Chapter 1
"Kaoru!"
"Hrrr..."
"Kaoru!!!!"
"Gmh... sss... nom-nom..."
"KAORUUUUUUUUUU!!!!"
"Bwah!.." — I nearly went off the roof. "The hell?!"
"Ah, there you are, you little scoundrel!!!" The shout from below damn near set the treetops swaying around the temple. "Get down from there this instant, you menace!"
What's he yelling about this early? Usually old man Jumbei doesn't start his hollering till closer to noon...
"What is it this time, old man?" I hang my head upside down, peering at our head priest.
"What is it?! You weren't at the morning prayer to Amaterasu-sama! Again! That's disrespect to the Great Kami-sama!!!"
"Nah... couldn't be bothered. I doubt Amaterasu-sama's up there pining away without a prayer from little old me..."
"You!.. Why, you!.. Repent before Amaterasu-sama right now, you little brat!"
"Damn it, just let me sleep!!" I finally snapped. "You're driving me nuts!"
"Well, then..." The old man cooled down a notch. "You can consider yourself excused from lunch! Take it as an extra fast. For the humbling of your spirit."
"Oh, like that really bothers me." I slip a hand into my kimono sleeve and pull out a bundle of smoked meat strips for the world to see. "I'm good up here... nom... plenty to eat..."
"Meat?! Wh... where did you get that?!" The priest's eyes went wide.
"Basement." I shrug. "Oh, don't be so stingy, old man — there's enough stockpiled down there to last a year-long siege!"
"Why, you... Y-you!.." Nearly choking on his rage, Jumbei turned red, blotches blooming across his bald scalp. "During... during a fast... you're eating... meat?!..."
"Kami-sama, what a fussy old bald man..." I roll my eyes toward the clear sky. "Come on, old man! I didn't lay a finger on your saké — the stuff you hid under the third floorboard in that one room! Are you seriously this worked up over a little snack?!"
"YEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I'll kill you, you little brat!!!!" Roaring like a wounded boar, the head priest snatched a broom right out of the hands of some acolyte who'd frozen up in shock. Brandishing it over his head like a native with a spear, he bolted for the storage shed. A minute later he came charging back, dragging a ladder along the ground behind him.
"Hataroku-sama! Please, calm yourself, Hataroku-sama!!!" The monks wailed, clinging to the shoulders of the short but highly motivated Jumbei.
"Let go!! Let go, damn you! Today I'm finally going to do a deed pleasing to the Kami and smite this little demon!!!" The head priest yelled, swatting his subordinates away with the broom.
Oya-oya... Things are getting a little heated...
"Oh, fine then, old man. I'm off. Later!"
"DON'T YOU DARE RUN AWAY!!!!..."
My name's Kaoru. Just Kaoru, though someday I really want to take the surname Nagisa. I don't look anything like the Seventeenth Angel — not the eyes (mine are brown), not the hair (dark violet-chestnut) — but that name only has one association for me. And since I was given it... well, Amaterasu-sama herself must have willed it.
I live here, at the temple. Always have. Me, plus about two dozen monks, old man Jumbei included — that's everyone. The grounds are huge, so keeping the place in decent shape takes a ton of time and effort. Plenty of work, but everybody pitches in, and so far we manage.
As a lot of you have probably figured out by now, this isn't my first life. I never knew my "local" parents — I was left on the temple steps as a baby. Old man Jumbei and the two dozen brothers — that's my family. Every one of them had a hand in my life in some way: raised me, taught me... We work together for the good of the temple, pray together to the benevolent Kami and Amaterasu-sama, help people.
The temple itself is in the Land of Fire, really close to the borders with the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfalls.
Yeah, this is the Shinobi World. The Naruto universe. An astonishing place, honestly. So many cultures and phenomena all tangled up together, this weird synthesis of religious beliefs and cults... It's been pretty fascinating to read about, actually.
