28 The Underground and The Moon

HELLO, my new story is out, check the link in the first comment or click this story's main page or my author's profile page. It is about an MC transmigrating into a villain-type character, with a strong background, in a fantasy world and going against different "Sons of Destiny".

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It is a Western-middle age fantasy, swords, and magic, world setting. But, it is similar to those Chinese "Villain-type" novels plot-vise if you know what I'm talking about. If you don't know what that is, just ignore that part and see for yourself. If you liked this story and the MC, you will like that new one even better!

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But the mechanics of writing will be better here, as I advanced my writing skills, and as I will have way more stuff to write about there, and it isn't a constrained and limited world of fanfiction, there wouldn't be a need for so many info dumps, to fill in the pages, like here. Stay tuned!

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The link to that story is on this story's main page as well as on my author's profile page! Or copy and paste this:

https://www.scribblehub.com/series/785866/the-twisted-destiny-the-villains-pursuit-of-power/

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Inside the Konoha's Root complex, in some kind of metallic underground hallway, Danzo stood with a help of a crane while a masked individual in front of him knelt while reporting on some matter.

Fu Yamanaka was a high-rank member of the Root as well as one of Danzo's closest subordinates and personal bodyguards. He was a young man with auburn-colored hair and amber eyes. He was also the best sensor of Root. Ever since that disturbance at the Hyuga compound previously happened, he tracked Neji from the distance. He also witnessed the battle between him and Konoha's regular forces, "Yes, Lord Danzo, by the time I arrived, he already left the Hyuga grounds."

Before Fu came to report to him, his other subordinates had already surveyed and gathered information from the nearby speculators, who happened to be there near the Hyuga clan when the situation occurred. He already knew about the startling moves Hiashi and Neji performed there.

"What information did you gather from there?", Danzo asked in his usual calm and crispy voice while tapping his cane a bit on the metallic ground. He wanted to hear his opinion as a sensor.

"A giant hole in the ground and rubble left by his attack after he destroyed only the Main Branch's residential building with some kind of circular attack.", Fu expressionlessly answered like a machine.

'So, just the Main Branch... As I thought, it is because of petty revenge... However, he couldn't do that had he not bizarrely gotten rid of the Curse Mark's control in some way... But, how did he do that... Is it because his Byakugan evolved into some kind of a new form so the juinjutsu couldn't bind to him anymore? Mangekyo Sharingan... Are the Hyuga really the same...?', Danzo got deep into thought, he now really regretted he didn't place more attention on Neji before. In his mind now, Neji was even stronger and more dangerous, and more talented than Itachi Uchiha. The unknown was always the most dangerous, in Danzo's mind, and unlike the Mangekyo Sharingan, there were literally no records or stories about Neji's mysterious new blue-looking dojutsu now.

Danzo knew just how unconquerable was Hyuga's Main Branch Juinjutsu, having spent decades trying to crack it and steal some of their Byakugan for his own subordinates. He was simply a beginner in juinjutsu in comparison to that. His own juinjutsu fell far below that, and he was a master on his own. So, in his opinion, there was no way that young Neji could break it in that way.

The only explanation Danzo could come up with was that he simply didn't have a Byakugan anymore, to begin with, and that's why he wasn't bound to it anymore. And another logical conclusion that presented itself was that his Byakugan evolved into those new star-like eyes.

Danzo's arm holding the cane suddenly started twisting in excitement a little bit, countless new possibilities of research crossing his mind, 'Hyuga clan, Hiashi Hyuga, I will figure out what you're hiding!', Previously, he dropped his plan to deal with Hyuga, after Tsunade snatched his Hokage position. Therefore, he first planned to deal with her, take her position, and then strangle Hyugas. However, this new information, that mysterious new dojutsu, put them on the same level of priority.

