Something no mortal man should ever trifle with or cross. A simple touch and or glance would send you spiraling into an abyss of insanity.
The touch of a Goddess.
Blessings are spared for those who cross paths with a woman who could rip the world asunder without a care in the world.
The touch of a Goddess.
You are told stories as a child about beings like Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Individuals that can create stars...
Create moons...
Control time and space...
But you often wrote them off as fairytales due to the sheer incredulity of it all.
You cannot understand something if you have not experienced it.
You cannot believe something if you have not witnessed it.
The touch of a Goddess.
"S-Sasuke... This isn't good..."
Silence.
Horrible, awful silence.
Azure eyes focused intently on the... the... Being that was floating not but several feet from off the ground.
A beautiful creature that only the Primordials of old could have possibly created.
A... woman...?
No. Nononono.
She was no woman.
"Sasuke... Sasuke... HEY! Answer me!" The individual tried again.
...
...
...
"Naruto... Shut up."
The now named Naruto grit his teeth in silence at the reserved tone of his best friend. He did not wish to relinquish his gaze on the Goddess that stood before him but he was aware of the inner turmoil that was circulating in Sasuke.
He wasn't confident either...
Naruto had to physically stop his hands from shaking as the pale skinned woman finally moved.
Her white tresses swung gracefully as her head snapped towards their position.
And she stared.
And stared.
And stared.
And stared...
Before finally...
"Tenji...?" The pale skinned Goddess questioned quietly with a hint of sorrow.
Naruto belatedly realized that the woman was staring directly at him instead of Sasuke. His spine tingled and his fingers nervously clenched at the presence of this woman bearing her will upon him.
Naruto swallowed nervously as the woman's eyes narrowed in sadness while a sorrowful expression morphed upon her face. Her tiny eyebrows knit together as her eyes glistened.
Who... was Tenji?
"Even now... You stand defiant." That sorrow filled expression slowly tapered off as a morose one took its place. "I did what I believed was right... Yet still, you judge me so..."
Naruto swallowed nervously once more as he glanced towards Sasuke who was anxiously gripping his Kusanagi. Before Naruto could speak he was interrupted by another.
"MoTheR ThaT iS nOt TeNj-!"
The creature was silenced from continuing as the pale skinned Goddess flared her Chakra. The world felt the woman's power as it spread across the globe, swallowing it whole and drowning it in a pit of despair.
Naruto felt his heart clench painfully and had to resist the urge to drop to his knees.
Wh-what is this?!
Madara Uchiha hadn't even been this powerful! This woman was on a whole other level!
"Silence." She whispered venomously as her eyes shifted towards the blob of black Chakra. The veins around her eyes became pronounced as she stared at Zetsu.
"He is Tenji... Holding the power of my sons..." She continued after a moment of silence. "I would never forget those eyes..." She finished somberly.
Naruto swallowed his anxiety before exhaling softly. He began to slowly control his breathing as he pushed all of the negative emotions pouring out of the Goddess away.
Once calmed, he placed his hand atop Sasuke's shoulder and began to channel his Chakra through his friend, calming him down as well.
The blond teen nodded to his friend who returned the gesture with his own nod. He slowly shifted his attention back to the floating Goddess before tugging on his ruined mesh shirt.
The material was barely clinging atop his torso and was riddled with holes and tears. His orange pants were torn and shredded with several tears across the thighs and was only covering the bottom of his knees.
Glancing towards Sasuke he nodded his head before flaring his own Chakra. A golden shroud of Chakra ignited around his body, surrounding him in an ethereal glow that rivaled the sun.
A peaceful aura settled in the area as Naruto's Chakra countered the onslaught of depressing and negative emotions pouring out from Kaguya.
His presence, so bright and loving, was a stark contrast to the presence that Kaguya exuded.
Seven pitch black orbs slowly materialized behind Naruto's back before swirling in a hypnotic pattern. One of the orbs slowly left its synched formation before floating atop Naruto's hand.
The Gudodama began to morph and change its shape entirely, changing into a thin staff and spinning rapidly. Naruto glanced at the object before grasping the weapon and twirling it in his hand.
