Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
Kakumei – Arc 4: Might Makes Right
.
Chapter 100 – The Fate of Hikari
.
On the 3rd training ground of Konoha, the former students of Naruto Uzumaki are exercising separately, not to much purpose, only to let out and spend time together. Himawari had to leave to attend her academy classes, and so did Sarada who just recently entered her first year.
Boruto is endlessly striking trees down one after another while experimenting new ways to shorten his 128 palms series. By using his Chidori to fasten his movements just like Sasuke taught him, he can double his speed enough to add 128 more hits to the move, but the trees he uses as targets all collapse before he even reaches the 64th.
Sick of this environment, too fragile to keep up with his methods, he steps away after having already eradicated dozens of trees. Next to him is Izuna. Not motivated enough for training, the Uchiha quietly sits on the ground, facing Inoue who's throwing kunais and shurikens further on the field. He concentrates to hear the projectiles flying through the air and hitting targets.
Boruto interrupts his exercise and stares at Izuna. He looks at where he's facing and waits a moment before mocking him.
"Man, even blind, you're still eating her with your eyes!" he says, which instantly gets Izuna's attention. "Cool for you though… I don't know any girl that catches my attention this much. Yet, it's true that Inoue's definitely getting hotter with time. I don't see why she even has a complex on this."
"Can you shut up?" the Uchiha suddenly exclaims.
"What? Why's that?" Boruto answers cluelessly. "Does it bother you to talk about it?"
"Do you even hear yourself?" Izuna angrily replies. "Peace is at risk. The Union is about to collapse. Everything is fucked up, and you're here chatting about girls."
"Man, you're being over dramatic." Boruto simply answers, calm at first, unaware that Izuna's perception of the situation is obviously different. Unlike him, he wasn't told about his dad's current state.
"Over dramatic, you say?" Izuna yells, standing up to face Boruto where he hears his voice and chakra coming from. "Look at me, look around you. And dare to say this again."
"You're making this about you!" the Hokage's son says for his defense. "Yeah, you lost your dad, your sensei, your eyes… But guess what, me too!"
"I didn't lose my eyes." Izuna clarifies. "They were taken from me by my own brother, who kept me jailed and tortured in a cave for two weeks! What were you doing meanwhile?"
"Bro I was right there fighting my ass off to save you!"
"Wrong! You were there, but not to save me. Takeshi came for me. You were there only to fight with that Kawaki guy."
"Oh come on! If you're gonna be angry at me, at least don't go saying Takeshi is any better." Boruto replies, upset by this comparison. "He was running and flexing around the whole time until Inoue found you."
"Well at least, he was there first for me." Izuna yells back. "You weren't. Stop pretending to be understanding of what happened to me. All you care about is how much it is about yourself. Your own face is all that's on your mind. Stop pretending you care about people or girls or anything. You don't even feel love. You can't experience love. All you're meant for is to fight and kill people you dumbly select as rivals, until you finally die. It's all that matters to you. You're not your father, and you're not mine either. You'll never be as strong as them, and even less will you have their balance. Unlike Hokage-sensei, you're not in touch with humanity. So stop acting like you are."
Inoue, alerted by this loud conversation, stops her exercise and shockingly looks across the training field, unsettled by the violence of Izuna's words. Feeling the tension, and now worried about how Boruto may feel about these complaints, she runs to them. The recently promoted jonin remains quiet. Before thinking of any answer, he comes to accept his teammate's anger. Now he realizes that, judging from his evaluation of the situation, Izuna probably doesn't know the truth.
Unsure of whether he's allowed to tell him or not, he stays quiet. He just leaves Izuna alone and walks away. In reality, he feels seriously conflicted from the words he heard, but knows that insisting won't fix anything. So he just goes away and lets Inoue handle Izuna's feelings. The Yamanaka girl looks at her Jonin teammate leaving, and frowns.
"You're doing that again!" she yells at Izuna. "Same as for Misora!"
"Boruto's not as fragile as her." Izuna replies, to justify his violence. "In just a few minutes, he'll have forgotten about this, and he'll go on with his training and rivalries as if nothing happened."
"This wasn't necessary!" Inoue insists, not so sure about this but not totally in disagreement. "And it wasn't even all true. Of course, Boruto cared about you. It's just that, like Takeshi, he also had to act as the captain of his division. These guys both have the same problems. They're blinded by power and prestige, but they're pure hearted."
"It doesn't matter how they're alike!" Izuna exclaims, before suddenly calming down and getting to ease.
