"So what's the plan now, Gamashiro? Your first plan failed horribly! I guess we have to resort to that strategy..." Looking at the faint silhouette in the distance, Midori sighed in bitterness at their fate.
At first, the great toads resorted to solving the crisis by asking for Yoichi's timely assistance yet the wording of their Great Toad Sage wasn't executed very well. This unrealistic expectation and one-sided arrangement even distanced Yoichi further since mutual respect and benefit must be on the table, as always. Currently, the last plan on the agenda is the only hope the toads have for the upcoming events, for the sake of their future.
"Agreed... Midori, Aoi... Let's proceed with our plan, it's time to make ourselves give the future some breathing space for this world..." Faint echoes of words rang out of Gamashiro but his remarks felt weary. Suddenly, he smiled with gratitude for his time and the future with his son, Gamamaru — who could potentially encounter the real Child of Prophecy hereafter.
'Traveler from afar, Yoichi Murakami... Thank you for opening my eyes and ears... I am thankful.'
Gamashiro nodded and began to commit himself to the plan with determination and resolve.
->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->
"Hoooh! Finally done with sketching these maps... I must say, the Three Great Sacred Lands were surely hidden from the eyes of the public...."
After visiting, Yoichi has a two-word description for each land: Slimy and Dangerous!
Ryūchi Cave was damp with the millennia of moisture, the land was undoubtedly the sacred place of the snakes. The leader, Hakuja Sennin — was a pretty cautious snake with powerful sage ability centered around escape and swiftness of a snake, truly the White Snake Sage. The Three Princess wasn't born yet and Yoichi felt it was a bummer not to see the three baddies of the Cave.
On the other hand, Shikkotsu Forest was also damp with a swampy muddy texture, perfect for the Mollusca to live yet the only one living in the forest was Katsuyu, The Slug Sage. Her attitude was laid back and gentle compared to the two rivalries between the frog and the snake. Her clones, the slugs were merely a communication and a type of emergency whenever it was an urgent crisis. Her mystical ability was incredible regeneration and natural energy centered on approximately physical capability.
These lands have different slimy sensations. Mount Myobōku was feeling optimistic and radiant, Ryūchi Cave was cold and eerie, and Shikkotsu Forest was gentle yet with a hint of danger.
However, the natural energy concentration was so immense and unadulterated to the magnitude, a testament to the foundation and power of these lands it formed the trifecta of cycles of natural energy around the world.
"What if I create my own Senjutsu? Their typical attributes were often the same pattern... Amplifying the potencies while filling the shortcomings! Establishing a natural phenomenon wasn't so hard for me... For now, I need to find a natural energy-enriched land before I start!"
Yoichi's brain raked many ideas inspired by the holy lands and ventured forth with earth-shattering assertions in his mind. Subsequently, he found his location in the vicinity of future Uzushiogakure. Near the land and water, flawlessly applicable to his plans. However, Yoichi's lofty goal does not stop with the idea and said:
"I might be able to insert my Yin-Yang Release into the Senjutsu I will hand over whenever an individual succeeds in my trial. If these sacred lands amplify ninjutsu into devastating powers, my newly established ground should be a reality-bending technique centered around Yin and Yang Release!"
Of course, the difficulty of the trial exponentially increases with his unrealistic project. Even in the main show, only a handful of people managed to grasp some profound wisdom in Yin-Yang Release yet Yoichi's program was sky-high problematic as average shinobi didn't have enough qualifications and effort to practice an overpowered senjutsu.
"The name of my sacred land is Phantom Cabin! My house was created and washed by time for over 1000 years! It's a good conductive material since it was soaked by the sands of time... Any other developed techniques were in this cabin, a treasure trove for the people!" Yoichi summoned his cabin and devised some Yin-Yang Release inscriptions, absorbing the natural energy around.
It would take some time to nurture the cabin with natural energy but there are no slimy sensations, a good bonus for the visitors in the future.
"In the meantime, let's visit the Otsutsuki Family... Fortunately, I am around 23 years old and have much time to insert myself into the muddy waters."
After his concocted scheme was done, for now — Yoichi traveled again back into the Land of Ancestors, looking around the surroundings and felt like nothing ever occurred in the past.
"Greetings, I am an assistant and my mistress was waiting for your arrival. Please, let's head this way." Suddenly, a female helper greeted him with propriety, bowing slightly to Yoichi's figure.
'Oh? Surely she will not be in a fit of anger once more right? It would be upsetting at this point...'
Yoichi lowered his head in thoughtfully thinking as his steps along with the assistant went on their way to the Otsutsuki Clan's courtyard. The people around were prosperous yet seemed it was merely on the surface as the new rule of Kaguya made the process of natural selection even more conspicuous. The Ritual of the God Tree was unsettling to other people since all the people who participated in the said event didn't come back.
"Who are you and what are your reasons for getting closer to my family?!" Looking at the beautiful yet stern complexion, Yoichi shook his head and began scouring for a reasonable excuse in mind.
"As I said, I wanted to be the teacher of these little kids... For your futile struggle against your kin outside of this world, I don't give a single cent of care about them. I find these kids a little bit exciting to teach in the future so here I am..." Kaguya's alertness grew serious when Yoichi directly stated her precarious situation. Her white narrowed eyebrows glared at him like a laser beaming, wanting to deeply scrutinize Yoichi.
