Itachi fought between his survival instincts as a shinobi and his human instincts as he tried to appraise the old man who called himself Tenji. He felt no ill intent from the man who stood and allowed himself to be studied, but doubt flickered across Itachi's mind. Who they were, where they were - it would have been close to impossible for anyone who hadn't been following them to know exactly how to find them. Reason told him Tenji was telling the truth. His training told him to stay alert.
Tenji stood patiently before them, seemingly aware that he was being scrutinised by the two. Itachi glanced at Sakura, who seemed surprised and defensive, and then back at Tenji. He observed the walking stick, and the slight shake in the old man's hand, and made a decision.
"Would you care to share our fire this evening?" Itachi offered.
Tenji smiled kindly at him."Thank you. I am weary from my travel today."
"Itachi, what are you doing?" Sakura asked, her quiet voice filled with question and warning.
Itachi gave her a look, and she sighed. Her eyes spoke for: you better know what you're doing. Itachi turned his attention back to Tenji, who had lowered himself to the ground and sat across the fire from them, cross-legged with his cane across his knees.
"I understand your hesitation and reluctance to trust me," Tenji said. "Be that as it may, I assure you that I mean you no harm."
Itachi lowered himself to the ground, and Sakura followed after a moment's hesitation.
"Our pardons, Tenji," Itachi said politely. "There have been complications in our lives recently that have made us wary of strangers."
Tenji inclined his head in understanding.
"Of course. Might I be allowed to put your minds at ease?"
"Please," Itachi replied.
"What's Ninshu?" Sakura interrupted. "Sorry, I just don't understand. I've never heard of it. Didn't the Sage of Six Paths give us Ninjutsu?"
"A common misconception," Tenji answered her. "I shall start at the very beginning. A millennia ago in the Land of Ancestors, Hagoromo Otsutsuki and his brother Hamura fought a terrifying, and world-changing battle against their mother and the ten-tails, Kaguya Otsutsuki."
Sakura and Itachi glanced at one another, and Sakura bit her lip to hide a small smile.
"They were victorious in sealing her away, but the world suffered greatly as a result of their battle. Hagoromo traveled across the world in a journey of repentance and along the way, he gathered followers to him. Ninshu was what he called his teachings. It is a tradition of peace and meant for its followers to understand the mysteries of chakra, and in turn, to better understand themselves and others. It was only later that what we know as ninjutsu was created."
Tenji paused and Itachi and Sakura, both drawn in with interest, waited patiently for him to continue.
"Ninshu teaches us that chakra is the force that connects all things." He looked levelly at them. "Connecting life and death, and even across time."
Itachi didn't react to his comment. He'd been expecting something like it. Sakura, however, went stiff and sat up straighter.
Tenji gave her a soft smile, his eyes closed thoughtfully.
"I am very old, young ones, I never imagined I'd live for so long. The Sage of Six Paths wished for this world to be peaceful, but war has eroded his ideals for so many years." Tenji gave a heavy sigh. "The seeking of power for power's sake is a corruptive force. But the truth of chakra can never be lost: chakra connects all of us."
YOU ARE READING
Sacrifices for Peace
Fanfiction[PART ONE: SACRIFICES UNIVERSE] It had begun with Asura and Indra, and ended with Naruto and Sasuke. The war was done, Kaguya was sealed, and everyone thought it was over. They were wrong. It should never have come this far, and the Otsutsuki brothe...