He sighs, lowers his shoulders, and stays quiet for a moment. Inoue, wanting to make him feel accompanied, puts her hand on his back and gently pats it, then rubs it. All this frustration he's letting out is something he needs to exterior.
"What matters is why they were there." Izuna says, appeased. "Boruto's first intent was to test himself. Takeshi would have come with or without Kiri. His first motivation was to find me. And I would certainly have done the same for him. Boruto and I are just teammates to each other now. But Takeshi… is my best friend."
Inoue doesn't answer. She just thinks of this last sentence and feels a bit insulted. Since what happened with Akiko Yamanaka, she came to despise Takeshi a bit, and therefore feels jealous of hearing Izuna say such a thing about him. But then, she remembers a conversation she had with her sensei, Naruto, about this.
"If he doesn't say you're his best friend, it means he sees you as more than this. And what's a girl you want as more than a best friend?" Naruto said to her, during the final step of the international chunin exam. These words come back to her mind with a new meaning. If Takeshi is Izuna's best friend, then it's not her. And if she's not, then she is…
Coming to this understanding, Inoue can't stop herself from smiling, from pure satisfaction and enjoyment. She gladly and lovely stares at Izuna, who certainly doesn't risk to notice it. He just thinks that she's leaving him time to breathe and calm down. Carried away by emotions, Inoue hesitatingly and quietly gets nearer, ready to catch by the shoulders.
"Um… Say, Inoue…" the Uchiha says awkwardly, interrupting her, making her back off.
"Yes, Izuna?" she answers, calming down, but still with a happy face and tone.
"Can you… help me go home?" he asks, embarrassed.
"Uh? Ah!…" Inoue replies, taking a moment to understand the request. "You really can't do it alone? How did you get there earlier?"
"My sister guided me." Izuna says, rubbing his thumb against his forehead. "I'm sorry, I really can't go anywhere by myself."
"Oh no, it's fine! Don't be sorry." she exclaims. "I'll gladly help you." she adds as she brings her hand to his left.
There, as she tries to grab it, she notices his clenched fist holding on something, the white receiver he still keeps close to himself. Izuna waves his hand away when he feels her fingers touching him and gives her his other arm, to hide what he's keeping. She doesn't mind, and helps him as she said she will.
.
In the Hokage's mansion, Sakura Uchiha gets back to the office and finds Shikamaru Nara and Moegi Kazamatsuri already waiting for her, with Konohamaru standing in front of them, visibly angry. Judging from their position, she guesses that there is something they have to say, claim or ask. And that not everyone seems to be in agreement.
"What's happening?" she demands.
"Lady Sakura… there is something you need to know." Moegi shyly says.
"Yes? What?" the replacement Hokage asks, while getting back to her seat.
"Go ahead. Tell her." Konohamaru argues. "Let's see what she thinks of this."
"We will not tell Izuna about Naruto's survival." Shikamaru frankly declares.
"What?" Sakura doubtfully exclaims, not sure to understand. "We can't keep this secret from him. He's already hopeless to the bottom. At least this one good news could help him a bit."
"There is a good reason for this." Moegi starts. "Izuna was kept captive by the enemy for two weeks, and we know that Oshio Uchiha is capable of high level tracing and sensory skills. While he was hospitalized, we noticed that Izuna was holding firmly on a white receiver. Even passed out, we couldn't get him to let go of it. These are the tools that Kakumei uses to communicate. Shiho and Kabuto from the scientific department have been studying the sample we got from Seiki Tomoe, and what they could deduce is quite worrying."
"Remember how Katashiki Otsutsuki could use all his Rinnegan abilities through his beasts?" Shikamaru takes on the explanation. "Oshio's white receivers are similar. They're likely his Rinnegan's unique ability. Besides their obvious medical use, anyone who carries one of these lets him sense, hear and see them at any time. Since Izuna already wanted to get his hand on our first sample, we doubt he'd accept giving up on this one. Oshio could be taking advantage of this to spy on us."
"Sakura, please, tell them it's absurd." Konohamaru complains.
"That's not all." Shikamaru exclaims to get everyone's attention. "Sakura… We have confirmation that Oshio has taken Izuna's eyes and successfully awakened the Eien no Mangekyo Sharingan. This undeniably proves that Oshio and Izuna really share a brotherly bond, and that Oshio really is Sasuke's son. Plus it is the first time such an eye is awakened while both original wielders are still alive. Knowing the strange connection there is between an Uchiha and his eyes, we don't know what Izuna's survival implies for Oshio's abilities."
