Naruto: Tales of Ashihara
The Shinden Saga – Arc 4: The Otsutsuki War
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Chapter 154 – The Depressed God
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In the land of Earth, a few hundreds of kilometers away from Iwagakure, Yasona Otsutsuki is standing in the sky above the peaks of a chain of mountains. In between these land forms lives a creature that the goddess of beauty clearly senses roaming nearby. It is the five-tailed horse dolphin chimera, Kokuo.
With her Byakugan she sees the red chakra of the monster, and focuses to sense the dead presence of her cousin, Kaguya, within this beast but can't manage to find even the slightest trace of it. It seems like the beasts are only the chakra of the fruit the princess consumed. So this means that if Yasona defeated and absorbed all these monsters, she would only acquire the power she covets and face no risk of Kaguya's return.
However, judging from the link between his chakra and all theirs, it could be that the yellow fox, Naruto Uzumaki, stole Kaguya's bond to the power of these beasts. Even though it could be troublesome, this makes Yasona even more curious. What would happen if she absorbed a Biju? Would she be connected to Naruto?
Ready to let her intrusive thoughts and thirst for power guide her actions, Yasona is suddenly startled by a sweet but frightening voice interrupting her.
"Yasona…" Naobi, goddess of creation, calmly calls her name as she appears by her side.
Taken by surprise, Yasona blenches and hurries to pretend she was just flying by the mountains, to keep her fantasies a secret. Seeing the insisting gaze of her elder, she calms down and tries to act natural.
"Oh well, Naobi. How considerate of you to pay me a visit!" she says happily but sarcastically. "Though you're probably here by order of Yamitsuki. Right?"
The goddess of purity stays quiet and looks at her fellow with somewhat compassion. Getting no answer, Yasona tries to keep her distracted and opens a gate to her domain.
Jiku Hikido
She summons a sliding door and opens it before inviting her in.
"Since you're probably here to talk, why not take this to a comfier place?"
After a bored stare into the eyes of Yasona, Naobi leans forward to levitate through the gate. On the other side, she stays above the ground and analyzes the inside of the glorious hall she landed in. Behind her, the goddess of temptation closes the door and looks at her temple with her.
The Kannogu, a palace hidden in another dimension, given as a gift to Yasona in the past. In the large entrance hall are paths and doors to all forms of pleasure and rest that a living thing can desire. Baths of milk cleaning your body, hot springs filled with vapor massaging your skin, the gentle light of captive stars purifying your soul, divine waters unveiling the memories of your heart, but also exotic meals with lustful savors, bitter sweet drinks healing your insides… All such wonders are gathered in this palace.
These are discoveries and offerings that Yasona received from the countless worlds and civilizations she visited and where she is or was worshiped as a goddess. As she looks around in the main hall and gazes through the many rooms, saunas, baths and kitchens of this temple, Naobi finds it characteristic of her fellow's ambitions and personality. This place shows how many worlds she could have conquered and taken over as her own. Yet, Yasona never settled to build an empire of her faith. Never until now, on Earth.
"So, Naobi, which of the countless pleasures of the Kannogu do you want to experience first?" the goddess of temptation suggests. "Just you and me in an onsen for the Shinden. Doesn't it sound… tempting?"
"Do not mess around, Yasona. You know what I came for." Naobi replies. "Why did you settle in that land? What do you plan to do with the ninja world as your territory?"
Yasona stops smiling and gets serious. She takes a few steps forward into her temple and prepares to put her thoughts into words.
"All the treasures and gifts I keep in this temple… Even this temple itself. All are offerings to me, to reward my beauty, my nobility. They come from planets that would even beg me to conquer them. Yet, I am not like Aritsuki. I find no thrill in the domination of inferior species… Earth is different. People of the ninja world are, like us, able to manifest and manipulate chakra. They have their standards, their uses, and their growth in power. They are the only civilization wielding this power after us. And eventually, they are the future. When the curse of the Taikyo leaves us to extinction, humans will be the new gods of creation."
"Are you seriously seeing this as a scheme to take over the sovereignty of all things?" Naobi asks, with an eye squinted and an eyebrow raised.
