"Orochimaru-sama!"
The barrier technique was forcibly broken, and the Sound Four suffered serious injuries. The four of them quickly rushed to Orochimaru's side, supporting him as they fled outside at top speed.
"Uzumaki-sama, aren't we going to stop them?"
Mui spoke as he extended his hand toward the Sound Four. With just a nod from Naruto, he could instantly subdue them.
Naruto shook his head. "I've already made arrangements."
"It was my oversight."
"Fourth Kazekage-sama, it's your turn to take the stage." Naruto spoke without turning back toward the 'daimyō' of the Land of Waves. "Without your command, the Sand shinobi won't be able to withstand the Leaf's counterattack — no matter how well equipped they are."
"Go on and cause a ruckus. Without the Third Hokage, none of these Leaf ninja can stand against you."
"Let all the hatred in your heart out."
The 'daimyō' of the Land of Waves tore off his outer garments, revealing the attire of the Kazekage beneath. His once-handsome face was now completely wrapped in bandages.
The golden sand beneath his feet lifted him into the air as if holding him aloft.
"Sand shinobi — continue your assault on the Leaf!"
Rasa's voice rang out, boosting the morale of the Sand ninja while dampening that of the Leaf.
Then Naruto slowly walked over to the barely breathing Third Hokage. He crouched down beside him, leaning in close.
"Imagining a hero dying… sacrificing himself to protect the Leaf?"
He extended a single finger, the fingertip pressing against the Third's forehead. A faint trickle of "energy" seeped into the old man's body. It wasn't enough to restore the life he'd lost — but it could hold him on the brink, keeping him from drawing his last breath.
Leaning close to his ear as though to speak — yet without moving his lips at all — Naruto's voice echoed directly inside the Third Hokage's mind.
"Oh no, that won't do, Grandpa Third."
"You're far too greedy."
"You haven't even witnessed the destruction of Konoha with your own eyes — how could you leave before then?"
"I've been looking forward to this day for a long, long time."
Though he used polite speech, there wasn't the slightest hint of respect in his tone. If anyone present could sense energy, they would feel the palpable, almost tangible malice radiating from Naruto.
"You…" The dying Third slowly opened his eyes, and upon hearing that familiar form of address, his pupils widened in shock. He stared at the boy in disbelief. "You are—"
Naruto raised a finger to his lips. "Shhh… be quiet now, be quiet."
"Some things are best left unspoken once you know them."
The next moment, a strange sigil appeared on the Third's tongue.
"Tongue Binding Seal."
Not only his tongue — matching sigils appeared on his brain and heart as well.
"Enjoy the show, slowly. What comes next is a performance I've prepared for a long time."
Seeing that the Third was still clinging to life, the Shinigami standing behind him seemed displeased, raising its blade to reap the old man's soul personally.
"The Dead Demon Consuming Seal is indeed the Uzumaki clan's ultimate sealing technique," Naruto murmured, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps explaining to the Third. "But the truth is, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal isn't exclusive to the Uzumaki."
"As long as one possesses exceptional talent, anyone can learn it."
"So then — what if an enemy learned the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, and turned it against the Uzumaki?"
"This question… was pondered a long time ago."
"To be precise, by the very genius who first created the Dead Demon Consuming Seal."
"And so, when he created it… he left behind a countermeasure."
The sound of chains dragging across the ground grew closer. At the very instant the Shinigami's blade was about to touch the Third's soul, a jet-black chain wrapped itself tightly around the god of death's body.
To the eye, the chain seemed as thin as a spider's thread before such a being — yet no matter how it struggled, it could not break free, bound firmly in place.
"This countermeasure… is Adamantine Sealing Chains. And the natural nemesis of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is precisely the Uzumaki clan's unique power — the Adamantine Sealing Chains."
"With this ability, combined with our clan's extraordinary physique and unique sealing arts, the Uzumaki once stood at the pinnacle. In the chaos of the Warring States Era, we even founded our own nation — the Land of Whirlpools."
"A single shinobi clan founding a country in those times — there was nothing else like it."
"Unfortunately… the very act of founding a nation was both our rise and our ruin. After the Land of Whirlpools was established, the Uzumaki lost the desperate edge needed to survive in a world at war. They basked in the joy of nation-building, losing sight of their roots."
"As shinobi… they became complacent. Neglectful of training."
Here, Naruto paused — his tone growing heavier.
"They grew… lazy."
"So lazy, that when the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed decades ago, aside from Mito Uzumaki — who had married into Konoha — and the young princess Kushina, not a single member of the clan knew the Dead Demon Consuming Seal or the Adamantine Sealing Chains."
"It was just like the Uchiha decades after Madara left — not a single one awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. Or like after Hashirama's death — no Senju awakening Wood Release again."
"No… the Uzumaki were even worse. Some of them forgot even the most basic instincts of a shinobi, and in their desperation… thought to beg Konoha for aid."
"Heh. Little did they know Konoha was one of the very culprits who fanned the flames that destroyed them."
Naruto's tone dripped with ridicule.
Most of those present were daimyō — and those who weren't were village leaders or heads of organizations. In such circles, being betrayed by an 'ally' was far from unusual.
After all, what are allies for, if not to be sold out?
Otherwise, where would the idea of a 'Konoha Crush' come from?
"My apologies, Shinigami-san," Naruto turned to the massive spectral figure looming in the sky. "But this one is my prey. You can't take him just yet."
The Adamantine Chains at his back tightened slightly, and the Shinigami the Third had summoned dissolved into smoke in an instant.
"Do you see now, Nagato?" Naruto turned to instruct him. "The Adamantine Sealing Chains are the true foundation of my clan's existence."
Then, with pointed meaning, he added: "The Sage of Six Paths' eyes may be powerful — but they were never something born of our own bodies."
"Elder, I am enlightened," Nagato replied with deep respect.
Sasuke: Elder? Descendant of Asura? Did I miss something here?
Though Sasuke had a thousand questions, his trust in Naruto was absolute. He said nothing, asked nothing, and did exactly as Naruto had told him beforehand.
Right now, Sasuke's trust in Naruto was unconditional.
"Bring along our beloved Third Hokage — and don't 'accidentally' let him die."
"Our next stop is somewhere very dear to our beloved Hokage. Somewhere he knows like the back of his hand."
"It's his home, after all."
With that, Naruto shot into the air, Sasuke and Nagato — the strongest of the group — immediately following.
The remaining daimyō glanced at each other, then all turned their eyes toward .
Fūka's face twisted in anger as he grabbed the Grass Country's daimyō by the neck, shaking him in front of the others. "It's already enough of a burden carrying around this fat pig of a corpse."
"Don't even think about making me carry this old man too."
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