Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
Kakumei – Arc 4: Might Makes Right
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Chapter 85 – He could have been me
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In Konohagakure, in front of the ninja academy, Boruto is sitting, waiting for his sister like he did for the last 10 months on a daily basis after his training sessions with Sasuke. He sits on the same swing as usual, and thinks of what his sensei told him a bit earlier.
Sasuke crossed paths with Kawaki, the 2nd Captain of Kakumei who's also the boy that Boruto elected as his nemesis. He's the guy who made him feel inferior during the last chunin exam. He is, with Takeshi Minamoto, the reason Boruto aspires to become stronger.
While in his thoughts, the blonde girl who usually comes to sit on the second swing arrives. During the last 10 months, she and Boruto regularly met in this setting, and he got to learn more about her, even if he never asked. She's called Kanojo Doroku. She is the daughter of Inaka Doroku, the janitor of the academy.
She's only a year older than Boruto, and comes to join her dad here at work everyday because she wants to make sure he won't pass by bars or cabarets that could hold his attention and make him get home late. Since she also mentioned being an apprentice journalist, Boruto assumed that her reason to dialogue with him every time is because she hopes to get scoops out of him.
This time, Boruto doesn't speak, unlike all the last times where he was acting like in a therapy session. Kanojo, intrigued by this unusual silence, leans over to see the yellow haired boy's thoughtful face.
"Not very talkative today?" she asks. "Didn't you train with your sensei? Don't you feel any stronger? Any closer to that guy you often mention?"
Boruto doesn't reply and just thinks of her questions. He stays silently upset about his sensei's meeting with his rival. Seeing that he doesn't speak, Kanojo tries to insist further.
"I remember you saying this dude is from the lands of Heart." she says. "Rumors are spreading about this place. Little information is leaking from the more talkative ninjas of the nations. The Kage council recently added 7 names in the bingo book, labeled as international enemies and not just mercenaries or pariahs. Rumors say that the responsible for the attack on the Chunin exam last year is the leader of this group and of the lands. Some also say that he's an Uchiha… And another of these 7 priced heads matches the description you made of your rival."
"Stop being so attentive and analyzing!" Boruto exclaims. "It's getting creepy! Sounds like you're stalking me?"
"Stalking you? You've been chatting about this with me for nearly a year!" Kanojo replies. "I'm not stalking you. You're forcing your daily life onto my memory, that's all."
"HmHm!" Boruto grins, amused by this valid argument, before getting more friendly. "You're right! This boy is from the leading group of Hikarigakure. They recently came back in action and attacked the nations again. This dude…"
"His name is Kawaki, isn't it?" Kanojo interrupts. "That's what's written in the bingo book!" she adds while shaking her hand, holding a copy of the said ninja notebook.
"Where did you get this?" Boruto asks, surprised that a regular villager is in possession of a ninja's tool.
"My dad got it from a ninja teacher here, and he gave it to me." she answers happily. "So that boy, Kawaki, showed up again?"
"… Yeah. My sensei met him yesterday." Boruto responds, looking upset. "In just a very short battle, he figured out everything Kawaki could do, and of course, he told me everything."
"That's great news, isn't it?" she suggests. "Now you know how to beat him!"
"No! I wanted to find out by myself!" he complains in response. "Sensei just spoiled it for me!"
"… Doesn't it just make you even? This guy surely knows everything you can do. Everybody does. You're the Hokage's son."
"Not anymore. Nobody knows about everything I've learned with Sasuke-sensei. Nobody knows how much stronger I am now. But now I know everything Kawaki could do 3 days ago. So we're not even."
"… If you say so." Kanojo replies, not motivated to discuss this any longer. She doesn't really care about the topics she talks about with Boruto, she just feels special by chatting with him. Even talking about the weather would satisfy her.
They end the chat here and Boruto stands up to join Inoue and Sakura Uchiha that he notices closer to the academy entrance. He salutes Kanojo with just a little hand sign and hurries to their side, to ask what they're doing here
"Um… Ok, Good bye, then!" she answers, before getting instantly bored and pulling out a book from her handbag.
Naruto's son reaches Sakura just when Inoue notices him and nods on Sakura's shoulder, telling her to turn around.
"Oh, Boruto!" the medic-nin remarks. "How was training? Did you manage to make clean straight slits now?"
