Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
The Shinden Saga – Arc 4: The Otsutsuki War
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Chapter 172 – The era of the new Rikudo
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The day after the 7th Hokage's intervention in Shin no Kuni, the rest of the world is learning about the context and events. In the capital of the land of Waves, in a certain privatized hot spring, Killin' Kiss, the last still running member of Kakumei, is reading a journal telling about the situation in Hikari, and the passing of Oshio Uchiha. This hot spring is the property she acquired from the man that was saved from Voodoo by Boruto, Izuna and Inoue on their first S-rank mission. It is the result of the construction site where Inari and other carpenters of master Tazuna's company worked.
Meinu is sitting aside drinking a jasmine tea and reading, while Seiki Tomoe and Pai Tomoe are enjoying the hot bath. Looking down at the mitsudomoe tattoo on her thigh, she thinks about Oshio's death. She feels sad, and like she should be mourning. But at the same time, she blames herself for feeling too much about it, even though no emotion shows on the outside.
Oshio was important to her. She was important to him as well, and is a big part of the reason why he chose to found Kakumei. Yet, ultimately, by killing himself, Oshio prevented the anticipated return of Momoshiki. Meinu was waiting for the return of this god to take over where Oshio left, especially now that even the Shinden failed to terminate this world.
To her, with this news, it feels like Kakumei turned out to win in all its causes except those she actually cares about. The feudal order is collapsing, but the ones taking over are the Kage, not Kakumei. Naruto and Sasuke are still alive, and no other god is here to take them down with the ninja world. And finally, Shin no Kuni is being freed, but the one in charge will be the Tomoe clan, and not herself.
Killin' Kiss actually had her own plan to claim the throne of these lands, but it couldn't be executed. In her thoughts, she's brought back to reality by a man coming to her with a pricey bottle of old red wine.
"Excuse me, Lady, would you mind sharing a drink with me? It's certainly more classy than your tea, and it's all on me." the man says, desperately trying to earn her affection. He visibly shakes in stress and excitement while he looks at her body in her bikini.
Meinu looks aside to see him and looks back down at her tattoo. This man is only caught in the spell of her Genjutsu, renewed by Naobi Otsutsuki thanks to Seiki's wish. Uninterested by him, she stands up and grabs the bottle out of his hands. She goes toward the bath to join Seiki and Pai.
"I'll share that with my friends." she tells the man. "Though I wouldn't mind a massage if your hands are free." she adds, asking for an easy favor.
As she gets in the water and sees her girls join her, she thinks about the third servant she had found in Ketsugakure back then. Kiseru Tomoe, the most important of them. The princess, oldest daughter of Lady Toshima, and also the daughter of an important man for Killin' Kiss. She was essential to her plan to rule over Shin no Kuni. It's a shame that she lost her. But Meinu will have other opportunities to get the spotlight. She's always been a step ahead of everyone else. After all, she orchestrated the Chimera's fall and claimed his empire. She made peace with White Claw, the most dangerous bounty hunter of all time in her opinion, and still has much planned for herself.
Indeed, just like Killin' Kiss, the rest of the smuggling world of bounty hunters and mercenaries does not rest. Kiseru Tomoe, who escaped from Iwa's prison by herself years ago, is somewhere on the continent building her own plans, competing with Meinu. White Claw, first name in the Shinobi Union's bingo book, still grows his fatal reputation while staying masked. In the land of Water, numerous mercenaries are preparing for revenge against Takeshi Minamoto, Sakitsuki Otsutsuki, or Oji "Voodoo" Tatari who is still jailed in Kiri.
In the land of Hot Water (Yu no Kuni), the brother of Voodoo is slowly rebuilding the cult of a bloody god. In Iwa, the Sandman, secret ally of the Chimera, pursues his plans, eyeing potential recruits, with his right arm, a renowned huntress called Silent Demon. In Kumo, the heir of the Blood Master, defeated by Yukai and the Raikage during Kakumei's era, is preparing his vengeance.