"Shikamaru, you're talking about my sons here." Sakura replies.
"Your sons?" the advisor interrupts. "Since when is Oshio your son? As far as I'm concerned, Jin Heihachiro's testimony says that Oshio is Sasuke's son, but not yours. And the fact that Oshio really could obtain his new eyes confirms it."
"Don't be absurd." Konohamaru exclaims. "The fact that Oshio awakened these eyes only confirms that he's Izuna's brother."
"If he's Sasuke's son, then he is mine too." Sakura adds. "Shikamaru, Sasuke is way past being the one you know from 20 years ago. There is no secret between us anymore. The only way for Oshio to be his son, is to be mine as well."
"Sasuke is dead, Sakura." Shikamaru coldly answers. "Izuna confirmed it to Shizune. Oshio himself told him."
"I don't believe this." Sakura exclaims. "Just as much as I don't believe anything we've learned from Jin Heihachiro."
"… No matter what you say or think. We're not letting Izuna find out about Naruto." Shikamaru concludes.
"You wouldn't have said the same to him." Konohamaru calls him out.
"Obviously not." he admits. "My only goal is to bring him back. We won't be moving forward unless we get this done. Even the Raikage knew this, considering that, to his belief, Naruto is really gone. To make sure this remains a secret until it can be fixed is the minimum we can do to ensure any chance of success."
Sakura and Konohamaru look at each other, at a loss of words. They can't argue with this cause and have to admit that Shikamaru's initiative is the wisest thing to do. Keeping the case of Naruto secret from Izuna will be a painful but right thing to do. Yet, Sakura still waits for her opportunity to prove Shikamaru's mistrustful conclusions wrong.
.
.
In Hikarigakure, Meinu has just returned from her mission in the land of Earth. The last defense line she met before leaving was no challenge to her. She got away unharmed, only making sure to spare Akatsuchi and his students.
Now back, she discovers the damage caused by the battle that took place in the village, and sees the people slowly rebuilding. While looking for Oshio, she found Mikitaka waiting outside of the hospital. The two mercenaries sat down and discussed the current situation.
"You lost your girls." Miki remarks, seeing that Kiseru and Pai didn't make it back.
"Yeah, I don't know if they've been captured or not. But I'll go get them later at some point." Meinu answers, before bringing in a more serious topic. "Mikitaka… Who do you put your faith in?"
"In fucking no one." he rapidly answers. "I'm the jinchuriki of the Kyubi. Why would I need faith?"
"… The only reason you can use its power is because of Oshio's Genjutsu." she frankly says. "And the only reason you're allowed to have that is because Oshio needs a temporary host for the Biju."
"Temporary?" Mikitaka repeats, a bit confused about what it obviously means for his own future.
"You're far from strong enough to claim to be your own god." Meinu argues, ignoring his question. "Everybody has something that they wished the world could reach. And to each end is a divine power in which you have to put your faith."
"... In that case, I'd worship whoever would be the god of destruction." Mikitaka answers. "And I guess your faith is in Oshio." squinting as he realized that his life might be in danger with him.
"I thought so… But it seems like he lacks the guts for my ideal." Killin' Kiss replies. "In reality, only Momoshiki-sama had the shoulders for this."
After this confession, Meinu smiles. She might be the only one who's life isn't at risk right now. She cuts this conversation short and leaves Mikitaka alone to wonder about his fate.
.
In the hospital are Kawaki and Oshio. The general lost his sleeveless mantle and scarf in the last battle. And the leader changed his outfit, worn out by the battle, for a more earthly traditional one. They stand before Minoka and Fuyuko, both lying on beds. The Uchiha carefully analyzes Minoka's wounds and body.
"She's alive." he says, before laying a hand on her and interrupting a jutsu she's using. "None of her wounds should have been mortal."
Kawaki makes a surprised face, suddenly feeling her life signs again. She's breathing normally, and her heart is beating. She's simply asleep.
"She used one of her master's jutsus." Oshio explains. "A jutsu that allows her to momentarily make her body dead to anyone's perception. She must have done this to lure Izuna away."
"This… is reassuring!" Kawaki exclaims. "What about Fuyuko?" he adds, looking at Julia, the blonde girl from his squad who sits next to the bed.
"He woke up earlier this week, but forced himself back to sleep." she says. "He took a hit in the torso and flew through the whole battlefield. I'm surprised he even survived."