"Not yet, but it's almost it." Boruto answers. "I didn't realize how difficult that was before. Lightning really is messy and fast…"
"Are you here to pick up Himawari?" Inoue asks.
"Yeah, as usual. What about you?" he answers.
"Today was my younger brother's first day of school!" she happily announces. "I'm here to pick him up, as well as Shikadai and Chocho. And Miss Sakura is here to get Sarada."
"Oh, right!" Boruto comments, looking at Sakura. "How's Izuna? It's been awhile since I last saw him."
"Well he's… still the same." Sakura answers.
"As yesterday, or as a year ago?" Boruto adds.
"He's okay…" Inoue answers. "It's just that he doesn't like it when someone mentions the lands of Heart."
"Why is he even mad about that?" Boruto asks. "You don't know. Sensei doesn't know. It's not like you're to blame for anything."
"It's personal…" Sakura explains. "What angers him is to not have answers."
Boruto shrugs, not really understanding this. Inoue sighs and thinks of Izuna. While she's lost in her thoughts, the 3 kids from Ino-Shika-Cho's new generations arrive running out from the academy and plunge onto her. Behind them, Sarada walks out calmly. Inoue, who fell over because of the kids, raises her head and embarrassingly laughs with them. Inside, she's still wondering about Izuna's case. He won't get calm until he gets answers. She'd like to help, but if even Sasuke can't help it, who can?
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Somewhere else in the village, in Tsunade's retirement home's backyard, Izuna is training under her supervision for the first time in a while. After 10 months he actually calmed down compared to when he first met his mysterious brother. Still, he gets taken over by frustration whenever he is reminded of this first encounter.
Tsunade is sitting on a wheelchair, observing the young Uchiha's movements and mood changes. He is repeatedly hitting the same rock, while holding his strength back. Izuna brings his fist back and stares at the impact in the stone. It doesn't even look much like it, but to him, it reminds of the mark left in the wall by the punch that Oshio easily avoided before beating him to the ground.
Tsunade notices Izuna's sudden upset face and sees him strike the rock once more, completely shattering it. She sighs and gets closer to him. Izuna stares at his fist, and then looks down to the 5th Hokage. Uncontrollably, he activated his Sharingan and just now turns it off as he calms down.
"I don't get it." she says. "Sakura told you what she knows."
"Which is nothing." Izuna quickly answers.
"… Your father explained what he thinks of it." she adds, waiting a little moment after being interrupted. "So you know they don't have the answers to your questions. Their theories is all they can give. Why are you mad at them for this?"
"Did you hear their explanation?" Izuna complains. "Momoshiki Otsutsuki somehow created a son for my dad? This makes no sense… Even if that was the case, there has to be an action from my dad in there. Someone can't just create an Uchiha with a Rinnegan out of thin air."
"But Izuna… So far, this boy is nothing but a relic from the past or something else solely related to Sasuke. It has nothing to do with you. Why isn't Sarada pissed off about this too? And don't tell me she's too young. She's way wiser than anyone her age."
"It's not the same!" Izuna exclaims, interrupting her. "She can't feel this like I do."
A silence ensues. Tsunade stares at the boy who tries to hide his pain away and looks anywhere but at her. She thinks of what he said, his tone, his face, and makes a deduction.
"You actually pretty well understand the answers of your parents." she guesses. "Momoshiki Otsutsuki is an image that still occasionally haunts your lonely nights. You never forgot this picture of him vanishing with the unconscious body of the Hokage that caused your eyes to wake up… And to know that he now may be responsible for this story makes perfect sense to you. The reason you're upset is more personal."
Izuna doesn't answer and just looks away, denying it. Tsunade squints, and breathes out.
"I thought you hated secrets." she says, noticing that what he's doing is like trying to keep one. "Come on, I'll die anytime soon anyway. You can tell me and it'll be buried with me in the grave."
"Stop saying things like that!" Izuna yells, triggered by her negative speech.
"Izuna!" she quickly responds as she surprisingly rises from her chair to stand next to him. "Tell me."
The young Uchiha waits a few seconds, hesitating, before finally letting go.
"The thing is… He could have been me." he starts. "He is definitely my father's son. Even he is sure of it. And he is definitely my elder brother. I know it. But if what I say is true, then he was meant to be born before me. Had he been born as my father's son, in this village, he would have had my life. But I wouldn't have become him. No. I… just wouldn't exist. He's meant to be me. And I'm not meant to be at all."