Truth be told, I was shocked when I learned what this world really is. The Elemental Nations... The Hidden Villages and the shinobi who live in them. "Shinobi" here doesn't quite mean what it did back in Japan. Sure, they're still saboteurs and assassins. But more than anything, they're like battle-mages — mercenaries out of a guild, the way fantasy writers love to picture them. By using chakra — a fusion of Yin and Yang, spiritual and physical energy — they pull off the kind of feats ordinary people couldn't even dream of.
That said, I'm no slouch myself, heh-heh-heh! Little Kaoru from the temple's got a few tricks of his own. Even if my abilities don't really resemble shinobi techniques — I'm probably closer to an onmyōji, a Shinto sorcerer. I've got my old obsession with mysticism to "thank" for that, I guess — both general and Eastern stuff in particular. For a while, back when there was actually a trend and demand for it, I even did some side work as a "Great White Sorcerer" in the Capital. Removing evil eyes, breaking curses, exorcising "demons" out of little dogs and cats, and all sorts of other garbage that paranoid rich oligarchs and their dim-witted wives were happy to pay through the nose for. And why not?! If they're stupid enough to throw money at what's basically dancing with a tambourine, someone's gonna fleece them anyway. Why let that cash go to some random street "wizard"?
So yeah, my occultism came back to "haunt" me. In a really, really good way. Though who knows what the real reason was that this gift developed in me. Maybe I'm like those shinobi — just a strange mutation...
Eh, doesn't really matter in the end. What matters is that my "sorcery" works. Besides, the local monks and priests can do a few things themselves. And some of it's serious stuff! The world is so multifaceted — the anime and manga only show shinobi daily life and practically ignore everything else. So it's totally possible that besides the nine Tailed Beasts — the Creatures of Chakra — there are smaller nasties roaming around out there. Like that vile thing I expelled from that woman tonight, for instance. Evil spirits, ghosts, petty curses... the things I've seen in my short life here!
But even so, I haven't seen everything. Not even close. I love my Family and our temple dearly, but I'm not planning to stay here forever. It feels cramped here. I want to see this World — desperately. And, of course, to see with my own two eyes that bundle of orange positivity named Uzumaki Naruto. That guy, if he's even a little bit like his "canon" self, deserves every kind of admiration, respect... and a well-placed kick in the rear to get him moving. And I really, really want to see him.
Ah... I'm afraid old man Jumbei's going to be upset. This man — not young anymore — practically raised me. He's almost like a real father to me. The fact that we're constantly at each other's throats means nothing — he's a very dear person to me. But I haven't told anyone at the temple about my plans yet. It's stupid, but I don't want to upset my Brothers, and they'd definitely be saddened by me leaving. No, I don't want to tell them — if I do, they'll follow me around forever, nagging me about my responsibility to the temple and all that drivel... They might even talk me out of it! So for now, I'm keeping quiet. Until the time comes.
Long goodbyes just mean extra tears, right?
Jumbei was praying in the main hall. Praying for forgiveness — for his own unbecoming conduct as Head Priest.
But that!.. That!!..
The monk clenched his teeth. That ungrateful, quarrelsome, insolent, shameless...
...ill-mannered, brazen...
...wretched, impudent!..
"Idiot!!!" the old monk concluded in his head. "Kami-sama! Amaterasu-sama!!! Answer me — why, oh why does that little shit have such enormous Sacred Power?!!!"
Then he gasped and launched back into his prayer with even more fervor.
There he goes again... That scoundrel pushed me over the edge. For the umpteenth time now...
Finishing his prayer, the head priest let out a heavy sigh. Kaoru... that insufferable child acted like he hadn't been raised in a temple surrounded by dozens of role models. Wilful, acknowledging no authority, cheeky and self-satisfied, brazen...
But a son. A beloved son — even if not by blood. Everyone here was his son, and he loved every last one of them. Even if that "every last one" was a little sh—
Ahem!..
Jumbei had noticed it long ago. Right from the earliest years, Kaoru stood out — quick-witted, unusual behavior. At first, the head priest had actually feared the boy left on the temple steps had been possessed by evil demons. But days and nights of prayer did nothing. And the priest himself sensed no evil coming from the strange child with the intelligent gaze.
