Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
Prologue – Arc 2: The Daitengu
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Chapter 11 – The Daitengu
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Tsubai sits in the middle of a room in an unknown place, face to face with the man who just introduced himself as the Daitengu. In his inner world, he questions his tengu about this identity reveal.
"Daitengu? Is it him? The strongest of them?"
"… He's not only the most powerful of us. He's the first, the creator. He's all of us as one. He created the tengu, the Minamoto, the curse."
"I couldn't have said it better." answers Sojobo to Daikoku, who shouldn't be audible by others than Tsubai.
"Um… He must be the one who brought back the past tengu inside of these people." adds Daikoku, unsettled to find out that the Daitengu can hear him.
"You are a clever one, Daikoku." says the Daitengu. "As expected from my youngest and most perfect child."
Despite the caring behavior of this person, Tsubai can't stop thinking about what his dad said at last. If the Daitengu is really the god-like threat that was described to him, surely he shouldn't stay here. So he looks around, seeking a way out.
"You want to leave already? Even though you just arrived and still don't know why I brought you there?" says Sojobo now, as if he heard Tsubai's thoughts.
"Um… I heard you were an unbeatable god. Is it true?" says Tsubai, trying to seem more friendly and less evasive.
"Huhu!" the man slightly laughs. "You were told… I could be, indeed. But not in this form. I'm only occupying this human body, and it is quite limiting. I'm sure it already occurred to your mind that, as a tengu, my true form couldn't look that human."
"What do you want from me?" asks Tsubai, conflicted between this thing and his dad's words.
"What do I want? Well, first, meeting you three. I was looking forward to this for a while. Now why did I ask for you to be brought here? For your safety. As anywhere else would be dangerous for you, I estimate that the best place to keep you well was by my side."
"What the hell is he talking about?" thinks Tsubai. Sojobo comes closer to him and lays Saori down on Tsubai's lap, making her sit with him. As he leaves her there, he only keeps his hand on the young girl's chest.
"As I understood, you don't want her to be a yamabushi, right?" says the Daitengu. "Akashita's hostility to her mind isn't something you want to remain. I understand, so I'll fulfill your wish, since it seems like I have no reason not to give you my trust."
The Daitengu'shand is slowly being surrounded by the black mist of Akashita that comes out from Saori. He's taking the tengu out of her.
"You see. This clan, the tengu, all have a purpose. I'm a being of extreme mystery, even to my own self. But, at least, I know that my soul pushes me to do some things like create offspring, which makes my own power grow. There is a goal to the powers I create. It is all in the aim of obtaining two of them. And you, Daikoku, are wielding one of these two Kekkei Genkai. So I need you alive to keep this power."
Sojobo stands up and leaves Saori with Tsubai. The black mist of Akashita is condensed on his hand and has been entirely extracted from Saori.
"My child, this tengu right here in my hand is Akashita, The filth in one's mind. You just fought him, so of course you already know him. I apologize for his behavior. It happens that he was kind of an unruly child. As he was in his first life and just lost his original host, his time is limited and he's fated to die within the next minutes, with or without a yamabushi. He'll have to wait until I resurrect him. Which is a long and complicated operation. But for now, the only possible outcome that would still benefit me, is to absorb him to keep his powers."
Tsubai looks at the strange man after these words. All that he understands is that this Daitengu seems to have total control over the other tengu. He seems to have a lot of rights over them. In his mind, he turns around to see Daikoku who looks at him at the same time. He thinks of him and their relationship. He doesn't want to lose him in any way. For some reason he feels like he needs to protect him from this Sojobo guy.
In front of him, the man raises his hand with Akashita in it and proceeds to his absorption. At this moment, Tsubai sees this hand, covered with the black mist, fly away from the body. Looking at Sojobo's face, he sees him shocked and frightened, staring on his left. Tsubai turns his head to follow the Daitengu's gaze.
