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Night had fallen over the village.
Torches illuminated the open courtyard, their warm glow dancing across the faces of the gathered disciples and villagers. Tables had been set up around the area, covered with food and drinks, while the sound of laughter and conversation filled the night.
An elderly disciple of Father, one of his oldest friends, stepped forward and raised his cup.
"Everyone! Tonight, we celebrate! The heir of Ninshu has finally been chosen!"
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then—
"CHEERS!"
The entire gathering erupted into celebration.
Laughter filled the courtyard as cups were raised and people congratulated Ashura. Some of the disciples patted him on the back while others cheered his name.
Ashura looked completely overwhelmed by the attention.
"H-Hey, everyone, calm down!" he said awkwardly, waving his hands. "It's not like I've become some great ruler!"
That only made everyone laugh harder.
I watched him from a short distance away, a small smile forming on my face.
Yep... Ashura is definitely going to have trouble getting used to this.
Across the courtyard, Shiraku was sitting comfortably with Taizou, Shirai, and Kanna.
Shiraku had one hand wrapped around a cup while the other held a large piece of meat. He took a lazy bite, chewing without a care in the world.
"Not bad," he muttered.
Taizou laughed. "You're seriously more interested in the food than the celebration?"
Shiraku shrugged.
"What? The food doesn't give speeches."
Shirai rolled her eyes.
"You're hopeless."
Kanna laughed softly beside them, watching the chaos with an amused expression.
Meanwhile, I found Ashura standing slightly away from the main crowd.
I walked over and nudged him lightly with my elbow.
"Hey."
Ashura turned toward me.
"Hm?"
I grinned.
"So... now that you're the head of Ninshu, I hope you don't start bossing me around."
Ashura blinked.
Then his expression turned completely serious.
"Of course not, elder brother."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Really."
He paused.
Then a mischievous grin slowly appeared on his face.
"Although..."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Although what?"
Ashura crossed his arms.
"Since I'm the heir now, maybe I should start giving you orders."
I stared at him.
"...Excuse me?"
He burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I'm kidding!"
I narrowed my eyes at him before smirking.
"Oh, you're getting brave now."
Ashura laughed, rubbing the back of his head.
"You started it!"
I shook my head.
"Yeah, yeah. Enjoy your position while you can."
I glanced around at the celebration.
"Just remember, being the heir doesn't mean you're suddenly above your brothers."
Ashura's smile softened.
"I know."
He looked toward the crowd celebrating him.
Then back at me.
"And honestly... I wouldn't want it any other way."
I smiled.
"Good."
For a moment, we simply stood there together, listening to the laughter around us.
The night felt peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
Because somewhere beyond the warmth of the celebration, one of my brothers was sitting alone with his anger.
And I knew that the choice Father had made tonight had changed more than just the line of succession.
It had changed the future of all three of us.
"Danava. Ashura… come with me for a moment."
Both Ashura and I turned toward the familiar voice.
"Father…?"
Hagoromo didn't say anything more. He simply turned and began walking away from the celebration.
Ashura and I exchanged a glance before following him.
The sounds of laughter and celebration gradually faded behind us as we walked through the quieter part of the village. The cheerful atmosphere from moments ago felt strangely distant now.
Eventually, Hagoromo stopped beneath the shade of a large tree.
He turned toward us, his expression unusually solemn.
"There is something you both need to understand," he said.
Ashura immediately straightened.
I remained silent, watching him carefully.
Hagoromo's gaze drifted toward the night sky.
"I have watched Indra for a long time. His talent, his intelligence, his strength… all of them are extraordinary. But recently, something within him has changed."
Ashura's expression fell.
"Elder brother Indra…"
Hagoromo nodded slowly.
"The darkness in his heart has been growing. At first, I believed it was merely his pride. His desire to prove himself. But I now understand that there is something deeper influencing him."
My expression became solemn.
So we're finally getting here.
Hagoromo continued.
"The Sharingan Indra inherited is not merely an ordinary ability. There is a power within those eyes that even Indra himself does not fully understand."
Ashura lowered his head, his hands tightening into fists.
"Then… is there really nothing we can do for him?"
Hagoromo remained silent for a moment.
"I do not know."
Those three words carried more weight than anything else he could have said.
I stared at the ground.
So Father really is beginning to fear him.
I had known this moment would eventually come.
I had watched Indra grow colder.
I had watched him embrace strength over compassion.
I had even been on the receiving end of that change myself.
And yet…
Some part of me still felt a strange heaviness hearing Father say it aloud.
Ashura's voice was quiet.
"Father… I don't want to fight Elder Brother Indra."
Hagoromo looked at him.
"Neither do I."
His gaze then shifted toward me.