Those first few years, he couldn't have been happier with his new son. Kaoru was bright — picked things up on the fly, learned new stuff effortlessly. Studied diligently, barely ever misbehaved, walked the Path of the Spirit with dignity. And then it turned out that on top of his intelligence, the boy was Powerful. It was incredible — the boy's Power was astonishingly, almost indecently vast. Steeling himself, Jumbei taught six-year-old Kaoru a few simple mantras and was completely blown away by the result.
Back then, Jumbei spent a long, long time praising the benevolent Kami and Amaterasu-sama — he considered this child a blessing from the Heavens. That a boy with such incredible power had been left on the temple's steps... a true miracle. The old monk now knew exactly who he'd one day entrust the temple to, and he fully intended to mold Kaoru into his successor. He threw himself into the boy's education and was amazed yet again by the child's inquisitive mind. Kaoru absorbed new knowledge with ease, learning mantras and simple incantations against evil, curses, and malevolent spirits with genuine interest and total dedication. And sometimes he'd come up with things on his own that were SO out there, his teacher had no clue what to make of them. It only further convinced Jumbei of Kaoru's exceptional nature, and he never tired of thanking the Heavens for this gift.
But, as it turned out, not everything was so rosy. Kaoru's true character soon started showing itself. It seemed that, in endowing the boy with such power, the Heavens had extracted a price. And the older the boy grew, the clearer his real nature became. Freedom-loving, mocking, rather impertinent — he acknowledged no authority except what he chose for himself.
It was... difficult. That's when this localized "war" between the head priest and his ward really kicked off. Jumbei would grind his teeth, trying to hammer that ungrateful boy into the shape of a future head priest, and the monks would clutch their heads in despair, caught in the crossfire of this clash between Old and Young...
"Oh, Merciful Kami, grant me the strength not to smite this... little wretch," the monk whispered. Glancing around furtively, he slipped a hand beneath one of the floorboards and quickly raised a clay flask to his lips. "To you, Amaterasu-sama!.. Ugh... No, just let him cross my path — I'll box his ears so hard... Parasite... eating meat during a fast! Kami, can You even imagine such a thing?!"
I'm ready!
Bag with supplies — packed. Quiver with bow and three spare strings — stowed. Staff — leaning against the wall by the door.
Talismans, tools? Check.
Money? Check.
Spare clothes? Check.
As a matter of principle, I'm not taking a single thing that belongs to the temple. And what I did take — I paid for it. Over the years I'd slip away to the nearby villages, do odd jobs, sell talismans I made myself. So I have money. Left some of it in plain sight back in the storehouse.
Should I double-check everything? No, no. The more I think about it, the more I'll feel like I've forgotten something.
"It's time," I whispered. Early morning — the monks are still asleep, and the pre-dawn sleep is the deepest. I adjusted my bags, picked up a simple walking staff, and slipped carefully out of my room.
The temple was asleep.
I moved in silence. After nearly fifteen years living here, I'd learned every single millimeter of the flooring whether I wanted to or not — moving without a sound was easy.
Past the monks' sleeping quarters... Snoring from behind the partition. Farewell, elder brothers.
Out into the open. Now I could move just a little faster, a little more confidently.
There's the entrance archway. Beyond it — just the Five Hundred Steps (five hundred and seventy-two, to be precise), running downward at a pretty steep angle. Further still — a handful of small villages scattered around the hill where our temple sits. And beyond them — tens and hundreds of kilometers of forests, plains, and lakes of the Land of Fire.
Well then, time to say goodb—
"And just where do you think you're going, you little brat?!" A voice from behind made me damn near jump out of my skin.
"Old man?!" How?! From where?!
"Ke-ke-ke-kee! What's the matter, you little parasite?!" The head priest laughed. "Did you honestly think old Jumbei had gone blind and senile? Ke-ke-ke!.. The look on your face right now, Kaoru!"