All these actors get in action in the consequences of the epilogue of Kakumei and the deliverance of Shin no Kuni. In order, they act out of sight and reach for the Shinobi Union, all unknowingly under the watch of the one from the shadows, a person hidden from all suspicions, yet pulling strings on every front.
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In Konoha, Boruto Hyuga has recovered and left the hospital a few days ago. He is now ready to go on adventures like before the conflict with the Shinden began. This time however, he is going solo without any master, as he has developed the skills to take on such a journey by himself.
He has already packed his stuff, given his goodbye to his mother and clan, and to most of his friends. Since his sister wasn't home earlier, Boruto is now at the academy, to salute her as well and see some other aspiring ninjas by the way. Of course, his presence caught all the student's attention at the exit of the school and he quickly ended up surrounded by curious younglings with questions. Oddly happy due to the relief he feels since he woke up, he kindly answers everything.
"Are you a ronin, like Sasuke Uchiha now?" one of them asks. "Did you really help Lord Hokage defeat the Dragon Sage?" another says. "How was the battle?" one kid simply demands. Embarrassed by the amount of questions, Boruto finds comfort in the gaze of Himawari, who simply asks one thing.
"So where are you going now?"
"Well… I have to act in consequence of that battle first…" Boruto only answers her. "Sasuke-sensei told me that Toneri's castle either landed somewhere on Earth after the moon blew up, or is on the surface of the new one he built. I'll look for that first. Then I'll have to find other worlds to set my marks."
After this answer, questions rain again. "You can travel through dimensions?", "You can fly?", "Can Himawari learn the same things?", "Who's Toneri?"… In the middle of these young teenager voices, Boruto suddenly hears a familiar one ask something totally different.
"What will your father do now?" says an adult woman merging with the crowd.
Boruto looks at her carefully and recognizes the journalist he used to chat with while sitting here. She changed her looks, her haircut and style, so she isn't obvious to recognize. Kanojo Doroku, though he is not sure to recall her name. He doesn't even remember that she was the academy janitor's daughter. Since she caused a silence with her intervention, Boruto answers.
"He proved more than ever who he is, saved my life more than once, and won that challenge. Now he'll assume whatever responsibility comes from this."
"… Sure but what about his intervention in Hikari?" Kanojo asks, seemingly here to ask journalists questions that bring others like her to come closer.
"I don't know about that, but it seems natural." says Boruto. "If he can successfully ensure peace by fighting outer worlds gods, so can he by helping people this way."
"Then what's next for Shin no Kuni?" Kanojo adds, trying to get information out of him.
"That will be the Hokage's choice I guess?"
"What about the timing of this operation? Does it have anything to do with the death of Oshio Uchiha?"
The students, seeing other journalists step closer, sigh and start to disperse. Mitsuki, bothered by this change and noticing Sarada's embarrassment after that last question, speaks up.
"This is becoming an interview." he calmly says with a smile. "We were just curious kids chatting with a senpai at first."
"Of course, I'm sorry." Kanojo apologizes. "Just one last question then: What next to expect from you, Boruto?"
Startled by this question Boruto thinks for a while before replying. On a personal aspect, it sounds like she is asking for herself, to know if he has changed since their last meeting. As time passed, Boruto has indeed always gone deeper down his path, but his recent return to the village and the life experience of Toneri made him sure of one thing: he doesn't want to miss a life in Konoha. However, just like Sasuke, he sees it as a reward for his coming wanders.
He thinks of the multiple worlds and universes he can now explore. He thinks of Toneri's heritage and his own. He thinks of finding Kawaki, which he refuses to give up on, like Oshio. Also, staring in his palm, he thinks of the celestial he killed and the coming consequences of this crime. Unlike what he heard from Sasuke, he doesn't feel Watsuki's presence at all. Instead, he senses a blood bond that reminds him of Yamitsuki's comment on his awakening. He has too much to unveil before settling. So he makes himself clear to the journalist.