He exhaled once last time before staring directly into the Goddess' eyes. "I don't know who Tenji is but... He sounds like someone important to you."
The woman did not respond to the statement, choosing to stare at who she believed was her lover reincarnated.
Naruto glanced at his best friend, giving him a look and nodding quietly. An unspoken conversation happened and Sasuke loosened his grip on his Kusanagi.
The golden shrouded teen rested his staff against his shoulder before speaking again. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki... Super Gramps spoke about you... He said you were an emotionless monster."
Naruto detected the shift of emotions instantly.
Her somber expression remained but Naruto could sense the anger lurking beneath. The woman began to slowly descend but not once did her eyes stray away from Naruto.
"But that's not true, is it?" He questioned rhetorically with hardened eyes.
She did not answer.
"I sense far too many emotions coming from you... Sadness, anger, regret..." His eyebrows furrowed as he continued speaking. "Unlike Madara, you actually understand what you're doing..."
Kaguya was silent for what felt like hours before her head tilted. "You even speak like him..."
There was a horrible silence that followed her statement and the next action surprised even Naruto himself.
"I will not make the same mistake twice."
Naruto's unique eyes widened to an impossible degree as the pale skinned woman appeared in front of him.
W-what?!
When... did she... move?
He would never get his answer.
"NARUTO!"
Naruto idly heard Sasuke's scream before a cone of black surrounded his vision, cutting off all light and depriving him of all his senses.
"I will correct the mistake that you made... After I cleanse this world we will be together again, Tenji... I promise you."
Naruto heard Kaguya's voice but was unable to pinpoint it. Everywhere he looked was black.
Black black black.
Hate.
Sadness.
Loneliness.
Anger.
Rage.
Depression.
Every emotion that he had conquered during his rigorous training to become a Sage slammed into him with a force that resembled one of Tsunade's overpowered punches.
These...
These weren't his emotions.
Naruto closed his eyes (maybe...?) and began to focus on the turmoil that was swirling around inside Kaguya.
Normally, he'd be freaking out and screaming about how unfair life was, but now wasn't the time.
He could still think and while he wasn't entirely sure about what was happening, he assumed that he was in Kaguya's subconscious or atleast some part of it.
He knew he was cut off from the outside world in some fashion but he was still able to think.
And that's all he needed.
Ok... Think. Think. Think.
...
Shit?! Was he even thinking?!
...
Idiot.
He began to channel his Chakra as his breathing became slower. His hands slowly clasped together and he tilted his head down.
He needed to be calm here. Sasuke was relying on him.
So was the rest of the world...
There goes the anxiety...
Breathe...
In...
Out...
"I'll be surprised if you can escape this shithole."
Naruto ignored the voice of his partner and tried to sense his surroundings.
He was awarded with absolutely nothing and it was only slightly annoying.
Ok. So that wasn't going to work.
Breathe.
In.
Out.
His blond locks jostled as he tilted his head.
Breathe.
In.
Out.
Ahh... Her emotions.
Naruto flared his Chakra, atleast believing to do so, and latched onto Kaguya's emotions. He sifted through the waves of negative emotions with little trouble and came upon something... unique?
He couldn't describe what he was sensing due to the lack of actual senses but if he could then he'd compare it to a ribbon.
A ribbon that was attached to another ribbon and vice versa.
...
Breathe.
In.
Out.
Naruto exhaled quietly before tugging on the ribbon.
Nothing...
Huh...
Welp.
That didn't he-
A brilliant flash of white light exploded in front of his face. His eyes instinctively shut due to the action.
There was silence for several moments before he heard a familiar voice, though this time it was not layered in sadness but in anger.
"Isshiki!"
Naruto slowly opened his eyes at the woman's exclamation before tilting his head with a perplexed expression. He blinked in confusion several times at the scene playing out in front of him.
Was this a memory?
A vastly different looking Kaguya was glaring hatefully at another pale skinned man. The man's face was shrouded in darkness but Naruto could make out a single horn that wrapped around the man's head starting from the right ear and curling behind his head.
