Chapter 527: Chapter 127
Title: New Beginnings 3
…
The Moon, one of the greatest wonders of the Shinobi World. Created by the Chibaku Tensei used by Hagoromo and Hamura to seal their Mother, Kaguya was barren on the Exterior, covered with craters and canyons.
It had a weak gravity, but was still able to maintain a breathable atmosphere inside the Moon. Despite its harsh conditions, the Ōtsutsuki were able to settle on the Moon due to their unique anatomy and physiology.
To improve its habitability and allow their population to thrive, the Ōtsutsuki built an artificial Sun(Tenseigan) at the center of the Moon, granting them light, powering their equipment, and allowing them to control the Moon's movements.
Similar to a Dyson sphere, they created a vast environment on the Moon's interior surface, complete with water bodies, mountains, forests, and various animal species, however this environment was far smaller than the full size of the Moon itself, but it's at least as big as a small country.
The artificial sun at the center of the Moon also acted as a barrier, within which are housed various important sites, such as Hamura's shrine, the Tenseigan itself, and a castle where the Clan Head lives.
And in the said castle, Hinami and Ria sat regally as the other Otsustsukis stood subserviently at the side. Seeing the smile appearing on Hinami and Ria's cold faces, the Clan head and elders were all confused at what prompted that until a portal suddenly opened in the middle of the hall.
They all went on guard immediately but a pressure they were all familiar with assaulted them, causing them to snap their heads at their ancestor. "Do you all want to die?" She merely asked with a cold glare but didn't wait for them to reply before turning to the Portal, out of which Shun alongside Kaguya walked out.
Behind them was a tied up Otsustsuki which Shun casually tossed to the side before turning to the portal and making a pulling gesture, and as he did that, people started flying out of it.
Izanagi, Izanami, Fenrir , Feathers, Hashirama, Madara, Tobirama, Anel, Ishikawa, Reto, Byakuren, Mikoto, Minato, Hiruzen, Tsunade, Ohnoki, Mei, Kaito, Ai, Jiraiya , Orochimaru, Gaara, Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, Darui, Kurotsuchi, Choujiro and finally Obito, Konan and Rin.
Turning immediately to Hinami and Ria, Shun smiled and spread his hands invitingly. "It has been a while, wives."
"It sure has." They both said as they both appeared in front of Shun and hugged him too.
"You both never fail to make me happy unlike a certain one." Shun said, throwing a glance at Kaguya who merely looked away.
"She has her reasons. Don't blame her too much."
"Why would I? At the level I'm at now, there's so little that can be hidden from me. I see all, know all and understand all. I'm that good." Shun said with a smug smile but all he got was looks of disdain from his wives.
"At least you haven't changed that much."
They all burst out laughing to the shock of both the Moon Clan Otsutsuki and The Humans.
For the Otsustsukis, since their periodic encounters with Hinami, they'd rarely seen her face muscle twitch, talk more of smiling and not to mention laughing.
The only time her face muscle twitched ever so slightly was when she had seen a promising young boy a few years ago. Unfortunately, the boy didn't meet her requirements and she had lost interest.
For the Humans, a few had looks of incredulity, some confusion, some appreciation, some shock and some wonder.
"Oh? Is that you Tsunade? You look so…" Hinami said as she caught sight of Tsunade. "...Big and busty."
"Huh? You know me?" Tsunade asked, confused.
"Know you? We practically watched you grow up. Have you forgotten us that soon? Mikoto-chan, how about you?"
"I can't possibly forget you Hinami-nee." Mikoto said with a smile. "To think you were the same as Shun…I always thought you were…"
"Haha, Normal? Is that the word you're looking for?" Hinami said to which Mikoto blushed but didn't acknowledge nor deny it.
"Wait! Hinami-ba-san? You're…also like Uncle Kuchiki?" Tsunade finally remembered as she approached Hinami and hugged her. "I thought you were actually dead."
"Haha. I'm that fragile. Only a few things can actually kill me. And back then? I was merely an avatar."
"An Avatar?"
"Yeah, similar to Kaguya over there." Hinami said.
"Now that you mention it, where's your main body, Kaguya?" Shun asked.
Kaguya rolled her eyes and replied. "Making some research."
"...I see." Shun said and then turned to Hinami. "Except the clan head, Send them all out. Also summon that kid you talked to me about."
"Toneri? What for?"
"Just call him. You'll understand soon enough."
"Hmm." Hinami nodded and glared at the Otsutsuki inside the hall. They all heard Shun so she didn't see the need to repeat what he'd already said.
Moments later, a young man around the same age as Naruto and Sasuke walked into the hall, he looked around in confusion before sporting his Clan head and walking towards him.
One thing of note was that despite the heavy atmosphere in the room due to Hinami and Ria's presence, he showed no fear.