"I will not take it over. I will take it back! Unlike Yamitsuki, I actually am legitimate to inherit the glory of the queen-sisters. I am one of only two remaining descendants of the royal lineage of the 2nd age. And considering the fact that Isshiki was a pariah, a prisoner, a deprived prince, I am actually the only valid heir. Besides I am a woman, so only I could restore the reign of the queen-sisters."
After hearing this, Naobi doesn't say a word at first. She just sighs, making Yasona feel like she's not taken seriously. Unsettled by her elder's reaction, the goddess of beauty yells on.
"In fact, I am the legitimate heir of Ayaka. It is my due privilege to reign. If it wasn't for the Dragon Emperor and Yamitsuki, I would be the ruler of the clan, and there would be no Shinden. If it wasn't for the Queen Mother, my mother Gaiya would have succeeded Ayaka, and I would have succeeded her."
"If it wasn't for the Queen Mother, you wouldn't even have been born!" the goddess of creation suddenly exclaims. "Listen to yourself, crying about nobility and titles. We shouldn't fulfill these roles because we want or inherit them, but because they are entrusted to us. Because we are wise and powerful. Not the daughter of a certain someone."
Yasona frantically turns around and shakes her head, upset by Naobi's sudden answer. She then stares right into the eyes of the elder and slowly steps toward her while raising her finger to point at her.
"You're one to talk, Naobi. Do you even realize how much of a hypocrite you are? For the right to rule to come from might rather than lineage suits you for sure. I can't blame Yamitsuki for that. He really was born a regular and fought for his power, but you! Everything godly about you has been there since birth. So of course, we entrusted responsibilities to you because you're so powerful! If you didn't have it so easy, if you didn't get hooked by Yamitsuki, you'd be on my side. I participated in this revolution just like you, yet I got nothing out of it. And here you are, playing the lovely couple with our so-called sovereign. It's easy not to complain when everything was designed for you."
Lightly shocked and saddened by this call out, Naobi stays silent. There is much she could say to argue. That her power was actually sealed in her childhood by the Queen Mother, and that she had surpassed this bind by herself before Yasona was even born. That she spent centuries meditating to become a Shinsen, which Yasona never dared to attempt. That Yamitsuki "got hooked" by her and not the opposite, once again centuries before Yasona's birth. Or finally, that Yasona, after the revolution, was actually given privilege as a Shinden and is acting ungrateful.
However, the goddess of order stays quiet. She doesn't want to waste more time in an argument. To appease her obviously frustrated fellow, she gets down and lays her feet on the ground to stand, making the significant difference of over half a meter in height between them very noticeable. As she thinks, such a pitiful detail of appearance is enough to fight off Yasona's inferiority complex and calm her down.
"If your wish is to govern the lands of ninjas, then so be it." Naobi goes back to the main topic, ignoring the ongoing conversation. "I have been informed that the Shinobi Union will soon come to free the land of Earth from your domination."
"Hm! Whatever… I would have had to subdue them all anyway sooner or later." Yasona replies, not thinking of the possible problems this could imply.
"They are coming prepared, Yasona." Naobi adds. "In just a few days they will be here, led by no other than Sasuke Uchiha, who will coordinate the whole operation."
Yasona raises her eyebrows in surprise, now feeling somewhat doubtful.
"So the Rinnegan user is coming to me… Well, why not? He seemed handsome from afar. Meeting him in person could be interesting." Yasona first plays it off by pretending not to be impressed, then still asks for a solution. "But what about Tokubei? Will he really let this man fight me without getting involved?"
"Tokubei has faced Sasuke already. And he lost. He even could have died. If he decides to intervene when the Uchiha comes, you shouldn't count on him to fight him off for you. Not to mention that if he deems himself ready in time, Naruto Uzumaki could also take part in the Union's strike against you."
"Oh so I could get the yellow fox's visit as well? Fantastic then. I sure would enjoy forcing him on his knees and see what you all find so interesting about him."
"Yasona, please, stop playing tough." the goddess of purity interrupts her. "I know you. I know them. You know them too. You'd very unlikely survive an encounter with them, let alone both at once…"
The goddess of mischief stays quiet for a moment, trying to hide her worries and hoping for good news after this announcement. Hearing no more details, she disguises a call for help as a complaint.