There is Sasuke Uchiha. The wandering ninja used Ameno Tejikara to teleport himself between Sojobo and Tsubai, and cut off the Daitengu's arm. Now he pushes him back with a kick and stands right by Tsubai's side. Sasuke stands still for a second and evaluates the situation by looking around.
"INDRA!" yells Sojobo with an angry voice while getting up.
Around them, Ritoru pulls out claws from his fingers. Moritaka, Tsubai's uncle, unleashes wings coming from his back, and the tall black haired woman lets herself fall forward while her feet are sinking down in the ground. But of all the people in the room, the tall brown man with green eyes has the quickest reaction. He raises his two hands in Sasuke's direction and a cube appears around him. Sasuke already saw this jutsu before: Genkai Hakuri (Atomic Dismantling), the Tsuchikage's Jinton. Since he already planned his attack, he reacts fast and absorbs the jutsu before preparing his escape.
Chimatakami
He opens a black portal just on Tsubai and his sister to teleport them away. Before jumping back to flee with them, he sees the Daitengu coming toward him and aiming, not for him but for the sliced off hand at the Uchiha's feet. Before leaving, Sasuke kicks the hand away from him and Sojobo, also setting it on black fire by touching it. He then closes the portal on himself and gets away.
Sojobo makes a frustrated face while looking at his severed hand that lands on the ground further in the room and rapidly burns away. The black mist completely disappeared from it even before it was fully destroyed, which means that Akashita has died with the limb, lacking a fitting host body for too long. Sojobo caresses the remaining ashes, realizing he has just lost one of his children. All the people around put their jutsu down, realizing that they were too slow.
"Tokiwa, you didn't make it. You can come back." says the Daitengu, with a saddened voice, to the woman who went underground. "Indra's reincarnate… What does he want from me? Because of him, I'll have to wait weeks before being able to revive Akashita again."
Tokiwa, the black haired woman, swims out of the ground and looks at her master with a sorry face. The man with the green eyes and white marks looks at the pale white haired one, standing next to him.
"Why didn't you do anything, Shibata?" he says. "You could have saved the tengu with your speed."
"You think, Chuji?" answers the pale man. "This guy looked really fast, I'm not sure I'd have been at an advantage here."
"Shibata…" says Sojobo. "You could have gotten him. You very well know I couldn't, because I can't use Tentoki's abilities yet, since he didn't mature. You were the only one who had a chance to outspeed this man. But to designate someone to blame won't get us anywhere. We just need to find where they went."
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Somewhere else, in a strange desert place, Tsubai checks on his sister after they've been teleported away. He raises his head to see Sasuke looking at him with a thinking stare. He must already know more than him about the yamabushi and Sojobo. He probably even has a plan and an objective. Now, Tsubai understands that Sojobo is the one Sasuke talked about dealing with, but also the one Ritoru works for, the one his father wanted to stop, and probably the one Katashiki was really after.
"You've seen them. They are our targets." says Sasuke.
"You ran away. Why?" asks Tsubai, who still considers Sasuke as an almighty figure.
"Honestly,…" says Sasuke who takes a serious face. "I don't know how strong they are. But what I know is that their leader is stronger than all of them together with you."
"But not stronger than you, right? He seemed more at loss than you right now." answers Tsubai, slowly.
"I could surprise him. But yes, I should be enough to beat him for now. That's because he isn't fully reincarnated yet. Our goal is to stop him from doing so, and make him weaker by killing every other tengu."
Tsubai tries to mix what Sasuke just said with what he knows about Sojobo. He does remember him saying that he has the power of all the living tengu, but only the living. So he gets that by killing all the yamabushi, they'll nerf him and make it easier to kill him. But how do they know when Sojobo will be fully reincarnated? Are they supposed to kill him before or after he achieves that? Many questions come to his mind, but more importantly, he needs to know about where he is right now.
"Where are we?" he asks.
"We're far out of reach, in another dimension." promptly answers the Uchiha.
"Oh. Then I guess they're not gonna come after us." says the Minamoto, confused but relieved. "What now?"
"I told you I may be able to handle the Daitengu myself, but there are plenty others with him, and they probably work as a group." explains Sasuke.
