Chapter 206 – Moonlit Threshold

Hinata stood there, immersed in a world she couldn't quite comprehend… when she clearly felt Shikashi's influence through Black Zetsu and then through Nagato… when she saw that Red Monk vividly through my mind's eye… when the paper seal manifested and I did my best to resist it… in that moment, my mind recalled the conversation I had with my advisors.

< o >

(direct continuation of the third scene in Yumegakure from Chapter 199)

In the Crystal Tower, during that moment of silence, it seemed everyone agreed that Hinata should go to Amegakure, advancing the plan and trying to solve the mystery of what was happening with Akatsuki.

Everything pointed to Hinata going in person to Amegakure, yet Mitsue was the first to speak. "I do not agree, it'sss too dangerousss."

Takama spoke next. "If we even suspect something strange, it's best to be cautious… send one of your spiritual clones… the difference between them and you is now minimal since you awakened your new abilities… and in the worst-case scenario, you can escape without real risk."

Kuro simply nodded. Michel smiled, satisfied with Takama's words.

Kaito's rational mind led him to the obvious conclusion that my father was right.

"Don't worry, I'll keep watch while you meditate and concentrate on the spiritual clone."

I could only nod in agreement.

< o >

Beneath a large tree, I was trying to resist the seal. I could sense its danger, and yet I couldn't truly stop it… I wasn't willing to face the consequences, and they knew it… when it finally closed, I felt something torn from me… an unimaginable pain surged through me… the Silver Stage ended immediately… I felt that a part of my soul had been wounded, ripped from me the moment the seal closed… the fragment connected to the spiritual clone that was sealed… was no longer there.

Yumegakure's help didn't take long to respond to my moment of crisis. A surge of vital and spiritual energy bathed me, trying to mend my damaged spirit, and the pain noticeably subsided. I could only be grateful for their concern and assistance...

At my side, Kaito approached when he saw that my eyes and ears were bleeding… even though manifesting physically drained his limited energy inside Shinsei, he couldn't stop himself from trying to clean the blood and check if I was okay…

When he saw me recovering and standing on my own, leaning against the tree beside me, I told him, "Sending the spiritual clone was the wise choice… Shikashi has returned… a Red Monk is his new avatar and seems to be involved with Akatsuki…"

Kaito, quickly trying to think of solutions in light of the news, asked cautiously, "His presence changes everything… Tell me, what happened in Amegakure?"

For a moment, I closed my eyes to regain my composure, then answered slowly, "They used a strange Jutsu, involving paper and Fuinjutsu in a way I've never seen before. I'm sure Shikashi had something to do with it, because they sealed me together with five of Pain's puppet bodies… and the seal tore the piece of my spirit that was there through the spiritual clone."

Kaito looked at me seriously. "Do you think they realized it was a spiritual clone?"

I took a moment to think. I remembered their souls, the echoes of the place… the ambush, Pain's words… the words of the red monk… the certainty he showed when the attack began.

"Throughout the entire time, I was physically present, there to be detected by Pain's rain… I think they were convinced it was really me."

Kaito paused for a moment. "The spiritual damage you received, how serious is it?"

I tried to assess the state of my soul… the damage was extensive but not irreversible, especially with the help I was receiving from Yumegakure. "I think I'll be back to full strength in a month… maybe less, I don't know. It's the first time I've experienced something like this—perhaps Michel can help."

At that, Kaito's posture relaxed. "Then he believes you fell into his trap… I can work with that… maybe it's a good idea to give this new opponent a false sense of security and let him think you're out of the game for a while…"

I spoke firmly, ending the topic, "Good. I'll soon reach Hiashi and Hanabi… from there, we'll depart for the moon. That part of the plan remains unchanged. Everything else… we'll discuss in Yumegakure with the others."

<<<< o >>>>

Hinata arrived at a humble campsite nestled beside a shadowy cave, hidden in the southern reaches of the Land of Fire. The area was quiet and unremarkable — a small hill surrounded by brush and low trees, forgotten by time and unmarked on most maps. Within this lonely place, Hiashi and Hanabi were resting, their figures seated on rolled mats near the cave's entrance. Beside them, a silent figure — a spiritual clone of Hinata — stood watch like a guardian spirit, its presence steady and unblinking.

