Chapter 84

In the aftermath of Naruto's disappearance, a carefully constructed veil of uncertainty descended upon the world. Only a handful knew the truth, and Shikamaru, ever the strategist, foresaw that rumors about Naruto's death would inevitably spread. He anticipated this chaos, understanding the delicate balance that Naruto had maintained by simply existing. Without him, the world's fragile order would falter. To mitigate this, many of Naruto's allies took it upon themselves to transform into him, continuing his work and presence throughout the world. Their efforts, though valiant, were not without risk.

As Shikamaru had predicted, rumors swirled, and people began to whisper about Naruto's possible death. Thankfully, his allies' efforts to mimic his presence kept these rumors at bay, ensuring that the world did not plunge into a chaotic state. Naruto's absence was not something the world could afford to dwell on. The balance that had been maintained by his very existence was still too fragile, and if the truth spread too far, there was a genuine risk of destabilization.

The loved ones closest to Naruto, those who had known him intimately, refused to believe the rumors. They held onto the hope that he would return. But to the broader public, Naruto was nothing more than a figure of legend. His disappearance was synonymous with death in their eyes. The world, it seemed, was far from ready to exist in a unified state without the guiding force of his presence.

Shikamaru, with his sharp mind, had already set his sights on the Star Kingdom, the most likely source of the disturbance. He knew that someone—or something—had orchestrated Naruto's disappearance, but the exact details remained elusive. Yet, little did they know, the true mastermind was much closer than they realized.

Hotaru Uzumaki, sat in her private garden, meditating, her thoughts distant and calculating. The garden, serene and peaceful, was a sharp contrast to the storm brewing within her. She knew that Naruto was out of the picture for the time being. With the task completed, she addressed her father, Genryu, her voice carrying an eerie calm.

"He is out of the picture for now, Father. What do you want to do next? Should I kill them, or do you want to handle it?" Hotaru's words were laced with an unsettling sense of finality.

Genryu, a man marked by years of pain and rage, was pleased to hear her willingness to act. He had always seen Naruto as a threat, but not one that was impossible to deal with. To him, Naruto was important, but not enough to deter him from his ultimate goals. He leaned back, a mix of satisfaction and sorrow in his eyes as he regarded his daughter.

"How long do we have? And, will he really return?" Genryu asked, the weight of the question heavy in the air.

Hotaru, eyes closed in quiet contemplation, answered without hesitation. "I don't know. But, it should take him months if he is lucky. And, if he is unlucky, then death."

A slow smile spread across Genryu's face as he heard her words. "Well done, Hotaru. This is the best gift you could give to this old man." He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, his voice filled with the kind of emotion that only years of suffering could bring. Tears welled in his eyes as he recalled the memories of past losses, ones too dark for most to comprehend.

"Finally... finally I can avenge their deaths," Genryu whispered, his voice a tremor of grief and rage.

Hotaru could feel the depth of his pain, the unspoken agony of years of loss and revenge. Her desire to erase everything tied to that pain was almost as strong as his. Yet, she knew better than to let the same hatred that consumed her father overtake her. There was something more important at stake.

"Father…" Hotaru began, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

"Don't let anger and sadness overtake you, my sweet child," Genryu interrupted, his tone surprisingly gentle. "You are our hope and future. Let the sadness and hatred end with my generation. Without that foolish boy, none can stand against us. So, you can go ahead and leave. I don't want you to risk your life by staying here longer."

Hotaru had been prepared to leave, but she hadn't spoken the true reason behind it. Her father had concluded what she had kept hidden—the increasingly powerful presence of the Phoenix within her body. Every task she completed brought her closer to becoming the ideal avatar and vessel for the Phoenix, but at a cost. The longer she stayed, the more dangerous it became for her. The Phoenix's power was overwhelming, and if she didn't act soon, her body would succumb to it, likely exploding from the excess of energy.

Her master, the Phoenix, had chosen this path for her, the only viable vessel after the fall of another named Jean Grey, whose loss was felt deeply by the Phoenix. Hotaru didn't need the Phoenix to tell her; it was obvious. The Phoenix had chosen her, but it was a burden few could bear. Even those who had once wielded such power, like Jean Grey, had been lost.

The universe, vast and unfathomable, held creatures capable of fighting even the Avatars of the primordial forces, and Hotaru knew that her journey was only just beginning. Yet, there was something more pressing—something that she could not afford to overlook. The balance of power in the world was shifting, and her role in it was about to change forever.

Hotaru sat silently in her garden, the quiet hum of nature surrounding her as she let the words settle between her and her father. Despite the calm atmosphere, her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. She didn't want to leave. Everything she had ever wanted was tied to the Earth, the land of the Uzumaki, and the family she had left. But she knew her time was running out, and every passing day brought her closer to the inevitable. This might be the last time she would see her father, the last day she would breathe in the air of her homeland, the last time she would feel the comforting weight of being grounded in something familiar.

"I will leave after a few days. I want to watch the glory of the Uzumaki clan spread…I want to see you happy, father," she finally said, her voice heavy with a mixture of resignation and longing. She had made her decision, but something deep inside her yearned for more time, more moments. She wasn't sure if it was because she feared what lay ahead, or if it was simply the realization that she might not return.

