章節 168: The End
Amidst the vast expanse of the battlefield, a palpable tension threaded through the atmosphere, as swarms of zergs clung fiercely to the ground, resisting the relentless gravitation force of the encroaching black sphere. Some zergs had already been ensnared by the inescapable grasp, defying gravity and ascending into the air, victims of an inevitable cosmic force.
With each passing moment, the gravitational pull intensified, its voracious appetite extending its reach to even the landmass below, the chunks of land being sucked towards the sphere gradually growing in size!
As she sensed the pull gradually affecting her, Konan's brow furrowed in determination as she surveyed the relentless struggle unfolding before her.
Her gaze soon shifted, lingering on Hagoromo, his inscrutable figure stably suspended in midair. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tumultuous chaos below, a reminder of the overwhelming power he wielded, a power seemingly impervious to his own ability.
Resolute, Konan's focus shifted back to her arsenal of paper behind her, meticulously assembled over the course of the battle, each piece of paper etched with hidden symbols prepared for the grand technique. Now, it was time.
As her chakra infused into the symbols, the sources of malice collected and carefully sealed within the confines of her other papers were also infused.
Despite her discreet actions, as if sensing the malice, a flicker of awareness seemed to pass between Konan and Hagoromo as their gazes met, a mutual acknowledgment that a pivotal moment was at hand.
Konan's resolve solidified as the weight of her decision settled upon her.
And at that moment, Konan decisively channeled her power, and with a flourish of practiced hand signs, Konan invoked the long prepared seal as she teleported over besides Hagoromo! "Space-Time Technique: Underworld Turnover!"
The very fabric of reality seemed to ripple around them, a powerful technique weaving its tapestry.
Sealing symbols manifested beneath their feet, a mesmerizing dance of orange-reddish energy tracing an ethereal circle akin to a sun as a ring arose around the duo. The conjured ring enveloped Konan and Hagoromo, an iridescent barrier sealing them within!
A surge of power surged through the circle, the very essence of the technique acting upon Konan's soul! The pull was visceral, a sensation akin to being caught in a tempestuous maelstrom. Konan's form wavered, her being subjected to the unyielding force.
In a heartbeat, reality shifted. The world spun, time and space interweaving in a chaotic ballet. Konan's vision blurred momentarily.
Then, a sudden jolt. A rush of vertigo accompanied the disorienting sensation of descent. Konan's senses gradually sharpened as she beheld her own body, limp and tumbling down to the world below. As for her soul, it now faced off against Hagoromo.
Hagoromo's gaze swept over the intricate seal that held him captive, his eyes then settling upon Konan's wounded form below. An air of quiet contemplation surrounded him as his attention shifted to her soul, his voice a mere whisper amidst the cosmic currents, "You will perish if you do this. Is this the path you wish to tread?"
Konan's gaze, steady and unwavering, found its way to Shino, who had vanished from the space when her sealing technique was triggered. A faint smile danced upon her usually neutral face, a fleeting glimpse of her determination. "I am willing to be the support that holds our bridges up, regardless of costs."
Hagoromo's hovering staff, drawn back into his grasp, hung poised in the air as his eyes followed Konan's line of sight. His tone held a note of curiosity, seeking to unravel the depths of her conviction, "The path you trek will bring no good to the world. He will not bring peace, but war and destruction. I have seen your history and that boy carrying eyes similar to mine, yet you stand resolute by his side. Why?"
As if it had never appeared, Konan's fleeting smile gradually disappeared. Her gaze met his, a calm intensity emanating from her.
"You speak as if you understand us, but you have no idea what it is truly like for those at the bottom. Your achievements are undeniable as the sage of ninjas, your sage wisdom is renowned, yet your vision is cast from afar, ignorant of the masses who truly suffer from the system. The foundations of this world were laid by ordinary hands. It is the ordinary people who let this world thrive, and yet, time and again, it is the people who have been trampled on, constantly exploited…"
As if he didn't care that Shino had escaped, Hagoromo listened, a silent audience to her impassioned words, his demeanor unmoved by her stance, confident everything was within his grasp.
"The cycle perpetuates – the people pour their earnings into the pockets of the privileged nobles, who then fund the very ninjas sworn to protect them. Yet, once there is a problem, the people will still have to separately commission ninjas through a task. A twisted equation, where the burden weighs doubly upon those who can least afford it. The cycle continues, unbroken, and the suffering deepens."