A soft rustling in the leaves stirred Hanabi from her light sleep. She blinked and sat up, eyes narrowing as she caught sight of someone approaching from the path beyond the trees. A woman in a flowing black and silver kimono emerged, her presence distinct and commanding despite the quietness of her steps. As Hanabi watched, the Hinata who had accompanied them in this place for days flickered, her form dissolving into silvery particles, vanishing like mist at sunrise.

"Good afternoon, Hanabi," Hinata greeted with a tired smile. "I'm sorry for the delay in arriving in person. Certain events… demanded my attention."

Hanabi stared at her sister, concern tightening her brow. She could see it — the subtle tremble in Hinata's breath, the heaviness in her stance. "You don't look well… Sit down and rest. What happened that left you so drained?"

Hinata lowered herself gracefully onto a nearby rock, exhaling slowly. "It's just… holding two spiritual clones simultaneously is more exhausting than I expected. Now that only one remains, I should recover more quickly."

Hiashi approached from where he had been standing with arms crossed, his expression still as stone but voice tinged with rare softness. "Are you certain? We can delay the next stage. There's no need to push yourself."

It was strange, hearing such vulnerability from Hiashi. Hinata looked at both of them and smiled, gently taking her younger sister's hand. "I'm sure. You've both waited long enough… and I, too, am curious about what we're about to discover."

She then closed her eyes and opened her Mind's Eye.

The cave beyond shimmered in her inner vision — a narrow passage leading deeper into the hollow hill. Within, she sensed an ancient formation pulsing faintly, its presence attempting to veil itself, to turn their senses away, to mislead them. Yet, something in its nature responded to the Byakugan… and more importantly, to her own Mind's Eye. It was as if the mechanism had been designed with their lineage in mind.

They stepped into the darkness, following her guidance. At the heart of the cavern stood a crystalline structure, forming a strange circular platform. Above them, a vertical shaft pierced the hill, allowing moonlight to stream down. Directly beneath the opening, a subtle mirage began to form — the night sky, faint but real, rippling like water.

Following the instructions passed down by Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, Hinata stepped onto the platform and let her chakra flow. The structure came to life, glowing softly. Before their eyes, a doorway opened at the platform's center. Through it, they glimpsed a vast palace under a blanket of stars, a white-and-blue pearl gleaming in the distance…

What they were seeing was their home world— as viewed from the Moon.

Hanabi exhaled in awe. Hiashi said nothing, but even he took a step forward, eyes widened.

The gateway to the next chapter of their journey had opened.

<<<< o >>>>

The world shifted.

A sudden stillness settled over them as the three emerged through the portal, the sound of the Earth vanishing behind them like a whisper. They stood beneath a dome of silent stars, suspended in a place where gravity felt hesitant — where their bodies were lighter, but the air carried no warmth.

The surface beneath their feet shimmered like glassy stone, faintly silver under the reflected light of the Earth. Craters stretched in every direction like ancient wounds, but directly ahead stood the palace — the one glimpsed through the gate. It rose like an impossible dream, its towers sculpted from white jade and adorned with swirling patterns that shimmered like starlight.

Hanabi turned slowly in place, her breath caught in her chest. "Is this… really the Moon?"

Hinata nodded, her voice calm but reverent. "Yes. This place was once a sanctuary for the descendants of Hamura. A stronghold… or perhaps a tomb."

Hiashi's gaze lingered on the palace. "No one has walked these paths in centuries."

They walked forward slowly, the crunch of crystal dust underfoot the only sound. For a moment, Hinata paused and looked back — the portal was still open, a rippling oval of light. But around it, shadows began to shift.

Not malevolent — not yet — but watching.

Hinata narrowed her eyes and whispered, "We're not alone."

The final stars above shimmered.

The Moon had secrets yet to tell.