"He'll be fine." Oshio says as he lets his chakra flow through the receiver, still sealed in Fuyuko's shoulder. "What is your name?" he asks the girl sitting next to him.
"Um… Julia." she answers.
"Julia… Look after him, please."
"Why me?"
"No particular reason. But I guess you being there next to him means that you don't hate him." Oshio replies, before getting more honest. "He's lost his sister. He'll need someone by his side to face reality now."
Julia makes a confused face, and complies. Remembering that he couldn't fulfill his promise to Karina, Akiko and Fuyuko's sister, Oshio doesn't consider himself worthy of the task he just gave to Julia. Besides, he doesn't plan to stay in Hikari. He looks at Kawaki and makes a sign, telling him to follow as he leaves.
While they go, Kawaki is distracted by a familiar face he sees sitting in the hallway. It is Minako Onikuma, the little prodigious girl from his personal squad. He gets away from Oshio to speak with her for a moment. She sees him coming near and stands up.
"Kawa-bro! This sucks!" she says. "Imi had an explosive note blow up just to his ear. Dude was mute already, but now he's also deaf."
"Are you hurt?" Kawaki asks, about her, being the youngest and most fragile of the squad.
"Me, no. I'm still the only one in the team who isn't disabled." she answers. "I mean… Imi's deaf and mute. Sorito is insensitive. Akira is still sick and dying… And Julia… Well, she's from the Tomoe clan. They're all mentally disabled anyway."
Kawaki raises an eyebrow, being reminded of Minako's passive contempt for the Tomoe clan. It's true that Gozen Tomoe is the one who pushed the whole land to reject the Onikuma clan and eventually led to its extinction. This national hate is what forced Minako and her mother to live the life they lived. It is what brought her mother to overuse her Kekkei Genkai ability and nearly lose her own will as a result.
Kawaki knows that Minako's hate isn't honest. She's not hateful, only mistrustful. It's just that saving her mother and getting to see her again is what motivated her to fight for Kakumei all along.
"Minako…" Kawaki says. "Oshio and I will gather unharmed ninjas to make an army that will accompany us in a final crusade. You should rest here. Stay with Imi and wait for him to heal. When we return, I'll talk with Oshio, and he'll bring you back to your mother."
Minako looks up to Kawaki with sparkling eyes and happily nods. Accepting this suggestion, she promptly hugs him to say goodbye, which is the first and only time she ever acts so lovely. Kawaki, a bit surprised, accepts this farewell, and pats her head.
.
Outside, Meinu notices Oshio exiting the hospital by the front door. Oshio, seeing her in person for the first time in 3 weeks, lets her happily walk to him and give him a little hug.
"I heard about Akiko. I'm sorry." she says first before quickly and senselessly changing the topic. "… So what are we up to next?"
"... Once I'm done with doing all I can left for this village, I'll leave its people alone." Oshio explains. "Kawaki, Miki and I will go with those who are still willing to fight. We'll go to the continent, and will return only when we're done with all our targets. This includes the remaining Daimyo, the Biju, and then, finally, the Kage."
"It's about time we get to this, isn't it?" Meinu exclaims. "So what's my role in this?"
"You did more than enough." Oshio replies. "You can retire. Don't worry. Kakumei will go on and fulfill your dream."
Meinu slowly breathes in, and accepts this request. She takes Oshio's left hand and lies it on her thigh, where her pants have a hole revealing her mitsudomoe tattoo.
"Okay. You'll still keep an eye on me anyway." She says. "Thank you for everything, boy. Keep going. We're not done yet. I'll wait here for you."
Oshio quietly steps back and raises his left palm from which emerges his all black sword, Futsu no Mitama. He grabs it by the blade and hands its handle to Meinu.
"Here. Take this as a gift." he tells her. "I won't thank you for anything. I don't think you brought anything positive to me. The only thing I'm sure about, is that I certainly pleased you. This is the sword that killed the man you hated the most. I'm certain you'll value it more than I could."
Meinu, unaffected by Oshio's words, gladly takes his gift with a smile on her face. The two of them have a short and peaceful stare down before they hear the noise of gallops getting louder and louder. The young sovereign looks at his partner who bows to salute him one last time and leaves. Oshio, joined by Kawaki and Mikitaka, goes to find the source of this noise.
In the center of the village they find a troop of horses. Horses that are only the mounts of the kunoichi of Ketsugakure. Having come through the door all the way from their native village, a squad of 25 women of the Tomoe clan, commanded by Anastasia Tomoe, the second eldest daughter of Toshima, are here to meet the ruler. Judging from their equipment, Oshio guesses that they came to help with rebuilding the village.
