Once more, the beast's form reverted to that of the ancient tree, its insatiable hunger consuming the lives of all humans in the vicinity. Each life offered nourishment, fueling its relentless growth and evolution.
Undeterred by the horrors she had unleashed, the woman persevered, giving birth to her children and undertaking the daunting role of raising them. Yet, as the years passed, the unforeseen consequences of her actions began to emerge. The premature consumption of the chakra fruit cast a dark shadow over her life, a shadow that crept over her very eyes.
The woman's eyes bore witness to the fruit's corrupting influence, a transformation that cast her sight in a sinister light. This affliction manifested as the curse of the Sharingan, a legacy that passed down through her bloodline to her descendants. The once-great power became an inheritance of burden, shaping the destiny of those who bore it.
Emotionally detached from the world around her, she nurtured her children with a distant resolve, her heart encased in an impenetrable shell. This numbness drove her to continue her grim task—feeding the insatiable tree with human lives, a somber ritual that sustained its terrifying power.
Amidst this grim existence, her son Hagoromo stumbled upon the truth. A wise frog revealed the sinister nature of the ritual, opening his eyes to the horrors his mother perpetuated. Determined to confront the darkness, Hagoromo embarked on a journey to uncover the tree's secrets.
In his quest, he was met with a tragic revelation. His beloved, sacrificed in the name of the ritual, ignited a spark of profound awakening within him. A dormant power within his eyes bloomed to life, evolving his Sharingan into the legendary Rinnegan. Driven by newfound purpose, he journeyed to Mt. Myoboku, a sanctuary of training, to harness his newly acquired abilities.
As his training progressed, Hagoromo's resolve crystallized—he would confront his mother, Kaguya. United with his brothers, their shared bloodline bound them by destiny. But their path was fraught with danger, for Kaguya's wrath awaited them. In a forbidden realm, they would face her, challenging her for their own reasons, setting in motion a clash that would echo through history.
The confrontation ignited into a fierce battle, the air thick with power as the brothers stood united against their mother. Through an arduous struggle, their efforts culminated in the sealing of Kaguya. From this clash emerged the enigmatic Black Zetsu, an unforeseen entity born of turmoil.
With victory came divergence. The two brothers, forever changed by their trials, followed separate paths. Over years, they established their lineages, scattering their descendants across the world. Hamura, embracing the moon's distant solace, remained its vigilant guardian, watching over the seal that bound Kaguya.
The confrontation ignited into a fierce battle, the air thick with power as the brothers stood united against their mother. Through an arduous struggle, their efforts culminated in the sealing of Kaguya. From this clash emerged the enigmatic Black Zetsu, an unforeseen entity born of turmoil.
With victory came divergence. The two brothers, forever changed by their trials, followed separate paths. Over years, they established their lineages, scattering their descendants across the world. Hamura, embracing the moon's distant solace, remained its vigilant guardian, watching over the seal that bound Kaguya.
With the task complete, the enigmatic figure departed, leaving behind the mystery of his intentions. The web of seals hummed with hidden potential. As the seals resonated, the Genjutsu that had woven their minds together relinquished its hold. Reality reasserted itself, the group returning to their senses.
[ Tsukimi's Pov ]
"Take your time to assimilate the information; we'll discuss this later. I need some moments alone too." With these words, I found a spot on the ground and closed my eyes. As the night enveloped us, my consciousness returned to my human form, gazing up at the moon with a bittersweet ache in my heart.
Beside me, Kokuo, a silent but reassuring presence, had been by my side for over an hour. The silence between us held its own kind of understanding.
"Do you love her?" Kokuo's gentle voice broke the stillness. I turned to face her, gratitude evident in my eyes, and began to unravel my thoughts.
"Love? No, it's not that simple. How can I love someone I've never spoken to or truly known? But there's a debt I owe her, a debt that's intertwined with the essence of my very existence. She saved me before my life even began, a selfless act that set the course for all of us to be here today."
My gaze shifted to Kaguya's distant form, a figure we owed our lives to. A mixture of gratitude and affection welled within me, emotions that transcended simple words. Kokuo sensed this complex amalgamation of feelings and, in a gesture of connection, our tails intertwined—a silent affirmation of the bonds we shared.
With a tender smile, I tightened my grasp on her tail, acknowledging the depth of our connection. In that unspoken moment, I found solace in the presence of those who had walked this extraordinary path with me.
"Why didn't you free her then?" Her question, laden with curiosity, mirrored the thoughts that had occupied her mind.
"I may be indebted to her, but there's a lesson in allowing her to shoulder her choices, much like a child learning from their mistakes. She plunged into that rampage, heedless of her own safety. For that, she'll bear the weight of her decisions a while longer. Zetsu, on the other hand, harbors plans to resurrect her. Let him try. But his endeavor will require capturing all of you—a prospect I won't allow. We'll devise a strategy using chakra clones, leveraging your existing might."
Her raised eyebrow betrayed intrigue. "You're suggesting we replace ourselves with these clones, appearing as powerful versions of us?"
A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Precisely. The ploy will ensure Zetsu's plans are thwarted, sparing us from unnecessary conflict."
"Are you willing to set the stage for a war among humans? A war greater than the world has ever seen." Her inquiry bore no particular emotion, their world untouched by the consequences of human conflicts.
A gentle smile graced my lips as I turned to her, my gaze shifting to my surroundings. "You can come out. We all share a connection, sensing each other's presence." Beside me, a chuckle danced forth from a young girl's lips, but before it could fully escape, my watchful eye seized it. The mischievous expression dissolved from her face, replaced by an air of impassivity.
Eight figures gradually emerged, their approach bringing them into our midst. My focus shifted to Kokuo, my voice carrying a note of introspection. "Kaguya harbored a vision of unity among humans, a world where peace reigned—an unexpected aspiration, I know. But the betrayals of her own children altered her perspective. She yearned to reclaim her gifts, the chakra she had bestowed upon them, channeling it back to me through a technique akin to the one you've witnessed in the Genjutsu."
My gaze lingered on the figures converging upon us, a mixture of emotions veiled behind my eyes. "However, before her wishes could be realized, she was sealed away. Now, I find myself on a path to bestow upon her the very peace she desired. The paradox lies in uniting humanity, and the only way to achieve this is by presenting them with a potent adversary—a force that threatens them collectively."
A heavy silence filled the place, they were analyzing the words I said but no one seemed to be against it. They were thinking about what the future would have in store for us.