-You are going wearing THAT?!
Priscilla asked Ashborn.
-It is the most appropriate look for blending in at the place we are going.
Ashborn answered. Priscilla laughed,
-Oh please, with that Josep like look of yours, forget blending in, you would be lucky if cougars don't jump on your left and right. Speaking of looks, how did you become even more attractive... and taller? And why the hell you would even need blending in? You are not supposed to go on some secret mission from the government as a spy... are you?
Releasing a big sigh Ashborn said to Priscilla,
-Listen, sis... Priscilla. The things you are about to see and know would be very shocking and unacceptable to you. Perhaps dangerous too. If you want to back down... this is the last chance.
Priscilla just looked unamused at him as if saying, [I have had enough of your shit, you are NOT ditching me again.]
Ashborn just shook his head and said to the ladies, "Get back a little. I will need some room for this."
Priscilla asked confused, "Right now?"
The other two simply stepped back. Seeing them Priscilla was further confused but stepped back too. Her eyes went saucers when a white sphere of light containing turbulent energy suddenly appeared 1 foot above the ground. The white spere was perfectly round, so perfect that looking at it gave the illusion of a white circle instead of a sphere.
-Oh God... what the... What is that? How did it appear?
Ashborn said to Tsunade and Shizune,
-After you, ladies.
Giving a nod, both jumped into the white ball and got sucked into it, to which Priscilla gawked. After they vanished, Ashborn said to her,
-Listen, Priscilla. Due to not having much time, I haven't managed to clear up many things to you. And among them, 2 things really matter. Firstly, Once you step into that, there is no coming back for a long time. It is not that I cannot just open another one from the other side, I would not just simply do that while risking all lifeforms of a planet. Secondly, things will get really dangerous. And by dangerous, I mean "doomsday" kind of dangerous. Are you sure...
-Yes, I am sure. If it were really that kind of dangerous and there was a high chance that I would lose my life, you wouldn't have thought to bring there in the first place. I trust in your judgement.
Priscilla answered determined. To that, Ashborn gave a simple smile. Then the next second, he got Priscilla in a princess carry.
-Hold on tight and stick close to my body. We don't want you to get torn into atoms now, do we?
-Wait, what are you... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...
As she was in the middle of her sentence, Ashborn, carrying her, jumped into the sphere of light. What she saw is twisting of uncountable planes of... reality. Among them, Ashborn skillfully navigated while carrying Priscilla.
-WHAT THE HELL IS THIS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.....
She shouted being afraid, invoking a hearty laugh from Ashborn.
-This is the Einstein-Rosen bridge, or a version of it anyway. The main freaky part of it is, it connects all space-time continuum... kind of like a junction. So, technically you could reach both the second right after the big bang and the second right before heat death. Well, though that is not something I would recommend. Probably, even I wouldn't survive both of the events.
-WHAT THE HELLLLLLLLLL? YOU MEAN TIME TRAVEL!!!!!!!!!!!
-Why are you screaming? My ears hurt now. But yes, time travel... or it looks kind of like that. Though what you would really be doing is going to another branch timeline among infinite ones, as humans are unable to exist in multiple timelines as beings of one dimension of time. Think of it like this, if you think of going to the past, that past becomes future of your present self. And if you execute the task, the past is now your present and the decision you just made in your past, have just become future. Now, since it became future, you are supposed to able to change it right. But that creates a paradox as it is also past, thereby being not changeable. Something cannot be changeable and unchangeable at the same time...
-Ummm, sorry... what are we talking about again?
Due to the question of Priscilla, Ashborn came back to his senses. Smiling he said,
-My dear, in your language... it means... Back to the future is a bunch of bullshit.
-Seriously? Antman!?
-What! I like Antman!!!
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At last, they came out thought another white sphere which was hanging about 20 feet over the ground. Carrying Priscilla in a princess carry, Ashborn landed on the ground where Tsunade and Shizune were already waiting for them.
As Ashborn let Priscilla down, she asked,
-Can you at least now, where are we?
-We are at the land of elemental nations.
-Elemental? Do you mean like those in fantasy movies? Like Fire, water, air, earth, lightning?
Shizune chuckled from the side...
-Wow, you practically nailed it. Not bad for a bird brain...
-Did you just called me stupid? Don't you dare call me stupid...
-Okay... then how about "a slut" who lust after cousin...
-Oh!!! [Practically amused] Still better than a woman who tries to steal husband from her teacher...
-You are DEAD, BITCH...