"The help of the Tomoe clan was certainly not expected." he says to Anastasia who stops her horse in front of him.
"I'll be frank with you." Anastasia says while getting off her horse. "I am not here under my mother's command."
Oshio turns around and looks at Kawaki, to see if he's as surprised as him.
"The Tomoe clan is no ally to Kakumei…" the princess goes on. "… But we always were protective of the people of Hikari. Today, these people need our help, so we come to provide. This city was the capital of Gozen Tomoe's territory, and it still is the capital of the lands of Heart. I'm grateful that you helped it to rise again after Momoshiki Otsutsuki's terror. But, to speak in my mother's name, we certainly don't intend to let this land be your legacy. It is us who founded it, and us who'll maintain it."
Oshio raises his eyebrows, gently surprised by this woman's resolve. Without answering, he activates his Eien no Mangekyo Sharingan and uses Futsunushi to see her abilities and skills. She probably isn't as skilled as her mother, but she has nearly all the same abilities as her.
"Princess Anastasia, this may sound sudden, but you're right." he says. "This land won't be my legacy. Your clan founded it, and your clan shall maintain it. So, would you please accept to be named the new ruler of its capital?"
"Me?" she exclaims, astonished by this proposition, that she thinks can only be a misunderstanding.
"Yes. And don't misinterpret me. It is to you that I entrust this city. Not to your mother. As you said, you came here on your own command, and so shall you respond to this transfer of power."
Anastasia looks around at the people gathered to see the meeting in place. She checks on her colleagues and sisters behind her, to see if anyone could give her a clue of what she should do. When she looks at Oshio again, she sees him with his right hand raised toward her, ready for a handshake.
"Don't tell me to wait for your mother's approval." the Uchiha adds. "It is your choice to make. Do you want the legacy of your ancestor back or not?"
Convinced by these last words, Anastasia looks at Oshio right in the eyes, makes a determined face, and shakes his hand, accepting to assume this responsibility. So, aged 19, she becomes the 4th true ruler of the lands of Heart, and the first to be officially named by her predecessor.
Convinced that he can leave the village in peace, Oshio walks away after this handshake. As he looks back to the village with his two last partners, he naturally takes something out of his pocket. It is the headband of his father that he collected after seeing him disappear.
He looks at his reflection in the damaged metal plate, and reminds himself of what goal he truly has to pursue. He attaches this token as a medal to his robe and goes to gather his army.
.
.
At the same time, far away from this land, far away from this world, on the great red plains of Ashihara, in the great black crystal palace of Izumo, domain of the Shinden, Tokubei Otsutsuki is standing and trembling in the council room, hidden under his mask and hood. Behind him is Naobi Otsutsuki, levitating above the room.
They are waiting for the imminent return of the Ryu Shinsen, the Dragon Sage, ruler of their kind. In the room are also the son and wife of Tokubei who came to take his defense, knowing that the Dragon Sage will have to judge him for his latest action on Earth.
His wife, Fureya Otsutsuki, is a young looking woman with long black hair, two brown flat and pointy horns on top of her head and a pair of Byakugan. She wears a tight black bodysuit with white ornaments, white boots, black long mittens and a white mantle, red on the inside, with red and golden bands on the end of its sleeves and at its bottom, falling from her shoulders. Under her right eye is a black fang mark, symbol of her marriage.
His son, Taiyoshiki Otsutsuki, is more beige-skinned, has longer horns, wears only one glove on his left hand, a black bodysuit, dark purple ninja boots, and a white toga covering only his left, strapped with a red belt. In his eyes, a Sharingan and a Rinnegan, both only fragments of the power of other people.
As they are gathered in this room, they see and feel space being distorted in a wormhole in front of them, from which he suddenly emerges. Yamitsuki Otsutsuki. He finally returned from his excursion in the Ryugu-jo, a place in another dimension where time passes differently.
Yamitsuki looks around to see Tokubei's family and Naobi floating above them. Being the first to speak, Naobi prepares to explain the reason for this scene.
"You might desire that I call Sakitsuki, for her to explain what Tokubei's actions caused on Earth." she says.
"It is not needed." the Dragon Sage answers. "I have gone to see this by myself already. I know all that there is to know." he adds this last sentence, while staring directly at Tokubei.
Next to his father, Taiyoshiki takes a step forward and inhales, ready to take his defense.
