Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Shinden Saga – Arc 1: Kimera

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Chapter 114 – Her Golden Eyes

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In the recently abandoned lab of Hideo Kotobuki, Takeshi stands alone in the dark in front of the mystical being he just found there. The sight of her golden eyes and her gentle silhouette make him feel an odd sensation that he may never have had before. It isn't fear, as he still believes his mind is incapable of feeling this due to Makura's presence in him. It seems like something more pleasing but extremely confusing.

"Sh-She…" Makura starts to say in his host's mind, before giving up.

"Takeshi, what is happening?" Tentoki asks. "You and that tree thing are dumbly confused right now."

"I don't know what's happening!" Takeshi panics. "Who's that? Should I be afraid? Why do I feel weird?"

"Oh heaven… Don't tell me it's love at first sight again!" Tentoki tries to guess, remembering when he first met Tokiwa within Tsubai's body.

Takeshi frowns and gets even more startled. He felt love for a woman before. He's had many short relationships with girls. He doesn't know if he ever actually fell in love with one, but this feeling is certainly not it, he believes. He wouldn't feel such a thing for a certain menace like this woman here.

"… You seem confused, Takeshi." the young goddess says, to break the silence. "I understand." she adds as she slowly comes a tiny bit forward, levitating above the ground.

"Don't get closer!" Takeshi exclaims, getting on his guard. "How do you know my name? I don't know what jutsu you're using to trouble my mind like that, but it won't get me!"

"What jutsu am I using? Oh, but I'm not doing anything." she apologizes, once again trying to come closer.

"I said don't move!" he yells again. "Damn! What's happening? I shouldn't be the one to face these guys! I'm not the Hokage or Sasuke Uchiha!"

"Listen, I really mean you no harm." she tries to calm him down. "Um… Let me explain. My name is Sakitsuki Otsutsuki. I've come to this land because a human individual has abducted a member of my clan and will attempt to steal our power. I only want to prevent this from happening."

To this explanation, Takeshi doesn't answer. He stays ready for a possible fight and lets Tentoki do the thinking.

"Hm… So, a member of her clan was kidnapped by someone who'll steal his power?" the white tengu repeats. "Does this mean that the Chimera already found the Otsutsuki?"

"I don't believe her!" Takeshi exclaims inside, acting mistrustful. "How does she even know? And how would a member of their clan let himself be kidnapped by humans?"

"Takeshi, I think it's cool." Tentoki reassures him. "See her golden eyes? Sasuke tells about her in his reports. She's one of those that Momoshiki mentioned as his enemies. Besides, her friendly behavior is encouraging. If she's right and the Chimera really got his hands on the retired Otsutsuki, it's really bad news. If she's looking to stop this, then we're on the same side."

"Tsk! I gotta tell this to the council!" Takeshi says aloud before turning around and preparing to run away.

"No! Don't tell anyone! Please, I beg you!" the celestial woman demands in distress.

"Did she just beg me?" the Minamoto quickly comments, to his tengu.

"The thing is… I'm really not sure if I'm allowed to be there or not." she confesses. "I'd like my presence to stay a secret. I don't want to make a scene out of this world. Your sensory capabilities are better than others in this land, so you could detect me, but I'd like this to limit to you. Can you keep me a secret?"

Takeshi stands up straight and gets at ease. Turning back to face her again, he slowly lowers his mask. Relieved, she gets her feet on the ground and sighs. The ninja stays quiet and stares at her, expecting to hear about what's next.

"Um… you know… I understand that you would also benefit from stopping this man, so we could work together on this, maybe?" she shyly suggests.

"… Well, okay, Sakitsuki. Here's what I know." Takeshi agrees to follow Tentoki's advice. "There is an old Otsutsuki in this land who lives among humans. And I know of a criminal who may covet his power. Now what I don't know is what you're doing in this lab."

"Well, I know who the 'old Otsutsuki' is, but he isn't at risk. It is his last daughter who's been abducted." she starts to correct him. "And about this lab, it belongs to the man of interest."

"Mister Kotobuki? Nah, he's interested in your clan but has no action taken." Takeshi tries to reason with her. "The one you should look after is a certain Chimera."