"... How did you know about that?!" Kaguya readied her stance in case of future trouble yet Yoichi's casual demeanor looked at her as if like an idiot.
"Your face says it all, Kaguya. That level of caution and vigilance was enough to prove my theory... You are stronger than anyone around the world and your thirst for power was not to garner more lands but against the interference outside, am I right? Don't try to deny or discredit my conjecture... I could help you fight against this crisis as long as I became their teacher. I will let you guess..." Yoichi implicitly explained his reasonings to her without divulging any more information about her clan.
Kaguya furrowed her eyebrows in profound thoughts. Although Yoichi's nonchalant yet enigmatic attitude made her startle in alarm, she couldn't deny that he was something likely to be able to assist her in fending against the later intruders. Also, Yoichi's proposed plan was only to be a teacher for his children, a manageable duty unlike her serious concerns. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of winning a trade this effortlessly and began to be careful about him.
"I agree with your terms... For now, I don't know what your intentions are but I'll gladly take your words and actions as my dearest ally in the future..." Ultimately, she agreed with his proposition alongside careful consideration.
"Arrange my settlements then... So adorable, what's their name?" Yoichi took the children in his arms with a smile on his face while Kaguya glared at him, attentively looking for her kids and still wary of his possible malicious intent.
"The brown-haired child was my eldest, Hagoromo while the light-haired kid was my youngest, Hamura..." Kaguya's eyes flickered with conflicted expression at the moment. Even though the two children managed to weaken her, Kaguya's motherly instinct longed for a family to understand her plight against her fate and the vicious clan.
'Haha... I also wanted to teach Indra and Ashura in the future... Also, I don't have anything to teach between these two genius kids! Maybe righteousness and a couple of brainwashing should suffice in the long run...'
"Hagoromo... Hamura... I will be your caretaker so please, grow up well and safe!" Both children were special enough to make anyone feel like protecting these youngsters. Horns signified their royalty in this world, not knowing it was merely a lower-ranked bloodline in the history of the Otsutsuki Clan.
Therefore, Yoichi went on the storm by assisting Kaguya with the children's situation without any problems. Hagoromo and Hamura grew well as time passed by, with his careful affections and precious time allocated between the kids like a goddamn stepfather. Oftentimes, Yoichi managed to glimpse Kaguya's gentle smile which made him shiver in apprehension.
'What I wanted was your descendants, not you granny!'
In 17 years, Hagoromo and Hamura became adolescents with good training and incredible physical prowess. The Ancestors of each clan in the main show proved their right as the real God of Shinobi. In their precious time, they absorbed much of Yoichi's bizarre education like a sponge with enthusiastic thoughts every time.
Hagoromo was a pretty upright man with connections to the village while Hamura was a solitary man with gentleness and propriety. Both of these kids have the ambition to ease their mother's distant figure in the distance like a lofty god looking at the sky for something above.
On the flip side, Yoichi taught them how to read, write, and comprehend various cultures and languages. Particularly to human jobs like cooking, fishing, negotiation tactics and so much more to let them understand the importance of social interaction, a valuable lesson in the future.
As for Chakra techniques, Yoichi didn't teach them since it was mind-boggling for them to easily figure out the techniques in one try. Every time he teaches something, his eyelids twitch in the sheer astonished face. Currently, Yoichi is nearing his 40 and it's time to leave the world with both kids ready for their upcoming future filled with ups and downs.
"Hagoromo, Hamura... It's time for me to leave..." Yoichi bitterly smiled at them — who were enjoying their time with his presence all the time.
"What are you saying— What's happening? Hamura, find mother immediately!" Both Hagoromo and Hamura were skeptical of his words until they noticed his gradually disappearing figure and anxieties filled their eyes in an instant.
"What's going on?! Why did you not tell us sooner?!" Hagoromo's angry yet concerned voice rang out as Hamura vanished in search of their omnipotent mother.
"I said it all the time, it was my fate... I missed my family too, you know... Also, my time with both of your presence was enough for me in my brief life... Leaving with no regrets was important as always." Yoichi patted his shoulder and left nostalgic about seeing Hagoromo's crying face. His time as their father was always a sight to see but it has an ending to each story in life.
"What's happening?!" Arriving with Hamura, Kaguya became serious and glared at Yoichi with harsh anger but a flicker of concern in her eyes didn't betray her feelings as she tried to heal him using her immense chakra but to no avail.
"... We have a deal, you know that, right?!" Kaguya utilized her Byakugan and investigated greatly on Yoichi's condition however she didn't see anything else at fault for his outrageous shape.
"I am merely a mortal and our agreement will continually occur no matter what so don't worry. As for Hagoromo and Hamura, be yourself as always. Nobody could take your individual goals and it will never betray you!" Yoichi left with a smile as his disintegrated remains fluttered across the winds.
Yoichi went ahead to the afterlife with a grin yet Hagoromo and Hamura cried in grief while Kaguya became cold and clasped her fists tightly, angry with her glaring shortcomings... Maybe Yoichi changed the future a little bit more slanted as Kaguya's descent into the darkness began to manifest.