'Where am I?'
Akushi opened his eyes to a world of darkness like an old painting smudged with dark ink. At times, there were sparks of light that would appear and then be swallowed by the void.
"Hello?!" He yelled out.
There was no response, not even a hint of echo.
'It must be a dream…' Akushi didn't give it much thought and concluded. He then lay there in silence, thinking about what he had done during the day.
Although he was in a dream, his memory was surprisingly vivid. He'd remembered how he was furious after finishing Naruto Shippuden.
The mere thought of how Madara was eliminated was enough for him to jolt up in anger. Akushi rarely rooted for any antagonist, but Madara was an exception. From the moment he entered the Fourth Great Ninja War, Akushi was filled with excitement.
'All the build-ups weren't disappointing!'
Akushi continued to be lost in his thoughts.
Some time later, another orb of light appeared.
This time, the orb didn't disappear and illuminated the surroundings. The ink was wiped off the canvas.
Beside the orb, a figure emerged.
A tall, beige man with small horn-like ridges at his brow and eyes as white as winter glass appeared. Following that, a light kimono fell in clean lines, six black magatama circling the high collar, and a sheathed sword rested at his left hip.
Atushi was at a loss for words.
This person was so similar to Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths! And the eyes…
'The Byakugan! Did I become crazy after finishing Naruto?!' Atushi stayed silent, waiting for the other person to speak first.
"To think such darkness could exist in an inner mind…" The beige man spoke with interest. "Oh, right, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ōtsutsuki Hamura."
'Ōtsutsuki? Hamura? Isn't that the brother of Hagoromo? Did I somehow transmigrate into Naruto?" Many questions popped up in Atushi's mind.
Hamura patiently waited and repeatedly assured him that this, in fact, wasn't a dream but rather his inner mind. That meant he was already within the world of Naruto.
"...Alright, I think I got the gist of it now, so you forcefully brought me to this world, and now you want to entrust the task of saving the Shinobi world to this stranger?" Atushi said mockingly. For some reason, he felt no fear talking to Hamura.
"That's right, it is indeed selfish that I brought you here without your permission," Hamura bowed his head.
This sudden movement also surprised Atushi.
"I do not want my elder brother's world to reach an end," Hamura proudly declared. "As long as you can complete my request, I'll grant you three wishes and send you back to your original world."
Atushi wanted to decline the moment he was offered, but the sudden three wishes caught him off guard. Back in Japan, he was just another college student struggling to make ends meet. He doesn't want to continue such a life!
Swallowing his greed a bit, Atushi asked, "Tell me more about the request first, and I'll consider it."
Hamura didn't hesitate and explained the details, "I would like for you to prevent my mother from resurrection."
"Prevent Kaguya from reviving? Wasn't she already sealed by Naruto and Sasuke?" Atushi casually revealed how he knew content from the Fourth Great Ninja War. As expected, Hamura seems unfazed, as if he already knew.
"That is correct, my mother, Kaguya, is currently sealed. However, the being beside her, called Black Zetsu, had managed to split a portion of himself with my mother's dimensional power. In short, my mother was able to create a parallel world before being sealed away and is now trying to revive with Black Zetsu's help." Hamura continued.
Atushi listened intently as the risk of danger increased for him. As much as he hated Black Zetsu, he had to admit that the odd being was too intelligent, manipulating and planning everything from the shadows.
After processing the information, Atushi ultimately made his decision.
"I accept."
Hamura smiled.
He had originally planned to list out many more things to entice Atushi, but this was also good. This meant that he had chosen the right person.
"Alright, hold out your dominant hand."
Atushi immediately followed suit with excitement. This was what he wanted! Thinking about his bleak college life, Atushi would rather explore the Shinobi world. There was no reason for him to accept it if he were to be another average person in another world.
However, entrusted with such an important mission, one would have to be extraordinary for Hamura's standard!
A moment later.
"I've been on the moon for many years, guarding this place and preventing any anomalies from occurring. Since my elder brother has helped Naruto and Sasuke, fulfilling his duty to protect the Shinobi world, I shall do the same."
Hamura outstretched his hand and came into contact with Atushi's palm.
In the bleak canvas, light bloomed.
Within the light, Hamura's final words echoed.
"I'll leave a fragment of the moon beast to guide you in the mission."