The Uchiha looks up to the sky and starts to think about everything he did these last two years. All the places he's seen, all the quests he's completed, and all the people he met and worked with.
"We're gonna need a team…" he reveals. "But for now, we'll just wait for your sister to wake up."
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Later, near Konoha, Hinata and Sakura are walking through the forest together to join Naruto at the third training ground, where he and the rest of Team 7 always used to train together. The two young women run into a large crowd of Naruto's arguing with each other. Surprised by the scenery and unsettled by the multiple greetings they receive from the many clones, they try to reach the middle of the field and meet with the original. There they see another him, yelling around and shouting swear words at his doppelgangers. This Naruto looks at his friend and his girlfriend, sighs, and undoes the Tajuu Kage Bunshin. He then puts on a happy face to welcome the two girls.
"Hinata, good evening, what's up?" he says.
"Uh… We… were supposed to go out together…" answers the Hyuga princess, shily.
"Ah, yeah… Sorry, it totally got out of my head…" he responds, in all honesty.
"NARUTO!" says Sakura. "You're really bad at talking with women. If you say it like this, it sounds like you don't care."
"No No! It's not that I don't care. It's just that with what happened lately, my mind is kinda… busy." he explains. "I keep thinking about what Sasuke said back in Ryuka…"
"It doesn't matter to me, Naruto." says Hinata in a compassionate voice. "If you're busy, and it's important, I don't mind you taking your time. Our dinner can wait."
"No, don't say that. It matters to me." answers Naruto. "See, I'm leaving now with you. I'll get back to this training later."
Naruto leaves the middle of the river and comes to hold Hinata's hand. The couple just stays there, looking each other in the eyes for a moment, with Sakura just standing by their side.
"What exactly were you doing with all these clones?" asks Sakura, breaking the chemistry.
"Oh… You see, Sasuke said that there are at least three other threats equivalent to Katashiki that we haven't met yet." explains Naruto. "I'm afraid it might be some kind of organization that waited for the end of the war to make its move."
"You mean some kind of new Akatsuki, but with unknown and mysterious members?" she suggests.
"Sasuke thinks they may come from another dimension, since their existence on Earth, for many hundreds of years, seems just impossible." adds Naruto.
"So…" asks Hinata. "What was your training about?"
"Well, Sasuke said I needed more training to keep up with him." Naruto makes a small embarrassed laugh. "He was kinda ashamed by my loss in powers since the war. So I decided to do something about it, to be ready to take on the next Kaguya people."
"But you're already stronger than any other Hokage…" answers Hinata. "I find it hard to believe that these enemies really exist."
"It's true, but here they are. And we should be grateful they didn't come before the war. Anyway, so I need to train, and I decided to do as you said, Hinata."
"Me? What did I say?"
"You don't remember? When we were walking, just the two of us together on the beach, you told me that if I wanted to be stronger, upgrading my favorite jutsu would be a good way to do it while keeping track of my progress. So I decided to look for a way to improve my use of the Kage Bunshin."
"And how do you plan to do that?" asks Sakura.
"For now, I can make around 3000 clones. Kurama and I are currently aiming to reach 5000. Then, maybe we'll focus on finding a way to strengthen each clone."
"Are you not gonna try to have the floating orbs back? I'm sure this is what Sasuke was referring to."
"Uh! Sakura!" interrupts Hinata. "Don't pressure him too much. Let him improve in his own way, he's already doing so much for everyone. Becoming the Hokage now even seems like a casual goal."
Naruto smiles, touched by his girlfriend's attention for him. He pulls his arm around Hinata and grabs her shoulder, holding her against him.
"Yeah, I'll need more time to think about it." he says. "I don't know at all how I could do that, but it's true that considering how strong I am just now, compared to 2 years ago, getting this power back would be exceptional. I would be even faster, stronger, tougher than I already became, plus I'd be able to fly again."
"Maybe Toneri can help with this?" asks Hinata.
