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Then, each of us took hold of our own scroll. I unrolled mine carefully and scanned the text—it pointed to a location deep in the northern region.
Indra glanced at his scroll, rolled it up swiftly, and without a word, turned and departed toward his task.
"Alright, Father. I will take my leave as well," I said, straightening my chest, pulling my shoulders back, and walking with a confident sway, letting my presence mark my resolve.
Hagoromo nodded silently, his gaze following me for a moment before returning to his meditative calm.
Ashura bowed deeply to Father, then hurried off after us, eager yet careful not to fall behind.
I returned to my room, the scroll clutched tightly in my hand. The northern region… a place scarred by the lingering roots of the God Tree. I let out a slow breath, letting the weight of the task settle in.
First things first—I needed to prepare. I moved to my small chest, opening it with practiced precision. Inside were my essentials: a set of light traveling clothes, my kunai and shuriken, small pouches of medicinal herbs, and a few vials of chakra-infused water. Each item I touched felt familiar, like an extension of myself, tools for survival and precision.
I packed methodically, folding my clothes neatly, securing my weapons in a way that I could access them instantly if needed. I added a small satchel of rations—dried fruits and bread—enough to last me a few days in case the mission took longer than expected.
Then came the scroll. I tucked it carefully into the inner pocket of my robe, making sure it wouldn't get damaged during travel. The map would guide me, but I had to stay alert; the northern lands were dangerous, even without the God Tree's remnants.
I stretched briefly, rolling my shoulders and flexing my fingers, feeling the lingering pain from Indra's strike. My shoulder throbbed slightly, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I had to be ready for whatever awaited me.
Finally, I checked my shadow cloak, the inky folds of my ability waiting to meld with the night at a moment's notice. It felt good against my skin, a familiar presence that had saved me more than once.
With a final glance around my room, I tightened the straps on my satchel, adjusted my gear, and took a deep breath.
I started walking down the road, the scroll tucked safely in my satchel, my mind focused on the journey ahead.
"Hey, elder brother!" a voice called from behind.
I turned. "Ashura?"
He appeared, one hand awkwardly behind his head, a sheepish chuckle escaping him. "Hehe… elder brother, please… be careful."
I smirked and gave a casual thumbs-up. "Ah… don't worry about me. I can handle anything."
Ashura's brows furrowed. "Hehe… no doubt about it. I just… I don't even understand why Father is making me take the test. I already know—it's either you or elder brother Indra who's going to be the heir."
I shot him a deadpan look. "Have some confidence, dude."
He blinked, then let out a small laugh, shaking his head.
I put a hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes. "Ashura… I'll tell you one thing before I leave. Focus on your work. Leave the rest to destiny. If you focus on what you can control… you might even change destiny itself."
Ashura nodded slowly, absorbing my words, his usual brightness tempered by a hint of seriousness.
I gave him one last smile, then turned back toward the northern horizon. The wind rustled past, carrying the scent of the village behind me, but my eyes stayed on the path ahead. The journey had begun.
I kept walking down the road, my eyes widening slightly as I spotted two familiar faces ahead. "Shiraku? Shirai? What are you two doing here?" I asked, a hint of surprise in my voice.
Both of them looked ready to travel, gear packed and determined.
"Are you two planning to leave the village… after stealing everything?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Well… once you settle somewhere, don't forget to throw a party, okay? See ya!" I added sarcastically, smirking.
"You idiot! Are you mocking us? We're coming with you!" Shirai snapped, clearly annoyed.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yea, yea… but why?"
Shirai frowned, confused. "What do you mean, why?"
"Why are you both coming with me?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Well… because I'm your best friend, you idiot," Shiraku muttered, rolling his eyes. Then, softer, he added, "Besides, my sister here seemed really worried about you… and wanted to tag along."
Shirai's cheeks flushed crimson. "A-hem… uh… it's nothing like that, okay? I just thought it would… uhm… um…" She trailed off, flustered.
I walked up to her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder, and smiled reassuringly. "I understand," I said softly.
Shirai's cheeks burnt brighter, but I didn't move my gaze. I kept looking into her eyes, holding her stare just a moment longer than necessary. Neither of us spoke—words weren't needed. There was something unspoken in that silence, a fleeting connection in the midst of all the chaos around us.
