Author's Note: Hi guys! This chapter is shorter than the last few were, but I think the substance'll make up for it.

Have fun and enjoy readin. Also please review this work. Reader's input really helps the author out. Thanks.

The Moon Always Shines Over Konoha

Chapter 6: Take a Deep Breath

And from now to the next heartbeat, we suddenly stood at a lakeside set in a tranquil forest.

I mindlessly let go of Tsukuyomi's hand, eyes wide at the incredible sight which unfolded in front of me.

The lake was lined with beautiful nightbloomers, the petals adorned with purple and fuchsia spots and the surrounding pearl white glinting playfully in the serene moon light.

Crickets were chirping, and the whole scene, undisturbed lake water reflecting the full moon on the firmament and all gave off a soothing aura that made me sink slowly into the soft grass at my feet, the tiny blades tickling between my toes. I felt at peace, utterly relaxed and safe. I had never seen something as beautifully at peace with nature before, not even in my old life. Or my second baby-life, one I'd barely had the chance to live.

Suddenly I didn't feel so relaxed anymore.

I was sitting here enjoying the scenery comfortably from the soft grass ground, while back in the strange shinobi universe my tiny baby body was probably cooling faster by the moment. Dear doting Okaachan and puppy-dog Daiki must be heartbroken.

Becoming a mother must've been something other women always praised in front of okaachan, gushing about the purity of the mother-child bond, something to be looked forward to, something inherently good.

And then okaachan had been handed the worst possible luck and got me.

Poor woman.

She probably hadn't even wanted anything out of the ordinary, anything outstandingly special and flashy. All she had ever asked for had probably been a healthy baby. And she hadn't even been granted that.

If I was being honest with myself I knew it was entirely illogical and not even in the slightest bit helpful to feel like this about something I myself had had no control over. I hadn't wanted to be special or a flashy 'communicator with gods' type either.

But no matter how irrational the though was, I couldn't keep the sick feeling from bubbling up in my stomach, acidy and horrid in taste.

Tch. The human mind was not always logical and detached. In fact, emotions and the interhuman bonds that connected all humans like an invisible net of strings were entirely subjective, and what made humanity unique.

But it also was what made being human so hard, stressful and sometimes even outright painful. It was never easy, but pulling through was rewarded with the greatest of rewards.

No matter my own personal feelings or how I was barely able to hold them down even while thinking about something enitirely else, I had to clear my mind. There was no time to get all teary-eyed and emotional now. Even though oscillation between life and death should not be as common as my ridiculous life had made it seem like.

I probably couldn't even fathom how horrible all of this must be for poor okaachan. She had no idea what had happened, even less so than me, and now was burdened with an inexplicably dead child.

I couldn't let that be the last she heard of me.

Stop it with the pointless guilt-trip! Would it help her if I kept on self-flagellating, wallowing in guilt and sorrow? No!

No.

Now was not the time to sit and stare holes in the air, I decided firmly, focusing on the beautiful scenery of the moonlit lake. Not even the slight pang of familiarity could knock me off my course.

I want to go back to them. I haveto make up for this ordeal.

Breaking away from the almost hypnotic beauty of the moonlight lakeside with a jerk, I made eye contact with the sombre figure of the Moon God.

I was going to demand my return, fuck the consequences. I had no time to play nice with anyone anymore, deity or not. There were others who were more deserving of my kindness, back in the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

But before I could open my mouth to say something rash that could potentially spell my end at the hands of a Japanese deity-turned-ghoulish Ringwraith-lookalike, the Moon God himself spoke up. "I am aware how much your restless soul longs for the peaceful world beyond, but you cannot ascend there yet."

Huh?

Unaware of my internal confusion, Tsukuyomi went on to say how I was still needed on the 'mortal plane', as he put it. His smooth voice almost lulled me into a trance, but the mental image of okaachan's chestnut-brown locks soaked in tears, her body being rocked back and forth by a white-haired mess of a shinobi harshly snapped me back to reality. "Why should I return?", I asked, if only to stop the images from popping up in front of my mind's eye. I thought I had already decided to not let myself be distracted by that kind of stuff!

But, I was intrigued. Why did the Moon God have such an interest in me, by all means nothing special, if you take aside the part where I was mysteriously reincarnated?

It sounded even like he wanted to convince me of returning into my body (however thatwould work wasn't something I had the time and patience to contemplate right now). Maybe there was something in it for him?

"Why, you ask?" Tsukuyomi turned to look over the peaceful lakeside. I swore I heard him mumble "Mortals" and "inquisitive" behind the long sleeves of his settling robe.

