Kiba was awoken in the middle of the night, hearing footsteps and the familiar scent of his wife.
He stretched and yawned lazily, opening his eyes to see Tsuyu coming out of her portal.
"Hey… you are back."
"Mm." She didn't say much. Her eyes turned to face the window, overlooking the moon and the starry night sky.
"What's the matter?" Kiba could sense something was off with her.
"..." Tsuyu seemed to hesitate slightly, as if thinking if she should tell her husband.
"You… are they coming…" Kiba felt his heart worried. He knew that look on Tsuyu's face. As if she was about to fight once more.
Tsuyu nodded silently. Not commenting much.
"How do you know? You sure?"
"I can feel it…" Tsuyu turned her gaze to a certain direction.
Kiba gulped. "Hey… Come here."
Tsuyu turned her gaze back to him, taking slow steps before sitting at the edge of the bed.
Kiba leaned closer and wrapped his hands around her waist.
"Don't worry. We will be okay."
"You don't understand…"
Kiba felt Tsuyu's body imperceptibly tremble. As if she was scared, even.
"Tell me then… What did you sense? Or see?"
"We set up an observatory on the moon… to prepare for their arrival. We sensed… a lot of them. It's not just a pair. This is different… it's out of our expectation. No. This wasn't their usual lineup. This is a hunt, and they are coming prepared. Either they are coming to kill Mika and me, or this planet is special. Mika didn't expect it either. Kiba… I…"
Tsuyu was afraid this was something far beyond what she had faced so far. If a single Kaguya, someone who wasn't even a proper fighter was such a struggle. How about tens of them, or hundred? She felt it's hopeless.
"Hey… hey look at me."
Tsuyu turned her eyes to face her husband.
"Look… I don't know if I can help. I can't exactly fight alongside you… god how I wish I could. I am scared for you too… you know, for our children, for our friends, for our village."
"Everyone relied on you, you know? But you have to rely on us too. You have been doing everything on your own…"
"... Not exactly. I had reliable partners."
"Ah. Okay I get it that's not what I meant."
"When the time comes you have to hide. I will open a dimension for everyone to evacuate… the last resort I prepared was to seal the space and hide its presence. But even then it might only buy us some time. And if I fall I have no idea who could fight for our survival."
Tsuyu bit her lips.
Kiba shook her shoulders, snapping her back to his presence.
"Oi. Stop thinking like that. Just do your best. I will do my best too."
Tsuyu blinked twice, sighing as she let the burden be forgotten for a moment.
"You are right…"
Tsuyu's eyes grow colder.
"When the time comes, I plan to launch infinite Tsukiyomi, to gather all the chakra from the rest of the world. I would leave the Land of Fire untouched."
"You…- you don't…" Kiba was shocked at Tsuyu's plan.
"I need as much power as I need. I am telling you because I trust you, Kiba."
A part of her also wanted recognition from her husband.
Kiba bit his lips. "You are killing the rest of them then…?" His voice horse, shaky from what Tsuyu had just told him.
"If it comes to it, I won't hesitate. Otherwise everything would be gone." Her voice was cold. That cruel and cold Tsuyu had returned.
"... I get it…" Kiba can only speak weakly. He didn't try to stop her. He understood that Tsuyu had to do it.
"But you are still shouldering everything alone…"
"What else can I do then?" Tsuyu seemed tired.
Kiba can only hold her tight. "... I got you okay…"
"... Even if you can't help me fight, you already did a lot for me. By being here. Thank you. You are a good moral boost." Tsuyu said softly.
"Really? Haha… I am glad I could help you."
"Let's just sleep." She didn't want to think of anything to rest her mind. The information she gained just now was too mindnumbing.
"Okay, let's sleep…" Kiba pulled her to bed, letting her rest on his chest.
Tsuyu grumbled inwardly. She definitely didn't enjoy whatever this was.
***
Toneri, the one who got subdued by Tsuyu and made to work for her as a watcher there looked up above, then at the machines displaying a red dot.
Using Tsuyu's own chakra as a pulsing sonar, any Otsutsuki's chakra would create interference.
"They are coming for her…"
Toneri was solemn.
***
Mika stood in front of her window, looking at the moon.
This was different from what she expected. She didn't think the Otsutsuki clan would place so much importance for her to bring so many of their warriors. This was the consensus they reached after discussing together. Was it because she betrayed the clan? That she stole the chakra fruit and killed Isshiki then?
She felt scared. But at least, there was Tsuyu, and then the reincarnations of her grandsons were strong too. Maybe she can protect this planet…
She recalled the times she had as 'Mika' all this time. Even when she was betrayed once, she learned what love was. She talked with Tsuyu a lot back then, when it was just them too.
About trust, regret, or their feelings.
Even when Tsuyu was betrayed by her own brother, she never hated him. Mika learned to let go of her hidden resentment then, and learned to trust humans again.
***
A metallic bronze space ship was travelling across space, crossing thousands of miles every second.
Momoshiki ate some inferior chakra pills as snacks, quite bored of this monotonous journey.
"Momoshiki-sama…" An Otsutsuki in white kneeled down, handing a tray with a chalice on top, containing inferior chakra pills.
He just picked one and stuffed it in his mouth, quite bored.
"Hey Kinshiki. You think this is really necessary? She's among the lowest of the lowest. To think they even sent the Executioner."