One had to understand that this was their main body at the Godking Level of 1B Chakra Unit, not some average clone with 1M± chakra unit.
"It's good that we're all here." Shun said and waved his hand slightly, causing a long table and chairs to appear. "Be seated." He said and took a seat at the head with Hinami and Ria sitting beside him.
Kaguya rolled her eyes and went to sit at the other end before which the others followed suit.
Shun looked left and right. "You know…I just noticed something. Three generations of Team Seven are actually here with us."
At Shun's statement, everyone looked confused. Kakashi and Obito to be precise. The oldest team Seven members just looked at each other without knowing how to respond while Naruto and Sasuke just looked sideways at who was the other team Seven before them.
It should be mentioned that Naruto was currently the happiest person in the room at the moment, not only has the war ended, he also got back his father while his mother was still in the village.
Just in the span of three years, he got back the family he never had.
"What? Surprised? Hehe. You…" Shun said, pointing at Rin. "You're free."
Crack!*
The mask that had remained on her face for more than twenty years now suddenly cracked before shattering to reveal the face of a mature beauty.
Gasp!
"Impossible..,"
"It can't be…"
"How…?"
There was a collective gasp before Kakashi, Obito and Minato spoke respectively.
"There you have it. The older Team Seven, the Slightly Older Team Seven and the Youngest Team Seven…albeit missing Sakura." Shun said.
"You…how is this… possible? I killed you…I put my..hands through your heart." Kakashi said while trembling. His eyes reddened, his heart beating so fast and loud that almost everyone could hear it with their enhanced perception.
"I saw you die! I buried your body…and you've been beside me all these years…yet you said…nothing? I…did all these…for you…I…what have I done..? I killed…all those people…Just because I…I thought you were dead." Obito said, his voice lowering in shame the more he spoke.
"I…I'm sorry. I did want to hide this from anyone. Even you Nee-san. I didn't want to hide it. But…" she turned to me in anger. "I had no choice."
"I'm not blaming you. In fact, I don't really care. I only know that you're my cute little sister. The person I have a problem with is you." She said as she glared at Ria.
"Eh? Me? Why?"
"You left us."
"Oh." Ria shrugged and glanced at Shun. "It's his fault."
"You said you were a Goddess."
"Of course. But he's a God…and my Husband at that." Ria replied.
"Nagato loved you. We all loved you. You were the mother we all never got the chance to grow up with."
"I know." Ria said with a sad smile. "You all were more than just students to me. I saw you all as my children-"
"Then why did you leave!? Look at you now! I doubt anyone here has as much chakra and power as you now! You could've erased that monster from existence and be done with it. Yet, you allowed all these to happen to us."
"Everything happens for a reason." Ria said as she shook her head. "I initially came down back then to observe the kids Shun said would bring about a great change to the world. It was rare to see him praise anyone that much."
"I…no, we were all intrigued, so we came down. Shun had said you all would die as martyrs but I didn't like that, so I thought to make you guys stronger." Ria said. "Never thought Shun would seal my chakra as soon as he found out."
"Why would you do that? Us? Martyrs?" Konan asked, this time directed at Shun.
"Destiny. It's a very interesting and fickle thing at the same time. Your destiny is formed by every decision you make. It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." Shun said and leaned back on his chair.
"I only knew what would happen. The both of them, Nagato and Naruto. Two Uzumakis with the same Destiny. Both born in difficult circumstances, had great power given to them, had the worst and most heartbreaking experience growing up. Yet, in that moment of decision…Their destiny was decided."
"While Naruto chose to protect Despite his pain, Nagato chose to destroy Because of his pain. It's that simple. With the Nine Tails and as the perfect Jinchuriki, Naruto is arguably the strongest human of this generation right beside Sasuke. If he had let his pain define who he is, would we be sitting down here?"
"Do not forget that even in his moments of despair during this war, it was his love for his comrades and his comrade's love for him that pulled him through…So you tell me, knowing this, what do you think?"
"Should I have interfered?"
"Of course!"
Hearing her answer, Shun looked at her incredulously for a few moments before bursting out in laughter.
His fit of laughter caused everyone to tense nervously. This was someone who had shown signs of actually being a True and Actual God.
"Hah…That's a nice answer. I love it. But it's because of this that you're Human. That is also why I love Humans. We have a Will of our own." Shun said and paused.
"Has anyone ever wondered why we can only use a fraction of our brain capacity?"
"..."
"No one? It's simple. The moment you use your brain to their full capacity, you lose something fundamental, something that makes us Human. Our Heart. We lose our emotions and think of everything Logically."
"In that state, you'll always think of the best course of action while neglecting the effects of your actions. You'd think - Let's not go to war. Let's just sacrifice Naruto and save the many. -"
"Or you'd think: The possibility of Humans going up against God is Low. Abysmally Low, so instead of fighting and dying aimlessly, let's just allow the Infinite Tsukuyomi to do its work. At least we'll be alive."