Tsunade lies her hands on his shoulders, stares at him… and smiles.
"Maybe you should take off your eyes. It would accelerate your training." she jokes. "These Sharingans are a damn chakra sponge. Without them, it'd be easier to focus."
Getting her legs tired, she sits back on her chair. She doesn't even mention Izuna's fresh declaration. She only wanted him to exterior it, and he did.
"Look at me… An old bitch getting tired just from standing still." she argues about herself. "It's a miracle I could live up to 74 with the life I had… If you don't wanna end up like me, you should focus, keep calm and gather that damn chakra. You're only… What? 16?"
"… 15." he simply answers.
"You're still a kid. You have your whole life ahead. Sakura's only in her thirties, and she conserved herself pretty well until now. I was already rotten at that age… Izuna, You have to do better, and achieve the Byakugo. It's not that hard. Even I could do it… You and your mom don't have to end up like me."
"What do you mean?" Izuna questions, a bit confused about her point. "The reason your body is way older than you actually are is because of the Sozo Saizei, the mitotic regeneration, that Mom and I will use as well with this seal. It's not like we have a choice."
Tsunade smirks and realizes that neither she nor Sakura ever told Izuna about the alternative. She takes a deep breath in and explains to the troubled boy her last secret. The method to achieve Byakugo no In's ultimate summoning jutsu. A jutsu that only Katsuyu's complete body can perform to this day, but that Izuna and Sakura may be able to achieve together, thanks to the chakra Tsunade gifted to her student.
Izuna stands agape, astonished by the last lesson of his master, and clenches his fists. He hits his own chest to punish himself. He solemnly promises to her that he will awaken the seal and perform this jutsu together with his mom soon enough for her to witness it.
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In Hikarigakure at the same time, Kawaki is walking down the streets of the village, dragging a shaking 10 year-old girl by the leg while a bunch of other curious kids follow. The little girl screams around and tries to hold on to the ground.
"NaNaNaNAAAAH! I don't wannaaaaaa!" she yells, hitting a high note that bugs Kawaki's ears.
"Come on, Minako!" he growls after letting her leg go and turning around. "All the others accepted to get the injection. And they're all fine. Finer than you. Even Imi got it. That kid's fucking mute, but now he'll get better than you at channeling chakra… They're all out on a mission, and you're here crying. You'll end up being the weakest, most fragile of the band."
"I don't care! I don't need Madam Minoka's creepy blue drugs!" the little girl answers while jumping up to get on her feet. "My mind and charisma alone are enough to beat up all of them."
Kawaki sighs, looks down and suddenly bursts out laughing, unable to contain it in front of this silly behavior. Minako looks at him confusingly for a moment, and then goes along. The two of them laugh to tears, under the confused eyes of other kids.
Behind Kawaki, Oshio arrives and lightly smiles, seeing this heartwarming scene. The kids around notice him and suddenly stand proud and straight as to act respectfully. Kawaki notices it and turns around to see his friend.
"Don't force it on her." the Uchiha says. "If she thinks she doesn't need it, then she doesn't."
This young girl is Minako Onikuma, supposedly the only remaining member of the clan who refused Gozen Tomoe's peace and continued its war against the Kurama clan until nearly annihilating all its members.
Since her clan became pariahs through the whole land, she keeps her last name secret. Only Kawaki and a few others from Kakumei know about it. She also dyed her hair deep black to hide the signature light blond of her clan. She is also the same young girl who spoke with Shino Aburame and Baki when they visited this village.
Kawaki stares at Oshio and lightly nods, agreeing with his point.
"Are you okay?" the Uchiha asks.
"Totally…" Kawaki answers. "You power is truly mind blowing."
Kawaki, who was on the verge of death 3 days ago, took only a few hours to get back on his feet as if nothing ever happened. He stitched his arm back to his body, recovered his chakra, and healed from the psychic damage of Tsukuyomi, all thanks to Oshio's white receiver transmitting its healing energy. Glad to be out of it, he's still confused about how he ended up so beaten up.
"So your father got in my way, and the Hokage in Mikitaka's…" he says.
"This was to be expected." says Meinu who jumps down from a roof and lands next to them. "Oh, hi kiddies!" she sings before crouching down to get closer to the tens of children who were following Kawaki.
