Chapter 1:
"Kaoru!"
"Hrrr..."
"Kaoru!!!!"
"Gmh... sss... nom-nom..."
"KAORUUUUUUUUUU!!!!"
"Bwah!.." I nearly tumbled off the roof. "What the hell?!"
"Ah, there you are, you little scoundrel!!!" The shout from below was so loud it nearly set the treetops around the temple swaying. "Get down from there this instant, you evil creature!"
What is he yelling about so early in the morning? Usually, old man Jumbei's shouting fits do not start until closer to noon...
"What is it now, old man?" I hang my head upside down, peering at our head priest.
"What is it?! You were absent from the morning prayer to Amaterasu-sama! Again! It is disrespectful to the Great Kami-sama!!!"
"Nah... too lazy. I doubt Amaterasu-sama is up there pining away without a prayer from little, humble me..."
"You!.. Why, you!.. Repent before Amaterasu-sama this instant! You little brat!"
"Damn it, just let me sleep!!" I finally snapped. "You are driving me crazy!"
"Well, then..." The old man calmed down slightly. "You may consider yourself excused from lunch! Treat it as an additional fast to humble your spirit."
"Oh, like that really bothers me." I slip my hand into the sleeve of my kimono and pull out a bundle of several smoked meat strips for the world to see. "I am just fine up here... nom... got plen'y to eat..."
"Meat?! Wh... where did you get that?!" The priest's eyes bulged.
"The basement." I shrug. "Oh, do not be so stingy, old man—there is enough stockpiled down there to last a year-long siege!"
"Why, you... Y-you!.." Nearly choking with rage, Jumbei turned red, blotches spreading across his bald scalp. "During... during a fast... you are eating... meat?!..."
"Kami-sama, what a fussy old bald man..." I roll my eyes toward the clear sky. "Come on, old man! I did not touch your saké, the one you stashed under the third floorboard in that one room! Are you really that upset over a little snack?!"
"YEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I will kill you, you little brat!!!!" Roaring like a wounded boar, the head priest snatched a broom from the hands of a nearby acolyte, who stood frozen in a stupor. Brandishing it over his head like a native with a spear, he charged toward the storage shed. A minute later, he came running back, dragging a ladder along the ground behind him.
"Hataroku-sama! Calm yourself, Hataroku-sama!!!" The monks wailed, hanging off the shoulders of the short but highly motivated Jumbei.
"Let me go!! Let go! Today I shall finally perform 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, alright then, old man. I am off. Later!"
"DO NOT YOU DARE RUN AWAY!!!!..."
***
My name is Kaoru. Just Kaoru, though in the future I very much want to take the surname Nagisa. Even though I do not resemble the Seventeenth Angel in the slightest—neither in eye color (mine are brown), nor in hair color (dark violet-chestnut)—I have only one association with that name. And since I was given this name, well, Amaterasu-sama herself must have willed it so.
I live here, at the temple. I have always lived here. Me, plus about two dozen monks, including old man Jumbei—those are all the inhabitants. The grounds are vast, so we have to spend a great deal of time and effort just to maintain the temple in proper condition. There is plenty of work, but everyone pitches in, and so far we manage.
As many have probably guessed by now, this is not my first life. I never knew my "local" parents; I was left on the temple steps as an infant. Old man Jumbei and the two dozen brothers—they are my family. All of them have taken part in my life to one degree or another: they raised me, taught me... We work together for the good of the temple, we pray together to the benevolent Kami and Amaterasu-sama, and we help people.
The temple itself is located in the Land of Fire, very close to the borders with the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfalls.
Yes, this is the Shinobi World. The universe of "Naruto." An astonishing place, honestly. Different cultures and phenomena are so intricately blended here, an unusual synthesis of religious beliefs and cults... It was quite interesting to read about it all.
In truth, I was very surprised when I learned the truth about our world. The Elemental Nations... The Hidden Villages and the shinobi who inhabit them. "Shinobi" here carries a slightly different meaning than it did in Japan—here they are not just saboteurs and assassins, though they are that as well, but more than anything, they resemble battle-mages—mercenaries from guilds, the way fantasy writers love to depict them. By utilizing chakra—a fusion of Yin and Yang, spiritual and physical energy—they perform feats that ordinary people could never even dream of.