He hovered towards the lakeside, settling down on his knees with the fluidity of a mountain creek.

"Come here, my child. It will be easier to understand if you can see what I know to be the truth."

I moved to sit beside him, hesitantly settling in the seiza I had seen okaachan employ whenever necessary.

Actually kind of comfortable, I acknowledged, slightly surprised. Maybe my soul was more flexible than my first physical body or whatever, but I couldn't think of a moment where I could have possibly likedthis kind of seating, before the current conondrums.

I looked up at the ethereal figure beside me, inquiry in my knit eyebrows. Tsukuyomi motioned towards the undisrupted lake surface, his glowing white and my puny transparent forms mirrored by the peaceful water.

When the Moon God spoke, his eyes glowed with reminiscence. "Mankind can be a shining example of good. Humans possess unique courage, selflessness and an unbreakable bond to those dear to them."

In front of us a scene probably taken straight from one of those 'happy childhoods' movie characters tended to have before everything went down the drain played out, when a little boy rescued a dog from drowning in a small river, the dog wildly licking his face afterwards.

See, I would have been deeply impressed, if I weren't literally listening to a deity ramble on about humanity's good side. There was not much more that could've startled me right now.

"The most important trait", Tsukuyomi continued, his voice now singing with pride,"is their deep-seated love. Love for a certain dish, the warm rays of sun on their backs, love for another human being or even for something as mundane as what you call 'art'."

The image of a blond explodo-maniac flashed through my mind, but I didn't have it in me to chuckle. I didn't need a lynx's ears to hear the other shoe about to drop, and the sudden sombre expression in Tsukuyomi's pitch-black eyes couldn't have been a better forewarning.

"Human love is the force that drives this universe." The cheesy line was undercut by Tsukuyomi's sudden voice drop, now holding a distinct flutter of sorrow. "But more often than not, the mortals do not adhere to the principles of peace and love. Instead, they envy their neighbours, quarrel over insignificant little things. And in the end, it always leads to senseless slaughter."

The happy images from before were replaced by ambiguous human shapes wielding all kinds of weaponry, flames licking hungrily at the backdrop.

The reflective surface of the water acted like a canvas for the movie Tsukuyomi was tacking together like a director with good ideas, but not the right budget to see them come to full fruition.

"I am the Moon God, and I have been watching over the mortal world for all eternity. There has been no century without war since the dawn of time, and I have seen them all."

The haunted look in the God's eyes sent shiver down my spine.

"When humans resort to violence, they often carry out their dark deeds under my eyes. I try to guide them back to the light, but more and more of them choose to adhere to their violent ways, acting just on the edge of my vision, in the twilight I hold no power over."

Tsukuyomi halted, looking at his porcelain hands. And when the prospect of having to watch millennia of humans slaughter each other over and over again, the violence going on and on with no power to intervene made me shiver, seeing defeat reflected in an immortal God's entire posture made me feel downright scared.

"I cannot let this generation fall under the same dark shroud, the Shinigami already hovering over their soon-to-be-felled bodies, lust for blood on his impure tongue."

Tsukuyomi balled his perfectly-shaped fingers into a tight fist. And if there was an odd flare of Shinigami-yellow flashing in his eyes, I pretended I had not noticed.

"That is why I have decided to intervene", he finished, and I wondered silently how I fit into all of what has been told.

I tried to raise my voice, coughing once before addressing the glowing Moon God. My throat was incredibly dry again. "But Tsukuyomi-sama, if you didn't have the ability to stop humanity from committing to violence before, how do you intend to change that now?"

I knew I should not have sounded so doubtful, but it felt strange to me to see such determination and trust in his own ability, when he apparently never had the power to do something about humanity's violent urges in the past. And if he had the ability to shoot warmongerers down with a silver moon-beam of rectification, I'm sure he would've used that by now.

Tsukuyomi only laughed lightly, his hand elegantly hiding his mouth like okaachan always did. Apparently my question had been idiotic enough for an usually distanced deity to laugh about. "You misunderstand me, my child. Stopping this ancient circle of war is no small deed, nor is it done by a simple snapping of fingers. It takes time to change the humans' minds. Time and observation and constant interference, whenever necessary."

He poked me in the translucent chest, a whitish glow rippling all over my body like a wave. "And you are going to change the future."

I scrambled backwards, away from the ripple's origin, away from the urge to take responsibility and stood up. "Me? Changing the future? How could I possibly do that? I'm not even supposed to be here!"

I'm supposed to be lying in a grave in my hometown, aren't I? I don't deserve all of this. I don't want all of this responsibility burdened on me!