"I have a destiny to fulfill, enemies to take on, and danger to keep away from this village. Like one of the kids said, I'm a ronin. Nothing should be expected from me anytime soon."
After these words, the journalists who came nearby get even more curious, which annoys the kids. But Boruto ends this meeting by pulling up his cape and turning around to leave, spreading the crowd as well. Kanojo asked this question to see if Boruto had changed his ideals from 4 years ago. As she understands it, the Hyuga might settle in the future, but it isn't worth waiting for. His current situation puts a target on his head, and even just his survival is unsure. Besides, his recent awakening has birthed a threat to his life and to the ninja world that he cannot foresee.
Kanojo therefore leaves, letting go of old feelings, and without a story to tell for her newspapers, as many others had hoped that Boruto could provide details on the Hokage's action in Hikari.
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At the same time in Hikari, after Toshima Tomoe arrived in the village with her army, one of the Hokage's incarnations sailed away with the troops of the feudal order that he sent back home. Once sure that the Shinobi Union had no workforce left in the land, the queen of the Tomoe clan is ready to meet with the Hokage, as a representative of the Shinobi Union, and her own daughter, as the leader of this village.
At the moment, the three rulers are gathered in the throne room, turned office, of Hikari's castle. Despite the obvious power and hierarchy difference between them, they are sitting as equals around the same round table where the feudal order's messengers would gather. After the sudden conclusion to the conflict and the liberation of Hikari, Anastasia and Toshima wait to hear the Hokage's plan as he is the one who caused this.
"Hokage, … First of all, thank you for ending the attack on my village, even though I would have won this battle and the war in any case." the Tomoe queen arrogantly says.
"I wasn't on your side in this war, Lady Toshima." Naruto answers.
"Then, the feudal families of your continent should be the ones to thank you." she retorts.
"Lord Hokage, …" Anastasia expresses her concerns. "I also want to thank you for your help, but I don't think I am in any position to claim the lead of the village like that. The feudal order may have left the village for now, but not more than that."
"Same goes for this war." Toshima adds. "In their minds, this land's property has been elected. Shamefully, but still. So, Hokage, since you caused all this, you certainly have a plan for the future, right?"
Sitting in silence, Naruto thinks of this land and its history. He reminds himself of the speeches and values of Oshio Uchiha, former leader of this village. This also echoes the last words that Yamitsuki told him before disappearing. He has to be the pillar of peace. It is a responsibility he has to assume, as the one who defeated the Ryu Shinsen. And as the pillar of peace, he cannot let war consume people. As Oshio demonstrated, it is as simple as being powerful enough to do so. This is an idea he's had since as long as he wanted to be Hokage. It leads him to reconsider the definition of the role he dreamed of since childhood.
"Maybe it's time for the world to embrace change." he mumbles, getting Toshima and Anastasia's attention before looking up and straight at the princess ruling Hikari. "Anastasia Tomoe, I'd like to invite you to take this village under your protection and join the Shinobi Union as the first Shinkage of this land."
Taken by surprise by this sudden request, the princess leaps off her seat and steps back. She stares at her mother, who also seems confused, but not outraged, then back at the Hokage.
"Um… I'm flattered by the invitation, though I think it needs more time to be thought through, and am not sure to be worthy of such a title. But again, Lord Hokage, how could I even accept this role? Authority over the land still belongs to the feudal families."
"Not anymore." Naruto declares, as an opening. "I never expected it to be this way, or rather should I say I never intended it so. The young boy I used to be wanted to become Hokage, but had never once considered it as serving the territory of a lord. Nor did any kid who shares this dream. To me, to us, being Hokage has always meant being a protector. To Konoha in our case, but also to the whole land of Fire, and further as much as possible. Before I became Hokage, I learned that the most glorious purpose the Kage could fulfill was ensuring that the world lives as one people. This has become all the more important since we discovered and came in contact with people from other worlds. How can we hope for peace among our kinds if humanity alone isn't even able to achieve that on its own?… If lands have to be protected from the Daimyo who treat them as territories, then we can't keep serving this order."