Finally, I broke the stare with a small smirk. "Alright… let's get going," I said, stepping back slightly.
Shirai blinked a few times, still flustered, while Shiraku rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at his lips.
We continued our journey north, following the route Father had marked on the scroll. Days passed without incident. The roads were quiet, the forests peaceful, and aside from the occasional wild animal crossing our path, nothing noteworthy happened.
Until...
"Danava... look."
Shiraku's usually lazy voice carried an unfamiliar weight.
I followed his gaze.
My footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
"..."
Shirai froze beside me, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Before us lay a village divided into two completely different worlds.
Only a small portion of the land surrounding the village remained alive. Lush green fields stretched across that area, crops swaying gently in the breeze, trees standing tall with vibrant leaves, and a clear stream cutting through the fertile earth.
Everything beyond that...
...was dead.
The ground had turned into cracked, lifeless earth that stretched toward the horizon. The trees stood like black skeletons, stripped of every leaf. Not a blade of grass remained. Even the wind felt different, carrying nothing but dry dust through the empty wasteland.
It was as if someone had drawn a line between life and death.
"...What the..." Shirai whispered, unable to hide the shock in her voice.
I slowly crouched down and pressed my palm against the barren soil.
The moment I did...
"...I can feel it."
The earth itself felt wrong.
There wasn't a trace of natural chakra flowing through it.
Instead...
Something beneath the surface was continuously draining everything around it.
I narrowed my eyes.
"It's definitely the God Tree's roots."
Shiraku folded his arms, his usual relaxed demeanour gone.
"...Hagoromo sama was'nt exaggerating."
"No," I replied quietly.
"He was understating it."
I looked toward the dying fields.
"If only a small section is still alive..."
"...then the roots beneath the rest of the village must be enormous."
The three of us stood there silently, staring at the tragic landscape.
This wasn't simply a mission anymore.
This village...
...was slowly dying.
I took a slow breath and stepped forward, with Shiraku and Shirai following close behind.
The villagers had already noticed us. Their conversations died down one by one as curious eyes turned toward the three strangers entering their settlement.
Some looked hopeful.
Others looked exhausted.
Many simply looked... defeated.
The difference between the fertile center of the village and the lifeless wasteland surrounding it was impossible to ignore.
I approached an elderly man standing near the village well and offered a respectful nod.
"Excuse me," I said calmly. "Are you the village elder?"
The old man studied me for a moment before slowly nodding.
"I am. Who are you?"
"My name is Danava Ōtsutsuki."
The moment my surname left my mouth, murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Ōtsutsuki..."
I raised a hand, quietly asking everyone to calm down.
"My father, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, sent me here after learning about your village's condition."
The elder's tired eyes widened slightly.
"...The Sage knows about us?"
"He does."
I looked around at the dying fields beyond the village.
"And he knows exactly what's causing this."
The villagers fell silent.
I continued.
"It's the roots of the God Tree."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
"The God Tree?" someone whispered.
I nodded.
"Although the tree itself was removed long ago, fragments of its roots still remain beneath the earth. They continue absorbing chakra and life force from everything around them."
I pointed toward the barren landscape outside the village.
"That's why your crops won't grow."
"Why the soil has become lifeless."
"And why that dead zone keeps expanding every year."
The elder's expression slowly turned pale.
"...Then... it isn't over?"
"No."
I shook my head.
"And if nothing is done..."
My gaze swept across every villager gathered before me.
"...those roots will continue spreading beneath the ground."
"They'll consume more land."
"More forests."
"More crops."
"And eventually..."
I paused.
"...they'll begin draining the people living here as well."
A heavy silence settled over the village square.
Parents instinctively pulled their children closer.
Several villagers exchanged frightened looks.
Shirai folded her arms, her expression unusually serious, while Shiraku quietly observed everyone's reactions without saying a word.
I stepped forward again, my voice steady.
"But don't panic."
"I didn't come here to warn you."
"I came here to solve it."
The anxious murmurs immediately stopped.
The village elder stared at me with hope slowly returning to his weathered face.
"...Can it truly be removed?"
I smiled confidently.
"That's exactly why I'm here."