Shun swept his gaze through the people seated and saw that they were ruminating over his words.
"Are they happy?" Konan asked after a short period of silence.
"Very much so." Shun said. "I made sure of that."
Shun had made it his duty to reincarnate special people who died painfully or due to injustice into his cardinal world. They'd continue Reincarnating into happy lives till they can't reincarnate anymore.
"Then it's good. I'm sorry."
"Don't mention it." Shun said and turned to Kakashi and Obito. "My action of keeping you both in the light…now that you've heard what I said…do you still blame me?"
"...There…could've been… a better way…" Kakashi said while grinding his teeth.
"I know. But then, you won't be Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan. The man who Mastered a Thousand Jutsus, the Teacher of Team Seven and most especially, my Brother-in-law." Shun said the last part in humor but somehow, no one found it funny.
"And for you Obito…if she didn't die, do you really think you'd become who you are today?"
"No! I won't. I would've been better. I would've been a better Shinobi. Being the Hokage was my dream!" Obito said angrily.
"Yes, it was. But sometimes, we don't get to choose what choice to make, the choice chooses you." Shun said while shaking his head. "You were a necessity. Of Course, anyone could've been the pawn, but you had so much love and compassion in you."
"Then-"
"But as Madara told you, it is because of those qualities that you were the perfect candidate." Shun said as he immediately shot a glare at Madara who was looking proud that someone agreed with him.
"Still…when you watch someone go down into the Shadows, who do you think it pains the most, the Person himself or the person who loves and care about that person?" Shun said, directing the question at Minato.
"Those who care about that person." He replied, causing Shun to smile.
"When you were wallowing in your pit of despair, Kakashi, did you think it was only you feeling the pain? Minato, in the span of a year, lost his two students. Children he saw as his children, and then he watched as the last child wallowed in his own despair…Kushina…She loved Obito like her own and wished…No. She prayed consistently that her unborn child will grow up to be as kind as him one day. She adored Rin like the little sister she never had…and all that was taken away from her…"
As Shun said that, a heavy silence fell in the hall as some people had looks of shame on their faces.
"But then, that isn't all. Imagine the pain Minato had to bear, constantly killing Shinobis in their hundreds just so he, his wife and child will live in peace…Only for that to be taken away in a single night." Shun continued.
"Of course, compared to the other team Seven, you're the most broken and for that, there would be a reward. Ask whatever you wish of me and I will grant it." Shun declared.
"Huh?"
"Don't 'huh' me. Speak. I have others to attend to." Shun said.
"Then…can I think about it?"
"Me too." X2
The three of them asked at the same time and Shun shrugged. "Take your time."
"Ano…can I ask for one too?" Minato asked and Shun nodded. "Then is it possible for me to see my wife?"
"Of course. Unlike the others, you're the only one who died prematurely. Kushina will have uninterrupted access to the Moon. She can, of course, stay as long as she wishes. Naruto and Sasuke are already exceptions so…there's that."
"I'm grateful."
"There's no need for that. Naruto is my little brother and you're like the older brother I never really had." Shun said, shamelessly pushing Indra out of the family hierarchy.
"How about me? In a way, I'm also related to them, y'know?" Jiraiya asked, causing Tsunade to hide her face in shame. If not because she was here, she would've punched the living daylight out of him.
"How so?"
"Think about it. Minato is their Sensei, and I'm Minato's Sensei. Doesn't that make me the Grand-sensei?" Jiraiya reasoned soundly. Even Tsunade had a mouth opened at that reasoning.
"Then what do you want?" Shun asked with a tired sigh.
"With this war ended, we've finally achieved peace…right?" He asked, causing everyone to turn to Shun.
"Of course not. However, for the next 100 years, any form of harmful battles between groups will be punished severely." Shun said. "True Peace is never truly possible. One way or another, people will still harbor hate in them, and that hate will lead to them hurting their neighbors."
"It's understandable, but at least, in my lifetime, there won't be any kind of wars, right?"
"That much is certain."
"Then can I get back my right hand? I'd like to get back to my books. I have so much to write down but lack the necessary equipment for that." Jiraiya asked, causing Shun to smile.
"Only if I'll get the first copies," Shun said with a smile
"Deal." Jiraiya answered with a similar smile.
With that, Shun snapped his finger and the stump covering Jiraiya's right arm shone with a bright white light. As soon as it died down, Jiraiya had a brand new hand.
"I'll just go ahead and do this." Shun said and immediately, Ohnoki's back straightened, Tsunade's lost lifespan was regained and Obito's Sharingan regrew. Others who incurred any form of permanent injury had them all healed.
"Now…the reason I called you all here." Shun said.