"Old man..." I drop my gaze like a kid caught red-handed stealing jam. Dammit, why do I feel so ashamed?!
"I knew this day would come." The Old Man spoke slowly, every trace of his recent amusement gone. "I always knew. Kaoru. A long time ago, you were left on this temple's doorstep — just an infant. We took you in, raised you, taught you. You're like a son to me, and to the monks — like a little brother. So much time has passed..." The old monk's voice trailed off with nostalgia as he narrowed his eyes. The motion made his wrinkled brow seem even more furrowed, creasing with countless new folds. "You grew up, you matured... We all rejoiced in your successes. Mourned your failures together. We lived as one big, happy family! Yes, so much time... I understood long ago that one day you'd leave. You have a gift, Kaoru. A gift granted to you by the Heavens and the Merciful Kami. Though it seems they forgot to include a matching temperament! Ke-ke-ke... Ahem! Kaoru. I did everything I could to instill in you the gravity and wisdom befitting a head priest of this temple. But you — you're far too free-spirited to lock yourself inside the walls of our sanctuary, blessed as it is by Amaterasu-sama. The world lies below. It calls to you, doesn't it? Once I understood that, I realized it wasn't in my power to keep you here. So..."
The Head Priest stepped closer, and I could only hang my head lower. Lips pressed tight. Fingers clenched. I understood what the Head Priest was saying... old man Jumbei... my...
"Father." I forced the word out.
"Now, now, Kaoru. Where's all that cheek and mockery of yours gone?" The old monk — my adoptive, yet so very dear Father — placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently with his broad fingers. "You little scoundrel — did you really think you could sneak away while everyone was sleeping, without even saying goodbye?! You really are a petty, shameless little brat, Kaoru! Ke-ke..."
"I'm sorry, Father." Damn it!.. You fussy, bald old man!.. He's... Dammit, my eyes!.. Damn it...
"It's nothing. You've already made up your mind, haven't you?" He was smiling. Smiling such a kind, knowing smile. You damn... old geezer... "Perhaps this is fate. Perhaps it was ordained by the Heavens that I should find a weak child shivering from the night's cold upon these very steps — to warm him, teach him, and give him a family. If that is so, then my task is done. And you must walk forward."
"Damn it! Old man, stop it!" See... he finally drew tears out of me with his honeyed words. Damned priest.
Aged but still strong arms grasped my shoulders and pulled me against Jumbei. You bastard... Father, you're such a bastard...
"Does your heart feel lighter now, my Son?" the priest asked after a while. "Has the burden on it lessened?"
"Yeah... I feel light, Father." I smiled at him — the man who'd given me everything in this world. "I'll come back. So don't go thinking the Heavens took pity on you and got rid of me!!!"
"Oh, Amaterasu-sama, why do you punish me so?!" The monk prayed in mock despair, then broke into laughter.
"I've gotta go. If those idiots wake up and catch me here, I'm afraid their tears'll flood the nearby villages."
"They very well might." Jumbei laughed warmly, a fatherly smile beaming. "Yes, they just might... We've all grown so terribly attached to one little, wretched, mischief-making brat who's been making our lives difficult for over a decade now!"
"Now, now! Watch your mouth, you perverted priest and booze-osaurus!"
"Who's a pervert?!" Father flared up.
"Hoo? And who was staring at the cleavage of that young maiden who came to pray to Amaterasu-sama for her young husband just last week?! You think your lecherous glances escaped me? You're a hundred years older than her! You perverted, elderly, bald, alcoholic degenerate of an old man!!!"
"Y... youuu... yyy... aaaaaaahhhh y-yoouuu..."
"Well, I'm off!" Run, run for it!!!
"STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!" The old man roared, snatching a broom off the floor — seriously, who keeps leaving these things lying around?! "I'LL KILL YOU! YOU DEMON SPAWN! YOU LITTLE BASTARD!!!!!"
