Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Shinden Saga – Arc 1: Kimera

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Chapter 122 – A little longer

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After the fierce battle that took place in the capital of the land of Lightning and the unreal miracle that occurred at its end, the ninjas of Kumo and Kiri cleaned the resulting chaos and headed back to the Raikage's village. There, Naomi Yuki and Takeshi Minamoto told everything there was to know to the village's leading council.

The troops of Kiri had to wait and stay there, helping their allies from this land in recovery until the 6th Mizukage arrived. As soon as he got out of the hospital, Chojuro hit the road to Kumo. Brought to learn about everything he missed, he also got to meet Naomi and declare the official acceptance of her asylum demand.

Together with Darui, he then came to an agreement for a report of the Chimera's case to the Shinobi Union council and was left free to go back to his land with his troops and Hideo Kotobuki's remains. Asked to do so by Sakitsuki, Takeshi demanded for Kotobuki's corpse to be duly secured and cremated once in Kiri, to eliminate any trace of the many abilities and genes he stole.

The golden eyed goddess, during these two days, stood nearby with Tojiki while avoiding implication with anyone other than Takeshi. Still, despite not meeting her, Chojuro was informed of her involvement by the ninja in black.

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Now, in the morning 2 days after Hideo Kotobuki's death, Sakitsuki finally returns to the village where lives Rihetsuki Otsutsuki. As promised, she brings back his daughter safely, but not without a little surprise, being her astonishing new eye power.

Due to this, Sakitsuki negotiates with the father in order to be allowed to educate the girl on her abilities. In respect of his life choices, she will only guide her in learning how to control her divine might and not tell anything about history. Rihetsuki agrees to this, but still won't let it last too long.

Outside of the house as the celestials discuss their agreement, Naomi and Takeshi are waiting. Expecting to find Sasuke still here and report on their mission, they found out that the Uchiha and his student had already left after acquiring all the information they needed. Takeshi stays there anyway, waiting for Saki, and Naomi keeps him company.

The Minamoto, who didn't get any sleep since he went to Kumo, tries to hide his fatigue. He focuses on who he sees inside through the window. The two celestials are still talking, and the little girl, Tojiki, happily reunites with her mother and brother. He quietly stares at the girl acting innocent as if she didn't reshape reality itself to play with the lives of human beings 2 days ago.

"… So Sasuke's not there, huh?" Naomi says to break the silence, startling Takeshi. In his mind, Tentoki speaks of the doubts he kept for himself until now.

"I really don't know if we should be amazed or frightened. Happy or terrorized." he says, thinking of Tojiki's abilities.

"There is nothing to fear." Makura replies. "Kotobuki is dead. She is alive. As we wanted."

"… It's true but… How?" Tentoki argues. "This girl's Dojutsu is mentioned in Sasuke's latest reports. The Sharin-Byakugan. When he wrote that it could be the thing that Momoshiki used to change the fate and birth of Oshio, I didn't understand what he meant, but now I see it. Having witnessed this girl rewriting reality and manipulating life and death, makes it seem obvious what Momoshiki could have done."

"I…" Takeshi says aloud to Naomi, following the thoughts of his tengu. "I really can't believe you're alive."

"Hm… Neither can I." she replies. "But I won't bother trying to understand. I'm just glad I'm here. I'm far from done with life. Moreover…" she pauses and looks up to the sky. "The Chimera is no more. I'm free. And I've been granted a second chance in Kiri…"

"So what now?" the Minamoto asks, to cheer her up.

"Well. Retirement I guess."

"Really? But you're just 41."

"Yeah, but those were 41 tiring years for sure!" she adds. "I'll take a break. And then, I'll look for Shimo."

Takeshi stays silent for a moment, letting her enjoy her thoughts. Then, as he thinks of what this young girl represents for her, he remembers something that Hideo mentioned.

"Hey, Naomi… Do you know who Fubuki is?" he asks, leaving her confused. "Mister Kotobuki said that name before dying. He told me I was what people like her, Fubuki, couldn't be. What did he mean?"

"… No clue." she answers, after thinking of it to no end. "Seems like there's still a lot I didn't know about him."

"What about that ruler from the shadows?" he keeps going with questions. "Do you think he really just made that up?"

"I wouldn't know. It's not my business anyway." she replies before turning around to leave. "I'll leave you there. I gotta claim my due in Kiri now."