"Yet I didn't break the rules, right? As a Shinden, I was allowed to come here by Yamitsuki himself. I did nothing wrong."
"Indeed… As always, you're chaos, and I'm the order that comes after. I find no fulfillment in Yamitsuki's latest decisions. All I can do is ensure order. Which is why I cannot let these two get in your way. I will help you."
"… Shall I thank you for that?" Yasona keeps acting nonchalant, hiding her obvious relief.
"Why would you? You never did, as I am only doing my duty… Which feels like I am the only one still doing… There may be just one thing I can ask of you."
"I'm listening."
"Takeshi Minamoto, the man Sakitsuki fell in love with, will very likely be mobilized in this operation by the Union. If you see him, don't harm him. I wouldn't like Sakitsuki to go through an unnecessary loss."
"You have my word." Yasona answers as she goes back to open the door of this palace, feeling like it is time for Naobi to leave.
The goddess of creation, understanding this invitation, walks to the door and exits the palace. On the other side of the door, she finds herself above the woods of the land of Fire, still on Earth but away from where she found Yasona. Before leaving, she turns around to give one last warning.
"I have to warn you, however." she says to Yasona, who holds the door, waiting to close it. "Don't take me for a fool. I know what you were looking for in the mountains earlier… Going after a power descending from the Shinju is still forbidden, especially for us Shinden."
"I guess you still wouldn't stop me if I actually went for these beasts." Yasona provocatively suggests.
"Harvesting such power won't bring you any close to Yamitsuki's level. I think Momoshiki's crimes served as a great example for my point. Though if you still covet this power, just know that when you take action, I won't stop you, but the mightiest of Earth will, as well as the Tenshin, and even Yamitsuki. If it comes to this, I won't be able to help or save you in any way anymore."
After this cold but honest declaration, Naobi turns around and slowly rises toward the sky, above the land of Fire. Seeing her go, Yasona carefully recalls her warning in her mind and, before closing the sliding door of the Kannogu, expresses her trust.
"Naobi, … Thank you." she for once shows gratitude before hiding away in her palace again to cut this meeting short.
The goddess of creation sadly looks down on the land and, with her fellow's thanking in mind, figures out her own way to make the coming conflict easier for her, as she promised. Looking toward Konoha, she thinks of the yellow fox, Naruto Uzumaki, that she can still sense away from this land. She thinks of the purpose of his training, and his opponent.
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Currently, Naruto is still among the toads of Mount Myoboku. At the moment, he isn't surrounded by thousands of clones anymore. He stopped training his mastery and understanding of the Gudodama as he considers that he got this part done. It was an essential part of his plan, but only a third of all he had to teach himself and figure out. For over a week now, he's been focused on another aspect of his abilities.
He is now standing face to face with one single clone. They look at each other without a word, though it seems like they are in need to communicate. Kurama, within Naruto's body, looks around himself confusingly, and at the clone facing Naruto. Amazed by the unseen progress here, he speaks.
"Naruto, I have witnessed many things through the ages. From the Shinsu Senju of the 1st Hokage, to the Rinne Tensei of the Rinnegan, to even the Banbutsu Sozo of the Rikudo-Sennin… But none compares to this… If you perfect this jutsu, it will become the greatest, godliest I've ever seen."
"Yeah… But it still needs progress." answers the clone before turning around and disappearing, bringing all his chakra back to the remaining Naruto who sighs and looks into his hands thoughtfully. "And I don't have much time left…"
"So what now?" Kurama asks, curious to know how they'll use the little time they still have to perfect themselves.
Before answering, Naruto focuses chakra in his hand, slowly starts to create a mini Bijudama and condenses it as he gathers little flames of chakra on the tip of each finger, each being one of the 5 elements. He then mixes the Bijudama like a Rasengan and plunges his finger tips within, merging all types of energies into one, which results in the formation of a Gudodama, exactly like Yamitsuki taught him. Staring at this orb, this extension of his soul and body, the Hokage thinks of his next objective.
"I still need some time to perfect my cloning, but most importantly… I need a jutsu that can harm Yamitsuki, and is strong enough to take him down before he can heal…" he says to Kurama as he looks at the black orb in his hand.
