Only in the early hour of the next morning did the fighting stop, but rather than the happiness of victory, the atmosphere of somber loss prevailed. Many ninjas surrounded the Tsunada and Jiraiya, who returned with their teacher. The thought of losing Hokage in a time of peace never crossed their minds, yet now it was as if the world laughed in their faces.
The village was devastated, the leader lost, and the forces decimated. They all knew that this day would be remembered as a tragedy, one that they were powerless to prevent.
All around, many had renewed their motivation, which had brought them to become ninjas. The fire they spoke so often once again began burning in their eyes. Even Tsunade's aura recovered the sharpness of a seasoned warrior, no longer being that of a drunk looser.
The civilians who exited the shelters quickly noticed what had happened, and soon, countless cries of anger and sorrow echoed through the ruined village. Many still people couldn't believe what had happened.
Walking out of the crowd, I approached Tsunade, who looked at me.
-"Yue, tell me, could you have saved him?"
~"Yes."
-"Then why?!"
~"Because it was not my job nor place to act."
-"You!"-Tsunade rose from the ground and rushed at me with her fists.
Dodging the first strike, I reflected the second one with [Oath of Silence] and bound her with Al'maiesh before she could strike again. This short fight alerted others, who also were ready to attack me.
~"Calm down, Tsunade."
-"How?! I lost someone once again?!"-This cry echoed in the now pouring rain.
-"Tsunade, stop. He is not a ninja nor a person from Konoha. You can't force him to risk his life for us."-Jiraiya approached the still-bound Tsunade.
-"I know! I know, just. Just..."-Tsunade couldn't continue speaking any coherent words. She simply cried, overwhelmed by the sadness.
As everyone was focused on her, I approached the Hokage. Stopping just before his body, I gathered a small amount of Golden Flame in my hand and let it fall on his body. Despite this being a small action, many noticed this, Tsunade included.
-"Yue?"
~"As a Yue, I couldn't help you before, as I shouldn't meddle with conflicts of other worlds carelessly. Now allow me to apologize to you as a friend."
When I ended speaking, Hokage's body erupted in the Golden Fire, startling everyone present. This fire continued to grow in strength and radiance, but it never burned anything. It just stayed on the Hokage's body.
Many were mesmerized by this flame, but among those present, only Tsunade grasped what was hidden in this flame. I released her from Al'maiesh, and she quickly approached her teacher.
The moment she was near, the fire changed, forming a phoenix that flew high into the sky, piercing and dispersing rainy clouds, allowing rays of morning sun to shine through.
But no one looked up. Everyone looked at the Hokage, whose eyes opened once more. He slowly sat up and looked around, trying to understand his situation.
I was able to step back next to Keqing in the crowd as we returned to what remained of Tsunade's home, trying to avoid the commotion that would happen next. Kirari, Shinobu, and Lena also followed us, tired after a sleepless night of helping in the shelter.
-"You truly know how to woo a girl, Yue. Even my heart fluttered there."
~"This was not my purpose, Kirari. To outsiders, some of my decisions may appear senseless, but as leader of the force, my every action carries behind the weight of what I represent."
-"I know. After all, it's easier to be an evil leader than a good one."
~"Let's go back and rest. Maiev, bring those injured of Konoha to their healers and keep those of attackers sealed."
-"Yes."
-"You've just put this whole village in your debt."
~"I did what I should as a friend, Keqing."
We continued to talk until we arrived at Tsunade's house. Kirari, Lena, and Shinobu went directly to sleep while Keqing and I sat on the terrace with some fast breakfast I prepared.
~"Sorry for making you work during our vacations."
-"Hou? So you remembered this was our vacation?"
~"Sorry."
-"I don't mind, to be honest. I also wanted to help. Just stay with me for some time."-Keqing sat next to me and leaned, resting her head on my shoulder.
~"Don't worry. I don't plan to leave you. Ever."
-"You better keep that promise."
Not needing to speak any more words, we continued to watch the sunrise.
As this was happening, Rias and her Peerage were getting a grasp on the techniques they were learning. Due to time dilation present in Simulated Realm, despite only a day passing outside, they were training for over a week inside.
Each of them had made great strides in their training, but out of all of them, Asia was the one that made the greatest progress. She was able to learn how to use the Divine Power that priestesses and mikos would use and turn her expertise and talent from Holy Power into that new field.
As her strongest element was Light, I thought her basics of how to use Moonlight, as it was much more accepting of the nature of devils than Holy Light. Thanks to that, she became really deadly against devils because Moonlight still possesses purifying qualities inherent to Light while keeping its neutral alignment.