She raises her hand to wave goodbye as she goes to join Kokoro who was waiting in the distance. She's been sent to keep an eye on Naomi until the agreement of asylum was signed and complete. Her mission now will be a payback to what Naomi did for her 20 years ago. She will bring her to Kiri and let her live there freely.

While Takeshi looks at them going, Tentoki brings up his last question again.

"You know, about that one from the shadows, I think Naomi's right." he tells him. "It's really none of our business. If they exist, one thing's for sure: they're not in control of the nations. This is clearly impossible as long as Naruto sits in the council. If they ever want to rise up like Kotobuki did, they'll have to reveal themselves or face the Kage. And this would get Naruto involved again. Truth is, even if Kotobuki killed you, Naomi, the Raikage, and ruled over the lands he had in scope, he'd just have earned to fight Naruto or Sasuke and lose. There's a reason why so few people dare to step as far as he did. And that reason is these two simply existing. Remember how Kakumei stood aside for a whole year after just one encounter with one of them?"

"But Kakumei managed to get rid of both the Hokage and Sasuke Uchiha for a while." Takeshi argues.

"They did, and that's why it won't happen again." Tentoki reasons. "Moreover, may I remind you that the Hokage actually let it happen? And on Sasuke's side, it wasn't the doing of Kakumei, but of the Otsutsuki."

"The Otsutsuki…" Takeshi calmly repeats, staring at the house just as Saki and Rihei step out with Tojiki.

"… It's fortunate that they can be allies." Tentoki comments, looking at those before him. "However, as I know you're thinking, those willing to oppose our world are still an uncertain threat, as even Sasuke and Naruto aren't guaranteed to win."

After these wise and honest words, Takeshi takes a step forward, more focused on the bright side of this clan. Sakitsuki just said goodbye to Tojiki who went back running into the house, acting like she didn't learn to levitate. Close enough, Takeshi hears the end of Saki's discussion with the old father Rihei.

"Does your rather unnatural implication with this world mean something?" Rihei asks. "I know this isn't the first time our kind steps into humanity's domain. And I also know how it ended last time."

"Since you've lived here so long, if you really know, you should have guessed that it is certainly not only the second time either." she replies calmly, to his surprise.

"Do you mean to say…" he questions.

"Just like it happened many times before, and after that one occurrence you think about, we likely won't let Earth be aware of those incidents." she explains. "Momoshiki's invasion, Tokubei-sama's and Yamitsuki-sama's interventions, what you told to Sasuke Uchiha, and now my presence here… I don't see any other solution for the clan than to erase humanity's memories again. This time, it could be all knowledge about us that will be erased, and you'll be affected as well."

Rihetsuki widely opens his eyes, even though he already knew this could happen. Actually, he wouldn't mind this at all. Being treated like the rest of humanity by his clan, would mean to finally cut his ties to them for good.

Takeshi Minamoto, who overheard this conversation, is more troubled by this suggestion. He heard it right, but he honestly refuses to accept it. Feeling conflicted, he blankly looks forward as Saki salutes the elder who goes back to his home. He sees her turn around and come toward him. Tentoki, seeing the bright face of the goddess and sensing the doubts in his host, reveals a few thoughts that he kept aside until now.

"You know, Takeshi… I noticed something odd." he starts. "When we left the capital and ran off to find Naomi dead, Hideo must have reached the city just as we were going. We didn't feel him coming, certainly because he was masking his chakra. He was hiding his print, and we couldn't detect it at all. Yet, when we first met Sakitsuki, it's because you and Fear Itself sensed her. No one but you noticed her, so she was certainly covering her print as well."

"What do you mean?" Takeshi asks, a bit confused.

"I mean if Kotobuki can sneak on you, so could she." he summarizes. "For you to find her, it had to be intentional. I'm just saying she probably enjoyed you meeting her. Also, as she promised, she came back to see you before bringing Tojiki home… So, if you think there's something you should ask her, don't keep it for yourself. She'd probably understand."

Takeshi nods in his mind, agreeing with the tengu, and somehow satisfied by the point he makes. As Saki comes closer, he thinks of what she just said to Rihetsuki. If her clan really goes for the suggested strategy, it means he has to forget her. He doesn't want to. He doesn't want to go on in life as if he never met her, even unknowingly. Also, the world certainly wouldn't like to be shut into ignorance and totally forget what it's been up against for the last 10 years.

Tentoki, sharing these last thoughts, suddenly has a thousand questions popping up in his head.