"You don't understand." Sakitsuki replies before telling what he ignores. "Hideo Kotobuki and the Chimera are actually the same person."

"Uh? That again?" Takeshi shouts out of surprise. "I've heard this theory before, from a little voice in my head."

"I'm afraid Tentoki is right. It isn't a hypothesis but the truth." she answers.

"What? How would you know? How can you be so sure? And how do you know Tentoki?"

Before answering she slowly comes closer, which Takeshi lets happen. She raises a hand and points an index toward her right eye.

"I wield the Sanmeigan. One of their 3 wisdoms is the ability to constantly see everywhere all at once." she explains her Dojutsu. "It isn't their only power, but it is their most prized. Thanks to this power, I've seen Hideo Kotobuki live his double life all along. He's been acting as a criminal mastermind nicknamed the Chimera for longer than he's been in charge of this lab."

Takeshi takes a few steps back, checks Tentoki in his mind to see if he believes it, and admits the truth. He's been fooled by Hideo, like everyone. He's utterly shocked and shaken, but refuses to show emotions in front of this woman. He breathes in and thinks straight.

"I see. It's… a good thing actually." he says. "If you see everything, you already know what I'm about to ask… If you could just lead me to one solid proof against Kotobuki, I'll show it to the council. With this, we should save Karasu from that manhunt and make him an ally."

"I'm afraid this isn't possible anymore." Sakitsuki sadly says. "The Mizukage already found Karasu Komori. As we speak, he just delivered the final blow."

The Minamoto widely opens his eyes in surprise. He then squints and clenches his teeth, frustrated by this infuriatingly bad timing.

"Damn it. Why didn't you come down there earlier?" he pointlessly asks.

"I… am sorry." she still apologizes. "As I said, I was unsure of my allowance to come here. It is the child's kidnapping that set me on the move."

Takeshi shakes his head and holds it with both hands as he slips his fingers in his hair. To make anyone else feel guilty about this is pointless. Nobody could have saved Karasu anyway. Maybe Tentoki was right. It was his bad for letting himself befriended by a mercenary in the first place.

"Takeshi… I told you this was to be expected." Tentoki says. "Next time we encounter a bounty hunter, just make sure to take him down immediately and not to engage in dialogue."

Takeshi, not knowing what to say, nods in acceptance, keeps his eyes closed for a moment, for the emotion to pass. The only thing left on his mind now is to give the Chimera what he deserves. Sakitsuki, waiting to get his attention back, is saddened by the ninja's loss and doesn't know how to help.

"Wo-Would you… appreciate a comfort hug?" she hesitatingly proposes.

"What?" Takeshi promptly says, looking back at her.

"Nothing! Forget it." Sakitsuki immediately replies, shying away.

"Okay then… I won't turn my back to my village in any way anymore." he says, determined. "Sakitsuki, I am willing to help you in your quest. But understand that I'll have to report to the Mizukage once it is over. I can't keep your involvement a secret forever."

"I… am okay with this. Are you sure you're fine?" she carefully asks.

"It's fine. How do we stop Kotobuki?" he replies.

"Um… First, I need to meet Rihetsuki, the retired fellow of my clan." she suggests. "I need his approval to save his daughter. He lives in a village on a small island up north of this country."

The Minamoto gently nods, ready to follow this mysterious but reassuring woman in her celestial mission.

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At the same time, on the frontier of the land, down the collapsed cliff where the sword fight began, Chojuro is barely standing before Crow who lies back to the ground, fatally injured. They're now surrounded by the hunter-nin squad who was guarding this part of the land's border.

Just a minute earlier, after several hours spent confronting their strategies and swordsmen skills, the tired Mizukage was brutally disarmed by the mercenary but took advantage of one small instant of respite to deliver one fatal attack. Using the heavy rain falling on them he could take his opponent off guard and make a simple but sharp water blade that fell down on Karasu's back and stabbed through his heart.

Lying face down against the remains of the fallen cliff that was destroyed during the fight, Crow turns his head to look at Chojuro. The Mizukage, covered in blood and separated from his chest armor, bends over to tell a few last words to this noble opponent.

