Boruto's Sweet Home

Naruto: Tales of Ashihara

The Shinden Saga – Arc 3: The Dragon Sage

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Chapter 137 – Boruto's sweet home

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Following the meeting of the Shinden that resulted in Yamitsuki's most surprising decision, Yasona, goddess of mischief, beauty and temptation, arrives with Aritsuki in her palace dimension, the Kannogu.

There, Chishiki, Kuboshiki and Torushiki were waiting for her. Aritsuki falls on his knees and hands, frustrated by the outcome of his trip to Earth. Yasona, finally away from the Ryu Shinsen, breathes and sighs of relief. This time, she could feel an untold spite and disgust in his gaze. It's as if he was judging her consideration for Momoshiki and Urashiki, and the pitiful plans she made behind his back. His frightening attention felt like a warning. She feels like, if he ever gets a chance to, he'd slaughter her mercilessly. This thought, and this feeling of inferiority, makes her shiver.

"Damn Dragon Sage!" she cries out in front of her subordinates. "I can't take being part of that council anymore."

She walks forward to join her subordinates with open arms. Kuboshiki, seeing an occasion to feel his mistress's body warmth, raises his arms and gets ready to hug her, but is deceived instead as she rather goes to grab Chishiki's head with one hand to hug her, and lovingly hold on Torushiki's thick bicep with her other hand to seek his warmth.

"Yamitsuki has become the only person that matters to everyone's eyes." she complains as she lets her head fall against Torushiki's chest and as Kuboshiki, not willing to stay excluded, lies a hand on her back in compassion. "Since Hyakki is gone, it's just me, surrounded with that bastard, his bitchy girlfriend and his obedient best friend. I should be the one admired. I am the only one among them that descends from the clan's lineage of queens. I am Ayaka-sama's granddaughter, and the Queen Mother's niece. But Yamitsuki!… He's got everything, while all I've got is… this! I don't belong here anymore…"

To these complaints, Chishiki, Torushiki and Kuboshiki don't know what to say. Aritsuki, however, knows exactly what to ask. He may have failed to do what she wanted and doesn't deserve her reward, but he still needs his task accomplished. And now, he also needs Watsuki to be revived.

"Still, Yasona-sama, you are a Shinden." he says. "And more than anyone else, you know the Tenshin. You are Jashin-sama's closest friend, Isshiki's cousin, and a role model for Tahoka. You can get their help. You need to take action. Boruto Hyuga isn't nearly as much trouble as the Uchiha. You have to capture him, and resurrect Watsuki."

After this faithful discourse, Yasona steps away from her pupils with a confident smile on her face. She is in no way agreeing with Aritsuki, but likes his reminder of her own greatness. This time, she was praised without even her beauty being mentioned. Leaving her worries aside, she answers honestly to the prisoner.

"What did you take me for, Ari?" she says with a warming but arrogant tone. "I'm a Shinden, indeed. A divine lordess. The goddess of beauty and temptation. People desire me. People seek to please me. They do all for me, as gifts or services, to reward my simple existence and unmatched elegance. But did I ever do something for them? Did you, Aritsuki, really think that accomplishing this task for me would have entitled you to anything? Did you really hope that I'd trade the fatherhood of my children for that? Surely not. I would have denied that prize to you, for I am also the goddess of mischief. Instead, you would have gotten what? A kiss or a pleasuring night that would have fulfilled myself more than you, and yet you'd have been satisfied. I am a receiver, not a giver. As long as I stay true to this, I will deserve everyone's love, and no one will deserve mine."

Aritsuki, crushed by this unprecedented honest speech, looks down, feeling deceived and abandoned. Yet, just as she said, he can't hate her. She just deserves his love. Behind her, Kuboshiki is also saddened by the reality of that speech. Torushiki, as always, shows little concern. Chishiki is more willing to test its truth.

"What will the Ryu Shinsen do about Earth, then?" asks the small woman, who has traveled to this planet 10 years ago under her mistress' command.