Konan's expression shifted, her neutral facade hiding the fervor beneath, "This is but just a small example, and there were many more… Yet these issues still haven't been solved, even by esteemed existences such as yourself… but that man had opened my eyes, and prepared plans for solving these issues from the root. Although it's unknown if it is feasible, but his actions have shown me the flowers of hope…"
As her paper fluttered around her, Konan's voice emerged resolute, a clarion call cutting through the void, "He will become the bridge that leads us to peace, a dawn of a new era, and I will be a support holding the bridge up! I won't let you stop him!"
"Pity." As the empty sleeve of his robe fluttered, Hagoromo's sigh seemed to echo in the ethereal expanse, his response somber and final, "It grieves me to witness the fall of one who would contribute to the world's progress, but you have been corrupted by that outsider's deception, and your devotion to this outsider has clouded your judgment. There is no need to delay further..."
As Konan's paper wings unfurled on her back, Konan raised her hands with purpose, a manifestation of her unwavering commitment. "I have received the will of god and I must kill you!"
In the ninja world, an eerie dance unfolded as the zerg legions burrowed beneath the earth's surface.
They streamed back into concealed hatcheries, a primal exodus, surrendering their essence to the nurturing embrace of these subterranean chambers, recycling their biomass.
In the midst of this somber ballet, a figure with flowing red locks flitted between the chambers that spanned the world using the Thunder God Technique. Her movements were fluid and precise, each step a calculated rhythm, as she meticulously conducted the final harvest.
While this transpired, an array of Shino duplicates wandered across the landscape of the world. They were a discordant symphony, creating chaos and confusion, a cacophony of distractions that reverberated through many parts of the world, diverting attention from the true foci of her plan.
In the heart of Tonika village, next to the rising Tower of Heaven, Karina's clone fervently operated the state-of-the-art console hovering before her. As Karina's fingers danced across the luminous interface, orchestrating the delicate ballet of technology, Kurenai's presence was a silent sentinel, her vibrant pollen weaving an intricate barrier of genjutsu, a shroud concealing the tower's existence from prying eyes.
Abruptly, the main body of Karina materialized beside her clone, a solemn expression etched upon her face. Her gaze shifted towards Kurenai, her hand outstretched to clasp Kurenai's, an unspoken connection that conveyed a depth of purpose. "I'll leave it to you here. Use our remaining ninjutsu clones and stall him as long as possible. Every moment counts."
Kurenai met Karina's resolve with her own, a silent nod affirming her commitment to the task at hand. The squeeze of Karina's hand, a fleeting yet profound gesture, conveyed an unspoken understanding.
A heartbeat passed, and then Karina enveloped Kurenai in a brief yet fierce hug, a union of camaraderie and trust. As they parted, Karina turned resolutely, her steps carrying her towards the towering construct that loomed like a monolith. With every stride, the tower ascended layer by layer, each layer a testament to the countdown of the inevitable.
Behind her, Kurenai observed Karina's journey into the heart of the tower, her senses attuned to the unseen currents arranged around the tower that pulsed with psionic energy.
As Karina's form vanished into the tower's depths, a radiant psionic barrier emerged, cocooning the tower in an impenetrable shield, a final stand against the storm that loomed on the horizon.
Within the heart of the tower, on a strangely-designed platform, a hushed reverence cloaked the air as Karina's gaze fixated upon the hatchery before her. Its aura resonated with a connection that was uniquely hers, a tether that bound her to a destiny entwined with sacrifice and purpose.
As she crossed the threshold into this chamber of destiny, her steps were measured, each movement laden with the weight of a choice that held the balance of worlds.
The chamber embraced her, a solemn sanctuary that cradled the lifeless form of Shino. He lay there, a figure of serenity, untouched by the turmoil that gripped their reality.
Karina's hands trembled as they reached out, enfolding him in an embrace that was both tender and desperate. The collected biomass flowed forth, an ethereal river of vitality that coursed through her fingers and into his dormant form.
"Shino..." she whispered, her voice a fragile cadence that trembled in the air, a prayer to awaken a slumbering soul.
Yet her love remained suspended, a somber reverie unbroken, blood weeping from his closed eyes as if mirroring the pain that clung to her heart.
