Chapter 21
Flashback
Location: The Space Between Life and Death
The void was silent. It was a realm of pure white, untouched by the impurities of the mortal world, a place where time held no sway.
Floating in a lotus position, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, opened his purple Rinnegan eyes.
"It is time, Asura," Hagoromo spoke, his voice echoing through the nothingness.
From the light, a spirit materialized. It was Asura Ōtsutsuki, the younger son. His soul radiated warmth, vitality, and an unwavering belief in the connections between people.
"I understand, Father," Asura said, his expression determined yet sad. "Indra's soul has already transmigrated into the Uchiha boy. I must follow into the Uzumaki child to maintain the balance. To show him that love is the answer."
"The cycle continues," Hagoromo sighed. "This child, Naruto... his burden will be great. But with your spirit guiding him, perhaps he will find the answer to peace."
Asura nodded and began to fade, drawn toward the mortal plane where a newborn baby cried.
CRAAAACK.
The sound was sickening—like bone snapping, or the sky tearing apart. Hagoromo and Asura froze.
A dark, tear opened in the white space. From it, a figure tumbled out, laughing maniacally, leaking a substance that looked like ink and blood.
"Hahahaha! That was close! I thought I was going to be Uzumaki'd!"
The figure stood up. He had long, greyish-blue hair, a patchwork face covered in stitches, and mismatched eyes that held a childish, terrifying curiosity.
Mahito.
"Where is this?" Mahito asked, looking around. He looked at his hands. "I died... Kenjaku absorbed me... and yet, my soul is still here? No... the shape of this place is different. It's so... clean."
"Who are you?" Hagoromo demanded, his staff tapping the invisible floor. The Sage frowned. He could not read this creature's chakra because it had none. It was composed entirely of negative emotion. "You reek of malice. Pure, distilled malice."
Mahito looked at the old man and grinned. "Oh? A floating grandpa with weird eyes? And who is this?" Mahito pointed at Asura.
"I am Asura. Leave this place, demon," Asura commanded, sensing the overwhelming evil radiating from Mahito.
"Demon? No, no. I am a Curse," Mahito corrected, waving his finger. "Born from humans. I am the mirror of humanity. And you..." Mahito sniffed the air. "You smell like... connection. Purpose. Destiny. Disgusting."
Mahito felt a tug. The same gravity pulling Asura was pulling him.
"Oh? It seems I'm being invited to a party," Mahito smirked, looking down at the swirling vortex leading to the infant Naruto. "Reincarnation? Is that it? I get to be born as a human?"
"Stop!" Asura yelled. "That vessel is mine! It is destined to save the world!"
Asura charged at Mahito. But true to his nature, Asura did not strike to kill. He struck to connect. He utilized Ninshu—the practice of connecting spiritual energy to understand one another.
"I will purge your malice by connecting our souls!" Asura shouted, his chakra enveloping Mahito.
It was a fatal mistake.