"You were remarkably strong, Karasu Komori. I won't forget this battle." he declares. "Yet, I still need to know about your employer. What is it worth keeping the secret now?"

"I… am… but a weapon." Crow repeats with a struggling voice, to Chojuro's disappointment.

"Whoever handles this weapon is disarmed!" he angrily answers. "Tell me who he is so I can bring justice for you."

"…" Karasu hesitates before saying a few last words, but not betraying his employer. "The Daimyo system is better abolished. Let it die. Do not… Let him take over…"

Chojuro confusingly stares at the mercenary and gets closer. He takes off his rain covered glasses to uncover his ears and hear him more attentively. In his last breath, Karasu Komori gives a last piece of advice to the Mizukage that should satisfy him for now.

"If you want answers, ask Voodoo. Unlike me, he knows himself as a human." he says at last before shutting his mouth forever.

This demise, the top S-rank mercenary gladly accepts it. Despite not having gotten a fight against Takeshi Minamoto, he had the honor to be taken down by one of the 5 Kage in person, moreover being the last and mightiest of Kiri's ninja swordsmen. He doesn't regret a single thing from his last days. From his short friendship with Takeshi to his ultimate contract and mission, he consciously did all of it to successfully go down as a legend among mercenaries.

He knows very well that the next generation of mercenaries, those who were raised and trained like he was, will overshadow his tale, but he remains satisfied. All he hopes for now is that he'll be the only legend remembered from this story. The Chimera needs to be brought down, and this, he can only leave it to Takeshi.

The 6th Mizukage verifies the vital signs of the great Crow and confirms his passing. From the last few words he heard him say, he gets what he'll have to do next. Questioning Oji Tatari, Voodoo, who's still in jail in Kiri, could get him the intel he needs about that Chimera. Tired from this fight, Chojuro stops holding back the pain and consequences from the many wounds he received. He lets himself fall unconscious to the ground. But unlike Karasu, he'll survive. He's immediately taken care of by the surrounding ninjas of Kiri who just arrived at the place.

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The next day in the morning, Takeshi Minamoto joins Sakitsuki Otsutsuki who agreed to guide him until they take down the Chimera. At the moment, the both of them are on the way to the island north of the archipelago where Rihetsuki, the retired celestial, lives. Takeshi could have gotten there in seconds by running. Sakitsuki could have reached the destination in just a minute by flight as well, but they are taking it easy as they're chatting on the way.

"So, Sakitsuki,…" Takeshi starts the conversation. "Tell me more about Kotobuki."

"There's a lot to know." she starts the tale. "He uses a jutsu called the Kimera jutsu. It allows him to absorb the genetic material of people and acquire their Kekkei Genkai abilities. This jutsu derives from my clan's Shigetsu no Juin, the divine blood curse. We have the ability to absorb fellow clan members to get all their powers and chakra. But it was made a forbidden jutsu a very long time ago and was turned into a curse by our clan's founder. In Kimera's case, nobody ever cursed it. So he can simply do it without having to suffer the remorse and complaints of the ones he robs. What he plans to do now is to absorb the genes of Rihetsuki's daughter and get her powers."

"Hm…" Tentoki remarks. "This explains his odd fascination with gene transplantation and Kekkei Genkai abilities. He was actually able to do this to himself all along. And it explains his recent interest in the Otsutsuki. He just found a way to get his hand on their powers with not much difficulty. I guess this little girl isn't as powerful as the likes of Momoshiki, Kinshiki and others."

"I can't believe he's been lying to us all along!" Takeshi complains again. "So when Karasu said the Chimera would reveal itself to me, he meant that Hideo would tell me the truth just as soon as he made sure I'd be on his side."

"Sure, but how did he intend to get you to betray Kiri while acting as Kiri's agent?" Tentoki questions.

"We'll see about that." Takeshi replies before asking one more question to Sakitsuki. "How long has he had this power in him?"