"How would this even work?" he says. "If the ninja world forgets the Otsutsuki, they forget Momoshiki, so the reason why Kakumei exists. Or would they forget Kakumei as well? Would Boruto and Izuna forget in what context they became who they are today? Would everyone forget why the feudal system is on the verge of collapsing? Also, would we also forget Kaguya? And in this case, would the Kage even remember why they're at peace? What would Naruto and Sasuke think they've been up to these last 20 years?… Oh and wait a minute… If we forget the Otsutsuki, what about Sojobo?"

"Lord Sojobo is not a celestial." Makura answers.

"Sure, but he was brought back by Momoshiki last time, didn't he?" the white tengu asks. "By the way, Fear itself, would you happen to know what Sojobo is exactly, apart from celestials, Biju and ninjas?"

"Yes." the dark tree replies. "He is the Daitengu."

"Yeah right!" Takeshi barges in to mock the naivety of this reply and stop this discussion.

"You seem rather confused." Sakitsuki tells him in real life, seeing his face morph along with the thoughts of the 3 minds unleashed in his body.

Takeshi calms down, comes back to reality, and looks at her in silence. He reminds himself of what caused his tengu's stupid rant, and shakes his head.

"I don't want to forget you." he surprises himself saying. "I mean… Sorry I mean, like… Sasuke and all are not gonna let their memories be erased."

"Understand it is for the better." she justifies the strategy. "Without this, things could escalate until our rulers are forced to decimate this world. Also, they may not proceed this way. Instead of erasing memories, they could simply rewrite the past with the same ability Tojiki has."

"… How far does this power actually go?" Takeshi asks, still doubtful about the existence of such a jutsu.

"As far as you can imagine." she says. "But it isn't costless. As you see, Tojiki only has 1 tomoe left. She had 2 when I found her."

"So she can use it only once more…" he comments. "But I guess your master has two complete Sharin-Byakugan to spend, doesn't she?"

"Naobi-sama is on another level." Sakitsuki replies. "She used it a few times in the past, but she recovered all the lost tomoe. Also, she can use it by sacrificing something else, such as someone else's will, chakra or biology."

"… I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be happy with you telling these secrets to me." the Minamoto says. "Why are you even saying it? Why are you even staying there? If it's all meaningless and meant to vanish?"

"Everything in creation is meant to vanish." she wisely says, before giving a more serious answer. "You misjudged my words, Takeshi. This is only a possibility that I see as the wisest choice my clan could make for safety. In reality, it is far from decided, and based on the great Ryu Shinsen's latest actions, it may not even occur at all."

"… This is better." Takeshi says, appeased. "Thank you for your help, by the way. Without you, Kotobuki would have fooled everyone."

"It was only natural." she shuts down his praises. "It served me as much as this planet. Besides, I got to meet you from up close, which I'm pretty thankful for."

"Oh! Really?" he happily exclaims, thinking of what he first intended to ask, following Tentoki's advice. "Why not stay a bit longer? I don't know what you have planned now, but in case it's something like going back into space, maybe I could show you around this world or something instead. Or we could just hang out, you know, to celebrate victory or something?"

"… I guess I could say yes, or something." she jokingly replies with a light smile. "Actually, I just got the authorization to train Tojiki. This will require me to stay a bit longer in this world anyway. So I could appreciate a little time with you."

"Oh boy!" the ninja in love exclaims to his tengu, excited in his inner world. In front of Saki, his eyes shine bright, not because of any jutsu. Just out of happiness.

"Fine! I know you probably saw everything already. But I can bring you to places you can smell or hear, you'll see!" he exclaims in a happy but doubtlessly tired voice.

The goddess smiles brighter due to his contagious mood, and gently wraps her arm under his shoulder to hold him. Takeshi trembles, suddenly feeling weak, and looks at her.

"How about I bring you somewhere first?" she suggests. "You'll have all the time you need to run around after a good rest. I'll take care of the trip this time."

"Am I tired? Is it that noticeable?" he asks.

"Well, I can see it at least." she replies as she tightens her hold on his waist. "Don't worry. It will be way faster than you could have been by foot."

After these words, she looks up and lets her eyes shine toward the sky. They get caught in a rainbow arch that transports them around the world at the ultimate speed of light and leaves them at the best place for Takeshi to rest. Home. Well, not exactly, since it's actually at his parents' place that they land.

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In the evening of the same day, the ninja in black wakes up from a long nap, in his old bedroom, at his parent's house. Confused, he forgot how he got there for a moment, but quickly remembers. After quickly (very quickly) washing his face, he goes downstairs and finds all his family home, including Sakitsuki.