"And that is why I have made a decision."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What decision?"
Hagoromo's expression became firm.
"I will divide my power between the two of you."
Ashura's eyes widened.
"Divide… your power?"
"Yes."
Hagoromo stepped closer.
"You both possess qualities that the other lacks. Ashura, you possess compassion and the ability to connect with others. Danava, you possess determination, discipline, and a strong sense of individuality."
I blinked.
Well… that's one way of putting it.
Hagoromo continued.
"If my power is entrusted entirely to one person, then everything I have built through Ninshu may eventually be shaped according to that person's ideals."
His eyes hardened.
"I will not allow that to happen."
Ashura looked at me.
I looked back at him.
Neither of us spoke.
For a moment, only the sound of the night breeze filled the silence.
Then Hagoromo spoke again.
"Danava. Ashura. From this day forward, the two of you will inherit my power together."
I slowly exhaled.
"So… you don't want either of us standing alone."
Hagoromo nodded.
"Exactly."
I glanced toward the village, where the celebration was still continuing in the distance.
People were laughing.
Eating.
Celebrating Ashura's succession.
None of them knew what was coming.
And somewhere beyond those walls, Indra was alone.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
So this is where the real story begins.
Ashura clenched his fists.
"I'll do everything I can to protect Ninshu, Father."
I smiled faintly.
"And I'll make sure you don't have to do it alone."
Hagoromo looked at both of us for a long moment.
"Then remember this."
His voice became unusually serious.
"Power does not determine whether someone is right or wrong. What matters is how you choose to use it."
I nodded.
"Understood, Father."
But deep inside, my thoughts were elsewhere.
Indra…
I closed my eyes for a moment.
You've already chosen your path.
And now… so have we.
Hagoromo slowly raised both his hands.
Ashura and I instinctively straightened as he placed one hand upon each of our heads.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then—
BOOM!
An immense wave of chakra erupted from Hagoromo.
My eyes widened as an overwhelming force poured into my body.
"Guh—!"
My knees nearly buckled.
It wasn't ordinary chakra.
It was dense.
Ancient.
Vast.
It felt as though an entire ocean had suddenly been poured into my body, every drop carrying a power far beyond anything I had ever experienced.
The shadows beneath my feet immediately reacted.
They spread outward in every direction, twisting and writhing violently as though they were responding to something far greater than themselves.
"Agh…!"
I clenched my teeth.
Beside me, Ashura gasped as a brilliant chakra began flowing through his body.
"Elder brother…!"
I glanced toward him.
His entire body was glowing faintly, his chakra becoming increasingly dense with every passing second.
Hagoromo remained completely calm.
"Do not resist it," he said.
"Allow my chakra to become one with your own."
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
Alright…
I stopped fighting against the flow.
The moment I did—
WHOOSH!
The chakra surged through me even more violently.
My entire body trembled.
I could feel every pathway within my body being flooded with power, my chakra network expanding as though it were being rebuilt from within.
My shadows reacted even more violently.
They crawled up my legs.
Across my torso.
Around my arms.
For a moment, the darkness completely enveloped me.
But strangely…
It didn't feel hostile.
It felt familiar.
As though the Ten Shadows itself were recognizing something.
Is this… Father's chakra?
My breathing steadied.
I could feel something changing deep within me.
My chakra reserves.
My physical strength.
My perception.
Everything was being pushed to another level.
And yet, beneath all that power, I could still feel something else.
A connection.
A strange, almost indescribable bond between Hagoromo's chakra and my own.
Then I heard his voice.
"Danava…"
I opened my eyes slightly.
"Your power will grow alongside you. Do not allow it to control you."
His hand remained firmly upon my head.
"And Ashura…"
Ashura looked up.
"Use your strength to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Ashura nodded, his expression filled with determination.
"I will, Father."
The chakra continued pouring into us.
For several moments, the world around me seemed to disappear.
There was only the overwhelming energy coursing through my body.
Then, gradually—
It began to settle.
The violent surge of chakra calmed.
The shadows returned beneath my feet.
I slowly opened my eyes.
I could feel it.
Something had changed.
I clenched my fist.
The chakra inside me responded immediately.
So this is Father's power…
I looked toward Ashura.
He was staring at his own hands in amazement.
"Elder brother…"
I smiled faintly.
"Looks like we've gotten a pretty big upgrade."
Ashura blinked before laughing nervously.
"Heh… I guess we have."
Hagoromo lowered his hands.
His expression remained serious.
"Remember, my sons. This power is not a reward."
He looked between us.
"It is a responsibility."
I nodded slowly.
"Understood, Father."
But somewhere deep inside me, another thought surfaced.
Indra…
My expression became solemn.
You really are in trouble.