A bittersweet smile curved Karina's lips as her touch traced the contours of Shino's visage, a caress that seemed to seek solace in the touch of his skin. Her fingers trailed a path down to the ring that adorned his hand, a symbol of their shared journey, of the love and trials that had forged an unbreakable bond.
"Our journey together has been wonderful…" she murmured, her words a gentle lament that lingered in the chamber's embrace. "But once again, you were right, my dear. Not every world extends the hand of growth without demanding its due… sacrifices must be made eventually, even when the heart rebels."
Enfolding Shino in a final embrace, Karina's form seemed to deform and meld with the very architecture around her, an ethereal dance of form and substance.
The hatchery's walls pulsed and throbbed, morphing and transforming according to a pre-established protocol.
"Sorry, my dearest," she whispered, her voice a fragile echo as her being merged with his, a fusion of destiny and design that transcended the boundaries of mortal comprehension, "Karina cannot heed your command to abandon you, to flee while leaving you behind as a mere diversion. Anyone can be sacrificed, but you can't."
A single tear traced a path down her cheek, a testament to the emotions that welled within. Her head lowered, a kiss pressed to Shino's still lips, a bittersweet seal of love and farewell. The chamber itself seemed to sigh, its contours shifting and folding in upon itself, a cocoon of transformation.
As her self disintegrated and merged into him, her final murmur, a whispered promise, was engraved in his mind, "Since this world rejects you, let Karina become your guardian on the voyage to the next, always protecting you, for all of eternity..."
Outside, in the stormy ambiance, Kurenai stood like a sentinel, her vibrant red mesh armour billowing like a banner of defiance against the storm. The very atmosphere seemed to hold its breath, a silent witness to the impending confrontation. Her eyes remained shut, a facade of calm veiling the electric anticipation that surged beneath her skin.
Time remained elusive, slipping through the crevices of reality until Kurenai's eyes fluttered open, revealing a gleam of resolve within their crimson depths. The storm within her gaze mirrored the tempest that churned above as she gazed into the sky, where Hagoromo appeared.
Hagoromo's gaze swept over Kurenai, brushing over her form before piercing through the veil of illusion, revealing the tower with its outer shell already orbiting around itself, announcing its impending activation. "Meaningless tricks," he scoffed, his voice carrying an undercurrent of disdain for the illusionary ruse.
Whoosh! With a wave of his hand, the weight of his staff met the barrier with a resounding thud, fractures spiderwebbing across its surface like fractures in reality itself. The facade of protection quivered under the force, a fragile shield on the brink of collapse.
Yet, Hagoromo was surprised because the barrier exhibited an unexpected defiance. "This energy... it can even stop senjutsu!"
Suddenly, a metallic rain of kunai sought to assail him, a calculated onslaught meant to exploit any vulnerability.
Yet, his truth-seeking ball rush forward with precision, an ethereal guardian that defied the onslaught. Metal and explosive intent evaporated in its wake, turning them into dust and leaving Hagoromo unfazed by the assault.
His gaze slid back to Kurenai, his voice carrying the weight of an unyielding verdict. "Meaningless struggle. I'll solve you first."
Whoosh! In a swift and calculated maneuver, a couple of black orbs rushed towards Kurenai, almost instantaneously. After sending out the sure-kill attack, Hagoromo turned his attention back to the slowly repairing barrier, ready to smash it apart.
At this moment of critical danger, Kurenai stood unyielding, her crimson gaze unflinching as they locked onto Hagoromo. Ignoring the Truth-Seeking balls, she detonated her genetic prowess, invoking a power hidden deep within, a forbidden legacy etched into her very being from her zerg upgrade. "Pollen Release: Forbidden Garden!"
Poof! With her final words, Kurenai's body exploded, allowing a haze of pollen to erupt from her body!
It was an ephemeral sea that billowed and surged, a tide of nature's fury answering Kurenai's final call. The truth-seeking jades pressed forward, carving a path through the floral onslaught, yet the rest gushed forward!
A resilient storm of pollen engulfed Hagoromo, a tempest of nature's defiance that concealed him within its swirling depths and obscured his vision!
Hagoromo's brow furrowed, his senses attuned to the fluctuations rippling through his surroundings. He was no stranger to the art of illusion, and recognizing this distraction for what it was, he prepared to shatter its grasp with his formidable abilities.