Playfully, a bit out of focus, he starts to mold the chakra in his palm, within and around the Gudodama in an attempt to create something out of it. However, it seems like doing this is much harder than a simple Rasengan. To help himself, he makes two clones that join their palms to his and eases the density of the orb to make it gaseous. As he combines his effort with the shadow clones, he realizes that it may not be enough.
As he looks at the phenomenon barely taking shape in his hand, he and Kurama wonder… Even with all this, how can they bring it to use efficiently enough to rival the Dragon Sage?
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In Konoha at the same time, in the Hokage's office, Shikamaru is explaining the plan and formation of troops decided by the honorable council of Konoha to Sasuke Uchiha and his son Izuna. As he is explaining the course of action of Konoha's army, Sasuke reads through the files of a binder containing information about all the ninjas selected to participate.
When Shikamaru finishes his explanation, the chief commander of the operation looks at the map of the continent on the Hokage's desk, on which the Hokage's advisor displayed visually the decided movements of the divisions of the Shinobi Union toward and within the land of Earth. Behind him, Izuna grabs the list of ninjas and reads through to find a lot of familiar names.
"So, what do you think?" Shikamaru asks Sasuke about his opinion on everything he explained.
"I don't think we have time to revise this anyway… You can inform the selected ninjas." Sasuke says.
"Say, honestly, how do you think we fare against the enemy?" Izuna questions his dad, as he leaves the binder aside.
"Let's see…" his father answers while thinking it through. "Yasona is the main target, but Tokubei will likely appear to face me again. In that case, leave him to me. The armies' command will then be up to Sakura and you."
Izuna nods and looks down at the map to analyze where the battle against Yasona should take place. There, nearby Iwa, he identifies the volcano in which is built the most terrible prison of the continent, and atop of which lies a certain cell.
"This will take place really close to Oshio…" Izuna says, startling Shikamaru and Sasuke. "Do you think this might get him involved?"
"If we deal with Yasona properly, we should avoid that." the Nara answers.
Sasuke, thoughtfully looking at the volcano on the map, suddenly falls into doubt and wonders. He has no idea how much time his son has left, and this quarrel with the Shinden is just wasting the time he should use to seek a way to save him. Is there actually still hope for Oshio? Did he himself not give up already? Silently keeping these painful thoughts inside, Sasuke is alerted by his second son calling him.
"Dad, this plan and your answer to it didn't consider Hokage-sensei and his battle." Izuna remarks.
"Whether he is ready in time or not makes no difference. He won't be able to take part in this operation." the father replies.
"I know. This is my problem. Tell me honestly, how do you think it will play out for Hokage-sensei?"
"The way I see it… He has no chance of winning." Sasuke answers honestly, as his son demanded.
"Seriously?" Izuna exclaims in anger and confusion. "So what was all that faith about last time you spoke to him?"
"How I think it will go doesn't matter." the Rinnegan user answers, still looking down on the map. "Naruto has sworn that he'll make it. So I will go by his words."
"If Naruto doesn't beat the Dragon Sage, then nobody will." Shikamaru completes to close the topic. "So all we can do is go by the plan and pretend it's going as expected for him."
As he gives this answer, he notices Sasuke frantically looking at the map in apparent doubt.
"Is something not right, Sasuke?" he asks.
The Uchiha, to explain, grabs a random black pin, representing himself, that he lies with those displayed on the map to represent Konoha's army, in front of a red one being Yasona. He then takes a yellow pin for Naruto and puts it in the mountains of Myoboku, also on the map. Finally, he grabs a purple, a blue and two red pins.
"There are 5 members of the Shinden. The first died against Takeshi Minamoto 2 years ago." he first says as he lays the first red, Hyakki, aside and points at the one on the map. "Yasona is here in Iwa, and I will be as well. But Tokubei will come and force me to keep him away." he adds as he takes off the black pin and lays it somewhere else with the red pin in his hand. "Meanwhile, Naruto should be up against Yamitsuki somewhere with Boruto."
He now shows the purple pin in his hand, picks up the yellow pin in Myoboku and one of Konoha's pins and lays them aside. Finally, he points at the enemies on the map one by one.
