Ashes (A Naruto Fanfic Book 6)

Chapter 37

We appeared by the window in the common area of our apartment.  Minato and Tsunade looked up, surprised.  "How..."

Ryo shrugged.  "They're odd like that."

Minato looked curious.  "Where were you... we searched everywhere."

I smirked.  "We as in you and Tsunade."

He frowned.  "Yes."

I smiled.  "We disappear sometimes."

Hinata smiled, too.  "But they always come back."

He sighed.  "Fine, so that was an interesting tale, but it seems even Killer B doesn't know what you did."  I blinked at him.  "I'm not trying to pry... It just seems interesting."

I looked out of the window.  "I stopped his heart then started it again.  No big deal."

I saw Tsunade's frown.  "But you always say you are no medic."

I nodded.  "It's true... I'm not."

She fell silent, and Ryo stood and stretched.  "Well, let's sleep... long day tomorrow."

Aya and Hinata disappeared with him, leaving us with Minato and Tsunade.  I turned to them.  "You have questions."

Minato frowned.  "Will you answer them?"

I sighed and moved to the couch.  "I will answer what I can."

Tsunade started.  "What are you preparing for?"

I blinked but kept my face neutral.  "As you know, the Akatsuki are now gathering tailed beast... I would like to stop the final result, but overall, the next Great Ninja War."

Minato frowned.  "What's the final result, and who would be at War?"

"The resurrection of the Ten Tails... it would be the Five Great Nations against those who follow Madara."

He furrowed his brow.  "The Ten Tails?  That's a legend."

"Yes, Kaguya... and she was just as real as you and me and can be made whole once more."

Tsunade sat back.  "What can they hope to achieve?"

"I can only guess at that, but an Infinite Tsukuyomi."

Itachi perked up at that.  "Infinite Tsukuyomi?"

I closed my eyes.  "Yes... it has a number of factors in order to perform it, but that is the only conclusion I can draw."

He sat across from me and thought out his words.  Minato spoke up.  "How do you know this?"

I met his gaze.  "It once was my sole purpose to stop Kaguya's plan to trap the world in it.  I've seen the effects, and very few are immune or can even break the jutsu when they're captured.  It's the most powerful genjutsu known to this world."

He frowned, and Itachi spoke.  "What's required?"  I went silent, trying to think of what to say.  "Okay then... I'll guess."  I met his gaze.  "Clearly, the Ten Tails is involved and the Mangekyo Sharingan."

"Yes."

"But there's more..."

"Yes."

He sighed, thinking as Tsunade looked at me.  "How are you involved?"

"I am one of the few immune, I only know of one other who would be."

Minato crossed his arms.  "Of course you won't reveal who. But you said it can be broken."

"Yes."

"How?"

I looked at him.  "You wouldn't be able to..."

Itachi laced his fingers in front of his lips, resting his elbows on his knees.  "I could."

I blinked at him.  "Yes."

He sighed.  "So part of the power used to create it can save me... if I'm strong enough."

"Yes."

Tsunade frowned.  "You are not very forthcoming..."

I nodded.  "Telling you too much would put a few of my key players in danger, I would like them alive when the time comes."

Itachi spoke.  "The Tsukuyomi traps the victim in a genjutsu where days happen in seconds... the way you make it sound, he plans to trap everyone he can in it."

"Yes."

"What's the range?  Anyone who makes eye contact?"

"No."

He frowned.  "Then..."

"Every living person on this earth."

Minato gasped.  "How?"

"I don't know."

"It's a visual jutsu..."

I turned back to Itachi.  "Yes."

"So it stands to reason it would be a visual kekkai genkai that makes one immune."

I smiled.  "You're either really good at this or you know more than you're letting on, Uchiha."

"I can narrow it down rather quickly then."  The Rennigan...

Yes...  "Possibly."

Tsunade crossed her arms.  "The amount of chakra that would require..."

"Would somehow come from the victims, if memory serves, but as to how I don't know.  Such a supply would eventually dwindle and die, leaving the user with nothing in the end."

Itachi furrowed his brow.  "So... someone else is involved."

"Yes, but I don't know who..."

Minato touched my arm.  "Why would someone want to do this?"

"Utopia..."

"Wha-"

"Madara mentioned a few times over our lives... a world where ninja are no longer needed and everyone's happy.  You've seen the harm of the regular Tsukuyomi, but the caster does not have to torture those caught in it.  They can, in fact, allow the victim to live out their best and happiest life in their minds until they die.  Once they die in the genjutsu... their body dies as well."

Itachi looked perplexed.  "But the effects of overusing the Mangekyo Sharingan is going blind."

I nodded.  "Yes, but even you know that can be circumvented."

Tsunade thought for a moment.  "New eyes."

"In theory... it has more details than that, or Kakashi wouldn't be going blind in his left eye."

Sasuke...  "What else?"

Yes...  "I... can't tell you that."

Minato looked at Itachi.  "But you know."  He nodded.  "You don't seem to be going blind... that I know of."

I smirked.  "He's had little use of the Mangekyo Sharingan... I've seen to that personally."

Minato lowered his gaze.  "But... Sasuke..."

"Understands the risks."

Tsunade cleared her throat.  "The story is he killed Orochimaru... and may be joining the Akatsuki."

I played confused.  "Is that so?"

She frowned.  "You didn't know?"

I blinked, and Minato stood.  "He's your brother!"

Itachi and I exchanged a glance before I met his furious gaze with my calm one.  "He's his own man. He knows the risks."

He approached, and I stood, unafraid.  "How could you be so nonchalant about this?"

I sighed but didn't back down.  "Are we?"

He faltered.  "There's more..."

Itachi came and took my hand in his.  "There's always more."