I gradually regained consciousness, emerging from an ethereal slumber. My senses were awakening gradually, allowing me to grasp my new surroundings. Enigmatic voices resonated around me, speaking in a language unfamiliar to me. The sounds were guttural, almost menacing to my ears.
When my vision finally cleared, I discovered faces leaning over me. Beings of supernatural and icy beauty scrutinized me with their piercing eyes. Their lunar-pale complexion contrasted with their immaculate white hair. But what struck me the most was the total absence of warmth emanating from them. No trace of kindness or tenderness in their gazes. Just a latent cruelty that made me shiver despite myself.
"Where have I ended up?" I wondered, disoriented. I did not recognize any of the clans from the Naruto universe among these ethereal creatures surrounding me. Had I truly reached my destination? A dreadful doubt gripped me. What if the goddess had erred during the reincarnation process?
It was then that a man with an imperious demeanor entered. He exchanged a few cryptic words with the woman holding me in her arms, before fixing his unfathomable gaze on me. A joyless smile stretched his perfect lips.
"Akira, Akira Otsutsuki," he declared in a voice devoid of emotion. "That shall be his name."
At that moment, the truth hit me like a ton of bricks. I had not landed just anywhere, but right in the heart of the Otsutsuki clan. The most ruthless and cruel place in the entire Naruto universe. A clan renowned for its crushing power, its boundless ambition, and its legendary coldness.
"What irony," I thought with a bitter smirk. I, who had always been fascinated by dark and manipulative characters, now found myself among them. But I was not afraid. After all, I was Kazuya Ishida, the ruthless soldier and born strategist. I would navigate this hostile world and turn it to my advantage.
In the council chamber of the Otsutsuki clan, an oppressive atmosphere prevailed. The elders, draped in their immaculate kimonos adorned with complex purple motifs, sat in a circle.
The clan patriarch spoke with a voice as sharp as steel, "This child is an anomaly. His chakra holds an incredible power, even by our standards. He poses a threat to the established order."
One of the most ambitious elders smirked cruelly. "We should eliminate him while he is still vulnerable. It is better to snuff out the danger at the source rather than let it grow and become uncontrollable," he whispered in a honeyed voice.
"Let us not be hasty," another, known for his cunning intelligence, interjected. "This infant could become our greatest asset. Imagine the power we could harness from him if he were judiciously conditioned to serve our purposes."
An ancient with ethereal beauty but a ruthless reputation raised a diaphanous hand to demand attention.
"It is true that his potential is limitless. But that is precisely what makes him dangerous. Can we truly afford to let grow within us a force that could consume us?" she inquired in a cold voice.
A murmur ran through the assembly. Each seemed to weigh the arguments put forth, torn between fear and ambition. Finally, it was the patriarch who decided, his voice resonating like thunder:
"Enough! We cannot afford to make a hasty decision. I propose a compromise: let us keep the child among us, monitor his development, and shape his mind to align with our vision. But at the slightest sign of rebellion, we will not hesitate to take the necessary measures."
A heavy silence greeted his words. Then, slowly, the elders nodded in assent. Akira's fate was sealed. He would grow up among the Otsutsuki, unaware of the ominous destiny weighing on his fragile shoulders.
The flames of the candles flickered, casting threatening shadows on the marble faces of the elders. In the growing darkness, their eyes gleamed with a cold light, a reflection of their relentless determination to preserve the supremacy of their clan, whatever the cost.