Hyuga was a clan many times older than his Shimura clan. It was said that during the ancient times it was even faintly close to Uchiha and Senju clans, moreover, they were the only other clan, besides Uchiha, to hold such a strong dojutsu in their blood. Therefore, this new development didn't shock him too much. "At that time, Hiashi already run away from Neji?", Danzo already knew how he escaped to Tsunade.

"Yes, Lord Danzo, Lord Hyuga wasn't there when I arrived. However, there were signs of some kind of a battle. If I were to guess, I think that he engaged with Neji Hyuga a little before fleeing.", Fu responded again, "What kind of moves were they using?", Danzo immediately asked. As Hiashi was a famous Kage-level shinobi, it was not weird that he managed to escape from Neji's first attack.

"I apologize but I couldn't discern that, Lord Danzo. However, I sensed that the attack he first used once he arrived there, that purple-like orb of rotational energy the nearby spectators described, contained natural energy in it. And moreover, it greatly resembled Orochimaru's own senjutsu chakra in some odd way!", Fu replied but even he suddenly furrowed his brows a bit in surprise. Due to extensive dealings Orochimaru and Danzo had in the past, he was indeed familiar with his chakra.

'Orochimaru!? Yes, how could I forget him? There is no way that they aren't involved in some way!', Danzo clenched his crane a little feeling envious that Orochimaru probably knew more about that new dojutsu than him. Orochimaru and he were partners, however, both were selfish manipulators.

"What happened there outside the village?", Danzo asked next. He then heard Fu recalling the whole process in which Neji easily overpowered everyone but then left them alive to which Danzo snorted. The reason his Root didn't act against Neji was that he wanted to see Tsunade's main forces weakened, not to mention that he did a very good job by weakening the Hyuga clan previously.

"That was a very helpful observation, Fu. You can go back now, you are tasked to keep an eye on the Hyuga clan, especially Hiashi Hyuga, twenty-four-seven from now! However be careful not to get spotted and once you see something suspicious report it to me immediately!", "Yes, Lord Danzo!", Fu responded and vanished from his place in an instant. Sensors usually held a far greater range than Byakugan holders, therefore, Danzo wasn't worried that Fu would be spotted by him.

Everyone can perceive chakra. Ordinary people aren't even aware of it, just just like the chakra that flows through their own bodies, but ninjas hone that perception in training so that as long as they are close enough, they can feel chakra. This can be vital for detecting nearby enemies, incoming techniques, the influence of genjutsu, or even when someone is transformed. They can even differentiate between people through the unique pattern or signature of their chakra like with fingerprints.

Unfortunately, the average shinobi can barely feel chakra outside of their immediate proximity and it works best when physically touching the person or object. They can only feel it from a distance when it exists in large enough volumes such as ninja raising their chakra level to extremes, a clash between powerful enemies, or a large-scale battle of shinobi.

This perception is also why people can feel killing intent of another indivudual. Killing intent is one's desire to harm or kill being projected through their chakra into their surroundings towards the chosen target to incite fear with its threat. This can paralyze the victim, encourage suicidal impulses or even make them so afraid that they hallucinate their own death. The greater the malice and more powerful the individual then the greater the psychological effect it can have on the target. And not even seasoned jounin are entirely immune to this fear.

Sensors are the small selection of people gifted with an innately superior level of chakra sensitivity. They do not just passively feel chakra but can consciously sense it far beyond what most shinobi are capable of, both in distance and detail. They can pinpoint someone's exact location, differentiate between people by their chakra, judge how powerful someone is, recognize changes in chakra level or its absence, divine a person's nature, and even identify their family or native country. The extent to which a sensor can detect chakra depends on the individual's talent and skill rather than everyone having an equal level of ability.

Danzo continued looking at the empty space in front of him while thinking, 'Expelling natural energy with his Hyuga Rotation move, and that new dojutsu...', Danzo already had a theory on that purple move, it was probably that Orochimaru provided him a way to gather natural energy and then he learned how to quickly expel it with that Hyuga clan's legacy move. However, the other moves he used regarding gravity, and that blue-looking chakra mode, were still mysteries to Danzo. Though, they were probably abilities he obtained from that new dojutsu in his opinion presently.