I was no protagonist type. Let Naruto handle that stuff, he was eventually going bring peace. I knew it!

Tsukuyomi tried soothing my aggravated self, his expression calm and his voice strong when he spoke. "I know you, my child. I know you better than you think. I was the one who brought you, here after all."

"I don't care! I don't want this duty to 'save everyone', I don't need to be essential to everything, and I most certainly will notbe anyone's pawn!"

During my rant a strong wind had picked up. Leaves whirled around me, and I noticed with distaste that waves rippled through the dark lake water, finally destroying the peaceful imagery for good.

The uncharacteristic outburst surprised me. I had not thought myself to be the type to get angered easily. That had always been my little brother's job and- Nope, I was not going to follow that train of thought to the end right now. Maybe never. It still hurt too fucking much.

But it hasn't really been anger, has it? If I was really honest to myself, I had to admit I was nothing short of scared shitless. The burden of bringing peace to the Naruto world- Alone. No mom or little brother or loyal friends to carry me on.

I sobbed, wiping at my eyes. I am really actually on my own. Nobody else there.

It was too much for my already fragile mind.

Tsukuyomi knew what to do to push my mind out of the endless loop of sorrow threatening to bring out honest, salty tears.

"Do not be afraid, child. Remember, you are not alone", he whispered in this confusingly androgynous voice of his. And on cue, a beautiful ‚Perfect family'-esque picture of okaachan and Daiki holding me together appeared on the lake canvas. I sniffed. Ma-maybe I'm not entirely alone yet? There were already people who openly loved me, even though they knew nothing of my true self.

Man, do I miss these guys already!

But still... I did not need this whole „I need you to change the future"-burden. Yes, I had already decided to do my very best to prevent certain tragedies and put an end to a certain someone's extremely peace-harming activities. But having the burden of the entire shinobi world's continued preferably peaceful existence on my technically infant shoulders? No thank you, Mister Moon God.

Was it too much too ask if I just wanted to live with my new family? No resposibility, no supernatural nick-nack except the inevitable ninja magic of elemental jutsu and jumping fifteen metres straight up without breaking a sweat. I didn't want to have to endlessly wrack my brain, worrying over ways to stabilize the nations into lasting peace.

"They and many others will guide you on your way, if you let them. And even if you distance yourself or cannot confide in them, I will be there, watching you from above."

Well, I hadn't actually thought it would be easy. I had only hoped.. For what, anyway? Tsukuyomi had already explained there was no quick way. But could I do what he believed me capable of?

"Do not doubt, Moon Child, for you have inherited a power few others in your world possess", he went on, his elegant arms outstretched towards me as if he waited for an embrace.

One part of his rambling had struck a nerve in me, though. "What do you mean by 'inherited'?"

His arms sunk down, motioning for me to sit as well. Despite my former state of aggravation, I soon found myself complying. Somehow Tsukuyomi subconsciously evoked a feeling of safety, and I felt myself pulled towards him like the oceans to the planet's satellite.

"I have told you before that I hold no real physical power over the world. That is why after decades of amassing strength, I waited for a promising soul to slip into the aether, a soul I could hold on to and pull over into this world of ours. You had unfinished business left behind- and a strong will to compensate. You were the perfect candidate."

My eyes widened. That's why when I begged for another chance- Why my pleas hadn't fallen on deaf ears. Why my wish had been granted. I had the incredible luck that Tsukuyomi just happenedto start his little influencer experiment when I was biting the dust.

What's realistically the chance of that? One in a trillion? That sounds like it's still too low of a number.

"Only during the imminent conception of a child can I possibly transfer a soul to take form on this mortal plane of existence, which happened under my watchful shining eye, almost two years ago. That is why this place looks so familiar- It is where your soul crossed into the mortal world once more."

I took another long look of the beautifully serene lakeside.

So what he was saying was basically… That I (or the body my soul had been fused to) had been conceived right here?

My mind immediately jumped to okaachan and- Errrr, entirely too much information for me.

I shook my head, motioning for Tsukuyomi to continue his tale. Please leave out the details or give a little warning next time, will you?

"I depleted much of my energy by fusing your soul to an unblemished body, to make sure you had the necessary tools to defend yourself amongst your violent brethren."

'An unblemished body'? Somehow I couldn't shake the feeling something went over my head here, but the thought of an innocent child not even getting the chance to live because the Moon God had decided to store my soul in its body made bile rise up my throat. "What do you mean by 'necessary tools'?", I weakly tried to distract myself, but an empty-eyed baby face was all that dominated my mind's eye.