That said, I am no slouch myself, heh-heh-heh! Little Kaoru from the temple knows a thing or two as well. Although my abilities bear little resemblance to those of shinobi—I am probably better described as an onmyōji—a Shinto sorcerer. I suppose I have my old fascination with mysticism, both general and Eastern in particular, to "thank" for that. For a time, back when there was a trend and demand for it, I even worked part-time as a "Great White Sorcerer" in the Capital, removing evil eyes, breaking curses, exorcising "demons" from little dogs and cats, and handling all sorts of other nonsense that paranoid wealthy oligarchs and their dim-witted women were willing to pay exorbitant sums for. And why not?! If they are such idiots, ready to pay for what amounts to dancing with a tambourine, someone is going to fleece them anyway. So why should I let that money go to some random "wizard" off the street?
And so, my occultism has come back to "haunt" me. In a very, very good way. Although, who knows what the true reason was that I developed this gift. Maybe I am like those shinobi, just with a strange mutation...
Well, in principle, it does not really matter. What matters is that my "sorcery" works. Besides, the local monks and priests can also do a few things themselves. And they can do some serious things! The world is so multifaceted, yet the anime and manga only show the daily lives of shinobi, practically ignoring everything else. So it is entirely possible that besides the nine Tailed Beasts—the Creatures of Chakra—there are smaller nasties roaming the world as well. Like that vile thing I expelled from the woman tonight, for instance. Evil spirits, ghosts, petty curses... the things I have seen in my short life here!
But even so, what I have seen is not everything. I love my Family and our temple dearly, but I do not intend to stay here forever. I feel cramped here; I desperately want to see this World. And, of course, to see with my own eyes that bundle of orange positivity named Uzumaki Naruto. That guy, if he is even a little bit like his "canon" self, is worthy of every kind of admiration, respect... and a well-aimed kick in the rear to get him moving. And I really, really want to see him.
Ah... I fear old man Jumbei will be upset. And this man, no longer young, practically raised me and is almost like a real father to me. The fact that we are constantly arguing means nothing—he is a very dear person to me. But I have not yet told anyone at the temple about my intentions. It is foolish, but I do not want to upset my Brothers, and they would certainly be saddened by my departure. No, I do not want to tell them—if I do, they will forever follow me around, nagging me about my responsibility to the temple and other such drivel... They might even talk me out of it! So for now, I will keep silent. Until the time comes for me to leave.
A long farewell only brings needless tears, right?
***
Jumbei was praying in the main hall of the temple. He was 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 internally. "Kami-sama! Amaterasu-sama!!! Answer me—why, oh why does that little brat possess such immense Sacred Power?!!!"
Then he gasped and began rattling off his prayer with even greater fervor.
There he goes again... That scoundrel pushed me over the edge. For the umpteenth time now...
Having finished his prayer, the head priest let out a heavy sigh. Kaoru... that insufferable child acted as though he had not been raised in a temple surrounded by dozens of role models. Capricious, refusing to acknowledge any 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 each and every one of them. Even if that "each and every one" was a little br...
Ahem!..
Jumbei had noticed it long ago. From his earliest years, Kaoru had stood out due to his quick wit and unusual behavior. At first, the head priest had even feared that the body of the boy left on the temple's doorstep had been possessed by evil demons, but days and nights of prayer yielded no results. Moreover, the priest himself sensed no evil emanating from the strange child with the intelligent gaze.
In those first few years, he could not have been happier with his new son: Kaoru was bright, he grasped everything on the fly and learned new things with ease. He studied diligently, hardly ever misbehaved, and walked the Path of the Spirit with dignity. And then it turned out that, in addition to his intelligence, the boy was also Powerful. It was incredible, but the boy's Power was astonishingly, almost indecently, vast. Steeling his resolve, Jumbei taught the six-year-old Kaoru a few simple mantras and was astounded by the result.
Back then, Jumbei had spent a long time singing the praises of the benevolent Kami and Amaterasu-sama—he considered this child a blessing from the Heavens. That a boy possessing such incredible power had been left on the temple's steps was a true miracle. The old monk now knew exactly to whom he would one day entrust the temple, and he intended to mold Kaoru into his successor. He threw himself into teaching the boy and was amazed once more 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 complete dedication. And sometimes, he would come up with things on his own that were SO extraordinary his teacher had no idea what to make of them. It only served to further convince 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 joyous. Kaoru's true character soon began to reveal itself. It seemed that, in endowing the boy with such power, the Heavens had exacted a price. And the older the boy grew, the more clearly his true nature showed through. Freedom-loving, mocking, and rather impertinent, he acknowledged no authority save that which he chose for himself.