She is sitting in the living room, chatting with Tokiwa like good friends. This morning, when she brought Takeshi here to rest, he insisted on letting her in and meet everyone. He only introduced her rapidly to his mother before going to sleep.

His mom and her look like they've been sitting here for hours, gossiping about anything. It seems like they really get along, which makes him happy. Yoshinari, sitting on Tokiwa's lap, also seems captivated by the guest. Same can't be said about Tsubai however. Takeshi sees his father at the bottom of the stairs acting like he's spying on everyone.

Noticing his son, he stands straight and asks a few things he couldn't earlier.

"Is it how you wanted things to go?" he questions. "You and the ice woman made it out fine, and the science freak is dead. Do you feel… satisfied?"

"Oh… I guess. He got what he deserved. That's all that matters." Takeshi replies. "… Though at first, I thought you were asking about her." he adds, looking at the guest.

"That thing? Damn no! Takeshi, what the hell did you bring to us?" Tsubai complains. "I swear I even called Sasuke on her while you were sleeping. And he just damn told me to not worry? That 'she's a friend of yours' and not harmful. I was like, what the hell? She's a damn alien!"

Takeshi makes a bored face, disappointed by his father's reaction and behavior. In the living room, Sakitsuki frowns, unhappy as well, having involuntarily read the father's lips. Seeing this, Tokiwa turns around and just now notices her son.

"What else did you tell Sasuke?" Takeshi asks Tsubai, changing topic.

"Everything he asked about." he replies. "Your mission's success, and Naomi's integration with Kiri."

The ninja in black nods, glad that this was done for him. He then steps in the room to greet his mother and sister, and serves himself a cup of tea.

"Oh, Takeshi, I love her!" Tokiwa exclaims. "She's by far my favorite of all the girls you dated."

To this comment, Takeshi spits out his drink, and hurriedly cleans it all up before it spills anywhere.

"Damn not!" Tsubai yells, unhappy about his wife's assumption. "Don't say it like that, Tokiwa! No son of mine's gonna date an alien predator."

Saya and Tokiwa look at him shockingly. Takeshi makes a disturbed face as well, but his white tengu acts more comprehensively.

"You have to understand your dad's reaction, Takeshi." he says. "For him, a new life started when he met this clan. One of them killed his youth best friend, and attempted to kill him. The second time he met one, Kobo died and the Daitengu returned. It'll be hard for him to see them differently."

Takeshi understands, but Tokiwa doesn't have the wise words of the celestial light to clarify it to her, so she blames her husband. Tsubai argues with her, and says exactly what Tentoki explains.

"I just can't feel right about these guys!" he exclaims. "They have no consideration for human lives, and are all arrogant maniacs. Takeshi, I know you told Chojuro about her. I know he'll tell the other Kage, and I know the noodle-kage will be cool with that, but people like Sasuke and I will always stay aware."

"Mister Minamoto,…" Sakitsuki speaks for herself. "I comprehend your views on my clan, but those of us that you know are really the worstexamples. Momoshiki Otsutsuki, especially, is an unrivaled sadist."

"You could be just the same." Tsubai argues. "According to Sasuke, Kaguya was just like you. Good looking, nice and gentle on the outside, but a filthy power hungry demon inside. It's part of you, this rejection for inferior beings. It runs in the family. I'm sure your parents were also evil ogres, just like the others!"

"I reckon it takes courage to address me like that, considering the difference in power between us…" Sakitsuki says, not as a threat or warning, but just a gentle remark. "I don't know much about my parents. All I can tell is my father was a giant nature-bending dinosaur reptile and my mother was a master of shadows. Both acted for the greater good of the universe their whole life. They seemed like monsters, but peaceful in mind. Just like Daikoku, am I wrong?"

To this information, Tsubai makes a perplexed face. He doesn't know what a dinosaur is, but the rest of the description she just made reminded him of something he's seen before.

"Wait… A reptile and a shadow-bender?" Daikoku asks in his mind. "That sounds like…"

They both think of the same thing. A dark creature that controls shadows better than any Nara could, and a giant reptile. These are the 2nd and 3rdTsukumogami of Katashiki. Is this resemblance a coincidence or not? Apparently, even Sakitsuki isn't aware of this, despite her all-seeing eyes.

Before these interrogations can go further, Takeshi ends this debate and changes the topic again, leaving Tsubai and Daikoku in their flashbacks.