Genryu, hearing her words, felt a bittersweet joy fill him. It pained him to know that his daughter, his hope for the future, was bound to a destiny she didn't deserve. She had been stripped of a normal life, the life that any Uzumaki child should have had—the warmth of family, the connection to her clan, the love and security that came with it. That life had been ripped away by the brutal genocide carried out by the other villages. The memories of that massacre still haunted him, fueling his rage and hatred towards those responsible.

Thinking of the massacre made his blood boil, and for a moment, he saw red. If he could, he would have hunted down every last person involved and made them pay. It didn't matter that most of the perpetrators had already perished; what remained were the descendants of the villages that had once turned their backs on the Uzumaki. Those people were the new generations, but they had done nothing to atone for the sins of their ancestors.

The Tsuchikage and Raikage, the current leaders of the villages that had played a role in the destruction of the Uzumaki clan, were just as vile as their forebears. There was no place for them in this world, and Genryu would have been content to rid the world of their existence.

"If that is your wish, we shall not delay it any longer," he replied, his voice a low whisper, filled with both pride and sorrow. He understood that Hotaru needed to carve her own path, to live her life on her own terms. She had already suffered enough, and while he wanted to protect her from the inevitable consequences of the Phoenix's power growing within her, he also knew that this was her destiny.

Back in Konoha, a dark cloud had settled over the village. Something terrible had happened—Hinata, one of the pillars of the village's strength, had suddenly fallen into a coma. No one could find an explanation, no magical cure, and no way to wake her. Her absence left a gaping hole in the village's defense, and her sudden condition sent ripples of fear through the heart of Konoha. To the outside world, it looked like an attack—one that had further compromised their already fragile security.

Unknown to the villagers, Hotaru Uzumaki was the mastermind behind the attack, orchestrating it from the shadows. Hinata had been the last line of defense for the village, a powerful force that had kept their enemies at bay. Now, without her, Hotaru knew Konoha would be on the verge of collapse. Hotaru had taken every measure to ensure her family's safety, and Hinata's downfall was part of a larger plan to weaken the world's protectors.

Ino Yamanaka, on the other hand, felt the immense pressure of the situation. Naruto's disappearance had left the village vulnerable, and with Sakura and Kakashi also gone, Konoha was struggling to maintain any semblance of order. The attack on Hinata only added to her anxiety. Ino had been forced to shoulder much of the responsibility in the absence of the village's strongest, and her psychic skills had become essential in keeping things in check. She had grown more skilled, but even she was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the crisis.

"What is Naruto doing out there?" Ino muttered to herself, her mind racing as she paced nervously. "He's crazy... but how is Hinata handling this pressure? I just can't... can't understand how an enemy could do all of this."

The unknown assailant who had put Hinata in a coma was terrifying. Ino didn't want to imagine what would happen if Naruto were to come back to a destroyed village—a landscape littered with broken families, lost lives, and shattered hopes. The weight of responsibility pressed on Ino's shoulders as she realized that the fate of Konoha rested on her and the remaining defenders.

Things were even worse for Ai, who had been struggling with panic attacks since Naruto's disappearance. The young girl, who could sense when someone was imitating Naruto, was in a constant state of distress. She was sensitive, aware of things that others weren't, and without Naruto's calming presence, Ai felt adrift in a sea of confusion and fear.

Ino, seeing the urgency of the situation, made a snap decision. It was time to put Naruto's Sage Mode plan into action. Although it was risky and the procedures hadn't been fully tested, Ino knew they had no time to waste. She had already experimented with the technique herself, and it had worked flawlessly. Ino could bypass the usual limitations of Sage Mode—the chakra requirements, the delicate balance of energy control—and give others the experience of accessing the power, a shortcut that would elevate them by at least ten times.

The task was monumental, but Ino was the only one capable of doing it in Naruto's absence. The Jinchuuriki were the best candidates for the upgrade, but Ino would need to make sure their bodies could handle the increased power. She had already tested it on herself, and while it was effective in granting immense power, further skill development would depend on the individual's personal understanding of the technique.

It meant that now Ino could help anyone step into the path of the Sage, the beginner level.

"I wish you were here... You would've been amazed by what I can do now," Ino grumbled to the sky, frustration leaking from her words. "And you would've showered me with affection... AHHH! Whoever is responsible for this, I'm going to make them regret it! We were finally starting to make progress, and now this!"

With a forceful shout, she struck the sky, molding the clouds into monstrous shapes before violently dispersing them with a punch or a kick. It wasn't an attempt to cause real harm, but it demonstrated the sheer magnitude of power that surged through her body. Her Sage Mode was still new, but it was already enough to bend the elements to her will.

The rest of the team, who had been on the ground below, looked up in shock. Ino had not only mastered Sage Mode, but she was also able to manifest copies of everyone she encountered. She could replicate memories, abilities, and experiences, making her an incredibly powerful and versatile ally. This revelation brought a strange sense of comfort to the group. Even without Naruto, they now had someone who could stand in for him, someone who could learn and adapt with the same speed and ease as he had.

Though the news of Naruto's disappearance had shaken them, Ino's new abilities gave them a reason to hope. With her help, they could carry on, protect the village, and prepare for whatever threats loomed on the horizon. The world was uncertain, but they wouldn't falter. They would keep fighting, not just for Naruto, but for each other—and for the future of the world they all shared.