It was... difficult. That was when this localized "war" between the head priest and his ward began. 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 battle between Old and Young...
"Oh, Merciful Kami, grant me the strength not to smite this... little wretch," the monk whispered. After glancing around furtively, he slipped his 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 will box his ears so hard... Parasite... eating meat during a fast! Kami, can You even imagine such a thing?!"
***
I am ready!
A bag with supplies is packed, a quiver with a bow and three spare bowstrings is stowed, and my staff leans against the wall by the door.
Talismans, tools? Check.
Money? Check.
Spare clothes? Check.
As a matter of principle, I am taking nothing that belongs to the temple. And for what I did take—I paid for it. Over the years, I would slip away to the nearby villages, do simple odd jobs, and sell talismans that I personally crafted. So I have money, and I left some of it in plain sight back in the storehouse.
Should I double-check everything? No, no. The longer I think about it, the stronger the feeling will grow that I have forgotten something.
"It is time," I whispered. Early morning, the monks are still asleep, and the pre-dawn slumber is the deepest. Adjusting my bags, I picked up a simple walking staff and carefully slipped out of my room.
The temple was asleep.
I moved in silence. After nearly fifteen years of living here, I had learned every single millimeter of the flooring whether I wanted to or not, so moving without a sound was easy.
The monks' sleeping quarters... The sound of snoring from behind the partition. Farewell, elder brothers.
The exit to the outside. Now I could move just a little faster, a little more confidently.
There is the entrance archway. Beyond it lies only the Five Hundred Steps (or to be precise, five hundred and seventy-two) leading downward at a rather steep incline. Further still—a handful of small villages scattered around the hill upon which our temple stands. And beyond them—tens and hundreds of kilometers of forests, plains, and lakes of the Land of Fire.
Well then, it is time to say goodb—
"And just where do you think you are going, you little brat?!" A voice from behind made me jump on the spot.
"Old man?!" How? From where?!
"Ke-ke-ke-kee! What is the matter, you little parasite?!" The head priest laughed. "Did you really think old Jumbei had gone blind and senile? Ke-ke-ke!.. The look on your face right now, Kaoru!"
"Old man..." I avert my gaze like a child caught stealing jam. Dammit, why do I feel so ashamed?!
"I knew this day would come," the Old Man said slowly, all trace of his recent amusement gone. "I always knew. Kaoru. A long time ago, you were left on this temple's doorstep as an infant. We took you in, raised you, and taught you. You are like a son to me, and to the monks, you are 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 appear even more furrowed, creasing with countless new folds. "You grew up, you matured... We all rejoiced in your successes. We mourned your failures together. We lived as one big, happy family! Yes, how much time has passed... I understood long ago that you would leave one day. You have a gift, Kaoru. A gift bestowed upon you by the Heavens and the Merciful Kami. Though it seems they forgot to include a fitting temperament! Ke-ke-ke... Ahem! Kaoru. I did everything I could to instill in you the solemnity and wisdom befitting a head priest of this temple. But you, you are far too free-spirited to lock yourself within the walls of our sanctuary, blessed as it is by Amaterasu-sama. The world lies down below. It beckons to you, does it not? Once I understood that, I realized it was not within my power to keep you here. Therefore..."
The Head Priest stepped closer to me, and I could only hang my head even lower. My lips were pressed tight, as were my fingers. I understood what the Head Priest was saying... old man Jumbei... my...
"Father." I managed to force the word out.
"Now, now, Kaoru. Where has 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 it gently with his broad fingers. "You little scoundrel, did you actually 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 am sorry, Father." Damn it!.. You fussy, bald old man!.. He is... Damn, my eyes!.. Damn it...
"It is nothing. You have already made up your mind, have you not?" He was smiling. Smiling such a kind and understanding 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 and teach him, and to give him a family. If that is so, then my task is complete, and you must walk forward."
"Damn it! Old man, stop it!" See... he finally drew tears from me with his honeyed words. Damned priest.