"Saki, did you get to rest as well?" he asks.

"Oh, you call her by a nickname? That's too cuuute!" Tokiwa comments happily.

"I didn't sleep on the boat when we came back to this land, because you didn't either." Takeshi pointlessly explains his question, while blushing, trying to distract everyone from his mother's remarks.

"Oh, you were staying awake because of me?" she guiltily asks. "I'm sorry for not mentioning it before, but I thought you knew that. Celestials like me don't need to sleep. Neither do we have to eat or drink. The natural energy we constantly receive from the planets is enough for us.

"… This was in Sasuke's reports." Tentoki comments, blaming his host for forgetting.

"Oh, but I'm still capable of sleeping!" she adds, feeling like she has to correct herself. "I mean if you want me to, I'll take a rest. It's just that regular sleep is only a human need."

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A human need, she called it. Something that her kind only does to kill time or dream. Yet, even ninjas who surpassed these needs, or can go weeks or months without it, still do it daily out of habit and humanity.

In another land on another continent far in the east, away from the great nations, the greatest of all wandering ninjas lies at his camp in a forest. Sasuke Uchiha, is alone in the woods, trying to sleep.

As he does so, he remembers his exchange with Rihetsuki Otsutsuki, which was honestly disappointing. Most of it, he knew already. And there's a lot of really interesting things that the interlocutor couldn't say, out of fear apparently. So he mostly learned little details about the individuals he heard of.

The Ryu Shinsen, Yamitsuki Otsutsuki, Rihei knew him as a young boy. According to him, this person is truly mystical, hard to figure out. He is the result of pure and personal hard work, which intrigues Sasuke. For a god that was gifted with power greater than the Kage since birth, how much stronger exactly would honest training and growth make him?

About Naobi Otsutsuki, the divine presence that trapped him in infinity 2 years ago, all that Rihei said is that she was a being of peace and purity. She could have been the most dangerous of them, as proven by Momoshiki's use of her power, but she is not the kind to turn against the ninja world. Even though she should not be considered an enemy, Sasuke can't help but to feel in need to prepare for her.

Now, the one Sasuke was eager to learn about the most is Tokubei, the masked man who wields Itachi's ethereal weapon and a Rinnegan. About him, he got nothing but more questions. For Rihei, Tokubei was only a weakened prisoner child, not a masked figure. To him, he certainly shouldn't be able to use Susanoo.

About other individuals Sasuke heard or read about, such as Isshiki or Shiva, Rihei didn't dare to speak, out of fear. He refused to do anything that could upset these people and make him a target, which really isn't reassuring. Isshiki should be Kaguya's younger brother, possibly dead. And Shiva is someone that Momoshiki mentioned, but who also could be linked to Sakura and Izuna's power.

Apart from people, knowing that his answers were lacking, Rihei gave one last clue to Sasuke, to compensate. Takama. It is the name of the world where their kind was living when he left them. Visiting it, even though it could be risky, would certainly bring much information.

Yet, Rihetsuki admitted that he doesn't know where his clan is now. He left them 12 centuries ago, to live on the moon with the descendants of Hamura, because he had met a woman there. This is where he first encountered Boruto's Dojutsu as the power source of the parallel branch of Hamura's clan.

Rihei gave up his life there. Seeing that his friends were preparing a weapon to counter the Tenseigan, he understood that they would never give up the war they started. He came to Earth looking for a new peaceful life. The main branch couldn't finish the weapon in time and got decimated.

This tale may have affected Boruto personally. He felt like he had a role in this, since his eyes were introduced to him by Hamura. At the moment, Sasuke's student is in a nearby village where he left him. Unable to leave social interactions behind like his master does, Boruto often meets the locals at places they visit, to satisfy his young man instincts.

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The Hyuga heir, at the moment, is walking through kilometers of forest. On his way to join his sensei at his camp, he's disturbed by an odd feeling of emptiness. He just spent another night with a girl he just met. Like many times before during these last 2 years, he certainly won't meet her again. This train of life became a habit, but never stopped upsetting him afterwards.

"All these girls are pretty much like the janitor's daughter… They only fall for the famous son of the Hokage. Nothing serious will ever start from that… Guess I don't have Izuna's luck." he complains to himself.

In reality, Kanojo Doroku was genuinely in love with him as a person, but he will never know it. He just missed this chance. Yet at this point, he would instantly fall in love with someone as soon as he'd notice an honest interest from this person. So far, he still waits to find his Inoue. It is only something that torments him late at night, so he isn't motivated to handle it.