"Hey, what happened to 'Do not use foul language and conduct yourself with dignity'?!" I shouted over my shoulder. Whoops... one step, then another...
"Amaterasu-sama WILL FORGIVE ME!!! NOW STAND STILL SO I CAN SMITE YOU WITH THIS HOLY INSTRUMENT OF RETRIBUTION!!!"
"Not a chance, you bald old man!!!" Downward! Faster, faster — holy crap, he's actually gonna catch me!
"AND DON'T YOU DARE EVER COME BACK HERE!!!" The voice chased after me. "YOU WRETCH!!!!"
Breathing hard, a fifteen-year-old youth leaned against the trunk of a tall tree. Turning back, he looked at the old stone steps climbing the mountain where the temple of the sun goddess Amaterasu stood.
Squinting against the rays of the rising sun, the boy murmured the morning mantra under his breath — purely out of habit — and smiled wide.
"I'll definitely come back. Father, brothers... I'll come back home."
After catching his breath for a moment, the boy named Kaoru shook himself off and stepped onto the road with a resolute look. His time of adventure had begun.
At that very same moment, up on the mountain, before the archway leading into the temple grounds, an elderly monk stood gazing downward with a warm, fatherly smile.
"May the Kami watch over you on your journey, Kaoru," whispered the head priest of the temple, Hataroku Jumbei, brushing a few stingy tears from his eyes with an aged hand. "And may Amaterasu-sama light your path."
It's a little unsettling. I've spent so much time at the temple, I'd almost forgotten just how huge this world can be.
Unsettling, yeah. Now I'm alone. Alone in this enormous world. Of course, I could always just turn around and go right back. But then I'd be nothing but a failure in my own eyes — to prepare for so long, only to get scared at the very last second?! No way! I'm a man. I've got enough resolve to crush this faint-hearted impulse.
Today I walked pretty much the whole day through, with only a few short stops at a couple of villages and somewhere in between. The weather was sunny, warm — even a little hot.
"Ah, so peaceful..." I murmured, staring up at the sky. "Wonder how far I've gone? Let's see... Hm, about thirty kilometers, I'd guess?"
I mean, I did walk almost all day, but I took breaks. Hm... yeah, that sounds about right. Even with the bags, my pace was pretty brisk, for certain reasons. Chakra, obviously. I mean, what else? Being born into this world, my body's got a chakra circulation system, same as every other living thing. Knowing that, and having a rough idea of what to do and how, I've managed to develop a few abilities. Plus, sometimes shinobi from the Leaf would visit the temple, and I'd hit them with my "whine-till-they-cave-no-jutsu" and big "puppy-dog eyes," begging for simple training exercises. As a rule, if the target was a woman, it worked five times out of seven.
Sure, you can't learn anything major that way. But even the "simple" ability to reinforce your body with chakra — boosting strength and endurance — is worth a ton, if you ask me. For now, those modest skills are enough. BUT!!! That absolutely does not mean I'm not aiming higher! If you don't set yourself the goal of all-around self-improvement, you risk turning into a moss-covered stump. And I don't wanna be a stump. I don't want to stand still — the world won't wait.
"Alright, time to rest," I decided, and started looking for a spot to spend the night. Seems I won't reach any settlement today. Stepping off the road, I went deeper into the forest, and after about ten minutes of searching, found a pretty cozy little clearing. Hm, judging by the dark pit in the center, people have camped here before — a few times, actually. But from the general neglect, I'd guess the last time was a while ago — month or two back. Not that it matters much to me. Time to set up camp.
The next while went to camp setup: gathering firewood, making food, fixing up a bed... Lucky the clearing was small — easier to secure. Grabbing a long spool of fishing line, I walked around the clearing, setting up a basic perimeter. No man-eating beasts have been spotted in these parts, but the chance of running into wild animals is still there. So better safe than sorry. Once the perimeter was done, I walked it again, tying little bells to the line. Now, if anything disturbs the barrier, I'll know about it.