Aged, yet still strong arms grasped my shoulders and pulled me against Jumbei. You bastard... Father, you are such a bastard...
"Does your heart feel lighter now, my Son?" the priest asked after a while. "Has the burden upon it lessened?"
"Yes... I feel light, Father." I smiled at him, the man who had given me everything in this world. "I will come back. So do not go thinking the Heavens have taken pity on you and rid you of my presence!!!"
"Oh, Amaterasu-sama, why do you punish me so?!" the monk prayed in mock despair before breaking into laughter.
"I must go. If those idiots wake up and catch me here, I fear their tears will flood the nearby villages."
"They very well might." Jumbei laughed kindly, his fatherly smile beaming. "Yes, they just might... We have all grown so very attached to one little, wretched, mischief-making brat who has been making our lives difficult for over a decade now!"
"Now, now! Watch your words, you perverted priest and liquor-saurus!"
"Who is 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?! Did you think your lecherous glances escaped my notice? You are a hundred years older than her! You perverted, elderly, bald, alcoholic old man and degenerate!!!"
"Y... youuu... yyy... aaaaaaahhhh y-yoouuu..."
"Well, I am off!" Run, run for it!!!
"STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!" The old man roared, snatching a broom from the floor. Who keeps leaving these things lying around?! "I WILL 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 MAY SMITE YOU WITH THIS HOLY INSTRUMENT OF RETRIBUTION!!!"
"Not a chance, you bald old man!!!" Downward! Faster, faster—he is actually going to catch me!
"AND DO NOT YOU DARE EVER COME BACK HERE!!!" The voice chased after me. "YOU WRETCH!!!!"
***
Breathing heavily, a youth of fifteen years leaned against the trunk of a tall tree. Turning back, he gazed upon the old stone steps climbing up 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 widely.
"I will definitely come back! Father, brothers. I will come back home."
After catching his breath for a moment, the boy named Kaoru shook himself off and stepped onto the road with a determined 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 his aged hand. "And may Amaterasu-sama illuminate your path."
***
It feels a bit unsettling. I have spent so much time at the temple that I have almost forgotten just how vast this world can be.
It is unsettling. Now I am alone. Alone in this enormous world. Of course, I could always just turn around and go back to the temple. But then I would be nothing but a failure in my own eyes: to prepare for so long, only to get scared at the very last moment?! No way! I am a man, and I possess enough resolve to overcome this faint-hearted impulse.
Today I walked practically the entire day without stopping, making only a few brief pauses at a couple of villages and somewhere in between them. The weather was sunny, warm, even a little hot.
"Ah, how peaceful..." I murmured, gazing at the sky. "I wonder how far I have walked? Let me think... Hm, around thirty kilometers, I would guess?"
Though I walked almost the whole day, I did make stops. Hm... Well, I suppose that is about right. Even with my bags, my pace was fairly brisk, thanks to certain reasons. Naturally, it is because of chakra. How could it be otherwise? Since I was born into this world, my body possesses a chakra circulation system, just like every other living organism. Knowing this, and having a rough idea of what to do and how, I was able to develop some abilities within myself. Besides, shinobi from the Leaf would occasionally visit our temple, and I would use my "whine-until-they-give-in-no-jutsu" on them while making "puppy-dog eyes," begging them for some simple training exercises. As a rule, if my target was a woman, it worked in five out of seven cases.
Naturally, one cannot learn anything truly significant this way, but even the "simple" ability to reinforce one's body with chakra, thereby increasing strength and endurance, is worth a great deal in my opinion. For now, such modest skills suffice. BUT!!! That absolutely does not mean I do not strive for more! If you fail to set a goal of comprehensive self-improvement, you risk turning into a moss-covered stump. And I do not wish to be a stump. I do not want to stand still, for the world will not wait.
"Alright, it is time to rest," I decided and began looking for a place to spend the night. It seems I will not reach any settlement today. Stepping off the road, I ventured deeper into the forest and, after about ten minutes of searching, found a rather cozy little clearing. Hm, judging by the dark pit in the center, this spot has been used for camping several times before. But given the general air of neglect, I would guess the last time was quite a while ago—a month or two back. Not that it matters much to me, anyway. Time to set up camp.