And tonight, circumstances won't let his mind be busied by this. As he gets deeper in the woods, he's suddenly alerted by a light coming from above. Up, a chakra orb comes to him. He leaps back to avoid it and lands in a glade where he sees similar green light balls come from all directions at once. To get out of range, he pulls out his sword and tosses it toward the sky.

Hiraishin

Just when the projectiles reach the ground, he instantly gets to his weapon and catches it by the handle. Under his feet, the orbs collide and crash, causing an explosion that destroys the glade. Apparently, whoever is leading this attack is not willing to let him have a break.

With his Byakugan, he notices another range of chakra balls in his back. To stop it this time, he turns around mid air and activates his Tenseigan.

Kinbo Tensei Kyuin

By concentrating chakra in his hand, he vacuums and absorbs the orbs approaching him. While doing so, he suddenly senses a presence over him. Looking up he sees a pale man with light blue curly hair, dressed in white, fall down on him unarmed. It is Toneri Otsutsuki who came to claim what power he needs.

Standing still in the air, Boruto lifts his sword to hit this stranger, but is swiftly dodged to his surprise. Falling on him, Toneri reaches for the Hyuga's face with his hand, to get his eye.

Ameno Tejikara

The attacker is suddenly crushed by Sasuke Uchiha's foot and pushed fast toward the ground. The wanderer, alerted by the action he could sense, switched with his student's sword to get the stranger from behind.

Toneri stands up and turns around sitting, face to face with the two caped swordsmen. Boruto never met this man before, but Sasuke did. And he notices the main difference with the last time he saw him. The Otsutsuki isn't blind anymore.

"I won't question where your new eyes come from." Sasuke says, raising his blade to the stranger's neck. "Yet, I'll ask why you're already after a new pair."

"I need the Tenseigan, Sasuke Uchiha." Toneri replies. "I need it to stand my ground against what's coming."

"What is coming?" Boruto asks.

"Oh you must know." the moonling tells them. "It is by your fault after all."

"The Otsutsuki clan." Sasuke guesses. "They came to you again… In that case, you won't have to get this Dojutsu. Boruto will use it himself to fight the same battle."

"This boy is far from knowing how to properly use it." Toneri argues. "He doesn't know half of what he's capable of. Your teaching won't help it, because you don't know either. He can only learn to mimic you."

"… In that case, you should teach him." the Uchiha suggests, to Toneri's surprise. "With your knowledge, he'll certainly get control of it. Besides, it is definitely a better plan for you than to attack Naruto's son. I'm sure you didn't consider how he'd react."

The Otsutsuki shamefully looks away, reminded of his last defeat again. He stares at Boruto's confused face and trembles. Not only does he remind him of Naruto, but his eyes, back to the Byakugan, are just the same as his mother's. The Hyuga, doubtful of his sensei's decision, questions him.

"Wait a moment, Sasuke-sensei." he says. "What are you talking about? You're not gonna let me be trained by a random stranger who tried to attack me, will you?"

"This man isn't a stranger, Boruto." Sasuke explains. "In fact, it is thanks to him that your parents are together. Isn't it, Toneri Otsutsuki?"

"Toneri?" Boruto exclaims. "You're Toneri!"

"You know my name?" the exiled one asks.

"Of course. I heard my mom and dad mention it." he says. "It's when I unlocked these eyes. They said they were the same as you had. You used them to fight my father."

Toneri stays silent, unsettled. There is no hatred or spite in the boy's voice. This means that, even though his parents spoke of him, they didn't mention him as an enemy or a threat, but just an old acquaintance. This makes him realize that, back then, their invitation to join Earth may have been genuine.

"Can I leave him to you?" Sasuke asks Toneri about Boruto, and the opposite.

They don't reply. They just hesitatingly nod. For the Hyuga, doubts are just in the process of thinking about it. For the moon's loner, it is out of confusion. But they both accept, to the Uchiha's satisfaction.

"Fine." he says. "This leaves me time to investigate something new on my side. Boruto, by the next time we meet, I want you to be stronger than I was at your age."

"What will you do?" the yellow haired ninja asks his sensei.

"I'll do as Rihetsuki suggested." he replies. "I'll search for Takama."

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End of Chapter 122 – Next Chapter: All at fault

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End of "The Shinden Saga – Arc 1: The Chimera"

Next: "The Shinden Saga – Arc 2: Pain Divine"