"… It sounds like a fair vision of leadership and peace." Toshima Tomoe agrees. "But how can you keep such a promise? The feudal order, from your Union's viewpoint, has ownership over our lands."
"There is nothing to do other than put an end to it." Naruto explains his belief solemnly. "What I am going to say should reason with you perfectly, as we are all ninjas. We ninjas believe that only what follows us in the afterlife is real, pure, and worth protecting. Even in death, our memories and our efforts remain. Only all that lies within our chakra, within our souls, what binds us spiritually to reality, exists. Property over lands is no such thing. No wealth will follow you in the afterlife. The 'power' it grants is nothing we believe in. This is why there's no jutsu to control money."
Agreeing with this vision of worth and ninjas, Toshima Tomoe smiles and nods, now feeling a connection with the Hokage. Trusting that such a man must have a very good idea of how his promises will be held, she even complies to his terms.
"Hokage, as you know, this land had been freed from its lords by the hero who ruled it, my mother Gozen Tomoe, before the invasion of Momoshiki Otsutsuk. This village only ended in Oshio Uchiha's and the feudal family's control because of this devil. Had anyone else been the leader of Hikari, I would have disagreed with your proposition and claimed back Shin no Kuni for myself. Yet, since my eldest and most trustworthy daughter is your choice, I will not object. In fact, I will gladly support your plan."
Anastasia widely opens her eyes, surprised by the validation she is receiving from her mother. To be called her most trustworthy daughter sure sounds flattering, but also odd, knowing that Lady Toshima never expressed such appreciation before. At the moment, she just feels thankful that Oshio had anticipated this as well by letting her take the lead. Approved by her mother, Anastasia feels proud and confident, but doesn't forget the values she defends.
"Lord Hokage, I'd gladly accept to join the Shinobi Union as the head of these lands then. However, I cannot take the title of First Shinkage. To honor the founding of these united lands and their freedom, I would like to be called only as the second Shinkage, as a tribute to Gozen Tomoe, who would make that same deal in these circumstances."
To this demand, Toshima reacts with an emotional face, as she always knew her mother's peaceful ways would find an heir.
"Agreed." Naruto answers with a smile. "Gozen Tomoe sure sounds like she was a hell of a kunoichi. I regret never meeting her… Anastasia Tomoe, you can drop the 'Lord'. After all, we will sit as equals in the Union from now on."
"Understood, Hokage!" the 2nd Shinkage answers with a smile, though she has to address reality. "But so, how will we demand that the feudal order renounces ownership?"
"Oh we're not demanding anything." Naruto finally gets to address the change he brings to the world. "I didn't come to this land to present a question, but a declaration. I request that the council of the Union's feudal order dissolves, and that the families forfeit their territories. These lands will be in control of those representing the people: The Kage of the lands, and the leaders of affiliated villages. This applies to all lands within the Shinobi Union. The mess caused by the loss in influence of the feudal order and its thirst for power will cease."
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Simultaneously, Sasuke Uchiha is delivering the same speech to the main council of the feudal family representatives. As they were urgently gathered to address the situation in Shin no Kuni, Sasuke went to address the decision of the Shinobi Union to them, under Naruto's command.
All confused by the presence of this particular ninja, who holds no official representative title, and that none of them ever met before, they stay silent. They especially don't dare say a word, until one of them tries to reason with this announcement.
"If this isn't a demand, then is it a declaration of war?" he says.
"War is not the intent." Sasuke answers, now on his own terms. "See it as such if you want, but you should surrender at the moment in that case. You have no army that would answer your command before the Kage's anymore."
"So it's just theft!" the chairman of the land of Lightning exclaims as he stands up. "You're just stealing our property!"