Not as appealing to them as their senpai, the kids get scared off and run away. Meinu sits still, a bit ashamed, and contains her disappointment. She stands up and goes on with her words.
"I was saying… Yes. This was to be expected." she continues. "The sooner we get rid of these two, the easier it will get."
"Pff… Get rid of them, of course." Kawaki answers ironically. "You clearly aren't the one who got humbled down to kindergarten level 3 days ago."
Oshio listens to their conversation, and remembers his father's odd invitation. Sasuke was right back there. The path he's taking… He's not doing it of his own choice. He's only doing it because Meinu wanted it. Kawaki, Fuyuko and Akiko are all much more motivated by the fact of bringing balance between power and rules. And he is the one with the divine eye. The prophet born to bring change to the world.
Wasn't it for his friends, he wouldn't even be living now. Even with them, he tried to kill himself before, but an unknown force seems to prevent it. Since he can't end it this way, he may as well live for others. This is what he thought until now. But his father is now offering to bring a new meaning to his existence.
Could he really give up and go home with him? Becoming part of a family? Living together with the brother he mutilated and left for dead the first time he met him? And what would become of Kawaki, Fuyuko, Akiko, in this case? Would they also get a second chance? Could Fuyuko and Akiko join the Yamanaka clan of Konoha? Could Kawaki reunite with the children from his past?
Seeing the ambient silence, Minako, still standing next to Kawaki, gets on tip-toes to whisper in his ear.
"Kawa-Bro, you just need me to touch this Naruto guy to make him an ally, loyal to Oshio-sama." she suggests, referring to her clan's hidden and forbidden Kekkei Genkai ability.
"Don't make me laugh." Kawaki says with a friendly voice. "You don't even have a tenth of the chakra it would take to possess this man's will. We don't have anything on these guys for now."
"We've got allies. We're building up. It's coming together." Meinu explains. "My friends from Ketsu will join us."
"And when is that?" Kawaki answers. "Also, how are they supposed to help in this case?"
"Connections, Kawaki. Connections." Meinu answers. "We're talking about assassinating them, not defeating them. These are two completely different things… But you're right though. We could actually use a surprise ally of Lord Momoshiki's caliber."
"Stop calling him like that!" Oshio says, suddenly breaking out of his train of thought. "He's no lord or god. Neither was this Naobi that the Tomoe clan worships. If anything, he's a devil."
"The devil is our enemy." Meinu answers as she walks closer to him. "And you are the messiah who'll chase his burden."
Oshio doesn't answer and quietly stares at her. He remembers his earlier train of thought. If he was to accept his father's proposal, Kawaki wouldn't be able to get away with what was already done. The crimes he's committed in his name are too numerous. He doesn't care much about Mikitaka, but Meinu… She would never accept this. Plus as the mercenary she is, she'd only return to the life on the run she lived before. Accepting would only save him. And this he can't comply with. However, he now doubts his will to fight against his dad.
"We'll go on with the missions." he says to Kawaki, to answer his earlier remark. "Naruto Uzumaki only intervened because a Biju was involved. He warned us about it, and we fooled around. About Sasuke Uchiha, it was only to get in contact with me this once. I doubt he'll come again… Akiko and Fuyuko are currently with your squad in the land of Earth, away from Iwa and the Biju, so they'll be fine."
"They'll have it easy." Meinu says as she gently lays her hands on Oshio's shoulders. "Not only will they not meet the two power assholes or any Biju, but they won't get the Tsuchikage in their way either. This dumb bitch is 8 months pregnant and clearly not about to show up on a battlefield."
"… She's particularly strong, indeed." Oshio answers. "She's certainly the strongest in her land, but this doesn't mean the twins won't meet any resistance."
Oshio suddenly stops speaking and makes an impressed face. He looks up to Meinu who waits for him to explain this look.
"Two girls from Ketsugakure arrived at the village's gate." he says. "One claims to be the daughter of Toshima Tomoe. They want to see you."
"Hah! Told you we've got allies." she says, staring at Kawaki.
Oshio looks at her leaving for the village's front gate and thinks of Fuyuko and Akiko again. He tries to sense them through their mitsudomoe tattoos.