"… I don't know, but he surely won't destroy it." Yasona theorizes. "He'll either please Naobi and make everything boring and forbidden again. Or he will please Tokubei, and it'll be the right time for me to find my pleasure in that world."

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The next day, at the gates of Konohagakure, Takeshi Minamoto arrives to pay a visit to some childhood friends and family. He has been alerted by Sakitsuki of an alarming event and the return of a certain someone. Despite still not having recovered her complete golden sight, her Byakugan has healed enough to let her see anywhere on Earth at once when she uses it.

The Minamoto, soon after entering the village, is welcomed by his best friend, Izuna Uchiha, always ready for a little time to spend with his overseas comrade.

"Hello, friend." Takeshi simply greets Izuna.

"Hello. It's been a while." the Uchiha medic answers. "How are you doing?"

To this question, Takeshi shrugs, unsure of what to say.

"I… guess I'm doing okay." he says, reminded of all he's lost and learned anytime someone shows genuine concern. But he doesn't want this conversation to be about him, so he turns it around. "What about you? You look great. Or should I say you look tough? You really bulked up."

Izuna smiles at his friend's compliment and looks at his own arms to acknowledge this praise. He indeed spent a lot of time training to upgrade his bodily strength and shape and developed an athletic figure. Compared to 2 years ago, he also cut his hair slightly shorter to uncover his face and neck. He also changed his clothing style to fit his new shape. He now wears a shorter and sleeveless version of the Uchiha's classic dark blue robe. Yet, despite having reached adulthood, he still has the same innocent face and eyes as ever.

"How's your mom? And your sister? And Inoue?" Takeshi keeps the questions going.

"Everyone's doing fine." Izuna simply says. "But I guess you forgot to ask about who you came to see."

"Right… I heard Boruto is finally back." the Kiri-nin says. "It's more out of curiosity that I'm here. Saki told me that the context of his return was intriguing, and maybe worth worrying."

"It's… confusing to say the least." Izuna explains. "Hokage-sensei brought him back yesterday evening. And not alone. Another man was with them."

"Where is he now?" Takeshi asks about Boruto. "Also, maybe I should visit the Hokage, since I'm here?"

"Hokage-sensei isn't available in person." the Uchiha medic says. "He left this morning for a meeting in Suna. But there's still tons of his clones around the village to receive you. About Boruto, he actually didn't recover from whatever happened to him. He's at his family's home."

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In the Hyuga/Uzumaki household, the yellow-haired Hyuga prince abruptly wakes up in confusion, having only blurry memories of what happened after they were cornered by Aritsuki. As soon as awake, he sits up and is promptly greeted by a warm hug from his mother, Hinata. Since he hasn't seen her in 2 years, he hugs her back and stays silent while confusingly staring around. He tries to recall what happened.

"What have you been up to, seriously?" Hinata asks in a worried tone.

"Um… Mom, where's Toneri-sensei?" he suddenly asks, now remembering how he ended up here.

Hinata lets the hug go and looks at her son, still confused about how he ended up spending 2 years being trained by this man.

"The council insisted, so he's been imprisoned for now." she answers.

"I need to see him." Boruto exclaims before leaping out of bed, still wearing the same cape and white outfit.

Hinata looks at her son rushing out of the room to exit the house and stays thoughtful. Seeing how much Himawari, or other older kids like Izuna, grew up these last two years, she was really curious to see what became of Boruto. He seems undeniably more mature than ever before. His face is already more manly than his father's, which is odd since, for Hinata, he's still the 16 year old boy who left the house 4 years ago.

Outside, Boruto quickly gets through the front yard and to the streets where he's startled by a familiar voice.

"Oh? Boruto?" he hears someone say.

Standing next to him, he recognizes Rebekka Tabiki. They both stare at each other confusingly without a word. Boruto analyzes her from head to toe. She didn't change at all. She's exactly the same rebel girl as she always was. And she also kept her attitude, as she shows with the first thing she decides to say.