"Do not dare say a word, young man." Yamitsuki puts him to silence. "I could not care less about what you might have to say."
"Ryu Shinsen-sama,…" Fureya speaks instead of her son. "You have to understand that these were the consequences of Urashiki's careless behavior."
"Tell me, Amber Queen, what brings you to believe that your word is worth any more than that of your son?" the Dragon Sage answers.
Fureya steps back, and doesn't reply, unable to argue with this. Naobi, knowing that she's the only one that Yamitsuki won't shut up, speaks as she pleases.
"For once, Yamitsuki, show the care you should to this situation." she asks. "This human, Sasuke Uchiha, has committed 2 deicides already."
"The people of Earth consider him missing." Yamitsuki remarks. "Did you do this?"
"I did, yes." Naobi answers. "I imprisoned him until your wisdom decides his fate, or until the Tenshin find him."
"Kamimusubi may be boundless, but the eyes of this man have seen enough pain to endure anything." Yamitsuki praises the Uchiha. "I foresee he will free himself from your hold, and you will let him do so… Regarding your deeds,…" he adds, staring at Tokubei as he walks closer to him, past Fureya and Taiyoshiki.
He comes to stand face to face with his fellow Shinden, imposing his superior height over him, and waits a short moment before using the same jutsu that he used to enter this world.
Kandakoro
He creates another space disruption that absorbs him and Tokubei, releasing them in another dimension that only they know. Taiyoshiki and his mother look at each other worriedly, not knowing what awaits their father and husband.
.
In this other world, Yamitsuki steps back and suddenly gets at ease. He walks away and calmly talks to his friend.
"Your selfishness has caused quite a mess, Tokubei." he says.
"There's nothing but us here, Lord Yamitsuki." the masked man replies after a quick look at the surroundings. "You don't have to call me by that name."
Yamitsuki stops and turns around to face him again, and repeats.
"Your selfishness has caused quite a mess, Tokubei… However, I admit that the betrayal of Urashiki is much more problematic. I used to tell you that I expect something from Earth and its gods, but here comes that Urashiki manages to put the life of the yellow fox at real risk. Moreover, the one left to rule over the ninja world will only serve for the return of Momoshiki."
"I see that our actions betrayed your pact with Hamura, and forces you to do so as well to fix it." Tokubei assumes.
"Keep your kind away from my brother's world. You shall never set foot on it." Yamitsuki says in a formal way. "This is precisely what Hamura demanded,… to which I replied that I could in no way guarantee such abstinence from my fellows."
Tokubei squints, not sure of where this speech is heading. Yamitsuki goes on.
"So Hamura asked: 'Get it clear to them at least, that Hagoromo's world isn't yours to conquer. You don't and shall never rule over it.'… which I agreed to, you believe."
"I believe?" Tokubei demands. "Why do you use such a phrase?"
"You know that I am true to my words. If I proclaim it, I will never betray it." the Dragon sage explains. "This is why I never truly made any agreement. Reality is I told Hamura that there was no promise I owed to him. He, not regardless of his exploits, is unworthy of my word."
"Wait… So there never was an agreement with the clan of Earth?" Tokubei demands. "We've known each other for over a thousand years, and I learn of this lie only now?… I get that it means the one keeping our kind from taking Earth is you, and not Hamura, which is far worse, I conceive. But why the lie then?"
"Is it not obvious?" Yamitsuki says. "To flee from the need to justify myself. I do not wish to explain this choice to anyone, especially not to Naobi. Moreover, if I made clear that this was my word, some of ours would simply crave to disobey, regardless of the consequences. Their contempt of me is stronger than their submission, which I respect."
Tokubei sits down on the ground for a moment, taking his time to process this unexpected revelation.
"Why tell me this now?" he asks. "What does it mean, regarding what we did last on Earth?"
Yamitsuki walks closer to him and prepares to explain what the chaos and disorder on Earth will bring him to do.
"The one who will rule over humanity, if we leave them on their own, will be Momoshiki. You know very well that I can not let this happen. I admire that Naruto Uzumaki trusts his fellows enough to put his life in their hands, but I do not share this blind confidence. So, once again, I will have to take action myself to save his life, and to prevent one of us from taking his world."
"What will you do?" Tokubei asks, intrigued.
"Not much." the Ryu-Shinsen replies. "I will provide just enough for the new generation of ninjas to make sure they are never left on their own again."
.
End of Chapter 100 – Next Chapter: Divine Intervention