As Shizune aggressively advanced towards Priscilla flaring out her aura, the normal girl paled due to sheer pressure, though Shizune may be only flared only tiny bit of her aura. She didn't pass out due to being brought up in a challenging environment. If she was a sheltered girl, she would have been already brought down on her knees.
But as a normal girl, she couldn't endure it for long. As she was about to be brought down on her knees, another aura neutralized the pressure on her. Shizune stopped on her track as she fearfully looked at Ashborn. Seeing her pale face Priscilla was confused. On one hand, this seemingly harmless girl is scary like those mindless killers she faced in her delinquent days, that kind of aura, she would never forget. But now, such a dangerous person had a pale face as if she was scared of something. She had so many questions. When she followed Shizune's fearful gaze, she saw Ashborn with a very displeased expression which squeezed her heart. Never in her life, she saw Ashborn giving such a look towards her... no, to anybody. Even if someone mocked or made fun of him, he would just lightly brush it off. Both disappointment and heartache was mixed in that expression.
In an overly calm voice contradicting which represented the calm before storm, he said,
-Priscilla, Shizune. Stand in front of me.
They both did as they were told as they realized they did something they cannot afford to do.
Ashborn asked,
-Do you realize why I am angry?
Both of them stayed silent, not daring to utter a word, to which Tsunade shook her head in disappointment. [These girls have so much left to learn about the person they love. Silence is just going to infuriate him more.] is what she thought.
-If I don't get an answer in 5 seconds...
Ashborn didn't need to finish his sentence as Shizune said in an apologetic tone,
-Ashborn kun, I have an upbringing in a war-torn environment, thus I have some shortcomings in such situations. Please forgive my mistakes and correct me, so that I don't make such a mistake.
-And you, Priscilla?
Greeting her teeth Priscilla answered,
-I deliberately said hurtful towards her despite knowing it is something she regrets, which I shouldn't have been done. But she started it...
-Yes, she started it and you fueled it to go out of proportion. And Shizune, do you think now that your homeland you have a natural advantage and can oppress a member of your household, just because she is weaker than you? You do realize that that can change anytime, right?
-I am ashamed of my conduct. Please, forgive me.
Shizune said looking at the ground.
-Don't apologize to me. Apologize to the one that deserved it. And lastly, Priscilla, you clearly thought I would take your side, just because you are my childhood friend? Is that what you understand of me after all these years? Or is it, just because Shizune started it, I would support your such uncouth behaviour?
-I am sorry...
Priscilla said in a small voice also looking at the ground. Releasing a sigh, Ashborn said,
-Since I decided to marry both of you, it is an obvious matter that I would treat both of you equally. No, intentional partiality would be done by me. You two got into this fully knowing what kind of man I am. All I ask is a harmonious household from two of you. And what you just did, did any of it feel like harmony to you of any kind?
-No, it doesn't.
Shizune answered in a small voice. She clearly understood that even if Ashborn trained her with his own hands, her spot in his heart is still below Priscilla, whom he grew up with. That kind of position one cannot just shake with mere one or two years. She is extremely lucky that Ashborn doesn't favour one over others when he administers justice. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been surprised if she was the one severely punished as she is the one started it. Nepotism is something that is ingrained in society and even in families. She clearly understood what kind of man one has to be to not affected by it. And it would be a lie if she said returning to her homeworld didn't boost her confidence a little. So, she was inwardly actually happy that she could be with such a man. She didn't feel ashamed due to that reason.
-So, do you two have something to say each other?
Ashborn asked. Priscilla decided to give in first as she said,
-Shizune, I am sorry. I shouldn't have said those words clearly knowing they would hurt you. It was very insensitive towards you. My anger got the better of me. I hope you could forgive me and consider it as a human err.
Shizune was kind of stupified. As far as she saw, Priscilla had very high self-esteem. Seldomly she would ever concede in an argument. Then she remembered what Priscilla promised to get with Ashborn and realized just how much she loves Ashborn. Priscilla maybe not apologetic towards her genuinely, but she would still genuinely apologize to her just to make Ashborn happy, just to achieve a harmonious household which was asked from her by Ashborn. If Shizune was attracted to a strong man who would make her happy, then this woman had what is called genuine unconditional love towards Ashborn. Maybe years of empathy and facing the struggle of life together and helping each other played a big part. But Shizune had no doubt that even if Ashborn remained a normal person rest of his life, Priscilla would still act the same. Hell, Priscilla still didn't know yet what Ashborn actually is. This simple point is enough to realize why Priscilla was favoured over her. But that should have been put her at the over Tsunade, but that's not the case as Tsunade is still the most favoured. She wondered why is that. But that is a matter of thought for another time. She mildly shook her head and said,
-I am also in the wrong Priscilla san. I hope to improve myself in the future and not act in such a manner in the future. I was a little jealous towards you thinking why would such a weak woman deserves to be with a man like Ashborn...