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At the same time in the land of Earth, Akiko and Fuyuko are at the doors of a sacred temple where the Shugonin of Iwa, the guardian ninjas of the Daimyo of Earth, get their advanced training and education. Months ago, Akiko came to this same land and killed the Daimyo's son. She now returns to destroy the main forces protecting the capital, in anticipation of a later invasion of the city to bring an end to the Daimyo himself.
With the twins are 21 members of Kawaki's elite, all having been injected with Minoka's boosting solution. They are battling against the ninjas of the temple and, despite the struggle, manage to hold their ground, helped by Fuyuko who assists his allies from the back.
Ninpo – Kage Nendo
Using his sensing capabilities at his advantage together with Kagemane, he streams his shadow to those of many debris and boulders left around by the combat, and mimics a pseudo-telekinesis to carry them and project them to his enemies, by manipulating their movements through their shadows.
In front of the gate, Akiko is face to face with the general of this temple. A middle-aged man named Kentai. Originally from the land of Sound, he got accepted here and was promoted until becoming leader of this sacred temple, thanks to his unique Kekkei Genkai ability much respected in this land. Akiko uses his sensory skills to analyze the inside of the temple, and senses a familiar presence.
"Looks like the son of the dumbass I killed last year is here." she notices. "Good thing. If I'm correct, he's the last legitimate successor of the Daimyo. I'll kill him by the way, even if he's something like 8 years old or so."
"The young lord Ryotsuchi is an aspiring ninja being formed here like any other future Shugonin." the general answers. "He is also a partner and good friend of my own son."
"A feudal family guy who learns the ninja way?" Akiko says. "Pretty unconventional, but acceptable." she adds before immediately leaping forward and engaging combat.
She finds this one oddly stronger than the others she already took down. He's efficiently blocking her path to the temple and enduring all her strikes and projectiles with a rock-hardened skin. The Yamanaka assumes this ability to be some defensive version of Doton – Domu, a jutsu that coats your skin in Doton chakra to turn it to stone.
Quickly annoyed by this guy's durability, she attempts a different tactic and leaps away. Kentai, well aware of who this enemy is, thanks to the intel gathered by Konoha, summons a metal staff that was gifted to this temple by the recently revealed boyfriend of the Tsuchikage: Daisuke of the land of Iron. This staff is made out of the same alloy as Sasuke's blade.
Kage Nendo
Akiko uses the same jutsu as his brother to throw several rocks at his opponent who simply smashes all the boulders away with his metal bar. While she keeps projecting these stones, she walks closer and coats her hand in her tengu's black mist. After a while, as Kentai is still distracted, she leaps forward and attempts to touch him with the deadly fog. The Shugonin sees her right before getting touched and has the time to activate a jutsu, firmly holding his weapon.
Bansho Doka
Akiko touches his naked face, but to no effect. Even though her black mist came in contact with him, her enemy is still standing and not close to being dead. Akiko is struck by the super staff and rolls on the ground, before standing up a few meters away. She raises her head and notices that the face she just touched is hardened. Unlike earlier, his skin doesn't look like stone, but rather like the material his staff is made from.
"Oshio, this isn't Armament Haki. What the hell is this?" Akiko asks for her leader to use Futsunushi.
"This man is using a jutsu called Bansho Doka." Oshio starts to explain. "Earlier, he only spreaded his affinity chakra through his body, resulting in rock hardened skin. But his true ability is to absorb the characteristics of a material he touches and make his skin inherit them. Since Akashita's mist actually needs to penetrate under the target's skin to kill, having a dense and tough enough protection is enough to counter it. This is what he did. The material his staff is made of is among the few that your black mist can't penetrate."
"Bruh… So I was fighting Absorbing-man all along?" Akiko complains. "This sucks ass."
Kentai gets in a fight pose again, ready to go on.
"Your killing touch won't work on me, young lady." Kentai says before looking back to the temple. "I don't know your reasons to fight, and how valuable they are. But I won't let you crush mine. This temple is my family, both literally and figuratively."
"… You called me a lady. I'm flattered." Akiko says, before going silent and speaking in her brother's mind. "Fuyuko, this guy's playing tough. I need your super secret power."
"… Got it." Fuyuko simply answers.
Akiko steps forward and performs a quick series of hand signs.
Futon – Shinku Renpa
She exhales a series of wind blades that head to the target who's now fully hardened in metal, to be either stopped by his staff or just deal no damage. A bit frustrated that her sharp wind slashes are simply too weak for him, Akiko plunges forward and performs another jutsu.
