Chapter 126:
"We can see that Lord Hokage started by summoning the young Kushina in Defense Position. Although her defense is only 900 points, everyone should take note—when a monster card in Defense Position is destroyed, it doesn't deal any damage to the player's Life Points. Then he set two Bloodline Limit cards and ended his turn," said the Jar Merchant.
"Even though young Kushina has low ATK and DEF stats, the effect of this ninja card is quite good. That's probably why it's rated as a four-star card. Most importantly, even if she's destroyed in battle, you can Special Summon a young Minato to protect Lord Hokage during the second round, preventing the awkward situation of having no ninjas left on the field," Shunhi added from the side.
On the field, the image of young Kushina appeared, along with two large face-down cards.
"Where is this place… huh? You look so much like Minato… Wait, are you Minato's father?!"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "No, Mom, Minato is my dad."
"So this is what the Jar Merchant meant by letting you see someone you dearly miss who has passed away…" Sasuke glanced at the young Kushina on the field, then looked down at the card in his hand.
"Shunhi's analysis is spot on. Next, it's Uchiha Sasuke's turn. Alright! Uchiha Sasuke draws a card!" said the Jar Merchant.
Unlike Naruto's dramatic draw, Sasuke simply drew his card and summoned a ninja normally.
"Uchiha Sasuke summons... a one-star card, Young Sasuke! ATK 100, DEF 100!" the Jar Merchant announced loudly.
A young Sasuke, not yet touched by the Uchiha massacre, appeared on the field.
"So that's what Dad looked like as a kid… kind of hard to believe." Sarada twitched the corner of her mouth.
At this stage, Sasuke still had a pure and expressive face.
"Young Sasuke, attack young Kushina!" Sasuke commanded.
"Hmph, even if it's a child, I won't go easy!" Young Kushina counterattacked as Young Sasuke's attack came in, causing him to cry out as he was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard.
"Young Sasuke's effect activates. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon Young Uchiha Itachi from the deck," Sasuke declared, and Young Itachi appeared on the field.
On the other side, Young Minato also appeared on Naruto's field.
"As we can see, although Young Minato has an ATK of 1800 and Young Itachi has 1900, unfortunately, since we're already in the Battle Phase, Young Itachi can't attack this turn and will have to wait until the next one," the Jar Merchant explained.
"I set one card and end my turn," Sasuke said.
"My turn. Draw!" Naruto looked at the cards in his hand. "I tribute Young Minato to summon Shippuden Naruto Uzumaki! Shippuden Naruto's effect activates: when this card is successfully summoned, add a Rasengan card to your hand! Then, activate Rasengan's effect—destroy one Spell or Trap card on the opponent's field!"
"Uchiha Sasuke only has one set card!" the Jar Merchant called out.
On Naruto's field, Shippuden Naruto formed a Rasengan and charged toward Sasuke's set card.
"Set card activate—Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"
"What?!" player Naruto exclaimed.
Shippuden Naruto's Rasengan struck nothing but air, while the Three-Tomoe Sharingan card transformed into a Rasengan and was added to Sasuke's hand.
"Shippuden Naruto, attack Young Itachi!"
At player Naruto's command, Shippuden Naruto launched his attack. Normally, Young Itachi should have been destroyed in battle.
But—
"Young Itachi's effect activates!"
Young Itachi transformed into a flock of crows and scattered, dodging Shippuden Naruto's attack.
"He dodged it… End of turn."
Currently, player Naruto had one ninja and two face-down cards on the field.
"...Draw." Sasuke glanced at the cards in his hand. "Rasengan, activate its effect. I choose to destroy the first set card on the left!"
"The destroyed card was Sand Shield, whose effect allows it to block one attack," the Jar Merchant explained. "What will Uchiha Sasuke do next...?"
"Kotoamatsukami—activate effect!"
Shippuden Naruto's eyes took on the Mangekyō Sharingan pattern as he slowly began walking toward Sasuke's field.
"Hey! What's going on with you?!" player Naruto shouted, but it was no use.
"I tribute Shippuden Naruto and Young Itachi to summon Uchiha Madara!"
Dark clouds suddenly loomed over Konoha. A pillar of blue flames shot into the sky, and from it stepped out none other than Uchiha Madara.
"Uchiha Sasuke has summoned an eight-star ninja card in just the second round—Uchiha Madara, with 3000 ATK and 3000 DEF—the strongest ninja card on the field so far!" the Jar Merchant shouted.
"Uchiha Madara, attack directly!"
"Oh no! If Lord Hokage doesn't respond, he'll take the full 3000 damage! Losing more than half his Life Points in one turn—even he can't handle that!" the Jar Merchant exclaimed into his mic.
"Don't worry, Naruto still has a face-down card on his field," Shunhi said calmly, as if he could see right through everything.
"Set card activate! Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"
Just as Shunhi predicted, branches fell from the sky and pierced into Uchiha Madara.
"The effect of the Cutting Technique allows it to nullify an opponent's attack when they declare it."
Uchiha Madara stood silently, arms crossed. "Wood Release, huh…"
Sasuke frowned. "End of turn."
"My turn next." Though he said that, Naruto didn't draw immediately. He hesitated, considering whether to use the Miracle Draw.
Each player only gets one Miracle Draw, which guarantees drawing exactly the card they want.
After a moment of silence, Naruto looked at another ninja card in his hand and ultimately decided not to use the Miracle Draw. "My turn. Draw! I summon Prankster Naruto in Defense Position! Prankster Naruto's effect activates!"
A Naruto holding a paint bucket appeared on the field and ran up to Uchiha Madara, who was still restrained by the Cutting Technique.
"What do you think you're doing?" Madara said domineeringly.
Prankster Naruto grinned and splashed him with paint.
"You little brat!" Madara growled in anger as Prankster Naruto ran back to Naruto's side and made a silly face at him.
"End of turn," player Naruto said with a smile.