Naruto: Child of Chakra - Chapter 154

It turns out, yes, dogs do have sage mode. It gives the user the enhanced ability to sniff pretty much anything, even human emotions. It also provides more potent chakra, increased agility and a few more techniques related to dogs.

Kakashi was interested in learning it now so he asked Bull, the largest of the dogs he could summon, “Can you teach me Senjutsu?”

“Umm… sure, but it depends on your own abilities. If you can harness Natural Energy and create a balance in your body, you can do it.” Bull said. Then the next moment, he reverse summoned Kakashi with him to the sacred place of Dogs, a huge cave full of bones.

“Where are we?” Kakashi inquired.

“Inside the Shikkotsu Forest. A lot of Sage species live here since the forest is huge and full of Natural Energy.” Bull explained.

“So, you’re going to teach me?” He asked him, while looking at countless dogs.

Bull scoffed, “Huh, only the Great Boss has the right to teach Sage Mode. Come, I will take you to him.”

And soon, there it was, right in front of them. A huge white dog, that also looked like a wolf. It had some strange red markings on its face. It looked pretty old too. And when it spoke, it sounded old.

“Great Boss, it’s an honour to meet you. I want to learn Senjutsu.” Kakashi bowed and gave respect.

“Hah, first you have to prove yourself. Bring me a treat that I have not tasted before. If you can get me something like that, I shall allow you.” The Great Boss ordered him and sent him back to the Dama Country.

Completely firm willed, Kakashi looked around to see what the Great Boss had not eaten. The only answer was something that was made just recently. For this, he went to the biggest dumplings shop in the city. He asked them about their latest creation, it turned out to be something made of chicken, chocolate and milk. He had no idea what it was but since it was created just a day ago he packed a box and returned to the Great Boss.

“Here you go, a dumpling flavour you have never eaten before.” He presented it.

The Great Boss tasted it a little first. “WOOF! That’s good, who made it, where did you get it?”

“Dama City,” Kakashi replied.

“Ah… by any chance, a man with long white hair lives there?” The Great Boss inquired.

Kakashi nodded, “Oh, are you talking about Lord Shiroken Dama? He’s the ruler of the majority of the world, the strongest Shinobi to ever live, but he says he’s not a Shinobi.”

“I HATE THAT GUY! I was just flying over the new city once and he caught me, said he wants to pet me, rub my belly… I felt good but still. How can he treat a Sage being like that? Hmph…” Great Boss barked.

Kakashi frowned, he had not heard about this before, “Well, he even has a friend who is also a Sage Beast, he’s a dragon named Kurosaki.”

“GOD DAMN! Even him? What kind of a beast is this human? How did he befriend the old Kurosaki?” Great Boss asked.

“I don’t know, he’s the adopted son of the 9 tailed beasts. He’s been alive for centuries now. I think he himself is a sage.” Kakashi revealed to him.

“Hmm… what’s with all the white-haired folks being crazy.” He scoffed.

Kakashi inwardly grunted, ~You’re also white-furred.~

…

Shiroken was with the Great Toad Sage, Gamamaru. While they were drinking, all of a sudden the old sage fell unconscious. To check him, Shiroken puts his hand on him.

However, what he did not expect was that he’d find himself standing in a strange place, a world made of water and a sky full of stars and galaxies. In front of him was a man, definitely Otsutsuki from the looks of his face, horns and clothing.

There was also a small toad, sitting beside the Otsutsuki guy. Shiroken was alert, wondering if his mind was being attacked. “You are?”

“I am Hagoromo Otsutsuki. Yes, I am dead, this is just my Chakra projection. Being the Jinchuriki of 10 tails left me with powers even I don’t understand. I live in the middle of the world, and I don’t know for how long I will.” Hagoromo Otsutsuki introduced himself, making it clear he had no bad intentions.

“So, what do you want to talk about? Ah, by the way, did you write that dumb Uchiha stone tablet?” Shiroken asked directly. He even sat like Hagoromo, hovering in the air.

Hagoromo nodded, “I did. But it was a warning not to explore the further paths of the Sharingan. It was altered by Zetsu somehow. It now urges Uchiha to move on to the next step. Zetsu wanted this just so one could awaken the Rinnegan someday and help him free mother.”