"And now for the finishing touch!" I muttered under my breath, weaving hand seals and starting to chant a protective mantra. On top of the physical barrier, I'd placed several amulets around the clearing and was now activating them. I guess it's kind of like a barrier ninjutsu... or a sealing jutsu... I dunno. First off, I've got nothing to compare it to. And second, this "alarm system" is built on Shinto and Dao principles — completely my own invention. "Ugh, done."
When I finished, I felt a little weaker, and my right wrist gave a noticeable twinge. Now, if anything crosses the barrier, I'll feel a prick.
Well then — time to laze around a bit! Although... there's not really much to do, so lazing around won't be all that satisfying. Oh well. Guess I'll mix rest with training!
Sitting down by the fire, I settled into a relaxed posture. Funny paradox — for this kind of meditation, you've gotta be relaxed and focused at the same time. Or maybe it's a little different... Hard to explain in words. You rest, but you're working. You sleep, but you're awake.
"Naaamm... ooomm..." I began chanting a mantra of spiritual fortification. My perception of the world slowly started to shift — expanding into something bigger, but at the same time focusing inward, on me and what's inside me. I'll spend about half the night like this, then sleep normally the rest of the way. Then morning comes — warm-up exercises, more meditation, and after that, the road again. The journey to Konoha's a long one.
"Hey, Monk-sama! We're getting close — the walls are already in sight!" The driver's shout yanked me out of my drowsy state.
"Oh?.. Oh, that's excellent!" I perked up, rising a bit and peering ahead.
Yeah, there they were: the walls of Konoha. God, they're huge!!! Two — no, three Great Walls of China tall! Astonishing. Shinobi really are something else. Staring at this magnificence, plus the treetops half-hidden by heat haze — I'm guessing that's the "famous" Forest of Death — I actually felt a little resentful. These people have so many possibilities!!! And they waste their talents on ordinary warfare, burying chunks of their gifts deep in blood-soaked earth. Medical-nin, who can not only maim but also heal — they're more the exception that proves the rule. And even that's only half true, since they're still combat- and support-oriented in some way. Meanwhile, those very Senju could've become incredible foresters and cultivators! No, I'm not joking — I'm dead serious! In the "World of Earth," for instance, they'd be carried on people's shoulders! A Wood Style master who can grow a giant forest on barren ground in a matter of hours would be worth his weight in gold in a world buckling under deforestation and air pollution. And if you dream a little — you could even organize colonization missions to other planets. Through the steady labor of several generations, even Mars could become habitable! And that's just the most obvious example I can think of. The crafts shinobi develop could have two, three, even more fields of application! But no — these cutthroat sorcerers spend all their time perfecting skills meant for destroying their own kind. Such a waste.
And there are the gates. Hm?.. I thought the "sweet" pair of interrogator buddies from Konoha's Department of Terror — Morino Ibiki and his partner — usually hung around here. But what I'm seeing is some "unfamiliar" kunoichi in a jonin's green vest.
They let us through without any trouble. Though I say "us" — the caravan I ran into on the third day of my journey and I entered the Hidden Village separately. Still, I was crazy lucky our paths lined up. Even luckier I decided to linger longer at that little stream, giving myself an extra hour of rest. Must've been the Kami holding me back. And that's a good thing! Even though the caravan took a slightly different route — stopping at its various trading posts — with all the detours and loops they made, my travel time was cut by almost a whole day! Yes... Praise Amaterasu-sama that Nakimiko-san turned out to be a good guy, didn't even charge me for the ride. I think it came down to him being a somewhat devout man, and me looking exactly like what I basically was: an Unsui-no-ryokaku — "a guest of clouds and water," or just a wandering priest. I was never officially ordained, but I did live in a temple and know the rituals, so I can rightfully call myself a priest. So as payment, all I had to do was perform a few rites — for Safe Travels and Expulsion of Malevolent Spirits. All in all, we were both happy with the arrangement: I got to rest my legs and ride to Konoha in relative comfort, while Nakimiko-san got peace of mind, knowing evil spirits definitely wouldn't be attacking his caravan.
