Divine [Indra Ōtsutsuki] - PAUSED

Different

"What are you doing, boy?"

Indra's eyes snap open, shadowed by the dark leaves that sheltered him. The trees in the mountains had intertwined, creating a canopy that only the smallest rays of sunlight could manage to seep through. Indra stands up and glares at the darkness.

"You again," he growls, reaching for his katana. "Show yourself. You know I can find you with these eyes."

His Sharingan blazes more fiercely as the voice beings to laugh. "Yes, you're right. I'll show myself then."

Two green, glowing eyes shift through the darkness of the forest, staring intently at Indra from afar. "Tell me, why is it that you're bleeding?"

Indra instantly pulls his sleeve down over the cut in his arm. "I'm not, and if you don't get out of there now, I'll—"

"You'll what? Slay me? Do you know who I am, boy?"

Indra clenches his fists. "I do not care  who you are. You are beneath me."

The voice makes a sound, like it's contemplating. "A strong heart, I like that about you. In fact, I think you're the only person on this earth deserving to wield those eyes. I don't think I've really seen anyone else with this much potential and knowledge about the world and Ninshu."

Indra rests his hands, his tension disappearing. The eyes seem to grow in size as the figure draws closer to Indra. It stops not that far from him. Indra is unable to describe it's appearance; black with mysterious armor, shielding itself from the sunlight, its eyes watching him from the dark abyss of the shadows. "Indra.....was it?"

Indra closes his eyes, lowing his head. "What do you want from me." The voice laughs at this. "My dear child, I do not wish to harm you. I come here to aid you."

"I'm not a child," Indra says, his low voice rising. "And who says I need your help." His eyebrows furrow. "Just leave me alone."

"Hm. You're quite intriguing, Ōtsutsuki. You should have headed my advice when you were younger, when you had the chance to change everyone in the village."

Indra scoffs. "You told me to kill my brother to awaken new eyes." He grits his teeth. "You're a fool. I won't sink to your level. My ideals are simply to create a world where only peace exists. That peace will be maintained through order. I shall enforce the law of the village; they will bow before the power of my blessed eyes, and I shall control the course of society and save humanity from its own destruction."

"Sounds like you're the one who's insane," the voice replies. "Enough chatter. Allow me to introduce myself." Indra crosses his arms.

"I am Black Zetsu."

Indra studies the figure. He was sure he had heard that name before, but couldn't quite place it in his mind. "Okay, Black Zetsu," he says, emphasizing his name, "why don't you get the hell out of here and leave me alone."

Black Zetsu giggles. "Temper temper. You're already alone!"

Indra freezes, his words sinking into his skin. He was right. He was alone. Black Zetsu uses this opportunity to grab Indra's full potential.

"You can awaken a new pair of eyes even more powerful than your Sharingan's current state. You can use them to control the village, as you said before. All you have to do is—"

"Kill Asura." Indra narrows his eyes. "I won't kill him. No matter what you say to me."

"Oh dear," Black Zetsu begins. "Your mother would not approve of your attitude, young man. Oh wait....she's dead." Indra lowers his head. "When you were born, everything was fine. You had a loving mother and father. A perfect life."

Indra reflects on this. He was right, in a way. He was happy.

"And then you're brother was born, and your mother died in childbirth. How unfortunate. If only Asura hadn't taken your mother away, maybe you'd have different vision of the future."

Indra tries to shake away the memories of his childhood. "Are you saying there's something wrong with my ideals?"

"Hagoromo doesn't respect you. In fact, no one respects you. Look what you've become, boy. You used to be contently studying Ninshu, listening to your younger brother complain about all the reading. You used to laugh back then. And now look. They've abandoned you, so much so that reality has etched away at your soul; you're empty, however you are not willing to accept joy, peace, or love—"

"Love?!" Indra clenches his fist, his eyes glinting violently. "There is no need for love!"

Black Zetsu opens his mouth, but then closes it, unable to respond to Indra's sudden burst of strength. Even Black Zetsu knew that love was one of the necessities in creating a prosperous world, even if in his eyes, it was one of the lesser requirements. He had never sensed such confidence in such a statement before.

"I...."

Indra's eyes narrow, and he connects his hands, performing several hand signs. He finishes and outstretches his arm to the side.

"Get," he says through gritted teeth, his hand flaming with chakra. The chakra evolves into a more concentrated flow, now taking the form of what looked all to similar to lighting. It crackles around his hand, writhing on his finger tips. "....out of my way!"

He charges forward at lighting speed to where Black Zetsu was standing, however he dodges Indra's attack, grinning triumphantly. "Heh," he smirks, turning around to watch his enemy falter. But Indra wasn't there.

"Chidori!"

Something crackles up Black Zetsu's spine, and he falls forward with pain. It surges through his body, radiating through his blood, sending shocks of pain rattling across his brain. He hits the ground silently, wincing. Indra's robe swags behind him as he spins around, the chakra flickering in his palm, then fading to a soft glow before disappearing entirely.

"What power," Black Zetsu pants, catching his breath. "It seems I cannot talk to you while you are in this state."  He looks up only to be greeted by Indra's narrowed Sharingan, burning with strength and fury. "I shall return when you contain a less violent mindset."

Black Zetsu connects his hands and makes a sign, disappearing into the darkness of the forest, out of sight. Indra stand there, his teeth still gritted with anger. He growls in frustration.

"Damnit," he grumbles, his Sharingan deactivating. "Damn you, Black Zetzu."
His mouth wanted to say other things, but his mind spoke louder than his words. He knew inside that what Black Zetsu was telling him was right, but he just didn't understand how he knew. Had he been watching Indra long before he was a child? How could he know such things?

He suddenly become more aware of his surroundings, a chill going up his spine. If Black Zetsu was able to read Indra's intentions just by looking at him....what had his father figured out already? Indra shakes off the chilling feeling, walking further into the shadowy depths of the forest.

"Don't focus about such things right now. They are irrelevant to your goals in creating a better future." He makes a hand sign, gathering his chakra.

"Just focus on one thing."

He closes his eyes, his eyebrows narrowing. Chakra glows faintly from his fingertips still connected in the hand sign.

"....getting stronger."