"What's that outfit?" she jokes. "It looks like a pajama from another century."

Still silent, Boruto is comforted by the sound of her voice, the sight of her face and the feeling of nostalgia it brings to him. Uncontrollably, he bends over to aim for a hug, but stops himself before doing so. She seems clueless, and he feels too timid to actually do it.

"It's… good to see you." he simply says instead.

"Are you okay?" Rebekka asks, feeling somehow weak when she notices how tall and manly he's grown.

The two of them step away from each other when they hear Hinata coming to join them on the street. They shyly look away and get distant. The Hyuga princess took her stuff and got dressed to leave in a hurry.

"Boruto… I can guide you to Toneri." she says to her son.

Understanding that this improvised reunion comes to an end, Rebekka says goodbye.

"Well, I guess this means you're back." she tells Boruto. "In case you feel like hanging out, I'm going to the gates to show off some new skills to some friends. You can join us if you feel like it."

To this, Boruto doesn't answer. He just awkwardly stares at her until she leaves. Hinata makes an embarrassed face, feeling like these 2 years out of society made her son grow out of touch. He indeed feels very confused about this little encounter and the old thoughts and torments it woke up in his mind, but has to focus on his objective.

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In the prison castle of Konoha, Fuyuko Yamanaka is still jailed in a common cell with Seiki Tomoe, 3 years after being defeated by Takeshi Minamoto. To kill time, he's ranting about a random fictional universe that Seiki doesn't know anything about.

"You know, it just got me wondering…" he says, unbothered about who hears or listens. "Why did the scientists give functional reproductive organs to the Avatar bodies? Like… All they wanted was to rob Pandora and leave. Giving those fake na'vi bodies actual working wieners must have cost millions in research. So why?"

Seiki, not understanding a single word he says, sighs and looks away. Looking for a distraction, she's surprised to see a well known face pass by in the prison's hallway. Recognizing the son of the Hokage, she audibly gasps. Boruto, seeing her look at him insistently, stares back and tries to figure out if he met her before. Fuyuko, who's speech has been interrupted, notices the Hyuga walking by as well.

"Well. If it isn't Boruto Hyuga." he says in a voluntary mischievous tone. "You're all grown up and beaten. What's with that face? You look like if your mom and dad had a child."

Boruto, confused and amused by this inoffensive insult, stands still for a moment to look at the prisoner and guess who he is. Light green eyes, hair bangs hiding half of his face, and tattoos all over his right arm. His hair is blonde but black on the ends, meaning that they were probably tainted black before growing.

"You must be Fuyuko Yamanaka." Boruto guesses. "The guy from Kakumei that Takeshi defeated."

"In the flesh." Fuyuko answers. "And you're the asshole who killed my friend Kawaki."

"I didn't kill him!" Boruto suddenly gets serious. "I beat him and spared his life because I wanted to fight him again later. He even asked me to kill him but I didn't. Listen, I've been looking for Kawaki but couldn't find him. I have no idea what happened to him."

"… If you say so." Fuyuko says, giving up on this argument. "Anyway, that girl over there is who got your Uchiha friend confused and let Kawaki get in the village to kill your old man."

"I see. So she's the girl who got left behind." Boruto comments, before taking a better look at them both, their dirty clothes and skin, and tired faces. "You look miserable."

"We sure do." Fuyuko says, since Seiki is staying quiet. "But it's not surprising. We're in prison, so it's kinda intentional. What about you? Is it also intentional?"

'"Hm…" Boruto quietly laughs, amused by the prisoner's mean attitude. He kind of reminds him of Rebekka, but less politically correct. "I like you. You're a funny one."

"Sounds gay, but okay." The Yamanaka promptly answers with a smile.

"Aren't you the one with a trans sister?" Boruto asks, confused by this edgy comment.

"Right, she was my twin." Fuyuko answers. "A trans sibling. Which is something we have in common."

"What? You mean my sister, Himawari?" Boruto exclaims, clueless. He hasn't seen his younger sister in 2 years so he couldn't know. "Is that true?"

