(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
Guys sry about not uploading chapters. Since my hands got full by several things like attending interviews, election and many more for past 2 weeks.
So I will try to upload regularly.
And I might miss few days when I have interviews. I hope you understand.
-------------------------------------------------
Uzushiogakure...
Meeting Chamber...
The air tightened around as the stand off between Leo and Danzo continued.
Not loudly. Not visibly.
But like a string pulled too far by Danzo who had recently become restless after his root operatives were not returning after they step out of the Uzushiogakure.
Danzō Shimura watched Leo—And for the first time—Irritation slipped through.
As he was being treated like a toy.
He had come as Konoha's voice at least he thought himself as he appointed himself as one.
Authority. Leverage. He enjoyed after Hizuren become the Hokage.
But the bitter feeling of not chosen as the successor by his sensei made him all away feel inferior to Hizuren.
Expectation of some day he would definitely become the Hokage someday and prove to everyone that he was not inferior to Hizuren.
And Leo—Had treated him like background noise an extra.
Still—Danzō did not snap immediately. He adjusted.
"…Very well."
His tone smoothed. Measured. As he already have a plan B in his mind.
"Konoha has long supported Uzushiogakure."
A pause.
"Much of your food supply …is sustained through trade agreements with us."
Tsunade's eyes sharpened immediately hearing where Danzo was going with the mention of it.
"...."
Danzō continued—
"If you refuse to reconsider your stance …Konoha may be forced to reconsider those agreements."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
"…And suspend supply routes."
There it was. Not a threat.
A pressure point to block the food supply which too at an important situation of war looming over them.
Leo looked at him. Then—Smiled. Amused. How Danzo was trying desperately wanted to corner him.
But now knowing that it was endless darkness before him.
As if someone had just tried to intimidate a storm with a candle.
Tsunade stepped forward not liking the direction the discussion was going on.
"That agreement was between the Senju and Uzumaki."
Her voice was firm.
"Neither you nor anyone else has the authority to twist it for political pressure."
Danzō's gaze shifted to her.
"....."
"Senju are part of Konoha."
A beat of pause.
"They should consider the village's future."
That—Was the wrong line and the same one Danzo and the other elders in the village must have used at least for few thousand times to fool their young peoples under them.
Leo laughed immediately. Not softly. Not politely. Openly and Genuinely.
Like he had just heard the most absurd joke imaginable.
Hearing his laughter Danzo's irritation could be seen on his face.
"…You?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…Talking about the village's future?"
The irony hung heavy. Sharp.
Danzō's eye darkened and felt something wrong like Leo knew him more than he himself.
Leo leaned forward slightly.
"If Konoha wants to stop trade—"
A small shrug like he don't care about it.
"Do it."
No hesitation. No concern.
"Uzushiogakure won't stop you."
That—Wasn't defiance. It was dismissal.
Then—Leo's gaze sharpened.
"But…"
The room grew colder.
"If you decide to move beyond that—…and bring other villages into it."
A pause.
Leo smiled. But this time it was Not warm. Not kind.
But Predatory.
"I can promise you something."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Even the Root operatives felt it the air around them started to get heavy to breath.
"Konoha …won't exist afterward."
No raised voice. No dramatic emphasis.
Just—Certainty that he was telling someone their prophecy.
Danzō looked at him. Really looked.
"...."
Because this—Was not arrogance.
This was someone—Who fully believed what he said.
And worse—Could make it real showing he was the one still as the control over the conversation which is going on.
Leo met his gaze. Calm. Unmoved. Looking at him—Like he was insignificant.
"...."
Like a nuisance. Like something that could be erased—Without effort.
Beside him—Tsunade felt it.
That shift. That weight in the mood of Leo who seems to really consider what he is thinking off.
And for the first time—A quiet unease settled in her chest.
'This… is dangerous.'
Not just Danzō. Not just politics.But for the whole Konaha which seems to be dragged into the mess by a certain confidence shadow of the Hokage.
While her eyes moved to Leo.
She made a decision in her heart.
'Grandmother needs to know.'
Now. Immediately.
Danzō opened his mouth—But didn't get the chance.
"...."
The shadows moved.
-Swish! -Swish!
-Swish!...
From the corners of the room—From beneath their feet—
From places no one had been watching—They rose like they have been there all this time.
Several Shadow Soldiers appeared—Between Danzō—And Leo.
Silent.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Unyielding by the aura they gave off..
Then—They moved at the same time.
Not attacking. But pushing. Guiding. Forcing.
Danzō's Root guards reacted—But stopped.
Because this wasn't combat.
It was dismissal. Absolute. Clear.
That the time Leo gave to them for the meeting has ended.