"So we have Yasona, Tokubei and Yamitsuki. Which leaves us with one hole in the plan." he says as he shows Izuna and Shikamaru the remaining blue pin in his hand. "Where is Naobi?" he says, to everyone's confusion. "She did take action already, since she visited a meeting of the Kage. And she is the second most powerful of her clan. So what role does she intend to play? Will she just sit back?"
This question is indeed just as confusing for Izuna and Shikamaru. Naobi Otsutsuki, until now, seems to have acted in favor of peace, and certainly still wants to avoid a fight. However, now that the Shinobi Union and all her fellows are determined to face each other, what will she do? She possibly trusts Yamitsuki even more than the Union trusts Naruto. But what will she do about the risk that Yasona and Tokubei are facing?
Now that he thinks of it, Sasuke is also concerned about Tokubei. If he really does come back, it'd certainly mean that he feels like this time can be different. So if Sasuke has to fight him again, he should stay cautious, as he may still not know everything about him. About that, he still has to unveil the mystery of his abilities for good.
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Later this week, only 2 days remain before the armies of the Shinobi Union are set to meet in the land of Earth. On the moon, the Dragon Sage, Yamitsuki Otsutsuki, is roaming alone and exploring the empty plains of this satellite. In his wanderings, he is startled by his beloved Naobi who joined without being noticed. Suddenly feeling her behind him, he turns around to face her. After a long silence, he speaks when he senses her slowly getting closer.
"Have you spoken with Yasona?" he asks her, to no reply. Instead, she just rises to reach his height and lays her hands on his shoulders to firmly hold him. She then warmly snuggles up against him, but he stays straight and arms down. Feeling no warmth or affection, she sighs and gets away, pissed off by his cold behavior.
"O Yamitsuki… You have long ago ceased being the peaceful and poetic man I fell in love with." she says. "There is a light within you that has been extinguished and can't be lit again… It is, I assume, since you had to kill your elder sister, Saetsuki."
"You… did not answer my question." Yamitsuki answers, squinting his eyes in doubt, confused by what Naobi is bringing up.
"I understand however." the goddess answers, ignoring his question. "That day, you lost more than family. Everything has been going downhill since then for you… You tried to overcome your grief with a new family. You gathered young students to simulate the love you felt from your siblings. But they all slipped away as well. Shitsuki turned against the clan and became the God Slayer, rival of the Tenshin. Saraya betrayed your trust and attempted to kill you. And you sent Kojin to kill her, whom he saw as his own sister. He may seem like the purest of them, but as your butcher, Kojin has to carry the burden of all your mistakes as much as you do."
"What is your purpose, Naobi?" the Dragon Sage asks, now troubled by her words. He is now afraid that she might have understood something. Is she trying to make him change his mind? So late? In any case, he cannot lose to her.
"You have seen the great Ryu Tenno die with all his secrets." Naobi continues, regardless of his questions. "You've witnessed the celestial kind of dragons be brought to extinction by the same curse that threatens the people you rule… You have amassed hatred and betrayal of half of those who survived the 3rd age. You inspire fear, jealousy and adversity in the hearts of our loyal fellows and even among the Tenshin and the Shinden. Some of them are unspoken enemies… Yet, none of them will dare to raise a finger against the unequaled Ryu Shinsen. Whatever they try and steal, they will never surpass you. It is why only you can fulfill your responsibilities."
"Naobi, have you seen Yasona?" Yamitsuki exclaims his first question again, losing his temper as he gets frustrated by her words.
"Yes I did. She will be spared an unfair battle, and it sure isn't thanks to you." Naobi says, using this answer only to reveal her true purpose. "She will soon go to war with humanity, while only a month ago we were still ensuring a peaceful distance between our worlds. But you could not care less. At the same time, Tokubei is letting a millennium old grudge lead him to a battle he won't survive. Meanwhile, you could not care less… It seems as if all this started because Sakitsuki went down to Earth during my absence. Yet I know she would never have done such a thing without feeling authorized. I know you certainly didn't intend for Hyakki and Watsuki to die. But why didn't you stop Sakitsuki? Did your instincts make you fool her into going, to fulfill your secret fantasy?"
"You sound ill, Naobi." the Dragon Sage denies as he turns around, playing dumb. "You should get some rest. I believe we have already had this conversation."