'And that unassuming guy, Hiashi, having the same dojutsu as well... However, why were those branch members' seals all activated at the same time while he fought Neji? Pity, no one could hear what they were talking about. However, Neji should've gotten the upper hand as Hiashi fled with his daughter in the end. I have a feeling that their powers were very related but not exactly the same. I had no idea the Hyuga clan was so deeply hidden before. They really fooled the entire world...', Danzo was even more surprised now than at that time when Shisui and Itachi awakened Mangekyo Sharingans. He felt like he stumbled upon one of the greatest mysteries he encountered until now.

"It is time to step up my game...", Danzo murmured suddenly while clenching his hidden arm full of Senju Hashirama's cells and the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. That monstrous jutsu Izanagi, he had it.

The reason why he previously didn't use Shisui's eye on those two elders to establish himself as the next Hokage directly was because of the Hyuga clan inside of this village whose members could possibly spot his deeds later on with their Byakugan and inform someone like Jiraiya, who was currently stronger than him and on a totally opposing camp. That was also why he never used it in the village before at all. And logically, that was why he held so much grudge against the Hyuga clan and wanted to annihilate them. Now, the times are getting more and more dangerous, and he needs to act more decisively. It was time for him to finally leave the shadows and enter the stage.

'It seems that scheming and influence aren't enough in this new world either. I need even stronger personal power! Then I have nothing to lose anymore. Let's assemble a group of high IQ prodigies in the Root to try and crack and improve Tobirama's sensei Edo Tensei like that cursed Orochimaru did and succeeded! No matter how long it takes, I will be successful!', Danzo thought dangerously.

A long time ago, after defecting from the village, Orochimaru tricked him on that matter, not giving him any notes or updates on the development of that same technique, for a long time, even telling him that research failed, even though he was the one who provided him with all the information regarding it, as it was the Konoha's secret kinjutsu and the only way to obtain it was obviously through him as was as he was Tobirama's living student and the distinguished Hokage's advisor. But, at that time, after Orochimaru's used it to kill Hiruzen, Danzo realized that he was scammed by him.

However, he currently didn't have anything to give Orochimaru in exchange for trading and their relationship wasn't as good as it was in the past, as Orochimaru got more and more arrogant. His sensei Tobirama's version brought someone back from the dead but without all of the former's abilities, while Orochimaru went a step further and managed to accomplish just that, at least up to a certain level as seen in that battle with Hiruzen. Danzo immediately realized the tremendous potential of that technique and wanted to do the same himself! But, he needed a big help, as he wasn't as talented in research as Orochimaru, who was a natural scientific genius, he would rely on others and leverage's his Root's potential to get the brightest and smartest people working on it.

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The exterior of the Moon is barren, covered with craters and canyons. It has weak gravity but is still able to maintain a breathable atmosphere. Despite its harsh conditions, the Otsutsuki were able to settle on the Moon due to their unique anatomy and physiology.

To improve its habitability and allow their population to thrive, the Otsutsuki also built the giant Tenseigan at the center of the Moon, on Hamura's instructions, with his very eyes serving as a catalyst for its creation, granting them light, powering their equipment, and allowing them to control the Moon's movements.

They, thus, created a vast environment on the Moon's interior surface, complete with oceans, mountains, forests, and various animal species, provided light to the interior surface where they lived, and powered the puppets and other contraptions that facilitated them. However, this environment was still far smaller than the full size of the Moon itself.

Hamura improved the Tenseigan energy vessel by removing all the Otsutsuki clan's Byakugan and clustering them together, a practice that continued in the centuries following Hamura's death.

Inside the giant open space that filled the Moon's interior surface, there was an artificial sun floating in the center of it, across the blue sky. It was an abnormal celestial body. It served as both a sun, during the day and a moon, on its own, during the night.