Elune herself visited here during the training, and after scaring the living hell out of all devils present with her nature as Celestial Being, she instructed both Asia and Akeno on how to use her Moonlight. After that meeting, Aisa fully converted to becoming a believer of Elune.
On the other hand, Rias and Issei were the ones who made the smallest improvement during this time. Issei was still in the process of retaking control over his body, and while he was able to restrict the destructive impulses, he still couldn't keep other heightened emotions and instincts that dragons possess in check.
Rias was also barely able to control her power of Destruction. While she was now able to mold it into shapes, she still couldn't make it affect objects selectively nor restrict its effect in ways other than limiting strength. This resulted in her growing frustration, which made controlling her power harder, thus creating a vicious cycle.
-"Agr! Another failure!"
~"Take some rest, Rias."
-"Yue, is there any method that can help me?"
~"Aside from meditating, I can seal your power partly to help you train on smaller quantities of it."
-"No, this would take too much time."
~"Then the only other way is to gain an understanding of Destruction."
-"Sigh. This will also take too long."
~"I have a method that can help you, but it's not something I would advise due to your age."
-"Due to my age?"
~"Yes. I can show you memories of someone who walked Path of Destruction, but as you are not even twenty, seeing years of memories might have a great impact on your spirit."
-"I still want to take that risk."
~"I expected that, so I called someone here. Come with me for a while."
I returned with Rias to the arena where they had been fighting with Rita before. There, the rest of her Perege was training with my puppets, some fighting them directly, some casting spells under their tutelage. But what attracted Rias' attention were two women sitting on the side.
-"Yue."-Black Swan waved at me and patted the seat next to her.
~"Black Swan, Xueyi."~Greeting two of them, I sat where Black Swan wanted and received tea from her.
-"Your Majesty, how may I help you?"
~"Before I say anything, have in mind that this is not an order, just asking you for a favor."
-"I understand."
~"I want to show Rias some of your memories so she can understand Path of Destruction as you see it."
-"This..."-Xueyi looked at Rias.-"She is one that would see them?"
~"Yes."
-"Tell me, why do you want to get power so quickly?"
-"Because I want to break marriage by family set for me."
-"Marriage, huh? Well, most of my memories exist only thanks to His Majesty restoring them, so I don't mind sharing them, but be careful not to become something like I."
-"Something like you?"
~"Don't disparage yourself like that, Xueyi. You are no longer in the shadow of Abundance and can live once more."
-"I'm always thankful for Your Majesty's mercy and care, but I do not deserve them."
~"Sigh, you two sisters are... Well, Black Swan, you won't mind helping."
-"Of course not. I'll do my best to keep that girl safe while she watches those memories."
~"Thank you."
-"There is no need for that between us. Rias right? Do you have any questions before we start?"
-"I do have one, but it's not connected to the memories."
-"Hou? Ask then. If it's something I can't reveal, then I will tell you so."
-"This, are you and Yue in a relationship? You two seem close to each other."
-"We are not. At least not in any confirmed or official one. But you can say that I'm a person who knows him best."
~"Indeed. Black Swan is someone who helps me operate the Akasha System along with Aranyani. She is the only person who has seen all my memories so that they could be cataloged for other usage."
-"And many are jealous of that."
~"Well, even for you, that many years of memories were hard to go through."
-"What was more problematic was the way you remember things. You are not the first person with Hyperthymesia I've seen, but none of them could perfectly replicate entire planets they saw from orbit, even down to singular grassroots."
~"You get used to this. Luckily, fragmenting the thought processes is something that came to me naturally."
-"Now that you have satisfied your curiosity, ready to go?"
-"Yes. Please take care of me, Miss Black Swan."
~"I'll leave her in your hands."
-"You won't stay?"
~"Another time. I need to do something with that dragon boy, or he will never be able to control his instincts."
-"Are you going to traumatize him with your aura?"
~"There is no need for that. I have not only Dragon Queen but also four more dragons that can easily dominate Ddraig."
-"Good luck then."
~"You too."
Leaving this part of Simulated Realm, I moved to where Issei was kept and waited there. A few minutes later, Black Dragon arrived next to me.
-"Your Majesty."
~"Please, Neltharion, call me as you always did."
-"Heh, sure. So this is the brat you want me to teach how to behave?"
~"Treat him as a juvenile dragon, one that had never been taught by any older dragon."
-"Sure, I'll make sure he will be more behaved than those Wardens of yours."
~"Just make sure he can act 'Human' again."
Neltharion flew directly to the now dragonified Issei, who instantly tried to attack the Black Dragon flying his way but was stunned by an aura that Neltharion unleashed. What followed was 'physical' education common to how the dragons discussed matters between themselves.