He called his partner for some chat. Momoshiki turned to look at his back, point at the tens of Otsutsuki in white robe with black linens and belts. The patterns represented their status as the Executioner. The army equivalent of the Otsutsuki clan, with a mission to subdue, punish, and even execute betrayers of the clan.
The clan rules were enforced through these groups of people. They were trained to fight against other Otsutsuki that needed to be killed or captured. They had a separate status, working directly under the Clan's head.
"She could kill Isshiki. Even if he was of the middle status, his abilities were well proven back in his academy. Kaguya was proven to be dangerous enough to be able to kill him." Kinshiki reasoned.
"Hmph. That just means that Isshiki is trash. To be killed by the lowest servant, laughable. If he was among my classmates then, he would have been a joke compared to me. He was a servant born too wasn't he. Heh, his father denied his own existence from the rumors. Hah. No wonder he died so funnily. What a pathetic life."
"Hn." Kinshiki could only agree to whatever his boss says.
Due to Tsuyu's and Mika's existence in the Shinobi world, being alive and well, they were detected after a long search. This led to the Executioner being sent for capture and punishment. The clan need to have strict enforcement to ensure they don't devour and betray one another.
"Captain… the curvature detected above 10. Estimated, 15 to 16."
One of the Otsutsuki monitoring the display read out the data.
"16!?" Momoshiki overheard the conversation between the ship captain and the Executioner member.
His eyes filled with longing. The fruit from the planet would be a very high quality one. And even he had never seen it. It was such a rare thing even for the Otsutsuki clan.
"Hey Kinshiki, what's the rule when it involves the Executioner?" Momoshiki poked his shoulder. This partner of his was reliable about many things.
"Two third would be given to the Executioner. The rest, you."
Momoshiki grumbled. "What? That's so ridiculous. I am Momoshiki! Not just anyone." His bloodline was close to the Clan's head, and he had a very high status.
"Most of the shares would be presented to His Holiness… the army receives even lesser portion."
"Huh. So the clanshead gets the most then… And he didn't even have to move a single step…" Momoshiki felt the world was truly unfair. He had to travel tirelessly to harvest planet after planet. While the clanshead just sat there doing nothing and had people harvest for him.
"As the clanshead, he had to take care of the Clan's business… if he too went out on field he wouldn't be able to manage the clan." Kinshiki explained the logic.
"Tch. I know. I guess the position has its perks." Momoshiki considered trying to become one in the future. But then again, he was Momoshiki. He didn't need to rely on these shrimps to harvest fruits for him.
The ship continued on its course, heading towards Earth.
***
Secret Laboratory, Other Dimension
Kabuto looked at the being in the glass tank with awe. Orochimaru licked his lips after seeing it. After years of cultivation, inhumane experimentation on clones, they succeeded.
"To think I have created… a god." Orochimaru muttered to himself, feeling a little silly that they succeeded.
But he was also wary. Because this being… had potential to surpass even the current Tsuyu.
The being was in the form of a 7 year old child. Her form was pale white, her skin smooth. Dense purple chakra pulse through her hair, purple flowers akin to wisteria bloomed along her long silver hair. From her back, two small branches sprouted like wings, with gold leaves on them.
"Nnh…nn…" She murmured in her sleep.
"She's already hungry…" Kabuto muttered and pressed a button. A cry of fear was heard as a conveyor belt above the tank delivered a small child that looked very similar to Tsuyu in a cage. Her own clone.
"No… I.. I don't…" She tried to say something, but Kabuto didn't care and pressed another button. The bottom of the cage opened, the child plunged into the thick nutrient liquid.
The being opened its eyes, revealing its amethyst Rinnegan with 3 tomoe on its innermost ring.
Her bare chest and abdomen revealed a slit… and from it, a huge mouth with teeth like saws was revealed. She stretched her fingers into white wood that ensnared the child. She pulled it quickly and devoured her in one gulped.
One of the golden leaves on her back shifted into a bud. She closed her eyes as if digesting.
"Hnhnhn… what an interesting being… how many of those little fruits has she made so far?"
"13."
"Hnhnhn… unfortunately it had no benefit for Tsuyu. That was her own flesh after all. But…"
Kabuto mused. "It greatly enhances anyone who consumes it. But still lacking to fight against those people."
"We just need real food for her…" Orochimaru licked his lips.
That food, naturally, refers to Otsutsuki's clansmen.
Project Mokushin's ultimate goal was to create a weapon that devours Otsutsuki themselves. That being… was that weapon.
A forbidden being born from nature, man and god. Ten tails, spliced human cells of Hashirama and Naruto, and finally Tsuyu's own cells that were that of Otsutsuki.
One may wonder what's up with Naruto's cells in the mix. But genes often determine destiny. Naruto was a kind person, even Hashirama. That was why his cells were added to the mix.
A portal opened, and from it, Tsuyu stepped in.
"Mama…"
The being opened its eyes, noticing Tsuyu. She for once muttered a word.
"How is she doing?" She asked Orochimaru and Kabuto.
"Very well… She is ready."
"Prepare for sealing." Her eyes turned cold.
Orochimaru had a flicker of curiosity and madness in his eyes. He was curious, just how far can Tsuyu reach after becoming this being's Jinchuriki.
***