“*Sigh* Why did you not directly talk to Madara or Hashirama then? You could have explained it to them that they are being used, the world is being manipulated by Zetsu.” Shiroken asked him.

“Because they did not meet the requirements. They never ended the cycle of hatred. They never treated the tailed beasts as normal beings. Even Hashirama, who was supposed to be the good man, ended up enslaving the Bijuu. Do you think I would talk to people who enslaved my children?” Hagoromo asked back.

*Sigh* “Right, you are right. They didn’t deserve anything good. So, what made you want to talk to me?” He inquired.

Hagoromo answered, “Because you are an anomaly. You see, I had two sons long ago. They were named Indra and Asura. The Uchiha clan is related to Indra, while the Senju clan is related to Asura. Indra was talented in Ninshu, Asura was not. But, my son Indra got manipulated by Black Zetsu, who urged him to use his Sharingan to grow more. Seeing the attitude of Indra, I decided to make Asura my successor, but that didn’t go well with Indra.

“On the night of Asura’s celebration as the successor, Indra attacked the village, voicing his disdain for the family and ninshu. With sadistic joy, he attacked Asura, who surprised Indra with his growth in repelling the attack. Determined to crush his brother and take his desired position as the true bringer of peace, Indra unleashed his Susanoo. While Asura was able to hold his brother off, having manifested the newfound power that was passed on to him from me.”

“I then had the village all share their chakra with Asura, which allowed him to fully manifest his powers and unleash the Wood Release. Combining this with the Six Paths Senjutsu, Asura was able to defeat Indra who still refused to acknowledge his brother, and was forced into retreat. Years later, Indra went into hiding and formed a sect that supported ninjutsu.

As I neared my end, I was rendered bedridden, Indra approached me then, boldly telling me that my cowardly approach to peace would only bring about greater wars, which he would take advantage of to destroy ninshu while vowing to do so in as many reincarnations as necessary.

“Over the past centuries, my two sons have been reincarnating, again and again, continuing their cycle of hatred, killing each other, damaging the world. While the only one rejoicing is Black Zetsu, who awaited the return of the Rinnegan.” Hagoromo gave him a history lesson.

Shiroken sympathised with him, “My condolences, it must be frustrating for you to see the cycle go on again and again.”

Hagoromo sighed and continued, “Thank you, Lord Dama. You, although not a human, still have more empathy than most of them. You are an anomaly, a being none expected to exist. I was betting that someday a new generation of Indra and Asura will come that will end the cycle of hatred.

“But you have single-handedly brought peace across the world, changed the lives of many, changed the Shinobi world from one based on wars and hatred to hard work and progressive thinking. You are also loved by the Bijuu as much as you love them.

“I am utterly confused. That’s all I can deduce. So, help me here, Lord Dama. How is it that a being like you even exists, that goes against all laws of this world?” Hagoromo stunned Shiroken with this question.

Shiroken never thought he’d face an existential crisis today. But it was nothing new for him. “I don’t know, Lord Hagoromo. I myself don’t understand what I am. The first memory I have is of Chomei picking me up and calling me cute and proclaiming himself my dad.”

Hagoromo chucked, with a loving face, remembering the good Chomei, “Yes, if anyone, it would be Chomei to do this.”

Shiroken continued, “You are half-human, Lord Hagoromo. Honestly, we’re probably very similar. The only difference is that you know who your parents were. While I am just a hollow husk, an experiment. I have no bones, no organs. I don’t even understand what’s keeping me in this form. So, I think I can’t answer you. I have no idea how I exist.

“All I do know is that I too feel, get sad, feel loved, adore others, taste food, play, joke and fear. The only thing that makes me different from the rest is my strength.”

Hagoromo nodded, “Yes, you are certainly like me. I created the Ninshu and started a new era. You are modifying both ninshu and ninjutsu, from tools of wars to tools of civilisation. Those with extraordinary strength are responsible for the world.

“Sadly, most times, power corrupts. But not me… and nor you. Truly, we are indeed similar in many ways.”

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