Chapter 407: 385. Anomaly
Swoosh… swoosh…
Ding… clang… clang…
Itachi and Sasuke separate after exchanging blows with each other.
"What's the matter Sasuke? You seem to be lost these few days. Something bothering you?"
Itachi lowers his blade and asks Sasuke with a concerned voice.
"I am fine! It's just that something feels missing. Everything feels so monotonous."
Sasuke shakes his head as he wipes the sweat with a towel.
"Looks like you are feeling bored! Then let's go watch the new movie and eat dinner with everyone tonight." Itachi suggests.
"That sounds like a great plan." Sasuke nods.
'Perhaps I will figure out the missing part of my life.' Sasuke raises his head and stares at the sky.
'After that dream, everything feels so lackluster. It appears like something important is not there anymore. These past few days, I complete missions with my team. In my free time, I spar with Naruto, Itachi, or Shisui Nii-san. However, sometimes there is a voice in my head; asking me to wake up. Since this is not a dream, then what should I wake up from?" Sasuke shakes his head.
"Itachi Nii-san, let's invite uncle Akira and Yagami's family, Shisui Nii-san, Yugao Nee-san, Mei Nee-san, and also Ayaka-chan." Sasuke voices the names of the person he wants to invite.
"That's a great idea. But Sasuke, who is Ayaka-chan?" Itachi asks him with slight confusion.
"Huh? Ayaka… Ayaka… who is Ayaka? And why did I mention her name?" Sasuke muses over the matter.
"Anyway, let's wash off our sweat and send invites."
"Mm…" Sasuke walks toward the Uchiha clan in deep thought.
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Yawn…
Mei yawns slightly and stretches her muscles.
"The work has been piling as of late." She stares at the gigantic stacks of paperwork in front of her.
"I have to even break my promise to Tatsuya and Kanna to complete the paperwork."
"Mizukage-sama, your coffee!" A female attendant hand over a cup of coffee to her.
"Thank you so much, Anzu!"
Mei takes a sip of the coffee and stares at the moon hanging outside the window.
'If only there was someone to take care of the kid and help me with some paperwork.' Izuna's figure appears in her mind.
Mei takes another sip of the coffee.
"If only Ayaka was here to help me with paperwork like usual." She unconsciously utters these words.
"Huh?"
Mei snaps out of reverie.
"Ayaka… who is Ayaka?" A few blurred images of a girl flash across her mind.
"She seems to be someone important to me. But how come I can't recall her face?" Mei places a hand on her chest.
"What's with this empty feeling in my heart?"
"Mizukage-sama! Bad news, Mizukage-sama!" One of the anbus hurriedly enters the office.
"What's the matter, Asahi?" Mei assumes her Kage demeanor.
"Mizukage-sama, multiple rogue shinobis are attacking the harbor."
Hmm…
Mei narrows her eyes. She jumps out of the office and stands on the roof. Smoke and fire pour out in a distance.
"Gather six anbu squads and seven jounin squads. We will head over to the port in a brief moment."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama!" The anbu bows and departs the office.
"Which rogue shinobi group has enough guts to cause a ruckus in the Kirigakure?"
Mei places the earlier thoughts at the back of her mind and flickers towards the port with her anbu guards.
---------------------
On a small hill, near the shore of the polar sea.
Hmm…
Obito frowns as he stares at the crystal ball in his hands.
"This is bad! At this rate, they will break free from the genjutsu and regain consciousness much earlier than my expectations. What's going on? How could they possibly get the awareness of the existence of the genjutsu?"
Obito clicks his tongue.
"To prevent them from interacting and figuring out the falsehood of reality, I separated them into different worlds, and yet it didn't even take them more than a month to spot the anomaly. According to my calculations, it should be a year before they notice some irregularities. So how?" Obito narrows his eyes.
"Mind if I take a glance?" Kabuto curiously asks him.
"Hmm… alright!" Obito hesitates a little before passing the crystal orb to Kabuto.
Kabuto places his hand on the crystal orb and infuses his chakra. A few minutes later,
"Kuku… I have figured out the reason for your failure." Kabuto fiddles with the crystal orb before returning it to Obito.
"What is it?" Obito glares at Kabuto.
"It's…" Kabuto points towards Ayaka. "… her!"
"This girl! How is she affecting the genjutsu?"
"Kuku… take another look at all of those separate genjutsu worlds."
"Hmm…" Obito follows Kabuto's instructions.
"This… how is this possible?" Shock appears on Obito's face.