"I think he wouldn't like me asking for his help. But you're not wrong. He probably knows some stuff about people like Katashiki."
"Well, for now, you two are supposed to have a date." says Sakura. "So hurry back to the village and have a good time."
"Wanna come with us?" asks Naruto.
"No. No! No Way! I don't want to intrude in your relationship." answers Sakura who sees Hinata's troubled face after Naruto's inappropriate invitation.
Suddenly, Naruto turns his head in the direction where the village's entrance gate is. He senses a gathering of people there. Hinata, seeing Naruto's worried face, gazes in the same direction as him with the Byakugan and sees, all the way through the forest, what attracted Naruto's attention.
"Is it… Lord Daimyo?" she exclaims.
"What?" asks Naruto, surprised by Hinata's words. "Let's see what he's doing here."
Naruto lifts Hinata up in his arms, and holds her against him. He jumps to the trees and hurries to the village's gate to see the Daimyo, which he still has never met at this point. Sakura follows, just as curious as Naruto about the fire lord's coming. What is it about? Is he there to talk about what happened with Katashiki? All three of them get to the entrance and stay on the branches of a tree to watch the scene from there. The Daimyo of the Fire Land is here, sitting in a palanquin and looking down on the Sixth Hokage standing before him.
"Daimyo-sama, what makes your visit here worth your time?" asks Kakashi, surprised by this sudden visit, but staying formal and respectful.
"Good evening, Hokage." says the Daimyo. "I heard that you recently sent people to the tourist village of Ryuka, at the eastern border of my territory, is that so?"
"Um, yes… It was only a group of young ninjas going on vacation, but it got out of hand and an enemy attack took place there. He was finally taken down right here in front of Konoha, last week."
"Yes, about that village. I have information, and an important mission for you, konoha-nins."
"You want me to send people back there?"
"No, I wouldn't have come here for such a simple request. See, I sent a piece of my personal guard elite to escort my friend, sir Minamoto, back to his village and help with the repairs."
"And what can Konoha do for you then?"
"I received the unfortunate news of my friend, Riku Minamoto's death this morning."
"Really?" says Kakashi who can't believe what he just heard. "How did this happen?"
"It happened yesterday in the early night. My ninjas that I sent there gave me way enough information about the circumstances of his death, based on testimonies from the villagers. I am certain that you understand how saddened I am by the situation, and how hard I want to make justice for my deceased friend."
"I understand."
"Therefore, Hokage, I want you to find the murderer of Riku Minamoto and bring him alive to me, in the capital of Fire. I will personally attend his public execution. I want him listed as an S-rank wanted criminal in your bingo books, Hokage, did I make myself clear?"
"Of course, Daimyo-sama. Could I have information about the wanted person?"
"It is Tsubai Minamoto, Riku's own son, who killed his father and will have to pay for it."
Kakashi contains his perplexity when he hears the name of the killer and remains serious and rightful. Naruto, however, can't contain his involvement and leaves Hinata on the tree branch next to him.
"What did that guy just say?" says Naruto, getting ready to jump toward the Daimyo to give his opinion.
"Naruto, stop!" says Sakura, who holds on to her friend's arm. "There isn't anything you can say against the Daimyo's choice anyway. Wait to know what really happened before doing something stupid."
"But this isn't fair!" says Naruto. "Whatever happened, his dad is the one who was threatening Tsubai's life."
Kakashi briefly looks at Hinata, Naruto and Sakura spectating the discussion, and turns back toward the Daimyo.
"With all due respect, Daimyo-sama, I don't think such accusations can be considered serious."
"I don't care what you think, Hokage. I am sure enough about this. Riku sir told me about his son's behavior and his desertion sooner. The testimonies, and Riku's words, make it consistent enough to me. I don't ask you to investigate, only to find and bring to me this criminal."
"I understand." answers Kakashi, staying professional and not willing to upset his superior.
"Excellent. I'll send my own men after him as well. But I know you have more specialized people when it comes to this kind of mission. I'd like him jailed in the capital within the following week."