"There is no such thing as property." Sasuke replies with the same ideology as Naruto in his own words. "It is purely man-made, and is incompatible with the reality of this world. Your families' wealth was built on wars fought by ninjas. The ninjas who used the gift inherited from the Rikudo-sennin, the one who shaped the ninja world in its genesis. As his heir, Naruto is simply fixing your mistakes, and reestablishing the world as it should be. He will be in command, because he has earned the trust and power to do so… This isn't even a coup d'état, nor a protest. It's just a reform. A balance."
"But you and the Hokage opposed this idea against Kakumei! You fought to protect us."
"… This answer is purely personal, but if I had at any point been fighting to protect you, Kakumei wouldn't have reached any of your Daimyo and heirs. The feudal order has never been a value that the mightiest ninjas in history wanted to defend. By using ninjas and claiming their lands, you have always set a target on yourselves. Kakumei weren't the first to come for you, and weren't the last either. By letting this system collapse, you won't lose your wealth. You'll lose power and tax benefits, but you won't be obvious targets anymore."
To this explanation, none of them dares to reply. Of course, they could say that even though their wealth won't be growing with the land anymore, it would still make them prey to bounty hunters and mercenaries and that they won't benefit from the free guarantee of protection against threats anymore. But Sasuke's obvious answer would be that they certainly have money to spend, which isn't an option they want to consider, but also not something they want to explain, since it would make them feel foolish in front of this man who doesn't share any of their values.
"Still… We can't simply accept or surrender…" The chairman of the land of Water says quietly, to which Sasuke answers with his own thoughts again.
Sasuke blankly looks at that man without a sound. Burdened by his failure to save his son, and the feeling that eliminating the Shinden only made the threat of the Tenshin more blurry to anticipate, the Uchiha is in no mood to take Naruto's politics seriously.
"There is no process to follow. The Hokage isn't asking anything of you. He's just telling you that it will happen… It's true that forcing your hands on the matter isn't what Naruto would do. Unfortunately for you, I'm the messenger he sent to deliver the news. I am no politician, and I am not a shinobi of the Union either. These low-life issues that you see as the center of the world hold no meaning to me. If you present any complaint or if the Hokage's plan finds trouble in its fulfillment because of you, I'll just solve the problem my own way."
Hearing these words from the man whom they know is the untold inspiration for Kakumei's ideology is enough for the council to hold their actions.
And so just like that, revolution happens as Oshio Uchiha intended it, but in peace, in Naruto's way. The ninja world enters a new era. An era where power primes over wealth, where nations are kept in peace by the ninjas who used to fight wars for them. The era of the new Rikudo.
And for the first time in 100 years since the foundation of the hidden villages, a new Kage joins the summit of the 5 great nations to represent a new land. The news reaches all over the world, across the Shinobi Union, and other countries that are still in line for the same offer. In Ame notably, Buto Isshin, the ruler who heard the same promise from the Hokage, discovers the results of such efforts, and questions if his land will ever get to the same point.
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In Kiri, Takeshi Minamoto has read the news. He is now sitting alone on the roof of his ill father's apartment, listening to the thoughts of his tengu about this new coming age. While Tentoki, the white tengu, explains what he thinks this implies, the ninja in black wonders about the brother of Izuna, whose death is partly the cause of this sudden revolution.
Grieving a man that he's barely known, and didn't interact with until a few days ago, Takeshi gazes at the presence of Sojobo in his soul sitting next to him on the roof. The curse of time was more familiar with Oshio. How does he feel about his death? Did he foresee this future for him? Was there any other path for the leader of Kakumei, or was his fate sealed before his birth?
These wonders are interrupted by Tentoki bringing his rant about Naruto to a conclusion.
"This plan only works because the Hokage realized that he is more powerful than even the Rikudo-sennin, and embraced the praise he received from Sojobo. Takeshi, can you ask him if he foresaw that this would happen?"
Takeshi looks at the presence that only he can witness again and waits for its answer. Sojobo looks toward the sky thoughtfully and gives a reply.