The next while was occupied with setting up the campsite: gathering firewood, preparing a meal, making a bed... I was fortunate that the clearing was small; it would be easier to secure. Taking a long spool of fishing line, I walked around the clearing, establishing a small perimeter. Though no man-eating beasts have been spotted in these parts, the chance of encountering wild animals still exists. So better safe than sorry. Once the perimeter was done, I walked it again, attaching small bells to the line: now, should anything disturb the barrier, I would be alerted.
"And now for the final touch!" I muttered under my breath, weaving hand seals and beginning to chant a protective mantra. In addition to the physical barrier, I had placed several amulets around the clearing and was now activating them. I suppose it is somewhat similar to a barrier ninjutsu... or sealing jutsu... I do not really know. Firstly, I simply have nothing to compare it to. And secondly, this "alarm system" is built upon the principles of Shinto and Dao, and it is entirely my own invention. "Ugh, done."
When I finished, I felt slightly weaker, and my right wrist gave a noticeable twinge. Now, if anything crosses the barrier, I will feel a prick.
Well then, I suppose I can laze about a bit now! Although... I do not really have much to do, so any attempt at lazing about will not be particularly satisfying. Oh well. Then I shall combine rest with training!
Sitting down beside the fire, I assumed a relaxed posture. It is an amusing paradox, but for meditations such as this, one must be both relaxed and focused at the same time. Or perhaps it is a bit different... It is difficult to explain in words. You rest, yet you labor; you sleep, yet you remain awake.
"Naaamm... ooomm..." I began chanting a mantra of spiritual fortification. My perception of the world slowly began to shift, expanding into something greater, yet simultaneously focusing inward upon myself and what resides within me. I will spend roughly half the night like this, and then sleep normally for the remainder. Then morning will come, followed by warm-up exercises, more meditation, and after that—the road once more. The journey to Konoha is a long one.
***
"Hey, Monk-sama, we are approaching! The walls are already in sight..." The driver's shout pulled me from my drowsy state.
"Oh?.. Oh, that is simply excellent!" I perked up, rising slightly and peering ahead.
Yes, indeed: the walls of Konoha. Oh, they are enormous!!! Two, no, three Great Walls of China in height! Astonishing. Yes, shinobi are truly impressive. Gazing upon this magnificence, as well as the treetops partially obscured by the heat haze—I suspect that is the "famous" Forest of Death—I even feel a bit resentful. These people have so many possibilities!!! And yet they squander their talents on mundane warfare, burying parts of their gifts deep in blood-soaked earth. Medical-nin, who are capable not only of maiming but also of healing, are more the exception that proves the rule. And even that is only partly true, because they too are oriented toward combat and support in some way. And yet, from those very Senju, wonderful foresters and cultivators could have emerged! No, I am not joking; I am completely serious! In the "World of Earth," for instance, they would be carried on people's shoulders! A master of Wood Style, capable of growing a gigantic forest on a barren plot of land within hours, would be worth his weight in gold in a world buckling under deforestation and atmospheric pollution. And if one were to dream a little, they could even organize colonization missions to other planets. Through the persistent labor of several generations, even Mars could be made habitable! And that is just the most obvious example that came to mind. The crafts developed by shinobi could have two, three, or even more fields of application! But no, these cutthroat sorcerers spend all their time honing skills meant for destroying their own kind. It is a shame.
And there are the gates. Hm?.. It seems that the "sweet" pair of interrogator friends from Konoha's Department of Terror—Morino Ibiki and his partner—should usually be loitering around here. But what I see is some "unfamiliar" kunoichi in a jonin's green vest.
They let us through without any trouble. Although I say "us," the caravan I encountered on the third day of my journey and I entered the Hidden Village separately. Still, I was very fortunate that our paths aligned. And even more fortunate that I decided to linger longer by that little stream, allowing myself an extra hour of rest. It must have been the Kami holding me back. And that is a good thing! Although the caravan took a slightly different route—making stops at its various trading posts—even with all the detours and loops they made, my travel time was shortened by almost a full day! Yes... Praise be to Amaterasu-sama that Nakimiko-san turned out to be a good man and did not even charge me for the ride. I think the reason is that he was a somewhat devout person, and I looked exactly like what I essentially was: an Unsui-no-ryokaku—translated as "a guest of clouds and water," or, more simply, a wandering priest. Though I have never been officially ordained, I did live in a temple and know the religious rituals, so I can rightfully call myself a priest. Thus, as payment, I was only required to perform a few rituals—for Safe Travels and the Expulsion of Malevolent Spirits. All in all, we were both satisfied with this mutually beneficial arrangement: I got to rest my legs and travel to Konoha in relative comfort, while Nakimiko-san set his soul at ease knowing that evil spirits would most certainly not attack his caravan.