-Hold on, did you just insult me again while apologizing again?
-No, that is indeed the truth. You are not strong enough. But don't worry, I shall try my best to protect you as it is not your strength that I chose to marry you.
Hearing such comment form Ashborn, Priscilla was pissed this time. Why would he say such thing to her? He knows her best and what she went through as he was the only one beside her at the times of hardship. She asked suppressing her anger,
-I have been supporting my family from I was 16... as a single mother. Which part of that you think is weak!
-That's not what we are talking about!
Saying that he shot a light beam entering her head. Clutching her head, Priscilla almost fell over due to invasion of pain and a lot of new memories but Ashborn caught her before she could fall. Ashborn was regretting not letting her know about all these before hand. He has still a lot to learn about dealing with other people. After a few minutes, she was back on her feet again. After organizing all the new information of the situation around her and the people around her, she gave a hysteric laugh, as she said,
-To think that such a thing exist. Tsunade and Shizune are from such a place. Who knows that my life is also not just a story from another writer in the omniverse? Hahaha, to think that I was so condescending towards my own existence... Hahaha...
-Priscilla san, don't speak like that. It's your life. Only you can choose how you live. No one else. Trust me, we are also here not to just live our destined life... but to make it better.
Said Tsunade. Time with Ashborn changed her mentality a lot.
Releasing a sigh, Priscilla said,
-Thinking about it won't change anything. I think I would have to find the answer with time. But since I am with Ashborn, I hope I would be able to find the truth one day. So, right now, where are we exactly?
-Hard to say, I tried to open the portal in Land of Fire. I could miss the mark by a few hundred kilometres as I prioritized precise time over space. But we won't be that far from it. As for the date, it's a surprise. Let's just get out of the forest and find out yourself Tsunade. I bet you would be pleasantly surprised, Tsunade.
Ashborn said with a cheeky smile.
In the last few weeks, besides doing preparation to come, the duo Tsunade and Shizune binged the whole Naruto series to get a full idea of what to expect in the future and what they are dealing with. And boy oh boy... she was hit with surprise after surprise. Some pleasant, but others... not so much.
She was practically mad at a few people. Number one, her sensei. Naruto could be considered her last blood relative after Kushina and the way Hiruzen treated him broke her heart. She swore she is going to get to the bottom of the reason why he made him suffer like that and adopt Naruto the moment she came back. The second person she was mad at was Jiraya. That fucking pervert, went around the world screwing whores and looking at women like a pervert and neglected his godson leaving him in that state. Orochimaru was weirdo, always have been. His pursuit of immortality twisted him beyond recognition, and it was understandable. But she is not going to let him scot-free if he dares to carry out what he was supposed to do in the future.
There is another group which she already sentenced to death. Number one being Danzo. No need for an explanation there. Number two, Obito. The way she saw it, that boy was a disgrace of Uchiha, the disgrace of the leaf village. The first thing they hammered at the academy is, in the shinobi world, there is no such thing as free lunch. No matter how wellwisher one person portrays himself to be, there is always a hidden motive behind it. This is one of the most basic knowledge where infiltration and espionage was one of the most common jobs for shinobis. What's more infuriating, no matter the reason, he took arms against Tsunade's last blood relative causing her and her husband's death. That, she can never let slide.
There are a lot of other people she was counting days for.
But above all, she plans to intercept every major event and plans to not let Kaguya break out of seal at any cost. She is very confident in doing so as aside from Kaguya, only her husband could stop her among this world. And she is very eager to give Madara a beating as it made her irritate seeing how he bisected her easily. Not to mention the fact that he had the audacity to use her grandfather's flesh to use wood release and unlock rinnegan.
Indeed. She is looking forward to some events.
With her, things are going to be different in this timeline.
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So they got out of the forest. The group of four were disguised as normal travellers. When they got to the nearest settlement, Tsunade checked the date and she froze... both of astonishment and happiness.
The day was October 9, 1994.
It was just the day before the Nine-tailed fox devastates the village and while one hero dies, another is born.
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To be continued