But inside that artificial sun was even more secret open space, this time filled with yellow-like dark clouds and atmosphere. A majestic, old-fashioned castle stood at the top of the crescent moon sphere. What looked like a crescent moon was coming off of a spherical center. Another round celestial body was floating in the hollow space in the middle. In one of the many rooms of the castle, in a room by a fireplace, a stunned person was sitting on a large, noble-like armchair.

His name was Toneri Otsutsuki and he was the sole survivor of the Otsutsuki clan's family on the Moon. He was born into the Otsutsuki clan's Branch family, leading to his eyes being sealed within the Energy Vessel at birth, in place of vision, he learned to sense the world around him instead. Though, it didn't matter that he was from the Side Branch family, as they already wiped out the Main Branch a long time ago, after stealing the control of Hamura's Giant Tenseigan from them.

He had pale skin, shaggy white hair, attractive facial features, and six magatama designs tattooed on his collarbones to resemble a necklace. He wore the typical clothing of the Otsutsuki clan, from the Moon, consisting of a white, high-collared kimono with a black obi, over which he wore a pale green sash tied at the right shoulder.

Toneri carried hatred towards mankind for weaponizing chakra and plotted, for a long time already, to destroy humanity as punishment, a goal that the branch family desired for a thousand years. He thought that mankind abused the teachings, and the gift of chakra, of the Hagoromo Otsutsuki and should be destroyed for it. As the last member of his clan, he plotted to bring the Moon down to Earth and destroy it in a large collision. After the world got destroyed, he would then make it anew with his designated pride, Hinata Hyuga. He was in love with her since he and his father visited the Hyuga clan on Earth, while the man was still alive, and when he, himself was a very young boy.

He also hoped to awaken Tenseigan, at some point, so that he could accomplish his plans better, though now he would speed everything. Until now, he slowly controlled the Moon, toward the Earth, without draining too much chakra out of Hamura's Giant Tenseigan, however, that wasn't the option anymore, as today, he sensed something that truly shocked him. Someone, down on Earth, awakened the Tenseigan before him, and not only that, someone else created a replica of his own Giant Tenseigan down there as well. He was flabbergasted and infuriated at those "lower beings".

Due to his personal connection to the Giant Tenseigan, he could sense the happenings of the entire planet below. It amplified his sensing ability a thousand folds. Therefore, he immediately faintly sensed that time when someone awakened Tenseigan, and then the Giant Tenseigan there as well. He was a bit puzzled as to how those two things were possible, but now his anger overtook him, "I didn't plan to do this, but I will show you ants that those things aren't something you should have!"

He planned to personally go down there for the first since he was young! He will destroy the Giant Tenseigan's replica, with his own hands, and then take that Tenseigan for himself as it "rightfully" belonged to him in the first place. After that, he would take Hinata as his bride and accelerate his plans earlier. There was a portal to the Earth and back that Hamura created with his chakra a long time ago. Though, it was very well away hidden and could be accessed safely only by him currently.

He still doesn't know who exactly had the Tenseigan, as he could only sense that familiar chakra once it is activated in Tenseigan Chakra Mode. However, down there, as soon as that person uses it again, he planned to go straight after him. As for the Giant Tenseigan replica, he speculated that it was related to the Hyuga clan, however, Tenseigan was more important so he would first focus on that. Hinata was the last one of his priorities, however, that still couldn't be forgotten. Even though the Hamura's Tenseigan's power would be much worse down there, than here on the Moon, due to the distance, he was still confident in himself to walk sideways among those lower and dirty beings.

"Ah, yes, you dirty person, who stole our Gedo Statue, I will clean you up as well!", Toneri still didn't forget his clan's main mission and how someone else awakened Rinnegan and then stole it a long time ago. However, at that time, their numbers were dwindling and nobody went ahead to catch that person. But, now that he is going to visit Earth anyway, that was also on his list of top priorities.