"As you can see, this girl isn't a part of the genjutsu world you created?" Kabuto chuckles and states.
"From my observation, your genjutsu creates an ideal dream world based on the victim's desire. It uses the knowledge from the victim's mind as a basis to create the world and then traps the victim's consciousness in that world. If the victim dies in that world, then those injuries would reflect in the real world on their bodies. This phenomenon involves some unusual laws which I am very curious about." Kabuto licks his lips at his hypothesis.
"However, for some odd reason or perhaps some external interference, the information about that girl doesn't exist in the illusory genjutsu world created by this jutsu. So, this becomes the weak point of your jutsu. If it was a perfect world, such a flaw won't exist. Since this is an autonomous world, it attempted to fix the problem by removing all information about the girl.
This could have been an ideal solution if the girl didn't have a major involvement in their lives and she didn't play a major role in their lives."
Kabuto points towards Ao and Chojuro's figure in the crystal ball.
"Take a look at these two. They didn't have much involvement with the girl, so they are still stuck in the genjutsu with no sign of awakening."
"This lack of information about the girl is like a missing piece of an almost complete puzzle. One might overlook it at a glance, but on closer look, you can notice the difference.
However, that's not all. If there is a lack of information, then new information could be created and overwritten over the previous one. This is precisely what this genjutsu attempted with their memories. It sealed away the information about the girl from their mind and replaced it with false information and facts.
Now, this measure created yet another problem. If the person somehow unseals those memories through some sort of trigger… which in this case…"
Kabuto turns towards Ayaka's lone battle against the group of rogue shinobis.
"If it was a normal battle, it wouldn't have been a problem for me to take them down. However, I have to protect them and fight at the same time. I can't hold back anymore." Ayaka firms her resolve.
She makes some quick hand signs.
"Blaze Release: Darkness Release: Smoldering Purgatory Flames,"
Ayaka mixes darkness chakra with fire and wind chakra and creates a ring of black flames around the unconscious bodies of the escort group.
Bzzt…
Lightning gathers in her palm. She creates a lightning spear in her palm and throws it toward the rapidly approaching enemies. The rogue shinobi avoids the black flames around her. Multiple rogue shinobis make some hand signs and release wind jutsu to counter her lighting jutsu.
'I have to lure them away from the group. Looks like they are after me.'
Ayaka takes out a fuinjutsu scroll from her storage and throws it on the ground. The scroll shines brightly and erects a green pyramidal barrier around the escort group.
'Tri Karma Heavenly Principal barrier,'
It's one of the powerful, self-sustained short-term barriers in her possession. It's a very powerful, impregnable barrier. However, its limitation is that it has a limited duration. After a fixed amount of time, the barrier will dissipate. Till then, the barrier can repair any damage dealt by absorbing chakra from the surroundings. The duration of the barrier is determined by the number of inscriptions used in its Fuinjutsu formula. A more complex fuinjutsu formula will consume considerable effort, but it will also last for a much longer time. Such a barrier is generally for onetime usage.
"She has quite some means!" Kabuto chuckles as the barrier slightly surprised him.
"… this girl's struggle and her strong emotions are the triggers to unseal the memories. If you want to prevent that, then just get rid of the girl and things might turn normal." Kabuto cackles.
Obito frowns for a second, but his emotions turn stable.
"This is just a little disposable experiment before the actual jutsu. Initially, I hoped to capture the Nine-tails jinchuruki with this. But if things are this troublesome, then there is no need to linger on it."
Obito turns around and prepares to leave.
'Zetsu, have you collected the necessary data?' Obito speaks to the Zetsu through a telepathic link.
'It's done! Also, there is a situation with the eight-tails.'
"Very well!"
Obito tosses the crystal ball to Kabuto and disappears into a swirling portal.
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A/N:- My new Naruto fan-fic, 'The Rogue Demon of the Shinobi World' is out.
Also, check out my pat reon www.pa treon.com/ForgottenLife to support my work and get a sneak peak at the latest chapters of both series in advance. Read upto 60+ chapters from both series combined in advance.
Chapter 408: 386. Breakthrough from Reality
Huff… huff…
Ayaka pants slightly as she is surrounded by the crazed rogue shinobis.
"Preserving my chakra isn't an option against these numbers. I will finish the battle with my next move."
Bzzt…
Ayaka closes her eyes and concentrates. Red lightning gathers in Ayaka's hands.
Fwish…
Multiple markings appear over her body and a chakra cloak forms around her.
