The departure of Orochimaru and Kabuto was as quiet as it was swift. No grand farewells, no extended conversations—just a brief moment shared with Takama and Hinata, words of acknowledgment, and then they vanished into the misty roads that wound through the Iron Capital. It was done. The agreement was fulfilled. What remained now was recovery—and truth.
That night, as the city mourned in silence behind shuttered windows and blackened banners, Hinata slipped into meditation. With Mitsue curled at her side and Kuro sleeping nearby, she let herself drift into the Silver World.
The moonlight-white fields welcomed her like breath after drowning. She crossed the silver plain and approached the crystal tower's heart, where the departed often wandered.
There, she found them.
Renga and Lady Sayaka sat beneath one of the glowing trees that shimmered like frost. The moment their eyes met hers, both stood in shock.
"You... you're here," Renga said, stunned.
Sayaka placed a hand to her lips. "Then the rumors... you are truly one of the priestesses of the moon, a servant of the Silver Lady... and this moon realm."
Hinata said nothing, offering only a soft smile as she approached.
"I need to ask you about the night you died," she said calmly.
The atmosphere dimmed. Sayaka lowered her eyes. Renga's face hardened.
"We argued," he admitted. "Rumors had spread that I had been unfaithful. Lies. I would never betray Sayaka—not even in thought."
Sayaka nodded. "He told me the truth, and I believed him. But that woman... She showed up at the celebration. So certain, so bold."
Renga looked Hinata in the eye, gripping Sayaka's hand tightly, as though afraid she might vanish. "I... I wanted the night to end with joy. I was going to propose to Sayaka. But then that woman appeared, causing a scene. She claimed I was the father of her unborn child. I don't know how she got in. I'm convinced my brother had a hand in it. Everything fell apart."
Sayaka's voice was softer now. "I couldn't believe it. But when I looked into his eyes, I saw it—pure shock, confusion. I trusted him. Still... we talked that night. It hurt. But we went to bed together, with honesty between us."
"We fell asleep—hurt, but united. And then... we woke up here, not in pain, but in peace. This place felt like forgiveness. When it happened, when we died we saw the shinigami and we saw another path... we remembered the Silver Lady and her Moon Realm and we knew the other path was here... and we came. We chose this."
Hinata's gaze softened. "Thank you. That's all I needed."
<<<< o >>>>
After speaking with Renga and Sayaka, Hinata wandered deeper into the Silver World—or as many who visited had begun to call it, the Moon Realm. She supposed it sounded more poetic than "Silver World." Her steps carried her instinctively toward the Crystal Tower.
She hadn't been here since her second procedure in Otogakure. As she approached, the shimmering tower loomed like a monument of frozen light. When she saw Michel waiting by the doors, seated calmly on the wide stairway, she wondered why she had stayed away for so long.
Michel looked up and smiled as he rose to greet her. Without a word, he stepped forward and wrapped her in a warm, relieved embrace.
"Your chakra," he said, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. "It's begun to flow again."
"It feels... strange," Hinata admitted. "Heavy. Not wrong, just... different."
Michel nodded knowingly. "That's natural. Your body and soul now exist on the same plane. But your soul is still far stronger than your body. You'll need to bridge that gap—and Takama's body-forging technique is perfect for that. Your Grey Soul will make the process easier than most."
His tone shifted slightly, growing more serious. "You can use ninjutsu again, but don't draw on natural energy like you used to—not yet. You remember what happened the first time—the petrification. Now that you have chakra again, the risk is even greater. You can still try... but only in tiny amounts. One drop at a time."
Hinata shivered involuntarily at the memory of her body hardening, breaking under pressure it couldn't sustain.
Michel's smile returned, lighter now. "Still, I'm excited for you. You finally have access to the training hall I built. The illusions of Konoha's finest—it's all ready. Took me ages to perfect it. At first, it was meant for chakra users, so only Kuro has been able to take advantage of it so far. Honestly, that was an oversight on my part. I had too many things on my mind... but luckily, you're ready now."
He hesitated, then added with a rueful chuckle, "Though one of the simulations—the record of 'Nightmare' Hiashi—it's still broken. Long story."
Hinata turned her gaze upward, to the shimmering stars scattered across the Silver World's endless sky. Her breath steadied, her thoughts sharpened.
"Then I won't waste a single moment."
Around her, the Silver World pulsed gently—alive, listening, waiting.
<<<< o >>>>
In the waking world, Hinata stood quietly in her father's private quarters.
"Their words align," she said with calm certainty. "It wasn't a murder-suicide. Someone staged the entire scene—the bodies, the blood, everything. It was orchestrated."
Takama's jaw clenched, his arms folded tightly. "Flawlessly. Too flawlessly. Sayaka supposedly killed him in grief, then herself—but the blood patterns, the placement, it was textbook. No signs of forced entry. Even our shinobi detected nothing off."
He exhaled deeply, the weight of frustration visible on his face. "The funeral procession is already underway. In two months, Tenshō will be officially named Daimyō. Mifune... he's livid."
Hinata's expression remained contemplative. "Then why investigate further? What would it change?"
Takama looked at her with measured resolve. "Because there's still a chance Tenshō made a mistake. I've uncovered whispers—some members of Renga's household staff appear to be under the influence of a faction known as the Inverted Lotus. If they've reached that deep, there's a chance—however small—that we'll find a thread leading back to him."
Hinata, recalling Renga's words, raised a question. "The woman... the one who claimed she was carrying Renga's child?"
Takama's gaze darkened. "Apparently, Tenshō took pity on her. He's personally caring for her and the supposed only heir of his beloved brother."
He hesitated before continuing, his voice heavy with unease. "She entered the palace under the direct orders of the Inverted Lotus. But there's no proof connecting them to the murders. Nothing that could hold in a court or before Mifune. Sayaka's parents are devastated."
Hinata lowered her eyes, unsure of how to offer comfort. Then, remembering Maeko's teachings, she gently bowed to her father and said, "Let me make tea for you, Father. You've carried enough weight today."
<<<< o >>>>
Hinata now stood in the courtyard of the grand estate under her father's care in the Iron Capital. The space was a masterpiece of design—serene ponds with gently flowing water, trees and flowers in soft hues meticulously arranged across the grounds. The air carried a quiet reverence, as if the very garden breathed tranquility into those who entered it.
At her side were Kuro and Mitsue, both visibly uneasy.
"You both know I have to do this," Hinata said gently. "If I don't find the limit, I'll never move forward. This technique is too powerful to abandon. I'll be careful... but I can only perfect it here, in this world. You understand, don't you?"
Kuro's ears flattened in frustration, clearly upset at being unable to help. Mitsue slowly coiled her tail around Hinata's leg in silent solidarity, her golden eyes filled with worry but also trust.
Hinata closed her eyes "I suppose it's time to begin. I have two months…" she inhaled deeply, then opened them with newfound resolve. "one drop at a time…"