CTS TIME: RE250.5.30 12:30 AM (Hikarashi Village – High Council Chambers)
The dimly lit High Council Chamber carried the weight of centuries-old wisdom. Within its ancient walls, the greatest elders of Hikarashi Village sat in deep contemplation, their faces partially illuminated by the soft glow of ceremonial lanterns.
Homurakage stepped forward, his presence commanding yet respectful, as he addressed the village elders who held the power of tradition and governance.
At the center of the room sat:
Master Genzo – The oldest and wisest of the council, with a beard flowing like aged silver.
Lady Kiyomi – A woman of elegance and intellect, her sharp gaze seeing through deception.
Hokuto – A battle-worn strategist, carrying scars from past wars.
Renshu – The silent observer, his words few but profound.
The topic at hand was the upcoming Chunin Exams—a pivotal event in the shinobi world.
Homurakage spoke with authority, yet caution.
"The Chunin Exams must be handled carefully this year. Too many forces are at play. The balance between power and chaos is shifting."
Master Genzo nodded slowly. "You sense it too, don't you? Something stirs beneath the surface."
Lady Kiyomi tapped her fingers on the wooden table. "This isn't just about the exams. Something… far greater is about to unfold."
Hokuto folded his arms. "The balance of the shinobi world is delicate. We must tread carefully."
Just as Renshu opened his mouth to speak—
A sudden gust of chakra energy rippled through the room.
A small toad materialized in the center of their gathering, its form flickering with golden markings—a sign that it bore a message of great significance.
The elders stood abruptly, their eyes widening in disbelief.
"Impossible," Hokuto whispered.
Master Genzo leaned forward, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair. "This… this is from Gessho Enrai."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Gessho Enrai—the Trickster Sage, the unpredictable legend.
For thousands of years, he had remained a mystery to the shinobi world. Though many respected his power, very few trusted his methods—and even fewer knew his true intentions.
"Why now?" Lady Kiyomi murmured, her gaze hardening.
The toad puffed its chest, clearing its throat before croaking out a message in its master's playful yet eerie voice.
"Yo, yo, yo, High Council fossils! Miss me? Listen up, 'cause this is important. The Four Sages are calling for a meeting—a REAL one this time, not just one of my 'accidental' summons. Every Kage is required to be present. If you don't show up, well… let's just say things might get 'chaotic.' And we all know how much I LOVE chaos. Time to wake up, people! Time to talk fate and legends. See ya soon—OR NOT. Your choice. Toodles~!"
Silence.
Then—
"Damn that bastard," Hokuto muttered.
"We have no choice," Renshu said, his voice low. "We must go."
Homurakage sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I hate that idiot," he muttered under his breath.
In the blink of an eye, a powerful summoning technique activated.
The very air shifted.
Space itself twisted—
A kaleidoscope of colors engulfed the Kage—
Then—
They were gone.
When the world stabilized, they found themselves no longer in their villages.
They were now standing in a breathtaking realm—a place untouched by time.
A celestial garden.
The sky above was a mixture of deep indigo and soft gold, resembling an eternal sunset.
Towering crystal trees shimmered in the distance, their leaves glowing faintly as if whispering ancient secrets.
Softly flowing rivers of pure energy carved through the landscape, pulsing like the lifeblood of the universe itself.
This was not Earth.
This was a sacred plane of existence—a hidden planet deep within the Land of Glade.
Homurakage groaned as he fell from a tree, landing awkwardly with a dull thud on the sacred grass.
"Damn it, Gessho!" he cursed.
A familiar uproarious laughter rang through the air.
Gessho Enrai, the Sage of Trickery, was doubled over, clutching his stomach.
"Oh, MAN! That was the best fall yet! 10 outta 10, my dude!"
Homurakage glared daggers at him, dusting himself off.
Before he could retaliate, Ayame Nozomi's soft voice broke through the playful chaos.
"Enough, Gessho," she said, her tone gentle but commanding.
Gessho pouted but relented, waving a hand dismissively.
The Six Kage stood in a line, their gazes wary.
The Raikage stepped forward, his expression fierce.
"Now what? You sages summon us here and expect us to blindly follow?"
Before any of the sages responded—
Shirogane Masaru, the Logic Sage, calmly closed his eyes.
One by one, the other sages followed.
Then—
They began to chant.
A deep, ancient language filled the air.
A language older than the shinobi world itself.
A language that held power beyond mortal understanding.
The Four Sages spoke in perfect unison, their voices intertwining like the threads of fate itself:
"Vael'Aelor Thun'Shy Elythar'Zael, Xyn'Mor Aerys'Kaelos.
Nyx'Vael Elythar'Shy Zyphor'Aelor Mor'Thun.
Vael'Kaelos Zhaeron'Thun Elythar'Mor Aerys'Zael'Nyx.
Aelor'Vael Thun'Shy Zyphor'Nyx Xyn'Mor Elythar'Zael."
The very air trembled as the words echoed through reality itself.
The Kage, knowing the gravity of this moment, bowed their heads and responded with their own sacred chant—one passed down through generations:
"May the light of wisdom guide your path, and the song of the stars keep your heart pure.
Let knowledge flow like rivers, and may understanding temper the fire of war.
Strength and wisdom must walk as one, or both shall be lost to time.
Balance is fragile—honor it, and eternity shall honor you."
The ground beneath them pulsed, as if acknowledging their words.
