabi's strikes, he channels his Tenseigan's power in his palm and lands a strike.
Kinbo Tensei Kusho (Localized Rebirth Vacuum Palm)
Hanabi tanks the hit in her crossed arms, but still feels the effect of the Tenseigan that pushes her chakra out from her body and sends her gown, lying on her shoulders, flying away. With just this gentle strike, she lost a third of her reserve. In the fun of it, she leaps forward and keeps the fight going.
Toneri, seeing them joyfully going on, stares agape at Sasuke who calmly observes next to him.
"You two are incredible!…" he praises them. "You're way better teachers than I could ever be for him."
"We didn't just improvise that." Sasuke makes it clear. "We thought of these ideas together. It's easy for us. We made Boruto who he is. We know his fighting style better than anyone else. Essentially, he copied it all from us. After all, we were the sensei who made him the legendary ninja he was even before meeting you."
Toneri doesn't answer. He just slowly nods and analyzes the Juken of the Hyuga.
"You can leave the rest to us." Sasuke kindly says. "Focus on yourself now. We'll make sure the 2 years you spent training with him become worth it."
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End of Chapter 150 – Next Chapter: the Uchiha Commander