"Storm Release: Raijin no tenbatsu,"
She discharges the red lightning toward the sky.
Fwoosh…
The red lightning disappears in the sky. A few seconds later, multiple storm clouds gather in the sky.
Bzzt… Crackle…
Lightning crackles through the clouds as they continue to expand in size. The clouds almost cover the entire area of the isolated space. Multiple bolts of lightning flicker through them.
"It should be enough."
Ayaka slowly lowers her raised hand. The lightning bolts in the air gather at a place and transform into lightning spears.
"Discharge!"
Bzzt… Boom…
The lighting spears rain down on the rogue shinobis and claim their lives. The powerful lightning discharge scorches the ground and creates an electric field around Ayaka as the lighting lingers on the ground.
Ayaka rests against the remains of a boulder and stares at the sky as the clouds slowly disperse.
"Have you found it?" Ayaka takes a heavy breath.
'I have found the weakness of this jutsu. To destroy it, I will transport your consciousness to the illusory space created by this jutsu. Till now, I was protecting your consciousness from the invasion of this jutsu.' Sin relays these words to Ayaka.
Hmm…
Ayaka's vision distorts slightly as everything turns red in her vision. She looks around and notices the strangeness of the surroundings. There is a giant red moon hanging in the sky.
"This is a separate dimension?"
"Yes! The consciousness of everyone is bound to this space. It took me some to invade this space without affecting the consciousness of others. Human consciousness is so fragile. If not for them, I could just destroy this simple gimmick with a wave of my hand." Sin's contemptful voice echoes in Ayaka's head.
"That's not good, Sin-chan! They are my family. I have to protect them." Ayaka shakes her head.
"So, what should I do now?" Ayaka asks Sin.
"Fine! The only safe method to dispel this jutsu is to destroy it from both inside and outside. I have already located the external medium responsible for this jutsu. We are currently standing beneath it. It's a giant crystal orb. Once you destroy it, the medium withholding the jutsu will shatter. However, this illusory reality has become self-sustaining. It requires everyone's combined effort to break it.
I will project their illusory realities in front of you. Currently, all of them are separated from each other."
The projection of multiple illusory realities appears in front of Ayaka.
Hmm…
Ayaka frowns at the scenes in the illusory reality.
"All of them are fighting against the rogue shinobis we fought earlier. There are stuck in a disadvantageous battle. I want to help them out." Ayaka clutches her fists.
"It will take a toll on your spirit." Sin warns her.
"I will take the risk!" Ayaka firms her resolve.
"Alright!"
Swoosh…
Ayaka's vision distorts again, and she appears in a secluded forest.
"This place!"
Ayaka narrows her eyes and looks around.
"This is the mist forest outside Kirigakure. That means…"
Clang… clang…
Sounds of metal clashing against metal echo in the surroundings.
"I have to hurry up!"
Ayaka hurriedly dashes in the direction of the battle.
-------------------
Tch…
"I didn't expect them to set an ambush in the forest. This area is still a part of the Kirigakure, so how could these people infiltrate Kirigakure under the watchful eyes of the patrol teams? Unless…"
Kuku… Haha…
Laughter echoes in the surrounding as some footsteps approaches them.
"… unless someone from the village sided with them, right?"
An elderly figure walks out of the forest. There are multiple rogue shinobis behind him.
"Uncle?!" Mei is shocked to see one of the village elders who is a close friend of his father.
"Why are you with them, uncle? What's the meaning of this?" She quickly regains her composure and questions the elder.
"You are asking me why I am with them? Then listen… Kirigakure has weakened under your rule. Your husband is a shinobi from Konoha and thus we are overly dependent on Konoha for even trifling matters.
Our Kirigakure is one of the five great nations with great power and yet we have recently degraded to such an extent. Both of our tailed beasts were stolen right under our noses in your rule. All of our mist swordsmen died and we have yet to find a replacement for them. Our military forces are heavily restricted and far less skilled than the previous generation, thanks to your lenient rules in the academy.
You are nothing but an incompetent Kage. So, together with the rest of the elder council, we have decided to eliminate the Terumi clan and that also includes you, the current Kage. Later, we will appoint a competent Kage and lead Kiri to greater heights again."
The elder criticizes Mei's action.
"Tch…" Mei clicks her tongue.