Time was a luxury he couldn't afford to squander, for his target was poised to escape his grasp!
Yet, his resolve wavered as a surreal scene unfolded before him.
Ethereal beauties materialized, each an epitome of elegance, their presence halted his actions in a way that defied explanation.
Their pale skin was kissed by an otherworldly hue, cascading strands of grey hair framing their features. An aura of regality enveloped them, their heads naturally endowed with peculiar adornments - two brown horns and a third eye on their forehead that bore witness to unseen realms.
A palpable shock reverberated through Hagoromo as his gaze was drawn to their visage. Their nudity, an audacious defiance of convention, held a mesmerizing allure that momentarily arrested his attention.
Among them, one figure emerged, her semblance a haunting echo of a beloved face from his past, a face that held forbidden temptations.
"Mother…" Hagoromo's demeanor, typically composed, faltered as his eyes traced her form, his emotions a tempest he struggled to contain.
The woman, as if attuned to his regard, approached with an otherworldly grace, her form swaying seductively before him.
Yet, just as Hagoromo's senses threatened to plunge deeper into the illusion, he summoned his willpower, dispelling the enchantment with an intangible force as he let out an indignant roar. "Outrageous!"
The illusion shattered, and the world around him realigned with reality. His countenance, a mask of irritation, banished the remnants of the pollen's touch with a dismissive sweep.
His staff, an extension of his power, cleaved through the air along the rest of his Truth-seeking balls, descending upon the fractured barrier with a resolute purpose.
Boom! The brittle defenses yielded to his assault, crumbling like fragile glass, and a path lay before him. Stepping forth, Hagoromo's anger propelled him, ready to enter the tower and remove the blasphemer!
Yet, his entry was abruptly stymied as a red beam of light soared into the heavens from the heart of the tower.
The force from the tower's activation momentarily disoriented his movement, a testament to the inexplicable power at play. Hagoromo's focus sharpened, his gaze fixating upon the seed-like entity soaring into space alongside the radiant red column. "You can't escape!"
His words carried a potent command as an unseen force surged from him, enveloping the tower and imprisoning it, cutting off the rest of the red energy from its source.
Then, with another step, Hagoromo vanished.
Beyond the confines of the ninja world, a scarlet lance of light punctured the cosmic canvas, forging a path into realms unknown. Nested within its brilliance, a compact vessel clung to the incandescent current, and soon, it breached barriers beyond comprehension, entering a different void along with the scarlet energy.
In the near expanse, a figure of ethereal presence held vigil, framed against the backdrop of the cosmos and the ninja world.
Long grey hair flowed in the celestial currents, his attire reminiscent of a lineage long etched in the annals of destiny. The man - iconic in his Otsutsuki heritage - observed the luminous trajectory with detached fascination, arms calmly folded behind his back. A cosmic waltz unfolded before him, yet he stood a silent spectator, an observer of destinies, devoid of any intentions to intervene.
With its source of energy interrupted, the light's passage soon faded into obscurity and the entrance to the void vanished, the ripples in the fabric of space soon settling down.
It wasn't long before another entity emerged to join this cosmic ballet. Hagoromo appeared beside the man, his eyes, eternally questing, swept the expanse, finding emptiness where his target should have been. Frustration marred his features, and his voice echoed with ire as he transmitted his query across the interstellar void. "Hamura, why did you not stop them?"
Hamura turned his gaze toward Hagoromo, his demeanor somber and reflective. His words, like whispers from a distant epoch, resonated with gravitas. "Once, it was I who couldn't let go. And now, it is you. Though we managed to return due to the temporary slackening of the world's boundaries between realms, you should know we now tread in a time in which we don't belong. We should not have interfered for interference begets repercussions. There is always a price to involve ourselves with this cause and effect, brother…"
Hagoromo's brow furrowed, his gaze flickering toward Hamura's Tenseigan. An inexplicable sensation gripped him - an awareness that his brother's gaze did not rest upon him, but upon something unseen, something lurking beyond his formidable perception!
Behind?! A dawning realization rippled through him, tinged with uncertainty. Hagoromo's eyes averted, drawn by his curiosity, and he beheld the inscrutable presence behind him that eluded even his senses.
A tremor coursed through Hagoromo's being. Words faltered upon his lips, suspended by the gravity of the revelation before him. "Y-You are-"
End of Volume One: Naruto Classics.
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