He wore an incredibly high collared kimono that was open at the chest revealing his pale skin and toned physique. His Kimono was white and lacked any kind of design on the front.
"Princess Kaguya... So frail and pathetic." Isshiki mocked cruelly. "Still running from Momoshiki, are you? Hahahaha!"
Kaguya's glare became vicious but she did not challenge the man. "How did you find me?!"
The pale skinned man slowly circled Kaguya. An action that caused the woman to tremble in fear.
"How? Easy... You're shit at covering tracks." He snorted loudly before placing his fingers atop the woman's shoulder. "Momoshiki... requested I deliver you to him."
Isshiki ignored the woman's terrified expression as his hand squeezed her shoulder painfully.
"But..." His eyes met hers and a sick smile formed on his face. "I enjoy watching you suffer like the vermin you are. So... Go. Run... Run like your life depends on it." He relinquished his hold on the woman's shoulder before roughly shoving the woman away. "Run little Kaguya, run!"
The woman spared no time and immediately ran as fast as she could. Her form was a blur to even Naruto and he had to strain his eyes to keep the woman in his sights.
Several seconds passed by in silence before the pale skinned man laughed loudly.
"Ohh, Momoshiki... You really botched this one up, didn't you? Urashiki won't be pleased."
After his statement the man seemed to just disintegrate into nothing. His form becoming nothing more than dust and soot as his presence vanished.
Isshiki? Momoshiki? Urashiki?
There were more of these... beings?!
Beings that scared Kaguya?!
Naruto clenched his eyes shut and gripped his hair tightly as he tried to stop the mental breakdown that was about to unfold.
If they dealt with Kaguya, and that's a big IF! Then they would have to deal with three other people just like Kaguya!
What the hell?!
Is this some sort of sick joke?!
Naruto yelped in surprise as another brilliant flash of white exploded in front of him. His arms crossed in front of his face shielding him from the bright assault on his vision.
Once the light faded he slowly lowered his arms and tilted his head with a curious expression.
"Do you really have to leave, Tenji-kun?"
Naruto's eyes widened as he stared at the fair skinned man named Tenji. He sported black hair and wore his hair in a unique fashion. He had a straw-like headband that wrapped around his forehead and wore a string necklace that sported a Magatama medallion.
Tenji smiled softly as he turned towards his lover before speaking. "I have to, my love. These peace discussions are necessary."
Kaguya sighed quietly as her gaze searched the floor. "The Land of That are barbarians... They cannot see reason and only think with violence."
Gentle hands settled atop Kaguya's own as the man kneeled in front of his lover. "We will never know if we never try, Kaguya-chan. Isn't peace what you want?"
Her white orbs stared into his for several seconds before she averted her gaze shyly. She nodded her head before speaking softly. "Of course... But at the risk of your life? What if you get killed?"
Tenji rubbed his lover's hands softly before smiling once more, so bright and loving. "Then that is the risk I take for what I believe in. I will find peace... Do you know why, my love?"
A small smile formed on Kaguya's face as her eyes slowly rose and centered on his. "Because you never go back on your word."
The man nodded with a grin before closing his eyes and slowly leaning towards his lover. His lips gently molded against Kaguya's as she pulled his body against hers.
Naruto stared at the scene playing out in front of him with mixed emotions. He was aware of the uncanny similarities that he and the man named Tenji shared.
Never going back on their word? Check.
Wanting peace? Check.
Willing to put their life on the line for their people and their home? Check.
Willing to speak with their enemies to achieve peace? Check.
He now understood, to some degree, why Kaguya had called him Tenji.
But... she didn't actually know him. How had she systemically broken him down with a mere glance? How could she have possibly known about the similarities that he shared with her late lover?
It didn't make sense...
"I would never forget those eyes..."
That... Hmm.
Auntie Tsunade (Kami rest her soul) used to say that the eyes were the window to the soul. So maybe... she saw his soul?
That was... Hmm.
Before he could ponder the idea further another flash of light erupted in front of him. This time it did not bother Naruto and he weathered the bright light. Once the bright lights died down a heavy frown formed on Naruto's face.