"In this world exists an energy almost everyone possesses, although some do in rather great quantities." Chakra! He must be talking about Chakra!

"I achieved you earning the accumulated energy of your previously lived years. That is why you, my child, have been blessed with abnormal amounts of it."

A heavy lump settled in my throat.

The energy- chakra. Could it be…? "Tsukuyomi-sama", my eyes trailed hesitantly upwards, stopping just short of staring into his bottomless ones, "is that great amount of energy the reason why I suffered from this strange condition?"

'Chakra influx', the Shinigami had called it. 'Immeasurable pain in the ass' was my loving description of it.

Whatever it was, when Tsukuyomi was responsible- Maybe he had something to control it? I wouldn't be much of a help in his grand plan of making the world a better place, when I immediately kicked the bucket again after he send me back for the umpteenth time.

"That is unfortunately a challenge I have not been able to find a solution for, my child."

Hah, you better try that part again, my friend! Because that sounds suspiciously like 'I am an omniscient deity and I have no idea', and I don't like the sound of that.

"I will surpress the energy until there is a way for you to use it. You do not have to fear it breaking free and destroying your mortal body again, my child."

If I squinted I could make out a tiny sliver of guilt in those strangely pupil-less eyes.

Hmpf, fair enough.

Waiting and hoping it was, then.

As if he sensed I had come to a decision, Tsukuyomi once again put on a grand show of hovering in front of me, his feet barely above the now once again undisturbed lake water.

"Of course you have the choice of returning or crossing over into the ever-peaceful afterworld."

As if that's all you have to say. Out with it already!

I didn't have time to deal with his overdramatic tendencies.

And sure enough, he continued with a more pressing tang his voice. "Just know that without your interference much of what you fear for the future willhappen."

Suddenly a Uchiha fan embedded on the rice paper screens so typical for the Clan's district appeared in front of my inner eye, torn apart by a bloodied arm hanging through the opening. A burning Konoha, screaming people, a crying infant, the shriek of a nine-tailed beast shaking me to my core. Two boys, one with silvery-white hair, the other throwing away orange googles, standing on the ashes of their lives. And to round it all up, a heartbreakingly realistic image of okaachan with a katana in her stomach appeared on the lake canvas, so achingly real-looking I had to gasp for air after watching the blood trickle down her lavender yukata.

No no no I could not let all of that happen. I could not.

"You have the choice. But know it is your destiny to change what could happen."

I would not.

Slowly, almost achingly slowly I raised my head, fixating the Moon God with a determined stare.

Tsukuyomi's smile was complacent, if not outright smug.

Manipulative, silver-tongued bastard.

The Moon God hovered over the centre of the lake, arms spreading out in perfect synergy with the wind coming up. He was dozens of metres away, but his voice was as clear as a day. "Steer them clear of the endless cycle of violence. Trust in your abilities. Never let desperation take a hold of your heart." His voice may have sounded detached, but his eyes were not.

Determined, I walked towards him, step by step crossing the distance. Not even the seemingly bottomless lake below me could discourage me.

I stood before Tsukuyomi, my translucent hands once again holding onto his porcelain ones. But this time I wasn't frightened. I wasn't unsure.

This time I knew what I had to do, and I knew I was going to do everything in my power to achieve that goal.

"I will always look out for you, Moon Child", Tsukuyomi said in this strange singsong voice, pressing my hands when suddenly a bright light burst forth from his chest.

I squinted, futilely trying to protect my eyes from the blinding white.

My foot dipped into the calm lake water, sending ripples towards the shore, before I could neither see nor hear anything else.

Tossed into a slinging dark vortex again, I managed the first genuinely smile since seemingly forever.

For a second round in the twilight zone between worlds, a pounding by the Shinigami and a way too detailed mess of information from the Moon God it had been a really interesting stint.

I only wondered how it would go on now. Could I call to Tsukuyomi whenever I was out of juice? Could I rely on his omniscience to carry me through the task of preventing the fuck-ups of Konohan/world history?

I hoped I could talk to Tsukuyomi. I would annoy the hell out of him, just for shits and giggles.

Maybe then he'd interfere. But now was not the time for this.

I had to return to okaachan and the others.
Okaachan, Daiki, Takeo… They were my family now. And I was not someone who deemed the strong bonds between family members worthless.

I was going to take care of them, especially when I finally was able to do something about all the problems surely already plaguing the innocent inhabitants of this strange world.

Next stop: Konohagakure, shinobi village extraordinaire, apparently root of all that happened in the world (good and bad) and easily home to the most lethal and likewise important ninja in the history of ninjas. Back to okaachan and the daily madness, yeah!