"Not at all. I'm just messing with ya." The prisoner calmly answers to stop fooling around when he sees Hinata Hyuga join her son. "Ma'am." he salutes her before going to sit in the back of his cell.

Hinata just quickly looks at the prisoners and greets them out of courtesy. Boruto stares at Fuyuko for a while, intrigued by this character, and leaves to follow his mother.

Further in the prison, Shikamaru Nara, Inoue Yamanaka, Sai and Sakura Uchiha are all standing before Toneri Otsutsuki in his cell. He's locked and attached, forced on his knees, and has to comply with this interrogatory.

"Don't play around and just answer my questions straight up." Shikamaru demands. "Last time I saw you, you were blind. So where did you get these new eyes? Who did you steal them from?"

"It is not what you think." Toneri tiredly says.

"Answer the question." Shikamaru exclaims. "Did you take them from a Hyuga citizen?"

Before the captive Otsutsuki can explain himself, his attention is caught by the sight of a familiar person. Following his gaze, they all see Hinata arrive with Boruto. The yellow-haired ninja confusingly stares at everyone. His mother just comes closer and looks at the one in the cell.

"Hinata… I apologize." Toneri shyly says. "I didn't intend to be brought here, or to put your son in danger."

"It's okay." she hesitatingly replies. "I'm just here because Boruto needed to see you… Can you tell us what happened?"

Toneri doesn't speak, too timid to start a tale. Behind Hinata, Inoue, Shikamaru, Sai and Sakura all stare at Boruto, unsettled by how much he changed. Seeing that everyone looks at him, the ninja elects to answer for his master.

"I met him 2 years ago." he starts. "He warned Sasuke-sensei about an incoming enemy threatening his home and requested something to help him. They made a deal and decided to have him train me to master the Tenseigan, while preparing for the coming threat."

"Sasuke never mentioned this…" Sakura complains. "What exactly is this threat?"

"The original Otsutsuki clan. A clan of celestial beings." Toneri finally speaks. "This is how I got my eyes back, Shikamaru Nara. The last of them to visit me before yesterday simply made me recover my original Byakugan."

"The last of them?" Inoue mentions this detail. "You've met many of them on the moon?"

"… Yes." he slowly says. "Almost all those who came to Earth in the last 20 years first came to me… 10 years ago, a young little woman introduced herself and asked about this village. And 10 more years ago, it was Momoshiki Otsutsuki and two of his fellows who came to ask me about the heirs of Kaguya."

When she hears this revelation, Sakura quickly connects the dots in her mind. 20 years ago is around the time they met Tsubai and visited Ryuka. It is also when she unknowingly got pregnant with Oshio. That Momoshiki came to Toneri at this time must mean that he is who oriented him toward Sasuke and her. Angered by her own thoughts, she clenches her teeth and fists to hold back, but can't. She violently catches Toneri by the collar to lift him up.

Inoue steps forward to stop her boyfriend's mother but is interrupted by her father, Sai, who holds her arm, to let Sakura do as she pleases. Inoue steps back, not to oppose her father, even though she finds his habit to leave people to let it go unreasonable. Sakura, not held back, raises a fist in front of Toneri. Before she can throw it down on him, her hand is caught by Naruto Uzumaki, at least a clone.

"This won't change anything, Sakura." the Hokage says to calm his friend. Sakura steps back, angrily sighs and lets Inoue comfort her. Naruto looks at his son and wife, and then at the prisoner sitting here. Toneri gazes at Naruto with admiration. He can't believe this is really the same person who defeated him. He was already unbelievably strong back then but now, he seems godly. Not inferior to Hamura himself.

"Toneri, I need to know." Naruto says. "Tell me about the man who arrived right after me yesterday."

"… The Ryu Shinsen. His name is Yamitsuki Otsutsuki." Toneri says dramatically, before explaining all he knows about him. "He is the one who gave me back my eyes. He came to me 2 years ago, to warn that his kind may have to take over my home soon. He demanded that I leave. That's why I need to prepare for war."