"Why did you betray me Tenji?!"
Kaguya now resembled the form he had first saw her in when taking over Madara's body.
"Why?! Why did you do it?! Was peace more important than your love?! I loved you! I put you first! Above everything!" She screamed hoarsely as tears poured down her face.
"They attacked me and you punish me?! Me?! ME?! After everything I've done for you!" Her tears dripped down her chin and pooled on Tenji's face. His form was unmoving and still and his gaze was completely blank.
Kaguya gripped the man's wrist before placing it on her stomach and crying loudly. "Y-you... you made me do it Tenji... C-can you feel them? Your children... You would have killed your pregnant lover!" She screamed out into the heavens for several minutes as rain began to slowly descend from the sky.
Naruto's eyes narrowed sadly as he stared at Kaguya, feeling every single emotion... It assaulted his core and burrowed deep within his chest. He didn't even notice the tears that were slowly sliding down his cheeks.
Why was this affecting him so much? He didn't even know Kaguya existed and only found out a couple hours before fighting Madara.
Why. Was. This. Bothering. Him?
Why was he so invested in her life now?
...
Seeing some of her most intimate and important memories deep within her mind. Was this the reason?
Possibly...
Naruto began to wipe his eyes and slowly moved closer towards Kaguya. Her forehead rested against the man's chest and she sobbed in a pitiful manner. A manner he wouldn't have suspected from such a... powerful individual.
It made him realize that she wasn't all that different from humans. That she had emotions and that she felt just as harshly as everyone else. Her suffering was no less severe than others.
She felt.
And she hurt.
But... the way Hagoromo spoke about her depicted her as some evil monster incapable of being reasoned with...
Naruto just couldn't see that.
The details that Super Gramps had left him with had painted a very vivid picture about the woman Kaguya was supposed to be.
An emotionless husk of her former self hell-bent on the destruction of the world by subjugating the populace and reclaiming Chakra as her own.
But... that's not... what he could sense.
She was a broken woman. Molded by the harsh and unforgiving reality that unfolded before her.
Even now, watching this scene with her late lover was a painful reminder that negative experiences shape who you become as a person. Your ideals could shift at the drop of a hat and you'd be oblivious to the changes.
Naruto could relate to Kaguya...
He certainly sympathized with her. But he sympathized with everyone... It was just the kind of person he was. He always saw the good in people. That's not to say that he didn't ignore the evil in people but he didn't want to be a person that judged others off of one action.
Everyone was capable of evil in this world.
Everyone.
Even he was capable of it...
Learning that Auntie Tsunade had passed during Nagato's initial attack had almost broken him. His heart still hurt to this day and he doubted it would ever truly go away.
He had wanted to truly kill Nagato. To make the man pay for hurting one of the single most important people in his life. And he almost had...
He had seized the man by his throat and would have snapped it had it not been for Konan. She had begged and pleaded...
Begged.
Pleaded...
At the time it only made him angrier... Why was this woman pleading for this monster's life?!
Did she not witness him just kill thousands of innocents?!
With no remorse!
And she was willing to beg and plead for his life?!
What stayed his hand was the teachings that Jiraiya had bestowed on him.
Killing in vengeance would never bring back that which you lost.
Auntie Tsunade wouldn't have wanted him to see him like that... She knew him more than others did. The mother he never had...
Naruto slowly fell to his knees and placed his hands atop his thighs. He stared at Kaguya's sobbing form for several long minutes before slowly raising his hand and reaching out to her.
His hand didn't make contact with her body and just floated through her. A small frown formed on his face as he retracted his hand away from the Goddess.
"I swear... I swear to you Tenji..." The woman spoke softly through muffled sobs. "I will do everything in my power to make this world a better place..." She sniffled quietly before laying a gentle kiss atop the man's lips.
When she raised her head, she almost seemed to stare directly at Naruto. As if she was somehow seeing him...
Naruto met her gaze and could physically see the changes that were being made.
This.
This was the experience that changed who Kaguya was as an individual. Changed her into the 'monster' that Hagoromo believed she was.
But Naruto knew better...
He didn't agree with her me