Naruto Tenseigan Reborn: Toneri's Time-Traveling Romance

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Flickering torchlight danced across the cold stone walls as Toneri knelt motionless in his cell. He sorted through fractured memories, grasping at images and emotions for answers. A final battle...protecting his beloved...that gentle, moon-like gaze full of warmth. Hinata. Yes, he had crossed time itself for her.

But this era's Hinata did not yet exist. Toneri despaired at the thought. His tenseigan must have activated some hidden temporal power in desperation, flinging his soul backwards through the years.

Now he found himself stranded before Hinata's birth, captured by the still-loyal Sannin Orochimaru. Toneri clenched his fists. Much of his power and memories remained sealed, available only as hazy glimpses from another life.

Footsteps echoed down the hall - Orochimaru approached. Toneri smoothed his expression and bowed deeply. For now, he must bide his time with humility. His future beloved needed him.

Orochimaru studied the kneeling figure with interest. "Well now, let's see if we can't unravel your genetic secrets, shall we?"

He made a hand sign and blazing agony erupted through Toneri's curse mark tracery. But he barely flinched, meeting that baleful serpentine gaze steadily. Orochimaru nodded in approval.

The curse mark actually has no effect on Ōtsutsuki, but Toneri still pretends that it does.

Over the passing weeks, Toneri played the role of obedient test subject flawlessly. None could detect how his thoughts constantly wandered to pale lavender eyes in an era yet to come. The genetic experiments resulted in strange temporal visions, which he secretly noted contained the tenseigan’s lost knowledge.

Orochimaru grew increasingly pleased by Toneri’s quiet cooperation and inhuman endurance. “A symbiosis with the DNA of my previous experiments has exponentially increased your capabilities. Most outstanding...”

Toneri simply knelt in acknowledgment. He vowed to never forget his true purpose here - returning to Hinata's side one day. And for that, he would walk through fire itself.