"Indeed I saw these events unfold as such. What Tentoki called my praise for him is far from limited to me. Momoshiki Otsutsuki knew of Naruto as the god on Earth he is. The Dragon Sage saw in him an equal, which is what allowed him to accept himself as such. And in every path, it is precisely the source of the following chaos. Whatever way my nightmare comes to be, Naruto is a fatal actor. He either witnesses everything fall, or his fall is the beginning of the end. However, his new jutsu granting him multitude in nature, makes the latter very unlikely. Down every path it is necessary that he realizes his own importance, that despite his lessons, not everybody could be him. He is not a chosen one either. He just happens to be the only person with the will to carry this weight."
Takeshi stays thoughtful, not even reporting this answer to Tentoki who asked for it. Instead he spells out loud what it brings up to his mind.
"So whatever peace the Hokage achieves between nations on Earth, and whatever greater purpose he tries to fulfill, it's not enough to bring the peace that these gods speak of…"
This reflection leaves Tentoki confused. The white tengu stares at Fear Itself who is as clueless as him. He guesses that the Daitengu's answer must have meant that the outcome of this war is in no way surprising, and is also not the end. Takeshi, meanwhile, cares little about the prophecies of Sojobo. He is more concerned about his own present.
"What about Sakitsuki?" he asks the Daitengu only. "Will she come back for me? What about my dad? Do you know how to save him? Anything you can tell me about the Hokage's missions will be useless to me, Sojobo."
"I am a curse, Takeshi, not a blessing." the spirit retorts without answering. "The only entity worse than me are the enemies from above. Those waiting to feed on a universe left without its pillar of Peace, unless Naruto can take on this responsibility… The Dragon Sage was a being of unmatched power, but also a creature of complex benevolence. He was motivated by obscure prophecies and his own knowledge. But ultimately, all his plans considered a safe path to Peace for all of creation. He is aware of the one path to true Peace, and believes that Naruto can lead to it. And so I have to believe the same. I expect him to lead me to the unseen. A way to break the fatality of my nightmare. I owe you no help, Takeshi. No matter what problem you want to solve, it is irrelevant if it doesn't bring me to my purpose."
Of course, this response is extremely deceiving for the ninja in black. Frustrated, he stays silent and thinks of Sakitsuki, who's been taken from him as well. However, he trusts her to join him eventually. Without this hope, he would find no relevance in going on, especially not for the curse of time.
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At the same time, light years away, on Ashihara, the dark crystal castle of the Shinden is stepped in for the first time since the Otsutsuki clan returned to this planet. Fureya Otsutsuki, the amber queen, sits alone in the council room, as she is the only person left to have been given the authority of a Shinden. With her in the room is her son Taiyoshiki, and Sakitsuki.
"I am not in any position to be considered queen." she tells her son. "Your father will return. It's just a matter of time. I am sure he will come in contact with us soon. So will Naobi. It is inconceivable that both she and Yamitsuki-sama would leave the universe behind at such a critical time."
Taiyoshiki doesn't reply, as he simply shares her thoughts. Sakitsuki, more focused on the present, questions the current state of the clan.
"Fureya-sama, what are the terms of the abstinence from Earth you declared?"
"It is absolute." the queen answers. "Especially for you, Sakitsuki. Naobi-sama may not have agreed, but I still hold your intervention there as the first cause of what led to this situation."
"But choosing abstinence now makes no sense." the golden-eyed goddess argues. "The ninja world is coming to a new age that will be incomplete if we are left out of it. And Rihetsuki doesn't even belong with us. He is from Earth and has to return there."
"I know you want to get back to Takeshi Minamoto." Fureya interrupts her. "But you won't. Too many gods died on Earth. If they are really willing to settle for peace with us now, then it's better for their own safety that we don't bring any more attention to them… Yamitsuki-sama chose to bring us all here before the end of his fight, so we will stay for now."
"We can't ensure any peace by staying away." Saki keeps arguing.