Their action seems to be saying that...
'You've wasted enough time.'
Danzō stood still for a moment.
Then—He turned. Without another word.
Because he understood.
This meeting—Was over.
And he—Had gained nothing from it.
As he was escorted out—The door closed behind him.
Silence returned.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Tsunade exhaled slowly.
-Sigh!
"…That man is going to cause problems."
Leo leaned back again.
"…He already is."
Outside—Danzō walked away.
But his mind—Was no longer calm.
Because for the first time—He had encountered something—He couldn't control the direction the meeting has went.
And that—Was unacceptable to his standards which he himself as set.
The mansion settled into quiet after Danzō's departure.
Tsunade didn't linger.
"…I've got something to handle."
No explanation. No delay.
She was gone hurriedly like she was chasing after someone who stole her money.
Leo watched her leave for a moment—Then simply turned away.
"...."
Night deepened.
He returned to his room.
Laid back. Eyes drifting to the ceiling.
"…Hm."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Then—Sleep.
Or something that pretended to be sleep.
Because the next moment—The world changed.
The weight of his body vanished.
The air felt thinner.
The ground—Strange.
Leo opened his eyes.
White. Endless. Dust-like sand stretching in every direction.
The sky—Dark. Vast. Like there is no sky and clouds at all.
And before him—Earth. Blue. Calm. Distant. Could be seen
"…The moon."
Not a guess. A fact.
He guessed as soon as he saw the earth and patchy white surface.
He stood there—Unbothered.
But curious to look around since it was his first time coming to moon.
Because he knew—He hadn't come here by accident.
Then—A sound. Of Breathing.
Soft. Slow. Ancient. Got his attention.
Leo turned to look who it was.
And saw it. A massive tree.
Roots spreading like veins across the pale ground.
And at its base—She sat bound to the tree.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki
The Rabbit Goddess.
Pale skin like untouched snow.
Hair like silver starlight.
Eyes—Empty.
Yet seeing everything.
She sat unmoving—Gazing at Earth.
As if watching something she had lost.
Leo stepped forward. No fear. No hesitation in his steps.
Because he already understood.
'I nearly forget about you. '
The moment he moved—Kaguya's eyes shifted.
Slowly. Toward him. Seeing after so many years some one has entered the sealed space.
Recognition? No. Something else.
Uncertainty about what she was seeing.
Because this—Was not something she expected.
A man. Walking freely. In the sealed space where she has been sealed by her sons.
Here.
Both of their gaze met.
They stared for few moments.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Two beings—Not bound by ordinary rules.
Then—Kaguya moved a little.
She picked up a stone. And threw it.
Fast. Sharp. Trying to hit Leo who was standing before her.
Leo tilted his head slightly—The stone missed.
-Swish!
"…That's rude."
Kaguya didn't react to his tone.
Her voice came—Soft. Detached.
"…You moved."
Leo blinked hearing her tone.
"…Yes?"
A pause.
"…Then this is not a dream."
Her gaze sharpened just slightly.
"…Not an illusion."
Leo looked at her for a moment.
Then—Smiled faintly.
"…You've been alone for too long."
No denial. Because it was true.
Time had passed here—Differently. Endlessly.
Kaguya studied him.
"…You are not of this world. I could feel a diffrent energy from you."
Not a question. A statement.
Leo shrugged lightly.
"…Depends on how you define 'this world.'"
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
The wind—If it could be called that—Moved softly across the white sands.
Kaguya's gaze returned briefly to Earth.
"…They are still there. Right?"
A quiet murmur.
Not relief. Not sorrow. Just—Observation. And wanted to knew the answer.
Leo followed her gaze.
"…Your children's world."
That made her pause. Just slightly.
"…Children."
The word felt distant.
Like something remembered—But no longer understood.
Leo looked back at her.
"…You called me here?"
Kaguya didn't answer immediately.
Because even she—Wasn't entirely sure.
After centuries of silence—Something had reached her.
Or perhaps—She had reached out—Without realizing it.
Her eyes met his again.
"…You are different then other humans who would freeze in my presence."
Leo chuckled softly.
-Chuckle!
"I get that a lot."
A pause.
Then—He stepped closer.
Not cautious. Not threatened.
Just curious of what Kaguya might asks for his help.
"…So."
He looked at her—At the roots—At the seal—
"…What do you want?"
And for the first time—Kaguya hesitated.
"...."
Because that question—Was something she hadn't asked herself—In a very long time.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Guys My New Fic name is:
-->Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable.
Check it out... I hope you will like it
Whats your thought's guys.
(A/N): I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give areview
And power stone!!!
It will Motivate Me.