Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Chapter 115 - Rihetsuki

Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

Shinden Saga – Arc 1: Kimera

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Chapter 115 – Rihetsuki

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In the middle of a peaceful village, on a small island in the north of the land of Water's archipelago, an unfortunate encounter is on the go. Takeshi is holding Naomi Yuki against the ground by the neck with his Shiden hanging over her. Boruto Hyuga is behind Takeshi, holding his lightning blade back and ready to pull out his sword.

Near them, Sakitsuki Otsutsuki is nailed to the ground by a blade stabbed through one of her hearts. Sasuke Uchiha holds the sword and stands with one foot on her hip, ready to finish her. The celestial woman instinctively closed her eyes to hide her Dojutsu, hoping she'll have time to talk this out.

Takeshi, alerted by the sound that these two made by landing there, looks aside and holds his breath, knowing how impractical the presence of this man is. To persuade him to calm down, Boruto lays the blade of his sword on the Minamoto's shoulder. The Kiri-nin looks at Naomi that he's still strangling, then to Boruto, and to Saki. In his mind, Tentoki instructs him on what's best to do.

"Takeshi, you better let go of Naomi." he advises. "I don't think Boruto would actually hurt you unless you try him first, but Sakitsuki is in real danger."

He listens to his tengu, takes his hand off Naomi's neck and undoes his Shiden. Sasuke, before finishing the enemy he found, slightly looks aside and sees his student, the woman he came to meet, and Tsubai's son worriedly staring at the celestial he captured.

"Takeshi. What are you doing here?" he asks.

"Stop! I mean don't hurt her!" the Minamoto yells, to everyone's surprise. "Please, Sasuke, let her go. I need her. She's not an enemy. She's a friend."

"A friend?" the wanderer confusingly repeats. "Takeshi, whoever she is, I can't afford to let her live. Their perception of life and chakra is toxic to humanity. I don't know what she did to you, but you're being manipulated."

"No! I beg you, please!" Takeshi panics. "I-uh... Listen, she and I have a common enemy. A lot of things have happened lately in this land, and she knows how to solve everything... I-I've read your reports! She isn't just anyone. Look at her eyes."

Sakitsuki raises her eyebrows, surprised by Takeshi's panic-fueled attempt to save her. She looks at everyone present, but keeps her eyes shut, mistrustfully.

"Saki. Please. You have to help me there. Open your eyes!" Takeshi begs her.

She sighs and accepts to ruin her cover, to save herself. She opens her eyelids and reveals her golden eyes to Sasuke who immediately understands who she is.

"The golden eyed brat, huh?" he says. "If I'm correct, you're important to your rulers. Killing you would significantly weaken your kind."

"I... wouldn't recommend it." she finally speaks for herself. "Killing me would only doom your world. My fellows' reaction would be fatal to you. You must know. I heard that you've met my master, Naobi-sama, before."

Sasuke frowns and thinks of what to do. This answer sounds like a threat and a provocation, but is he really ready to turn Naobi, the mysterious celestial who seemed far out of his reach, against him? One thing is sure, he can't let this golden-eyed woman get in his way. That she's here means she probably wants to meet the same person he does.

Yet, he still believes a confrontation with these people will come sooner or later. With more hatred than reason in his heart at the moment, he tightens his hold on his Kusanagi's handle and prepares to slit her chest open. Fortunately he's stopped in time by the only present person who can reason with him.