"Sure… We may consolidate a good relationship with them later, but for now we stay away. Some of us still hold grudges against ninjas, and no possibility of conflict should be allowed. Not until the Tenshin return."
"Mother, the Tenshin are not as benevolent as the Shinden." Taiyoshiki steps in the discussion, to which Sakitsuki simply nods.
"I know, but I have no idea what best to do!" The amber queen exclaims, confessing her doubts. "Sakitsuki, I am only barely older than you. I didn't live for thousands of years. I am not a Shinsen. Right now, I wouldn't trust myself to rule the clan. But I can trust my sister. I don't know about all the Tenshin, but I know Shiva is benevolent. At the moment, much worse could happen than the Tenshin finding Earth. It could be found first by the god slayer. If he finds the bearer of stigmata first, it would prevent the return of Yamitsuki-sama, Yasona, Hyakki, Watsuki and Urashiki forever."
The two other celestials do not argue more than that. Taiyoshiki thinks that Yamitsuki and Hyakki probably wouldn't want to be brought back by the Tenshin anyway. Sakitsuki thinks that for Hyakki to return, Takeshi would have to die. Both silently agree that in any case, those who killed gods on Earth shouldn't be killed by the Tenshin, otherwise any hope of peace among their kinds would disappear.
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Somewhere else in the vast multitude of universes in creation, on the planet Sakyu, the desert world where Yamitsuki came to remember his past failures, his disciple stands at the same pit as his master, where the Shinju was once planted. This tall pale muscular man with short rose hair, a pair of Byakugan, a long and sharp mohawk horn, and a large symbol tattooed on his left shoulder and chest, visible under his mantles and ripped off sleeves, is the said God Slayer, the God of War, Shitsuki Otsutsuki.
Back to his favorite world, he senses the changes in its magnetic field caused by the recent visit of the Dragon Sage. On his guard, holding a huge black mystical sword, he gets at ease, concentrates and uses his chakra to rearrange the magnetic field before letting his mind roam in wonders of the past. Filled with memories of his master, he stays there long enough for the army of the tyrant of this world, Major Kuala, to return again.
With no memories left of their encounter with Yamitsuki, they approach the situation like last time. The megalomaniac ruler steps forward and gives the same introduction.
"Attention, stranger!" he yells. "Ye are in presence of me, Great Major Kuala. Supreme leader of the army of the Empire. The Empire of her majesty. Empress Cleo."
"What empire?" Shitsuki interrupts the tyrant's rant and turns around. As it is the first time he comes here since he took down the Shinju, he is unaware of the events that led to the reign of Kuala.
"How Dare Ye Interrupt Me?!" the Major exclaims in anger as his army gets in attack positions. "Who Are Ye?"
"I am the man who took down the god tree that was planted here." Shitsuki introduces himself, not as nonchalant as his master. "There was a religious war happening over it. I recognize the symbols on your armor. I take it as, one side of the conflict did not accept this offer for Peace."
"Ain't retell history to me, impostor!" the Major answers. "Ancestors of mine are the heroes who eliminated the god root! And they made me, their heir, the champion of the world!"
"You sound like a problem." Shitsuki answers, which angers the tyrant who comes closer with his lizard mount, steps off to face the celestial and imposes the greater height, characteristic of his species.
"Ye will be punished for trespassing the territory of the Empress, or ye will surrender." Kuala says before staring at the black sword that Shitsuki is holding, upside down against the ground. "Me will take yer blade as a trophy."
Shitsuki looks down at his weapon and blankly tilts it forward to the major, to let him grab its handle. The tyrant confidently raises his hand to disarm the intruder. Yet as soon as the tip of his nail-less finger bruises the weapon's guard, a feeling of terror and impotence takes over his mind. The next instant, the army sees Major Kuala turn to ashes and be blown toward them by the wind.