"Why would they come to the moon?" Shikamaru asks.

"I don't know." Toneri answers. "He said it would depend on what your kind does. It could be to stay closer to Earth."

"Toneri, when you say you're preparing for war, you mean against him?" Naruto asks. "So far, how do you feel about it? Are you hopeful that you can beat him?"

"… Honestly, not at all." he answers while staring at Boruto behind them. "I think, no matter how long I can prepare, I'd never stand a chance. I tried attacking him when he visited my castle. He destroyed everything I sent to him. He barely moved, and I couldn't even touch him. Even with all the time I got to think about it, I still have no clue what kind of abilities he used."

"But, is he necessarily an enemy?" the Hokage asks, to everyone's surprise. "He came to save your opponent yesterday, but he apologized for his behavior. And he left peacefully. When I asked him this question, he didn't make himself seem hostile."

"… I don't know…" Toneri answers. "But if he turns against Earth and the moon, it will be up to you to fight him. No one else could."

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Somewhere else in space, on the ringed planet called Ashihara, in the domain of Tokubei Otsutsuki, the god of winter is preparing his weapon and self for a new meeting with the one he seeks to slay. He sits back to the entrance of a great room in his family's home as he cleans his one eye-holed mask and his double scythe.

Behind him, his son Taiyoshiki Otsutsuki walks in the room. He sees his father seemingly washing his unmasked face, but cannot see it hidden under his hood. Having noticed his presence, Tokubei doesn't speak and takes off his hood to put his mask on again before facing his son.

"You're going on a mission?" Taiyoshiki asks his father. "Is it what I think it is?"

"It is." the masked man answers. "Yamitsuki-sama has given me permission to confront Sasuke Uchiha on Takama. I know he must have grown stronger since our last meeting. Unlike me, he is still young and ignorant enough to improve quickly and easily. But to reach my centuries of expertise and experience, he'd need 10 more lifetimes."

Taiyoshiki walks around the room, searching for words to express his thoughts and opinions. Tokubei gets back to evaluating his weapon with his bare hands, aware that his son is here for a conversation. And since it isn't the first time they speak, he may know what it is about.

"Why do you… Why do we have to antagonize humankind?" the young god questions. "You, father, yourself, are the one who taught me what great allies their kind could be. Yet, like most of us, you seek to eliminate one of their godliest."

"Don't get me wrong on that, son." Tokubei replies. "There is a reason why I chose to tell you my feelings about ninjas. I hold no grudge or disregard against humanity. I have a certain respect for humans of the time of my youth. I only intend to eliminate this one man because he stains the respect I have for his last name."

"But without him, humanity loses its value." Taiyoshiki argues. "Their kind is lifted up by the mightiest of them. You taught me that."

"I taught you that the greatest ninjas have the potential to be our equals. But we lack the circumstances to become allies." Tokubei answers. "Allies are not friends. Allies are only warriors with a common enemy. Do we have a common enemy?"

To this oblivious question, Taiyoshiki doesn't answer. There are obviously some ideas and names that come to his mind, but the scheme of rivalries within the clan makes it unclear if even all celestials can be considered as allies. In a larger term, Tokubei brings about an entity that considers all their clan as enemies.

"The enemy is the beast. The Juubi. At least what remains of it." he explains. "Its curse, its temptation and its corruption. It is the only thing that could motivate celestials to turn against each other. Ninjas don't know this enemy. In the plans of the Juubi, they may even be pawns it uses against us… Because for the ninjas of today, the enemy is the Otsutsuki clan."

"Not for their guardian. Their pillar of peace. The yellow fox." Taiyoshiki stays hopeful.