"Not all things aren't like how you portray them. My predecessor left such a huge mess that Kiri is still recuperating from it. Most of the mist swordsmen deserted the village during the reign of the past Mizukage. The tailed beasts had no reliable jinchuruki and Akatsuki was too big of an organization that even other great nations were afraid of their power. All of you shunned the jinchuruki of the six-tails which led him to desert the village and ended up being a target for the Akatsuki."
"LIES! All of them are blatant lies and excuses you made to placate the villagers. But all of us know… that your incompetency is the reason Kiri is in its weakest state." The elder fervently accuses Mei.
The elder's voice has a hypnotic effect on the nearby shinobis, as even Mei's entourage is swayed by his words.
"This is the only way to deal with this incompetent Mizukage who ruined Kiri. It's executing her." The elder orders his subordinates.
All of them surround Mei, and even her allies draw their weapons.
"That's enough falsehood!"
Swoosh…
Ayaka appears beside Mei with a blade in her hand.
"A… Ayaka!" Mei's eyes widen as she recognizes Ayaka.
"You are the real Ayaka!" Mei gently strokes Ayaka's face.
Crack…
The seal on her memories slowly lifts and restores her memories. The curtain of falsehood vanishes.
"Nee-san, we never had an opportunity to battle side by side. Let's use this chance." Ayaka slashes her blade toward one of the rogue shinobis.
"You are right! This illusion almost fooled me."
Mei makes some hand signs.
"Lava Release: Bone Ash Annihilation Meteor,"
Mei spews out a large blob of lava from her mouth. The lava blob turns into a giant meteor and strikes the approaching rogue shinobis. A hesitant expression appears on Mei's face for an instance.
"Don't hesitate Mei Nee-san. All of this is illusory. Trust me!" Ayaka's voice rings in her ear.
"A… alright! I believe in you, Ayaka."
BOOM…
The lava meteor explodes and creates a gigantic pool of lava on the ground. The lava engulfs the nearby rogue shinobis and traitors.
Bang… Crack…
Without a loud bang, the surroundings shatter like a glass fragment. Mei clutches her forehead as all of her disorderly memories are pieced together. She appears in a dark black space with a red waning moon.
"What a terrifying jutsu?" Mei recalls everything.
"You are back, Mei Nee-san!" Ayaka appears beside her.
"Where are we, Ayaka?" Mei asks her.
"Nee-san, you are still trapped in the illusory dimension. You have freed yourself from its influence, but we have to shatter the external medium to break free of this isolated space. I will help others break free from this illusion and then I will shatter the medium from the outside." Ayaka relays her plan to Mei.
"Be careful, Ayaka!" Mei ruffles her hair as Ayaka hops into another projection.
"That's… that's Tsunade-san's projection." Mei takes a closer look at the projections in front of her.
"It seems normal." Mei frowns slightly.
----------------------
Swoosh…
Ayaka appears inside Tsunade's illusory space.
Swoosh…
Suddenly, a kunai flies past her year.
Whoosh…
Ayaka swiftly dodges to the sides and avoids the kunais.
"Who are you? What are you doing on Hokage-sama's boat?" Naruto and Sasuke point their kunais toward her.
"Naruto Nii-san, Sasuke Nii-san! It's me, Ayaka!"
"Ayaka!" Naruto and Sasuke stare at each other.
"Do we know her?" Both of them ask each other.
Shiing…
Ayaka activates her Sharingan.
"Hmm… an Uchiha!" Sasuke frowns.
"I never saw you in the clan. Who exactly are you? Are you a spy who stole the eyes of a member of the Uchiha clan?" Sasuke clutches his kunai.
"What's the matter, Sasuke, Naruto?" Kakashi appears beside them.
"Sensei, there is a suspicious girl on the ship." Naruto points towards Ayaka.
"Who are you?" Kakashi questions her.
'Looks like all of them are illusions formed by Tsunade Nee-san's imagination. They won't recognize me and even attempt to get rid of me. I have to approach them carefully.'
"I have a piece of important information for the Hokage-sama. I am a member of Hokage-sama's secret force In-Yō." Ayaka uses Izuna's organization as her cover. She takes out a seal from her pocket and presents it to Kakashi.
'Nii-san gave this pass to me in case of emergencies."
Hmm…
"Very well, follow me!" Kakashi nods at her after inspecting the seal.
********************************
A/N:- My new Naruto fan-fic, 'The Rogue Demon of the Shinobi World' is out.
Also, check out my pat reon www.pa treon.com/ForgottenLife to support my work and get a sneak peak at the latest chapters of both series in advance. Read upto 60+ chapters from both series combined in advance.
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