This blade, the Habakiri, is the god killing weapon that earned Shitsuki his title among his kind. Created by the Queen Mother herself, it can inflict wounds that can make a god die like any mortal, and no regeneration or kalpa can counter it. Used on a lower life form, a single cut could cause death. On a chakra-less being like the natives of this planet, just coming in contact with the object will annihilate their bodies.
All confused, the soldiers of the empire see Shitsuki calmly clean off the dust from his shoes, and realize that their ruler is now spread on them as ashes. In panic and fear of the intruder, they scream and frighten their mounts who try to run away. Annoyed by the mess, Shitsuki moves his foot to raise sand from the ground, making a cloud that covers the whole army.
Jiton
In this cloud, every grain of sand is a fatal bullet that flies through bodies like air. After a few seconds, the God Slayer lightly blows to dissipate the cloud and see the aftermath: an entire army of corpses, soldiers and mounts. Only one survivor is left on purpose by the visitor who catches him by the foot and takes off to carry him directly to the palace of the empress where he drops him on the ground.
"Tell Empress Cleo that the Major is dead, that his lies shall be forgotten and that all his descendants shall be executed as well." Shitsuki tells the man who runs away in a hurry to the gates of the palace.
Saving his favorite planet from tyranny takes no effort or thoughts to the God Slayer. What busies his mind now is only curiosity. Why did his former master visit this planet? Also, thanks to the left traces of Yamitsuki's presence here, Shitsuki should be able to sense him in the universe. Yet he feels nothing of the strongest chakra he's ever met.
This raises questions that he will answer on his continuing journey. His quest to destroy the purpose of the Tenshin. It is only a matter of time until he finds out what happened to the Dragon Sage, as well as to every other celestial who died on Earth. When he does, his mission will only depend on one thing: whether he arrives before or after the Tenshin. They are the opposed forces that threaten the ninja world in its new era, even after the fall of the Ryu Shinsen and the rise of the Shin Rikudo
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The chapter of Kakumei, and of the Dragon Emperor's prophecy come to an end. These stories, which started when Sasuke Uchiha made very first contact with Katashiki Otsutsuki, are yet not close to the end wished by all. The tales of Ashihara are not complete.
Here on Earth, Takeshi still hasn't found the cure that would break his father's curse. Fuyuko Yamanaka still hasn't reunited with his sister Karina. Neither did Minako Onikuma find her ill mother. Naomi Yuki still didn't find her last fellow clan member, Shimo. For the ninjas of Kumo, the bounty hunter White Claw is still a masked mystery. Kawaki's whereabouts are still unknown. The one from the shadows, that the sandman of Iwa, the blood master of Kumo and the chimera of Kiri all sought to become, is still unknown to most.
Rihetsuki still doesn't know why his daughter has the Dojutsu of Naobi Otsutsuki, while one of his heirs is secretly seeking to finish a thousand year old war. The identity of Tokubei Otsutsuki and the secrets he shared with the Dragon Sage are still mysteries to Sasuke. Some of the celestials he's read about in Kaguya and Katashiki's notes still found no place in the tales he knows, notably Saraya and Inari.
At last, the celestials of Ashihara, and the ninjas of Earth still didn't reach the peace they wished for. The true peace that can be achieved only by the meeting of two paths. Serenity and Absolute. At the cross of these paths, the Daitengu, spirit of the mountain, curse of time, Sojobo, hopes to find his own purpose. A purpose free of the nightmare from which Naruto Uzumaki should set him free.
The tales of Ashihara are not complete. I have yet to tell you where it all ends, and yet to find my own self in this story. The tales will continue. The tales of ninjas, bounty hunters, demons and gods. The tales of Absolute.
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End of Chapter 172
End of Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
Author's note:
Thank you to everyone who read this story until reaching this point. The story of Naruto's ascension is completed, but as listed above, there is still much to conclude. The story will continue on Naruto: Tales of Absolute.
Until then, I will keep posting character designs and other artworks for Naruto: Tales of Ashihara on DeviantArt. I also include extended information about characters and powers. Don't hesitate to check it out, while waiting for Tales of Absolute.