"It is a Kekkei Genkai, so either since birth or since the first time he used it." she goes on. "He discovered it by the time he was a chunin, because of an unplanned heart transplant. When the 4th war started, he had already decided on his research for growth on power and used the battlefield as a looting space. There, he could absorb the entire body of a zetsu clone and obtained the abilities of this species, including Mokuton. Later, while everyone was battling the Juubi, he got the Byakugan from a Hyuga clansman's corpse. So far, he wasn't aware of the limits of his jutsu though he already noticed that he didn't have a 100% chance of success in assimilating the wanted Kekkei Genkai. It is after the final battle that he realized it. He was part of the unit that was left with the body and remains of Madara Uchiha and tasked with the cremation. At this moment he attempted to steal cells from the Jinchuriki of Juubi's remaining legs but it provoked some kind of allergic reaction that left him gravely wounded. After the cremation, he convinced everyone that his new injuries were wounds from the war that got infected."

"Wait, if the Rikudo cells of Madara Uchiha were incompatible with him, why does he hope to take cells from a celestial? Won't it be even worse?"

"Thing is,… If Hideo knew his own jutsu better at the time he would have succeeded." she continues. "Unable, he retired from his ninja career and went on to travel across the world. This is when he started his illegal activities and became known as the Chimera. He got in touch with the ruler of the land of Sound, Orochimaru, who provided him with genes from the 1st Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Thanks to these, he got a healing ability that saved his body from the effect of Madara's cells. And thanks to it, he improved his assimilation capability to such an extent that he now had a way to get a 100% of success by absorbing the target's heart."

"I see, so he has Byakugan, Mokuton, and the healing ability of the 1st Hokage." Takeshi lists. "What more?"

"Right after that, he sent his right hand, Naomi Yuki, to retrieve 3 new Kekkei Genkai from Kiri's past scientific lab." Sakitsuki keeps going with the tale. "However, he didn't plan for Sasuke Uchiha to get involved. He couldn't get his hands on the 2 newborns that carried Shakuton and Bakuton, but Naomi managed to bring him the conserved heart of a dead sequestered Uchiha woman, which got him the Sharingan."

Takeshi sighs out of discomfort at this information. He reckons that the two newborns were Kaori and Yukiko, and is glad that it turned out better for them. But that Uchiha woman, if he's correct according to what he heard, must have been the mother of Teru's dad, Kobo Uchiha. This Naomi Yuki helped Kotobuki in getting what he wanted, which means Karasu likely did the same at some point.

"From there on, he easily got hands on new powers." Sakitsuki ends her story. "This includes other elements such as Yoton, Deiton, and Ranton, but also other abilities including the Kekkei Genkai of Shin no Kuni's Kurama and Onikuma clans. That last clan's ability, Hyoishi, allows them to curse the will of others by injecting their chakra into them. This is what Hideo used to manipulate the feudal family into letting him become the new Daimyo."

Takeshi nods as to show he understands, and senses Makura waking up inside him as if something just triggered him.

"This is what I felt." the tree tengu says. "His chakra tried to corrupt you, but it couldn't thanks to us."

"Good to know." Tentoki comments. "I guess this is how he intended to get you on his side. Does he know that it failed?"

"Not sure… Maybe not." Makura replies.

Takeshi takes a moment to think. It could be that Hideo currently thinks that he's under his control. However, he doesn't intend to use this at his advantage. When he meets Hideo again, he'll make sure to let him know that his plan failed and that he'll kill him to avenge Karasu and all the other people who died for his schemes.

But for now, until then, he'll stick to Sakitsuki and gently follow her eyes. After finishing her tale she's gone quiet. Takeshi oddly enjoys hearing her talking about anything, and encourages another conversation.

"So, Sakitsuki… Am I allowed to call you Saki? It's shorter and easier to say." he asks.

"Saki?" she exclaims, slightly blushing. "A nickname?"

"Oh! I'm Sorry, lady!" Takeshi apologizes. "I'll keep going with your full name if it bothers you."

"No. It's okay. You can call me Saki." she accepts with a smile.

"Okay then, Saki." he replies, smiling. "Can you tell me more about those eyes of yours? What else can they do?"