"But for Sasuke Uchiha." Tokubei exclaims. "And it is reciprocal. He seeks to destroy your kind, because he needs a battle to fight. Unlike all those before him, he admitted defeat against his eternal enemy. He is an unworthy avatar of his ancestor. Indra was a leader, a visionary, a loner against a troubled world, and, overall, an undefeated winner. Indra was the godly presence on par with our clan. It was only him. Sasuke Uchiha, by leaving this place to Asura, has failed his family's spirit. This deserves punishment. I cannot leave him the title of God of the Uchiha."

Taiyoshiki doesn't argue with this explanation. He stays quiet and thinks about it on his own. As he sees his father stand up and leave his domain, he wonders about the source of his respect for Indra Otsutsuki again.

Legend has it that, by the past, Tokubei Otsutsuki trespassed on Earth and faced the son of the Rikudo. This battle left him injured forever, forced to wear a mask to hide his mutilated face. Any other celestial, if disrespected in such a manner by an inferior life form, would develop hatred for this kind and seek its destruction. But his father, instead, expresses a mysterious respect for Indra's name and soul. Such respect that he seeks to fight to defend it more than a thousand years later.

In the clan, everybody came to know this story. Some even remember the day when the Ryu Shinsen brought Tokubei back to Ashihara, defeated and hidden behind a mask. Yet, the latest obsession of his father with Sasuke Uchiha makes Taiyoshiki doubt this tale. There has to be a real reason for his father's passion for Indra. And he needs to find it out before it consumes him.

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And so, Tokubei goes as authorized to the primal universe, to the primal world of Takama. To chase Sasuke away from all the secrets of these plains is however just a needed step in the approach of the Ryu Shinsen, who also has his own task to complete.

Later that day, at the gates of Konoha again, Rebekka Tabiki is with Metal Lee and other friends. She is trying to demonstrate the finalized version of a high level Fuinjutsu that she conceived with Anko Mitarashi. A seal as powerful as the 4-corner sealing barrier but that can be performed by a single user.

Shiba Inuzuka, the introverted ninja of Boruto and Izuna's generation, is there with his friends, but is quickly called back to order by Kiba Inuzuka. Together, the two dog trainers are on duty at the village's gate with their dogs. Akemaru, the son of Akamaru, is Kiba's partner in battle, while Kinmaru, a blond haired shiba inu, is Shiba's dog.

Suddenly, as they focus their senses on their task again, the two gatekeepers and their dogs are all startled by a strange scent they've never smelled before. It is clearly emitted by something or someone that just arrived nearby. It is an oddly simple and natural, but pleasant smell close to clearwater. Like ice, but warm. The first to find the source is Akemaru, followed by Kinmaru. The two canines get in the path of an intruder and bark to alert all the nearby ninjas and guards.

"A stranger?" Kiba asks Shiba. "But the sensory barrier wasn't even triggered."

When they all lie their eyes upon the quiet intruder, they hardly believe it and refuse to accept it. Pale skin, white hair, a long white mantle, and most notably, 3 pairs of gold-tainted horns above his ears. This person, terrifying in appearance and presence, is totally unperceived by any of them in terms of energy.

The stranger takes a step forward and gently raises his hands toward the two barking dogs, despite their apparent violence. When he comes closer, they both go quiet and sit down, perfectly calm. He pets them both pacifically.

"Don't touch them!" Kiba yells before getting in the way. He isn't sure of what he should do, and his partner seems paralyzed by fear, so his first instinct is to protect the dogs. "Step away. Identify yourself."

Behind them, the nearby ninjas get in contact with the intel division and alert all the security of the village. The celestial obviously senses all this spiritual movement. He gets at ease, looks up to see a first security squad arrive, led by Shino Aburame, and breathes in with a calm face to introduce himself.

"I apologize for the confusion. I assumed the main gate would have been the most reasonable path to take." he says. "My name is Yamitsuki Otsutsuki. I am the ruler of Ashihara, representative of the Shinden, and leader of the Otsutsuki clan. In simpler terms, I am the equivalent of the Hokage for my people… I am here, in need to converse with Lord 7th."

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End of Chapter 137 – Next Chapter: Untouchable