Heikō Mu.

The sun was just beginning to rise over the quiet village of Arakusa, casting warm golden hues over the rooftops and illuminating the dew-kissed fields. The streets were silent, save for the gentle breeze that carried the scent of blooming sakura trees. In a small, modest home at the village's edge, Tobio Ukihara stood by the doorway, his silhouette framed against the rising sun. His wife, Haruka, and their two children, Kenta and Aiko, looked at him with a mixture of worry and pride.

Tobio adjusted the massive scroll strapped securely to his back. The scroll, bound in ancient seals and covered in inscriptions, contained techniques passed down from Heikō himself.

Kenta his oldest son, clutched at his father's leg. "Papa, do you really have to go?"

Tobio knelt down, placing a reassuring hand on Kenta's shoulder. "I do, son. There's something I have to figure out, something only I can do. But I promise you this: I will come back. You need to take care of your sister and your mother for me, alright?"

Kenta nodded, though tears welled in his eyes. Aiko, too young to fully understand, simply hugged her father tightly, her small arms unable to wrap fully around him. Haruka stepped forward, her expression calm but her eyes betraying the storm of emotions within.

"You always knew this was a possibility, didn't you?" she said softly.

Tobio nodded. "From the moment I pledged myself to Heikō, I knew there might come a time when I'd have to leave everything behind. I don't want to, Haruka, but..."

"You don't have to explain," she interrupted, her voice trembling. "Just... promise me you'll come back."

Tobio stood and embraced her. "I promise. No matter what it takes, I will return to you all."

He lingered for a moment, memorizing the feel of her embrace, the sound of his children's breathing, the scent of his home. Then, with one final glance at his family, he turned and walked away, the massive scroll swaying with each step.

As Tobio passed through the village, the few early risers paused to watch him go. They knew the weight of his mission, though none dared speak of it aloud. Tobio was not only a skilled shinobi but also a symbol of hope for those who had survived the chaos brought about by Heikō's disappearance and Susanoo's ascension.

At the village gates, an old friend waited. Renjiro, a fellow shinobi and sparring partner, extended a hand. "You sure about this?"

Tobio clasped Renjiro's hand firmly. "I have to be. If there's even a chance of finding out what happened to Heikō, I can't let it slip away."

Renjiro nodded, stepping aside. "Then go. And may the gods watch over you."

Tobio gave a small, appreciative bow and stepped beyond the gates, the path ahead stretching into the horizon.

As Tobio walked, his mind turned to the scroll on his back. It contained some of the most ancient and powerful techniques Heikō had entrusted to his followers—techniques that required immense skill and discipline to wield.

One of these was the key to his mission:

a space-time jutsu that could transport him to another domain.

However, the technique wasn't without limitations. It required precise alignment with a location infused with residual divine energy, a place where the barriers between realms were thinnest. Tobio had spent months researching and preparing, identifying the one spot where the technique could be performed: a shrine deep in the forest, long abandoned but still brimming with latent power.

By midday Tobio reached the forest's edge. Towering trees stretched skyward, their branches intertwining to form a natural canopy. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and the only sounds were the distant calls of birds and the rustling of leaves.

The shrine lay at the heart of the forest, its once-pristine structure now weathered by time. Vines crept up its pillars, and moss covered the stone steps leading to the altar. Despite its decay, Tobio could feel the energy emanating from it a faint hum that seemed to resonate with his very soul.

He approached the altar, unstrapping the scroll from his back and unfurling it carefully. The inscriptions glowed faintly as he channeled his chakra into them, activating the seals.

Tobio knelt by the altar, his hands forming a series of intricate hand seals. His voice was steady as he recited the incantation, his chakra flowing in precise patterns through the scroll and into the shrine. The air around him grew heavy, charged with energy.

The ground beneath the altar began to shimmer, and a swirling vortex of light and shadow appeared, spiraling upward like a storm contained within a single point. The portal flickered unsteadily at first, but as Tobio poured more of his energy into the technique, it stabilized, its edges sharp and defined.

He stood, the scroll now back on his shoulders, and took a deep breath. There was no turning back. With one final glance at the forest behind him, he stepped into the portal.

The sensation of traveling through the portal was unlike anything Tobio had ever experienced. It was as if he were being stretched and compressed simultaneously, his very essence pulled through a tunnel of light and shadow. For a brief moment, he felt weightless, untethered from the physical world.

When he emerged on the other side, the air was different—thicker, heavier, and tinged with an otherworldly quality. The landscape before him was unlike anything he had seen in his world. Towering spires of crystalline rock jutted out of the ground, their surfaces reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors. The sky was a swirling canvas of gold and violet, with no discernible sun or stars.

Tobio's breath caught in his throat as he took in the alien beauty of the domain. He knew this was just the beginning. The gods' realms were vast and varied, each reflecting the nature of its ruler. And if he was to find Heikō's friend and uncover the truth, he would have to navigate them all.

Tobio tightened his grip on the straps of the scroll. This was no longer just about Heikō. It was about ensuring that the ideals Heikō had embodied the unity and evolution of shinobi were not lost.

With renewed determination, he took his first step into the unknown, his figure dwarfed by the towering spires and the infinite sky. The path ahead was perilous, but Tobio Ukihara was ready to face whatever challenges lay in his way.

This was the beginning of a journey that would test his strength, his resolve, and his very understanding of what it meant to be a shinobi.