"The Sanmeigan was created when a fragment of the star in the center of the first universe was fused with my Byakugan when I was still a baby." she tells about herself. "It still has the abilities of the Byakugan, but also some more. Its energy allows me to travel through a rainbow bridge to cross cosmic distances in a matter of hours or days. But its main interest are, as its name shows, the 3 wisdoms. First is The Wisdom to see into the minds of others, with which I can read into the past of anyone close to me though I was never allowed to use it. Second is the Complete Extinction of Afflictions with which I can extinguish all the chakra in people's bodies but it causes my eyes' light to fade away for a while. Last but not least is the Divine Eyes, that is why I can see everything that happens."

"Like, do you have an example?" Takeshi keeps making conversation. "What's my father doing at the moment?… No no no, wait, that would be too easy, since he's still in this land. Tell me what Izuna is doing? Except if it's embarrassing."

"Izuna Uchiha is at Konoha's hospital, in the break room with his girlfriend and a clone of the 7th Hokage." she says. "He's eating a cup of instant ramen noodles and complains about the taste that doesn't compare with those of Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto Uzumaki agrees with him. Izuna noticed Inoue looking at him funny. I think he feels dumb for getting so engaged in this kind of conversation. The Hokage laughs lightly."

"Okay, that's it. I've heard enough." he interrupts her, feeling a bit intrusive. "How do you know what they're saying? Can you also hear everything?"

"No, I'm just reading their lips." Saki explains. "You know, Takeshi, this ability may sound efficient or godly, but it is heavier to support than you might think. I am forced to witness everything that happens since even my eyelids won't cut my sight, and it is… painful. I believe I can't ever be truly happy because of it, for I see all the pain in the universe. And trust me, there is way more of this than happy memories."

Takeshi feels saddened by this last comment. Having to spectate the troubles of everyone without ever being noticed must feel like a burden. To change the topic and even up the score, he tells about himself.

"I understand, if you want I can tell you about myself now, since you've told a lot about yourself." he suggests. "I was born in Kiri, the native land of my mother. My father is originally from Ryuka where my clan comes from…"

He keeps talking about his life for a long time. He tells about his friendships, his meetings with the Daitengu, his ninja career, and hesitatingly also says a few things about his short romantic adventures. After a while, he stops, a bit bugged by the lack of concern of Sakitsuki. She didn't show a single reaction since the beginning and is just maintaining a simple yet gentle smile.

"Um… Saki, are you listening?" he asks.

"I am. Sorry, it's just that, of course, I already knew all of it." she replies before shyly looking away. "In fact, I even knew every detail. In your case specifically, Takeshi, I've been not only seeing, but watching you since birth."

"Um… Ok?" Takeshi says, deranged by the thought of someone watching him at any time.

"I'm sorry! It's not what you think!" she adds to justify herself. "I mean I know you very very well personally. I still knew how to focus on something else when you needed intimacy."

"It's cool, haha!" he interrupts her again. "I get it… I think we're getting there."

Sakitsuki shakes her head and nods. Takeshi looks forward and sees the buildings of a village in which he is just stepping in. He jumps up and quickly gets to the highest roof there to get a full view.

"So the old Otsutsuki is somewhere here?" he asks.

"He is. He lives with his family in a great house, south from here." she answers. "I just need to ask him some questions. Since he came here 3 centuries before I was even born, I never met him in person, and no one from the clan ever came to him during this time. I'll first have to earn his trust."

"Half a century?" Takeshi exclaims. "This guy arrived here after Kaguya, is that right?"

"He was on the moon before that, but he is on Earth since the year 306 of your calendar." she completes Takeshi's guess. "Which means he arrived there 306 years after the birth of Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the one you call the Rikudo-sennin."

"Wait wait wait…" he tries to make a guess. "It means you weren't born until like… 700 years ago?"

"Well, you're in the year 1208 so I'm 675 years old precisely." she doubtfully says. "Why? You thought I was younger?"

"Not at all!" Takeshi exclaims. "Sorry, I mean… I've read that you guys live for something like 3000 years more than us. In terms of life proportion, if you're 670 years old, it means, in human years you're just 18?"