Spearing myself listening to the roars and cries of dragons, I focused my full attention on Issei's inner world, making sure it remained stable during this ordeal.
My quiet time with Keqing was only interrupted in the evening when Tsunade brought Hokage, two village elders, and Hinata with her instructor.
~"How's the situation?"
-"Not too bad, thanks to your people."-Answered Tsunade, looking around the shadows in the room.
~"You won't be able to find my Shadows."
-"Tsk."
-"Ehem."-Hokage cleared his throat to remind us of his existence.
-"Right. You have already seen my teacher, but this is your first meeting face-to-face, so allow me to introduce him. This is Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Trhird Hokage."
-"I'm sorry for making you involved in our matters."
~"Please don't be, as I only helped my friend. I do not intend to enter any conflict within Ninjas' World."~Aserting that I was not a party in their political game, I shook Hiruzen hand.
-"I see."
-"This is Danzō Shimura, one of the elders, and this is Hiashi Hyūga, Head of the Hyūga Clan, elder, and Hinata's father."-Tsunade continued the introductions, wanting to prevent the atmosphere from becoming acward.
~"It's a pleasure."
-"Likewise."
-"Hinata told me about Your Excellency."
-"Father..."
-"Well, she is such a good child. I'm Kurenai Yūhi, Hinata's instructor."-The woman standing behind Hinata introduced herself.
~"As you probably heard, I'm Yue. As for my positions or title, allow me to keep it hidden."
-"Of course. We are in your debt after what you have done to save our village."
-"Right, Kakashi informed us about you ordering your people to shield civilians from the fighting."
~"Don't mention it."
-"Then allow me to be direct. We would like to form an alliance with you and your force."-Hiruzen spoke, seeing that their methods to curry favor don't work.
~"This is impossible. The nature of my power makes it hard to justify forming an alliance with you."
-"So our only connection is the friendship between you and Tsunade, huh? I see. I won't mention it anymore. I have one more favor to ask of you. Can you take part in the celebration and mourning as a guest of honor? It would take place two days later."
~"I don't mind, but please allow me to refrain from speaking or being in the center. Also, allow me to take my partner."
-"Sure, I'm sure everyone would be happy for your presence."
After saying that, Hiruzen and Danzō left.
~"I imagine that you came here because of Hinatas eyes."
-"Yes. Is it possible to achieve similar evolution to Hinata's eyes in other members of my family?"
~"It is, but it won't be as smooth as to her. Out of every person possessing Byakugan, Hinata's eyes were the most complete, but even then, I awakened it forcefully, mending the missing parts with my power."
-"So it won't be easy. How can we achieve those eyes?
~"This is my theory, but Sharingan can be called the eye of spirit, while Byakugan is the eye of Soul. Chakra is close to spirit and body, but it lacks the ability to strengthen the Soul. That's why you never achieved their evolution despite trying for years."
-"Soul? This is an interesting theory. We indeed never pursued that aspect as few techniques that touch the Soul are not forbidden."
-"Mr. Yue, does that mean that you are well-versed in Soul techniques?"
~"Why do you ask, Litle Hinata?"
-"Because of that thing in Naruto."
-"Hinata!"
~"Don't mind her. I'm aware of the existence of that being inside that boy. To answer your question, while I can do something, I won't. That Being is not malicious, and it lends its power to Naruto. By acting, I would only harm him."
-"I see..."
~"Don't be so down, Litle Hinata. From what I saw, this boy has a strong will. He will be fine. If you wish to help him, make sure his body can keep up with that spirit."
-"Yes! I will do my best!"
~"And that's the spirit."~I returned my attention to Hiashi.~"I can help you formulate a technique that will allow your Byakugan to evolve, but I can't do it for free."
-"What does Your Excellency wish from my Clan?"
~"Three things. First, your clan techniques to study. I will make a vow not to disclose them to outsiders. Second, the assistance of your people in the future. I will guarantee their safety. And lastly, your Clan has to become the backing of Tsunade. I believe that those two old men are plotting how to profit from my friendship, and Tsunade needs someone not to become their tool."
-"Yue..."-Tsunade looked at me from the side.
-"I can agree to that, but I will ask for one more thing from Your Excellency. To become an honorary member of our Clan."
~"What does that entail?"
-"I just want your excellency to save my clansmen if there ever was a day when the existence of the Hyūga Clan was threatened.
~"Good, I can agree to that, but the agreement is between me and your Clan, not my force."
-"Yes. This is enough for me."
~"Then we have an agreement."
After that, I agreed to visit Hyūga Clan Manor tomorrow to talk more. Hiashi then left with Hinata, leaving only Tsunade and Kurenai here.