Futon – Kuroi Daitoppa
She now breathes out a huge wind push, mixed with her black mist, that breaks the ground on its way and goes toward Kentai.
"My fog won't have any effect. Why are you trying?" Akashita asks in Akiko's mind.
"Shut up, Kurogiri!" the Yamabushi says. "It's just a diversion."
Kentai doesn't move and lets the push hit him. Made way too heavy by his metal skin, he isn't even slightly pushed and stands still. Taking advantage of the mist hiding him, he slams his hands against the ground.
Doton – Hebi Sekijun (Snake Stalagmite)
Several snakes of condensed dirt and stone emerge from the ground and swiftly bite Akiko from different directions. She makes a shocked face and coughs out blood. In her mind, Akashita freaks out, but she doesn't. Her opponent is distracted enough.
Jinton – Genkai Hakuri
Kentai doesn't see it coming, but from far behind, a white shape of chakra reaches him and disassembles all the molecules it contains, completely destroying his right leg regardless of its hardened state.
Behind Akiko, Fuyuko lowers his right hand after firing this jutsu. Carrying the unhatched seed of a tengu given by Sojobo, Fuyuko learned to use its powers despite its absent conscience. Taken by surprise, the shugonin Kentai loses his limb and falls on his knees.
"Oshio, I need healing here." Akiko asks after breaking the stone snakes that pierced her, and suddenly regenerating.
Kentai, shaken and confused, doesn't lose it. Out of determination he rises and stands straight with the help of his staff. Akiko looks at him surprised, impressed by his strong will.
"It is not over yet." Kentai says. "I am still standing in your way."
"You are… But what for?" Akiko answers, as a dense chakra orb flies by her and her opponent.
Tengudama
Following his dismantling jutsu, Fuyuko used another ability and condensed the tengu chakra into a projectile. Kentai stands still as it flies by him, too fast and far to be stopped, and strikes the temple behind him. By the sound of the blast, he guesses its consequences and stands bruised, immobile. The chakra bomb exploded and went through the whole building, causing it to collapse on itself.
Akiko looks, impressed, at the damage done, and closes her eyes to sense the victims of this chaos.
"Hmm… A few survivors." she comments, being heard by Kentai, who tries to think straight.
The Shugonin focuses and manages to sense the chakra of the person he cares the most for, still safe. He reminds himself of his past, of his path, of the faces he's seen, the place he comes from, whom he left behind…
"I am the general, and you'll have to make me fall with my domain." he says, letting his staff fall to the ground.
Akiko doesn't answer for once and just steps forward, closer to him. Kentai takes a deep breath in, and reassures himself, telling to his mind that his son will live to carry on his mission to protect the king.
Fuyuko turns around, with his back to the temple and battlefield. He senses troops of Iwa arriving in the distance, too late. Done with their battle, Kawaki's strengthened elite squad goes to follow the Yamanaka after having decimated all the ninjas in their way. In front of them, as they leave Akiko to finish off the enemy general, space rifts open, ready to lead them back to Hikari, victorious this time.
After all the ninjas left through the gates, Fuyuko stands before it, waiting for his sister to cross first. She comes and walks through, leaving him alone. He stares at the ninjas who arrive and stands still, with the destroyed temple and piled up corpses in his back.
The squads of Iwa, led by Akatsuchi, stop in front of Fuyuko and stare frightened at the landscape. Fuyuko breathes in and prepares to address the ninjas.
"This is the making of Kakumei! We're the spark that will shine and illuminate the world, chasing the darkness of the feudal families." he shouts to the army. "They are the people who enslaved clans into mercenaries, converted villages into private armies and still rule over the strong. Those who were taught and formed in this castle were blinded by a fake cult, made up by weak liars for their own safety. Now that the temple has fallen, remember this image, memorize and transmit it in correct words to the Daimyo of Earth. This is what will keep his mind busy until we come for him, just like we'll do for all the other Daimyo, just like we already did in the land of Wind. The man, prophet sovereign of the lands of Heart, leader of Kakumei, who will bring these manipulators to their end is Oshio Uchiha. Remember his name. Remember his revolution."
As he finishes his monologue in front of the lost and confused army, the space rift grows larger and engulfs him, carrying him away from the battlefield, back to his home.
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End of Chapter 85 – Next Chapter: Giving up