After these words, the 6 people lifting the Daimyo's palanquin turn around and leave with him as well as with the dozen of ninja guards that were accompanying their master. Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata, stay on the tree until the Daimyo totally leaves the nearing of the village. The Hokage turns around and heads back to his office. He is very unsettled by this encounter, but knows how to make this situation clear as fast as possible. What the Daimyo doesn't know is that Kakashi knows that Tsubai is probably with Sasuke right now. So Sasuke is, with the exception of Tsubai himself, the most likely to know what really happened.
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Meanwhile in the land of Water, not far away from a little harbor on the western border of the country, Saori, who finally woke up, stands face to face with her giant brother, after being told what happened to her and around her.
"You killed him! You killed Dad, you…" yells the young girl, grieving her father's loss.
"I didn't!" interrupts Tsubai, who holds Saori's hands, as she was trying to hit him. "Someone else did. I was just there. And if I wasn't, you would have died too."
"It was Moritaka, your uncle." says Daikoku. "He is the one who wields your grandfather's tengu, Tenshi, the messenger of the skies."
"I thought that was him… But why would he kill his brother? They always seemed to be on good terms."
"Who knows… He must have his reasons, probably related to the Daitengu."
Standing next to the two siblings, Sasuke gets closer to Saori. She looks at the cloaked stranger and waits for him to introduce himself.
"We don't have time to babysit you, young girl." he says, without presentation. "There is a harbor just here. Go there and get a boat back to Ryuka."
"How rude can this man be, Brother?" yells Saori, upset by the Uchiha's tone. "He didn't even introduce himself and still dares to talk to me like that."
"Saori, seriously, go." answers Tsubai, not willing to argue longer with the only family he has left. "You don't risk anything, you're not a target to those who are after us."
"Nobody's after us, Tsubai. We are after them." says Sasuke.
"What do you mean, Sasuke?" asks Tsubai, curious.
"Sasuke?" asks Saori, who recognizes this name. "Sasuke Uchiha? the brother in arms of Naruto Uzumaki?"
"By cutting the Daitengu's arm at that moment, I killed the tengu who was inside your sister." answers Sasuke who completely ignores Saori's question. "Our goal is to chase them down. It's not the other way around. They are the targets, and we are the hunters this time."
"Tsubai, what is he talking about?" asks Saori.
"Sis,… This man is indeed Sasuke Uchiha. The man with the Sharingan, the Kage of the shadows, the last of the Uchiha… Call him what you will. He and I have serious things to deal with. So please, could you just make it to a safe place as quickly as possible. I'll explain everything when it's over, trust me."
"…"
Saori doesn't say anything. She just stays agape in front of the confusing sincerity of her brother. She simply turns around and walks to the harbor, while discreetly waving goodbye to her brother. She is the kind of person to quickly get annoyed or bored, and she knows when other people are like this too. Not willing to bother anyone, she accepts what her brother says and decides to head back to the village where, with only 14 years old, she'll have to inherit the leading role until her brother comes back as well.
Tsubai looks at his sister leaving, and then turns around to see Sasuke who looks in the direction of Kirigakure.
"So, about that team you said you need? What do we do?" asks the Minamoto.
"You just told your sister I was the last of the Uchiha." answers Sasuke, referring to what Tsubai said earlier to introduce him to Saori.
"Uh I did? Yeah, I shouldn't?"
"You know… I've been traveling around the continent for around two years and I've offered my help to many people and even to the hidden villages." starts Sasuke.
"You must have a lot of things to tell. I guess that's how you met the people you'll gather as a team, right?" suggests Tsubai. "And we're starting in this land?"
"Yes,… First of all, let me tell you about extinct clans." Sasuke goes on. "In our world, we declare a clan extinct as soon as no more members are known. But it isn't the right way to do it, especially when most of us are specialized in spying and secrecy, and that extinct clans are often hunted clans… The first two people we'll get are both members of clans that were believed to be extinct."
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End of Chapter 11 – Next Chapter: Survivors of extinct clans