Like I said, they let us into the Village easily. "How careless of them," I might've said — but I won't. The caravan was definitely spotted by hidden posts way before we got close to Konoha, and at the gates they probably scanned us with some jutsu or even inspected us with a dojutsu — the Byakugan. After all, the Hyuga clan found refuge in Konoha — a legendary clan with legendary eyes that nothing can hide from. Bearers of one of the Three Great Dojutsu, which besides the Byakugan include: the Sharingan — the demonic eyes of the Uchiha clan, supposedly able to predict the future (a lie, of course — they just calculate the enemy's movements) and steal other people's techniques; and the Rinnegan — eyes that, according to those same rumors, were possessed only by the Sage of Six Paths, the founder of all shinobi arts without exception. The Uchiha also live — well, lived — in Konoha. Right now, in theory, only three representatives should remain: Sasuke, Itachi, and Obito. Plus Madara — who's not quite dead yet.
And honestly, the Village founders did a hell of a job, luring all kinds of clans with unique abilities under the "shade of the trees." Some of them have vanished, but a few survived and even prospered: the Akimichi, Inuzuka, Nara, Hyuga, Yamanaka, Kurama, Hatake... So many. The First Hokage was a real collector of rarities! Just a shame later generations couldn't grow this "collection" and mostly just squandered it instead: the Uchiha cut down almost to the root, only one Tsunade left of the Senju, and the allied Uzumaki, who resettled in Konoha after Whirlpool fell, also practically wiped out. Even from my perspective — some outsider who barely knows the details — this state of affairs seems pretty damn lamentable.
Ah, but I shouldn't dwell on it too long. I'm in Konoha! Birthplace of brooding emo kids and fiery orange future-Hokage, pink-haired tsunderes and pearl-eyed shy girls, dog-people and bug-people (brrrrr! Where's my insect spray?!), lazy genius deer-herders and mind-warping florists...
And there are the Hokage Faces. Four of them, just like I expected. Oh?!
Hmmmmm?..
Weird... Is it just me, or do the faces look a little off — not what I expected? I mean, obviously you can't compare anime and manga one-to-one with real life. But this is a world created from the notes of Masashi Kishimoto, who was definitely tripping on mushrooms! There should be at least a fifty percent match, if not a hundred.
"Something's definitely off here..." I muttered, clutching my chin. It seems similar, but certain elements on the Hokage Monument feel... wrong. Like my brain was right on the edge of figuring it out — and then, in the very next instant, all thought got blasted clean out of my head. "Gh!!!"
I was deafened. Stunned. Crushed and flattened — then inflated until I burst. M-M-Mother of Orochimaru, what the—?!.. What savage horror... horrifying horror. It chilled me straight to the bone and into the deepest, most hidden corners of my soul. Strangely enough, this time I realized almost immediately what it might be.
The Nine-Tails! Malice and fury this deafening could only belong to a demon — a Tailed Beast. But what the hell?! Is it getting out?! Inside the Village?!! I don't remember anything like this happening!
My thoughts scattered in a panic, but I myself stayed surprisingly calm, crappy as the situation was. The first screams rang out — looks like I sensed it first, and now the regular people were catching up.
My mind was still racing, but my body was already moving. I threw off my extra baggage and bolted straight toward the source of that Horror. Why? Isn't it obvious?! I'm a monk of Amaterasu-sama's temple, with a ton of experience exorcising demons and evil spirits. This is practically familiar territory. And even if it's the Nine-Tails — the fiercest and strongest of the Tailed Beasts — even if it's the damn Ten-Tails itself riding on Kaguya Otsutsuki's back — I won't let any demon run wild.
Presumptuous? Yeah! Overconfident? Oh, hell yeah! Stupid? Absolutely!
But.
I really do have a Gift, and it's strong. That's not bragging — it's fact. Even the Old Man, experienced as he is, was weaker than me. We'll see. Can I hold back a Tailed Beast? We'll see.
We'll see. If I survive — then I pulled it off.