"And did you care to give an answer?" Naobi yells as she uses Izunome to teleport in Yamitsuki's way. "Don't act cowardly, Yamitsuki. You're not fooling me anymore. I know very well what game you are playing. The mind and soul in you, there has never been any being that understands it better than I do. I know you and Tokubei share secrets that even I am unaware of and that prevent me from fully understanding your intentions. But I am not blind to your schemes. I have always forced myself to believe that your lies, your carelessness, your actions are all for the greater good. But I can't pretend anymore. I don't know if you are acting consciously, but you only seem to act to one single end. The one thing that monopolizes your thoughts and has stolen your happiness. The Ryu Tenno's prophecy. All you did since the invasion of Momoshiki in the ninja world was to observe or protect Naruto Uzumaki. You think he is the other pillar of peace, and the ninja of the Ryu Tenno's tale."
"And I still need to know the truth!" Yamitsuki exclaims, breaking his usual nonchalant image. "I need an answer! This prophecy is all I have left from the dragon age. I need to see the truth behind the tale!"
"Yamitsuki!" Naobi yells back with a sobbing voice. "No future is absolute to beings like us. You are not waiting to see this prophecy come true. You are making it yourself! Maybe the yellow fox's fate was to die years ago."
"No future is absolute, but the vision of the Dragon Emperor spirit is. The fate of Naruto was not to die against Kaguya, Momoshiki or his vessel."
"If you let this prophecy come true, you will doom all of creation! How can you even tolerate this tale? If you don't feel like going on as the sovereign of the Shinden, then just tell it to Shiva and take your rest."
"Shiva is just as blinded by her ideals and egocentric as I am."
"But she would serve rightfully, as you did so far! I just want to save you, Yamitsuki. Your depression doesn't have to be the burden of all creation! Just admit your vulnerability and embrace help before it is too late!"
"It is far too late already!" the Dragon Sage yells with a trembling voice as he grabs Naobi by the arms firmly. Startled, she stands agape, feeling this answer like blades stabbing through her soul. Yamitsuki loosens his hold on her and calms down. Understanding just how much she actually figured out about his inner battle, he unveils his mind and becomes honest.
"I entirely assume my depression. But it is too late to do anything about it. Believe me, I will not lead everything to its doom. I have done, am doing and will do exactly what the higher spirits expect me to do."
"What do they expect? That you fight the yellow fox? And to what outcome?… No matter what you think will happen, you know I won't allow it. I know that Kami Musubi isn't strong enough to rewrite the past and future of the Ryu Shinsen, but even if it costs my life, I will do it."
"You know that I would not let you pay this price." Yamitsuki answers. "I am a broken man, and I cannot be fixed. Shiva is just as brute and egocentric as me. Tokubei is too conflicted. Isshiki and Yasona can in no way be trusted. If I could, I would eliminate these two myself… The only sane, truly wise and powerful god among us is you. I may have changed, and I will never be sorry enough for it, but you are still the same pure soul that I fell in love with. The same who followed me all along. The same I have always cherished more than anything else. I cannot let you die. You are even more important than me. So if you intend to play a game of sacrifice with me, know that I will win."
Naobi doesn't answer, troubled by Yamitsuki's honesty and the terrible burden she has to carry. She tries to hold her trembling face together as the Ryu Shinsen makes with her the exact same pact of life that Sasuke Uchiha has made with Naruto Uzumaki. She can't accept losing this game. As she sheds a tear, she lets herself fall against her lover's chest.
"What will happen to us then?" she asks.
"There are two paths. Both lead to annihilation. But just like you, I believe in Serenity as the end for both paths. In either way, you will be there and your mission will be the same. The only difference would be who stands by your side to fulfill it. It all depends, now, on the will and resolve of Naruto."
"There is no way he makes it out alive. You know it." she argues.
"One of us has to remain. You cannot allow us both to die."
As she thinks of this answer, Naobi slowly realizes, from all she knows of her lover and his obsessing prophecy, that she has already lost this game. Whatever happens, it will go exactly as he selfishly intends. All she can do is to unveil the meaning of her true purpose in his mind and accomplish it. For the sake of not only her clan, but also the ninja world, and all of creation.
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End of Chapter 154 – Next Chapter: Worlds at War