As I said, we were let into the Village easily. "Astonishing carelessness," I might have said, but I will not: the caravan was surely noticed by hidden posts even before approaching Konoha, and at the gates, we were likely scanned by some jutsu or even scrutinized with a dojutsu—the Byakugan. After all, the Hyuga clan, a legendary clan with legendary eyes from which nothing can hide, has found refuge in Konoha. They are bearers of one of the Three Great Dojutsu, which besides the Byakugan include: the Sharingan—the demonic eyes of the Uchiha clan, said to be capable of predicting the future (a lie, of course—they merely calculate the enemy's movements) and stealing others' techniques; and the Rinnegan—eyes which, 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—or rather, lived—in Konoha. At present, in theory, only three representatives should remain: Sasuke, Itachi, and Obito. And also the not-quite-dead-yet Madara.
And in general, the founders of the Village did a fine job, luring numerous clans with unique abilities under the "shade of the trees." Some of them have vanished, but a few have survived and even prospered: the Akimichi, Inuzuka, Nara, Hyuga, Yamanaka, Kurama, Hatake... Many of them. The First Hokage was quite the collector of rarities! It is just a pity that subsequent generations failed to expand this "collection" and have instead been "squandering" it: the Uchiha were cut down almost to the root; only one Tsunade remains of the Senju; and the allied Uzumaki, who resettled in Konoha after the fall of the Whirlpool, were also nearly wiped out. Even from my perspective, from the viewpoint of an outsider who knows little of the details, this state of affairs seems lamentable and disheartening.
Oh, but I should not dwell on that for too long. I am in Konoha! The birthplace of brooding emo kids and spirited orange future-Hokage, pink-haired tsunderes and pearl-eyed shy girls, dog-people and bug-people (brrrrr! Where is my insect spray?!), lazy genius deer-herders and mind-warping florists...
And there are the Hokage Faces. Four of them, just as expected. Oh?!
Hmmmmm?..
Strange... Is it just me, or do the faces look slightly different—not what I expected? No, obviously, anime and manga cannot be compared one-to-one with real life, but this is a world created from the notes of Masashi Kishimoto, who was surely tripping on mushrooms! There should be at least a fifty percent match, if not one hundred.
"Something is definitely off here..." I muttered, clutching my chin with my fingers. It seems similar, yet certain elements on the Hokage Monument strike me as... odd. It felt as though my mind was on the verge of grasping the answer, but in the very next instant, all thought was driven from my head. "Gh!!!"
I was deafened. I was stunned. I was crushed and flattened, then inflated until I burst. M-M-Mother of Orochimaru, what the?!.. What a savage horror... a horrifying horror. It chilled me to the bone and into the most hidden corners of my soul. Strangely enough, this time I realized almost instantly what it might be.
The Nine-Tails! Such deafening malice and fury could only belong to a demon, a Tailed Beast. But what the hell? Is it breaking loose?! Inside the Village?!! I do not remember anything like this happening!
My thoughts scattered in panic, yet I myself remained surprisingly calm, despite the wretchedness of the situation. The first cries rang out: it seems I sensed it first, and now it was the ordinary people's turn.
My mind was still racing, but my body was already in motion. Tossing my excess baggage to the ground, I dashed toward the source of that Horror. Why? Is it not obvious?! I am a monk of Amaterasu-sama's temple, with extensive practice in exorcising demons and evil spirits. This is even somewhat familiar territory. And even if it is the Nine-Tails, the fiercest and strongest of the Tailed Beasts, even if it were the Ten-Tails itself riding atop Kaguya Otsutsuki—I will not let any demon run rampant unchecked.
Presumptuous? Yes! Overconfident?! Oh, yes! Foolish?! Most certainly!
But.
I truly do possess a Gift, and it is powerful. That is not boasting; it is a fact. Even the Old Man, experienced as he is in such matters, was weaker than me. We shall see! Can I hold back a Tailed Beast? We shall see.
We shall see. If I survive, then I succeeded.