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I sat alone on the veranda, the cool night breeze brushing against my face as I stared up at the endless sky. Stars shimmered faintly above—quiet, distant witnesses to everything that had unfolded.
'I've done nothing,' I thought, my gaze unfocused. 'All this time, I haven't tried to stop Indra from falling into darkness. I just kept training, refining my shadows, hiding behind my own excuses.'
A quiet sigh escaped me. The truth was bitter. 'If I think about it… I've simply let the story play out as it always was meant to. I didn't try to change anything.'
The memory of Indra's blade flashed through my mind—sharp, cold, and final. I pressed my hand against the faint ache in my shoulder, feeling the ghost of that wound.
'He's already beyond saving now. The cycle of reincarnation will come, just as it always does.'
A small, ironic smile tugged at my lips. "What if… I don't want to change the cycle?" I murmured to the stars.
"I want the fight. I want to see the wars, the hatred, and the blood that will stain the next world. Let my descendants clash—the Senju, the Uchiha, and the Zenin—the three great lines born from the Sage's will. Let them test their limits against one another. I want that story to unfold."
My voice softened, almost fond. "Imagine it—the reincarnations born together again. Hashirama, Madara, and my own. Then later, Naruto, Sasuke… and mine once more. The strongest of their eras."
A low laugh slipped from my throat—quiet, thoughtful, tinged with something darker. "For what purpose? My own curiosity? My amusement? Maybe that makes me selfish… maybe even psychotic. But will I do it?"
I tilted my head back, smiling at the sky's vast emptiness. "Yes. Without hesitation."
For a moment, silence wrapped around me. The night wind stirred, carrying the faint hum of the world's slumber. I closed my eyes and whispered, almost playfully—
"What do you think, my dear readers?"
I stretched my arms above my head and let out a tired sigh. "Alright then… Time to sleep. Good night, my dear readers," I said with a faint smile. "See you tomorrow."
The words lingered in the cool night air, swallowed by the quiet hum of crickets.
A small chuckle slipped out of me as I rubbed the back of my neck. "...Sigh. Who am I even talking to? Why am I talking to empty air?" I muttered, shaking my head.
The veranda creaked softly as I turned away from the stars and walked back inside. The room was dim, shadows stretching long across the floor. I sank onto the bed, the faint scent of wood and wind still clinging to my clothes.
For a moment, I stared at the ceiling—then let my eyes close, letting the night take me.
The next morning, I woke early. The sunlight was still soft, filtering through the curtains in pale gold. I sat up, stretching my arms with a yawn, feeling the cool air brush against my bare skin. I never liked sleeping with too many clothes—just my pants was enough.
After making my bed, I began stretching—legs, shoulders, and arms—testing the movements carefully. The dull ache in my shoulder was still there, but it didn't bother me much.
That's when Ashura peeked in through the doorway. His expression shifted from relief to alarm in an instant.
"Elder brother, you shouldn't be moving like that!" he said, rushing over. "You're still recovering!"
I cracked a small grin. "Don't worry, Ashura. I'm perfectly fine. Heck—" I rolled my shoulder once, wincing only slightly—I think I could take two more lightning bolts from Indra and still stand."
"Uh…" Ashura froze, scratching the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable. "That's… not funny, elder brother."
I chuckled dryly, glancing toward the window where the morning light spilled across the floor. "Yeah… maybe not."
I was still rolling my shoulders when Ashura finally spoke again, fidgeting a little.
"So… what is it? Why were you looking for me?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder.
"Oh—right! Father has called all three of us to the main hall," Ashura said quickly.
"The main hall?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
He shook his head. "I don't know, elder brother. We'll find out once we get there."
"Alright, alright," I said, running a hand through my hair. "Let me at least get dressed first. Wouldn't be very decent of me to show up like this, right, Ashura?"
Ashura blinked, then looked away, his face turning slightly red. "Y-yeah… definitely not, elder brother."
I couldn't help but laugh softly at his reaction. "Relax, I was joking."
Jeez… why was he blushing, though? I thought, shaking my head as I threw on my robes. Once I was dressed, Ashura and I made our way to the main hall.
By the time we arrived, Indra was already seated at the center. The other disciples—Father's students—were gathered on both sides. Among them was Shiraku, my best friend, sitting cross-legged with his usual calm smile.
I grinned when our eyes met and casually raised two fingers in greeting. "Yo."
Shiraku smirked faintly and nodded back, his expression saying, "You're late again."
I walked over and sat down beside Indra, with Ashura taking the spot next to me. The air was quiet, heavy with unspoken tension.
Indra stiffened slightly as I settled beside him. His eyes flickered toward me for a brief second—cold, unreadable—but I caught the discomfort in them.
I just smiled.
Hagoromo's voice carried through the hall—calm, deep, but heavy with importance.
"Indra, Danava, and Ashura—my sons. Today, I have called the three of you here because I will be giving each of you a task… to determine who will be worthy to inherit my teachings and become my heir."
A ripple of surprise spread among the gathered disciples.
Ashura blinked, then quickly raised his hand. "Then why am I here, Father? Elder brother Danava and elder brother Indra are both already capable—and older than me. If you have to choose, it should be one of them."
Before Father could answer, I spoke up, resting an elbow on my knee with a faint smile.
"Now, now, calm down, Ashura. All three of us were born on the same day," I said lightly. "I and my elder brother Indra are only minutes older than you. So we're not that much older—and besides, you have just as much right as either of us."
Ashura looked at me for a moment, then lowered his hand slowly. "I… I guess you're right, elder brother."
Indra, beside me, stayed silent. His gaze remained forward, expression unreadable, though I could feel the faint tension radiating from him.
I continued, "Besides, Father must have a plan if he is going to test us."
Indra gave a short nod at my words, his expression unreadable but approving. Ashura looked between us, still pouting but slowly lowering his hand.
Father chuckled softly, the lines at the corners of his eyes deepening. "Danava is correct," he said, his voice calm but resonant. "This is not about age or who seems more capable on the surface. Each of you possesses something unique. The purpose of this task is to see which of those qualities will lead humanity best."
Ashura blinked, curiosity overtaking his earlier doubt. "So what kind of task is it, Father?"
Hagoromo's eyes, filled with ancient wisdom, shifted toward the horizon. "Patience, my son. You will each learn your task in due time. But remember—this is not merely a trial of strength or power. It is a test of spirit."
Then Father reached beside him, opening a small wooden box inlaid with intricate markings. From within, he drew out three aged scrolls, each sealed with his personal sigil.
"Indra, Danava, Ashura—step forward," he said.
We obeyed without hesitation, forming a line before him. Hagoromo extended a scroll to each of us, his expression solemn.
"I have given each of you a similar task," he began, his voice steady and commanding. "Within these scrolls lies a location—one for each of you. These places still suffer from the remnants of the God Tree."
Ashura's brows furrowed. Father continued, his tone grave.
"Though I severed the God Tree and ended my mother's reign, its roots still linger deep within the land. They drain chakra and life force from the earth itself, leaving entire regions barren and lifeless. The people who dwell there suffer greatly."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Your task is to cleanse these lands—remove the roots, restore balance, and help the people who have been afflicted."