"Oh, yes. I'm still a young little girl. Most of my kind still call me a child." she shyly explains. "Even though we don't age like humans at all. Compared to you, we actually look like we're in our twenties for most of our lives."

"So you're a 670 year old who's treated like she's 18 but looks 20?" he sums up.

"And you're 18, treated like you're 18 but look 18? Almost 19." she jokingly replies.

Takeshi just gently smiles, amused by her answer and by what he just discovers. In his mind, she was much older than that. In Sasuke's reports it is said that Momoshiki and Kaguya were around 2 thousand years old. Kinshiki was nearly 3000. Even Katashiki Otsutsuki was something like 900. It means Saki is actually the youngest celestial they meet so far.

While he's lost in his thoughts, Saki focuses on the village again and remarks something she didn't pay attention to until now.

"I only noticed her now, but what is she doing here?" she says aloud. "Oh, someone else just teleported there. And someone else…" she adds before widely opening her eyes out of shock. "I should leave this village and catch up to you later."

"Why? what's up?"

"Someone I better avoid at all cost just entered the village." she explains.

Takeshi looks down in the village to find the said person but can't seem to. He does indeed feel a very strong presence around but because of Sakitsuki standing next to him he can't clearly locate and identify them. While staring around, he finds one person that Tentoki immediately recognizes.

Down in the streets is a woman sneaking around. A woman with long blonde hair, a blue tight-fitting top, military pants and boots. From her picture in the bingo book, Takeshi recognizes her as well. Naomi Yuki, the former right hand of Hideo Kotobuki.

Driven by his latest experience and regrets, Takeshi keeps in mind Tentoki's last advice to quickly deal with mercenaries from now on. As soon as he identifies the person he sees, he rushes down in the village toward her. Behind him, Sakitsuki sees him going and follows in panic, hoping to stop him and prevent a dangerous meeting.

But he's going too fast and carelessly. In just an instant, he grabs the clueless bounty huntress by the neck and slams her to the ground. With his hand coated in lightning, he threatens to stab her with his Shiden but leaves her enough time to understand what's happening.

"Ugh? You're… the Minamoto?" she exclaims, out of breath and startled.

"Naomi Yuki, What are you doing here?" he questions her in a serious tone.

"Calm down, kid!" she asks. "I'm here to meet someone."

"Who's that? The Chimera?" he menacingly adds.

Before she can answer, the Kiri-nin's hand is held back by someone who abruptly appears in his back and catches it. Takeshi trembles and looks aside to see who just arrived, and finds a face he hasn't seen in a long time.

"Long time no see, Takeshi." the person says.

There, by his side, is Boruto Hyuga holding him back with one hand while the other is in his back on the handle of a sword. The Hyuga let his hair grow over the right half of his face to hide the wound around his eye that he got in his second fight against Kawaki.

Sakitsuki, stops in the sky over the scene and fearfully looks at who just came in. She isn't afraid of Boruto, but of who is supposed to be with him. Not willing to meet this person, she turns around and flies away as quickly as possible, knowing that the said man is already close by.

Ameno Tejikara

As she flies away, she suddenly finds herself caught in a jutsu that even her sight can't see coming. In an instant, she's transported down the streets and feels a thunderous blade pierce through her chest.

Raikiri Katana

Next to Takeshi, Boruto and Naomi, Sakitsuki violently lands on her back and is nailed to the ground by the sword piercing her. Standing on her with one foot pressed against her abdomen to keep her still is Konoha's wanderer, Sasuke Uchiha. With his Kusanagi, he just pierced through the celestial he found and injured one of her two hearts.

Takeshi looks aside and sees the Rinnegan user threatening the life of his new friend. Having read the reports of this man, he knows how he feels about the Otsutsuki clan and its members. Having found an unexpected individual of this species again, he must consider her an enemy to take down at all cost.

"You're not who I came to find." Sasuke says to Sakitsuki who's still unsettled by Ameno Tejikara. "I assume you're here to stand in my way."

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End of Chapter 114 – Next Chapter: Rihetsuki