Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
Allied Shinobi Headquarters.
After days and nights of nonstop work by the sealing experts at HQ, they finally managed to complete several scrolls containing the 〖Netherworld Seal〗 technique.
Raikage sighed.
"Even though we've made quite a few of these scrolls, the number of Edo Tensei ninja on the enemy side is overwhelming. We'll have to save them for the strongest enemies."
Hokage replied,
"That's already good enough. With these scrolls, dealing with the Kage-level opponents on the Iron Country front will be much easier."
"Judging from the situation, the Second Division led by the Tsuchikage and Kurotsuchi probably can't hold out much longer."
Raikage nodded, quickly called for his secretary, and instructed them to deliver the scrolls to the Iron Country desert battlefield.
Just as the Netherworld Seal scrolls were sent out, Shinju suddenly appeared beside Tsunade using the Flying Thunder God Technique — carrying Kisame by the collar.
Raikage frowned.
"That guy… don't tell me the Island Turtle's location was exposed again? (꒪⌓꒪)"
Shinju shook his head.
"No, nothing like that. I caught him in Konoha."
Tsunade tensed up.
"Konoha! Is everything okay there?"
Shinju nodded.
"All good. I just happened to run into Kisame when I got back, so I brought him along! ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )"
Tsunade let out a breath of relief — but then clenched her fists again.
"Damn Akatsuki… to attack while the village's defenses are stretched thin during a war, that's despicable! (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ)"
Shinju clapped his hands.
"Alright, I've brought the guy to you. How you deal with him is your business. I'm heading back on vacation. (◔◡◔)"
He turned to leave.
Tsunade raised a hand.
"Hold it!"
"What are you doing running all over the place instead of staying quietly on the Island Turtle?"
"What if Akatsuki discovers you? And didn't you say the Great Toad Sage himself forbade you from taking part in the Fourth War?"
Shinju rubbed his neck.
"Well… I just went back to do a bit of research. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Raikage frowned.
"There's a Kumogakure research base on the Island Turtle — top-tier equipment and facilities. Why return to Konoha?"
Shinju answered honestly,
"Back then, the Fourth Hokage used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to offer his soul to the Shinigami. I went back to retrieve his remains, to see if I could use the same seal to bargain his soul back from the Shinigami. (╯ε╰)"
Raikage and Hokage:
--003d͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇),ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!
"W–Wait, you tried to bargain with the Shinigami?! D-Did it work? (⊙o⊙)"
Raikage's voice stuttered.
Shinju nodded as if it were nothing special.
"I used a few chickens and rabbits from the village. Managed to trade them for the Fourth Hokage's soul. ╮(╯▽╰)╭"
The sealing ninja in the office:
!!!∑(°Д°ノ)ノ
"Using animals' souls to trade for a human's?!"
"And with the Shinigami of all beings!"
"How could that even be possible?!"
"…But, if the one who developed it was Shinju, then maybe it's not that unbelievable. (--003d°ω°)"
Tsunade closed her gaping mouth and forced herself to stay calm.
"Alright, it's good that you're passionate about research. But don't run around too much —Akatsuki's still extremely dangerous."
"If there's nothing urgent, you'd better head back."
As soon as she finished, Yamanaka Haiichi, who was in charge of inter-unit communication, spoke up.
"Message from the Daimyō's protection squad — Akatsuki members Zetsu and Konan have attempted to assassinate the Daimyō. They're currently engaged in battle."
Tsunade nodded.
"The guards around the Daimyō are all elite shinobi from every village. If only those two showed up, there's nothing to worry about.（ --0027▿ --0027 ）"
Haiichi continued,
"However, reports say that Zetsu seems to be using Wood Release…"
Raikage's brow furrowed — clearly uneasy.
"Wood Release…"
Tsunade remained relaxed.
"Just because someone can use Wood Release doesn't mean they're strong. As long as we haven't received any distress calls from the Daimyō's manor, we're fine."
"Jiraiya will be guarding that side anyway. Just keep in close contact with them."
"Understood," Haiichi replied.
After a moment, he added,
"The First Division has requested to borrow Kumogakure's Six Paths Tool — the 〖Amber Purification Jar〗."
Raikage nodded.
"Approved. Tell them my secretary will use Heavenly Transfer to deliver it."
Haiichi:
"Roger."
Shinju, intrigued by what he'd heard, tilted his head.
"The Six Paths Tool… the 〖Amber Purification Jar〗? Is it that powerful?"
Raikage lifted his chin proudly.
"Of course! The Amber Purification Jar is a relic left by the Sage of Six Paths himself. As long as the target answers the user's call, the jar will seal them instantly! ୧⍢⃝୨"
Shinju: (꒪⌓꒪)
He knew this plot all too well.
"Can I take a look?" he asked.
Raikage nodded.
A moment later, several Kumogakure ninja carried in a jar — half as tall as a man.
Shinju: …
This so-called "relic of the Sage of Six Paths" looked way less impressive than he'd imagined.
"Well then, I'll head back and continue my vacation."
Disappointed, Shinju turned and left.
Raikage fumed.
"What's with that guy?! He dares to look down on a relic of the Sage of Six Paths!ヽ('⌒´メ)ノ"
Tsunade shrugged.
"Can't really blame him. The jar does look pretty ugly. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Raikage: "…"
"Do you people even have manners?"
...
Island Turtle.
The moment Shinju returned, he told Naruto the news about successfully freeing the Fourth Hokage's soul.
Even though his father had long passed away, hearing that his soul was finally released brought Naruto so much joy he nearly dropped to his knees before Shinju.
"C'mon, don't be like that. (ー ー゛)"
Naruto stood up and bowed repeatedly.
"Still, I have to thank you properly. Without your help, Dad's soul might've been trapped inside the Shinigami forever. (｡•́︿•̀｡)"
Shinju smiled.
"If you really want to thank me, go ask the Kumogakure ninja if there's a place on this island for forging weapons."
"Weapons? Why not just buy one? You can pick anything — big swords, spears, kunai, whatever you want." Naruto asked in confusion.
Shinju replied,
"Ordinary weapons won't cut it for me. I want to see if I can forge something like the Sage's divine tools…"
Naruto: ◝₍ᴑ̑ДO͝₎◞
He didn't fully understand, but whatever Shinju was planning… sounded huge!
Shinju shrugged.
"No need to look so shocked. It's just an experiment — not sure if I can even pull it off."
Naruto nodded eagerly.
"Got it! Just tell me everything you need, I'll get it ready right away! (^▽^ )"
Soon, Naruto ran off with Shinju's list of materials.
Shinju, meanwhile, sat cross-legged in his room.
The idea of forging a weapon had come to him on a whim after seeing the 〖Amber Purification Jar〗.
Now, he had to carefully think through the process.
He muttered to himself,
"Forging a usable weapon is one thing… but giving it special properties — how should I do that?"
"Maybe… by infusing chakra inside it… or… inscribing a sealing formula?"