Raising a hand and forming a seal, a massive amount of chakra radiated from her body, dispelling the genjutsu. What emerged was a rather strange sight. Some uncontrolled stone pillars floated slightly, perfectly cut circular stones appeared unnatural, and yellow spheres of unknown origin hovered in the air—just like in her memory.
"This is too dangerous. Next time, I'll check first before you enter."
Slightly scolding, Obito stepped out from the depths of the cave, a hint of displeasure on his face. Kita smiled.
—I'm not weak. You don't need to treat me so cautiously. Besides, I have more say in this matter than you. Let's go.
Obito pouted, but in the end, no words of protest came out.
The cave wasn't deep, roughly fifty meters before reaching the bottom, and indeed, the spring glowed as remembered.
"No chakra response. Can't see the bottom. Sharingan won't work either. Also, watch this," Obito said, crouching and letting a hand skim the water—the spring passed right through her hand.
—Mark it done. Let's go.
Without hesitation, she leapt into the water.
"Hey! Wait, I said it's dangerous! Seriously, be a little more careful!" Obito complained as he followed, jumping in after her.
Jumping from the water's surface, the end was still water. This wasn't the same cave; this was somewhere else.
"Some sort of space-time effect. This isn't the same space as before."
Indeed, the exit appeared above, aligned with something resembling a sun, like an eye.
—Mark it done. Let's go.
An arched sea surface and floating islands stretched before them—unlike the human world.
—Probably Kaguya's space. Right, I have this.
In her hand appeared a clay bird. Kita smiled. This clay bird had been a New Year's gift from Deidara years ago—a surprisingly convenient mode of transportation, perfect for situations like this.
Passing through forests, birds, and beasts, appearing much like the human world, they soon flew onto a floating island. Ruins were scattered everywhere, bearing the unmistakable marks of the Ōtsutsuki clan. Weathered skeletons and broken kunai testified to past battles. Besides this floating island, a tall palace stood in relative preservation. The two exchanged a glance and headed toward the intact palace.
As they approached the door, it opened smoothly. A well-dressed woman appeared. Obito furrowed his brows. Under the Sharingan, he could see the structure of her movements clearly.
A puppet.
Her appearance was almost human. If not for Obito's Sharingan noticing slight stiffness in her movements, one might not realize she was a puppet.
"Guests from Earth, welcome. The master has been awaiting your arrival."
Her words were stiff, but for a puppet, remarkably fluent.
"Who is your master?" Obito asked, holding back Kita as he eyed the puppet warily. The woman did not answer, instead saying, "Please follow me." Her voice remained stiff. Kita tugged at Obito's sleeve, shaking her head slightly.
—Don't worry. You'll see soon enough.
They followed the female puppet deeper into the palace, or rather, the castle.
The architecture was unlike anything Kita had seen. The roofs were high, designs peculiar, and colors vibrant. Many more puppets moved in strict formation—some in ceremonial lines, some cleaning as servants. Male, female, large, small.
The castle was massive, with many staircases. Every puppet they passed bowed respectfully.
Finally, the female puppet stopped them at a massive door. The material was hard to identify, colored like the castle's decorative mosaic, forming an abstract pattern vaguely resembling a woman's silhouette. The puppet stopped, letting them take the lead. Obito hesitated, but Kita pushed the door open first.
Inside, the space was enormous. Rows of puppets lined the sides. At the far end stood a simple but dignified stone chair—the central seat—but it was empty.
Obito twitched the corner of his mouth; Kita mirrored the same reaction.
"Welcome to my humble abode, guests from Earth."
The voice came from all directions, as if the room itself spoke.
"Who are you?"
"Ōtsutsuki Toneri. Since you found the entrance here, destiny has led you. What is your purpose?"
A dignified voice, like that of an eighty-year-old elder. Obito scratched his head. Moments later, a young figure fell from behind the chair—a boy around twelve years old, white curly hair, dressed in a simple white robe with blue undergarments, eyes tightly shut as if blind.
"Y-you! How did you get here?! Somebody help me!"
Toneri's panic was genuine. The rows of puppets advanced. Kita's thumb straightened on her sword guard—blade unsheathed but not yet drawn.
"PAH!"
A crisp sound as wind-imbued sword chakra destroyed the puppet rows.
The Ōtsutsuki… Toneri… Kita's first encounter with a living alien.
All weaponized puppets obliterated, Toneri panicked further, retreating while firing green energy spheres at Obito, shouting, "Stay back! Go away! Don't come closer!"
But the attacks passed harmlessly through their bodies. Kamui's ability made Obito like a god in comparison.
Relaxing slightly, Toneri's power was formidable for a twelve-year-old, far beyond an Earthly child of the same age.
"What are you? How are you connected to the Ōtsutsuki? Where is this place?" Obito asked, cornering Toneri, who had retreated to a corner, clearly terrified. The fear was genuine, tears running down his face.
Kita stepped forward, sword at his throat. Toneri dared not move.
"Answer," Obito demanded.
"This… this is the moon."
The Moon—then he must be a descendant of Hamura Ōtsutsuki. Obito nodded at Kita.
"And your relation to Hamura Ōtsutsuki?"
"Ancestor… please, don't kill me! You can't kill me! You're… you're my distant relative, you can't!"
The Uchiha clan were descendants of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, making him a distant relative. But this wasn't why Kita lowered her sword; the twelve-year-old posed no real threat.
"What is your purpose?" Obito asked.
Feeling no threat, Toneri grew bolder, sitting cross-legged and speaking childishly: "You came to me! I should be asking you your purpose. Why are you asking me?"
Heh… interesting, Kita thought.
—Erasing the marks left by the Ōtsutsuki, and eliminating that clan, you're part of it.
Obito translated truthfully. Toneri blinked, naive and curious:
"Eh? Marks? What marks?"
"Don't play dumb. Your clan left marks in our world. Our goal is to erase them."
"Oh, you can't erase them. The marks are chakra! But don't worry, with me here, I'll hide them perfectly!"
Toneri patted his chest proudly.
Obito glanced at Kita, seeing her perplexed blue eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"Literally what I said. My clan exists to protect the world below from being discovered. With me here, they won't find you. Even if you're annoying, I'll protect you. I promise, I won't let them discover you."
"Who are 'they'?"
"The Ōtsutsuki main family! By the way, you're amazing to have found this place. Destiny, I suppose! Don't be too grateful; I'm not that proud~"
Clearly full of pride, though his words denied it. Kita frowned and asked; Obito translated.
—Why are you doing this? Where is your clan?
"Why? My ancestors said to protect it. Our ancestors and yours were brothers. They said to protect the elder brother's world. That's what I do. The rest of my clan is dead. I'm alone. My father died when I was small, but don't worry—I protect the world below, just like everyone else. I'm small, but I'm strong!"
In speech, action, and thought, he was just a twelve-year-old boy. Yet his deeds were heroic, perhaps even great. Following the will of his ancestors, silently guarding the distant blue planet. Since six, he had lived alone in this lonely world, with only puppets for company. Kita could not describe the feeling—gratitude barely reached her throat, looking at Toneri's innocent, bright expression.
…
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