The sacred celestial garden remained eerily silent, only the soft hum of unseen energy pulsing through the air. The Six Kage stood in a perfect semi-circle, facing the Four Legendary Sages, who radiated an aura far beyond mortal comprehension.
Shirogane Masaru, the Sage of Infinite Mind, stepped forward, his piercing gray eyes scanning each Kage. His voice was calm, measured, and absolute.
"The Chunin Exams must be concluded within the next five months," he declared. "After that, we, the Four Sages, will begin the training of the royal bloodlines—those destined to become the next Multiversal Rulers."
The Kage exchanged glances. This was a monumental decree. The balance of power across the entire Multiverse was about to shift, and the shinobi world would not be the same after this.
Despite their personal views, no Kage dared to challenge Shirogane's decision—his wisdom had guided the world for millennia, and no one questioned his foresight.
Slowly, each Kage nodded in agreement.
"Very well," the Raikage said, his voice heavy. "Five months it is."
"Then it shall be done," the Kirukage affirmed.
The decision was made.
But there were greater concerns looming—and Rengoku Daishin, the Sage of Wrathful Destruction, was the first to bring them up.
Rengoku's towering frame tensed, his crimson hair swaying slightly as his golden eyes darkened.
"What about Nyxarion?" he growled, his deep voice shaking the very air.
Homurakage exhaled, his expression unreadable.
"The seal…" he hesitated, "it has loosened."
A heavy silence fell over the gathering. Even the wind seemed to stop.
The Void Dragon, Nyxarion, was a being of pure destruction—an entity that devoured entire dimensions, consuming chakra, souls, and even time itself. The Four Sages, alongside the 4th Homurakage, had sealed it away in a mortal vessel long ago to prevent it from erasing all existence.
Rengoku folded his arms, the scars on his body glowing faintly with chakra.
"No matter," he rumbled. "We ensured that the dragon was bound to a mortal body. If that vessel adapts to the Nyxarion's chakra, it could stabilize within the Shinobi Verse."
His words carried hope, but there was a hidden danger.
What if the mortal host couldn't contain it?
What if Nyxarion fully awakened?
What if it hungered again?
Rengoku's intense gaze shifted, now locking onto the Kirukage, the leader of the Mist Region.
"What of the Kurogami Clan?" Rengoku demanded. "Were they wiped out completely?"
The Kirukage's expression darkened, his icy-blue eyes narrowing.
"Yes," he confirmed, his voice emotionless. "Someone eradicated them. But… one survivor remains in Hikarashi, under the training of Kenshiro Arataka, the Blazing Fang."
At the mention of Kenshiro's name, Gessho Enrai grinned, cracking his knuckles.
"Ahh, Kenshiro Arakata, huh? Now that's a name I haven't heard in a while," Gessho mused playfully.
But Rengoku was not amused.
His golden eyes burned with fury, his massive fists clenched.
"That bastard Kurogami is still alive?!" he snarled.
A crushing aura filled the space, making the Kage shift uncomfortably.
"I'll finish him myself," Rengoku growled. "I should have erased his entire bloodline when I had the chance."
Before he could continue his declaration, Ayame Nozomi's soft voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Enough."
Rengoku turned to her, his rage flickering—but even he dared not disrespect Ayame.
"Before we proceed with the Chunin Exams, we will visit each region," Ayame said, her divine presence washing over them like a calming wave. "We must observe the conditions of the clans and their shinobi."
Rengoku exhaled through gritted teeth.
"Fine. But I'm going to Hikarashi."
Before anyone could object, Gessho Enrai stepped in.
"Nope~!" Gessho sang, his violet eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'll be going to Hikarashi. And that's final."
Rengoku glared at him, his chakra flaring, but Gessho only smirked.
"Tch. Whatever. But don't get in my way," Rengoku muttered.
Shirogane Masaru, who had remained silent for most of this exchange, finally spoke again.
"What about Atomic Slicer?"
The temperature seemed to drop.
A wave of silence washed over the gathering.
The very mention of that name sent a chill down the spines of the Kage.
The Kazekage was the first to respond, his voice heavy with old memories.
"Atomic Slicer vanished many years ago," he said, but his tone lacked certainty.
"But before his disappearance, he left behind a trail of destruction," the Tsuchikage added grimly.
"He attempted to capture the Tailed Beasts, he sought forbidden techniques, and worst of all… his ambition was tied to Akatsuki no Me."
Homurakage's expression darkened.
Akatsuki no Me—the "Red Moon Eclipse"—the forbidden power of the Kasai Clan's Akarugan.
A technique so powerful that it could rewrite reality itself.
If Atomic Slicer had truly sought to awaken it, then his disappearance was not the end of his legacy.
Shirogane folded his arms.
"For now, we assume he is no longer a threat. The past is behind us. We must focus on the present."
The Kage all nodded in agreement.
If Atomic Slicer ever returned…
They would deal with him when the time came.
With all concerns addressed, the decision was finalized.
The Chunin Exams will be completed in five months.
The Four Sages will personally inspect each region.
Nyxarion's vessel remains a mystery—but a dangerous one.
Rengoku's grudge against the Kurogami bloodline burns on.
Gessho Enrai will personally visit Hikarashi.
Atomic Slicer remains a mystery, his legacy uncertain.
As the meeting concluded, Shirogane gave one final warning.
"This world stands at the edge of great change."
"Balance is fragile."
"And those who do not prepare… will be the first to fall."
The winds shifted.
The Four Sages turned.
And the Kage knew—
This was only the beginning.