Chapter 121: Realm of Lies
The battlefield drowned in a symphony of system notifications, each [Ding!] a gleeful harvest of despair.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (400,270,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (400,370,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (400,470,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
.
.
.
A small smile tugged at Renji's lips as he pondered Ōtsutsuki Shibai. He'd never heard the name—maybe some future figure. If he'd watched Boruto, he might know, but he dismissed it as non-canon and never bothered. His all-knowing edge was gone, but he felt no worry. Everything was proceeding according to plan. No—from the moment he'd truly embraced his identity as the Cursed Spirit Mahito, his vision was nearing completion. Once it happened, even Ōtsutsuki Shibai would cease to be a threat in time.
Wood Release: Wood Clone Jutsu!
Five wood clones burst from Senju Hashirama's body.
"I'll open entrances in the barrier for the ninja! As long as you stop that ninja named Renji, the soul mark on your bodies will not be activated!"
One of Hashirama's clones charged toward but was intercepted.
"You're not the only one with clones!" Hasumi Maki grinned, blocking the clone.
As Hashirama's plan ground to a halt, Hasumi Maki leaped down from the boulder, landing in front of the Four Red Yang Formation. He issued one final warning to the Allied Forces.
"Whoever enters this barrier, I will activate their soul mark."
Hasumi Maki sneered, extending both hands. "If you're not afraid of death, feel free to try."
The Allied Forces stopped dead in their tracks.
"I told you, as long as you obediently accept the Moon's Eye Plan, you won't die. You will live in eternal happiness. Your comrades and loved ones will return. Don't you want to see your deceased loved ones? Don't you want to talk to them?"
His voice was soft and gentle, like an evening breeze.
"Everyone, don't be fooled!" Naruto gritted his teeth and shouted. "It's a false illusion!"
Renji stared at Naruto, his eyes full of feigned doubt, and asked softly, "Why are you so determined to refuse?"
It was as if the crazed Renji from moments ago had vanished; a shiver ran down everyone's spines.
Renji didn't care. He slowly approached Naruto, his tone growing ever gentler. "Naruto, do you really not want to see Jiraiya-sensei appear before you again? And Granny Tsunade, and your parents? If they could return to your side, isn't that what you've always dreamed of?"
Renji's words poured like a flood, battering Naruto's inner walls.
"All those comrades who fought alongside you... they can all return. Isn't such a beautiful scene worth striving for?"
Renji stood before Naruto now, slowly extending a hand. "Come, Naruto. As long as you are willing to join us, everything will become reality."
Minato, holding the barrier, watched with worry, guilt flooding his heart.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +30,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +30,000,000!]
[Chakra (430,470,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
A ripping pain tore through Renji's chest.
He looked down instinctively at the kunai buried deep in his heart.
Naruto's body shook, tears pouring from his eyes. He stared at Renji, pain endless in his gaze.
"I'm sorry, Renji..." Naruto choked, voice laced with despair and determination. "I killed you only because you wanted to kill others. So, I had no choice... but please believe me, I'm sorry..."
Renji smiled faintly. He grasped Naruto's hand tightly and shoved the kunai deeper.
Blood gushed, soaking their joined hands. Renji let go slowly and leaned to Naruto's ear, giggling as he whispered, "Naruto, have you forgotten? I won't die so easily. Even if this heart has been completely pierced through…"
Naruto released the kunai, strength draining. He reached out trembling and hugged Renji.
Golden chakra erupted from Naruto's body, wrapping Renji in a vise.
"It'll be over soon..." Naruto whispered.
Renji froze for a split second, then his eyes twitched—intense danger. He glanced back.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +30,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +30,000,000!]
[Chakra (460,470,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
Hasumi Maki's chest was run through by Sasuke's Kusanagi sword. Lightning sparked in Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan, his red eyes locked on Renji.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +30,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +30,000,000!]
[Chakra (490,470,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
Tears rolled down Sakura's face as she unrolled a sealing scroll. They remembered Renji's fabricated lie: that he and Hasumi Maki had to die together.
"You ungrateful wretch!" Hasumi Maki gritted his teeth, glaring at Sasuke. "He saved you! He might as well have saved a stray dog!"
Renji whipped his head to Naruto. "Want to seal me, brainless idiot? Don't dream about it!"
A deafening roar—an enormous modifed python burst forth, coiling around Sakura and lunging at Sasuke.
Renji flickered away from the yellow chakra. Hasumi Maki vanished too.
They reappeared side by side amid the Allied Forces, gaping chest wounds fully healed.
Renji said nothing at first, just staring at the wrecked Naruto afar. "It seems... you've made your choice."
"Yes!" Naruto shouted. "I will not be lost in a realm of lies! Even if you kill me! I will not abandon the real world!"
His words boomed like thunder, hitting the Allied Forces' hearts. Fear shifted to grim determination.
"How exhilarating—I was waiting for this moment, Naruto," Renji said, lips curving with malevolent glee. "I thought I'd squeeze one last malice value from you, but that's impossible now, so…"
A massive grin split his face; he erupted in laughter, howling like a sadistic maniac: "I'll kill you all!!"
Blue flames leaped across the battlefield. They wove together, and in the azure inferno, ninja bodies twisted, faces contorting into horrors.
They became monsters in an instant.
This time, Renji triggered soul imprints on five thousand. Not all at once—who would feed the Malice Value then?
The five thousand modified humans rampaged through the Allied Forces.
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (490,570,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (490,670,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (490,770,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
…
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (492,070,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
Blood pooled everywhere. Cries died out. Faces went numb. Helplessness crushed them.
Uchiha Madara sat on a stone, watching. Morale was shattered.
Black Zetsu emerged beside him, tutting. "What had Obito been doing all these years?"
Atop the Ten-Tails, Hasumi Maki leaned toward Obito. "Thank you for not killing Kakashi; after all, he is Renji's clone."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000,000!]
[Chakra (493,070,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
"But you're really useless," Hasumi Maki chuckled. "Even the clone deliberately went easy on you, and you still held back. It seems your feelings for Kakashi are very deep."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000,000!]
[Chakra (494,070,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
"If it were the real Kakashi, would you still possibly stand on his side?" Hasumi Maki poked Obito's chest. "After all, when Kakashi was turned into a modified human by Renji, he still didn't believe it was Renji who did it. He felt very guilty when he died... He said he hadn't protected his former comrades, and now he hadn't even protected his own disciple."
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1,000,000!]
[Chakra (495,070,000 / 10,000,000,000)]
"Shut up," Obito stared expressionlessly at Hasumi Maki.
------
HAND OVER YOUR GODDAMN INFINITY STONES!!
Every 100 stones = +1 extra chapter!
If you want to read chapters early and show some support, check out my P4trƐon!
Just search "Demonic_Fiction" on "P4trƐon" (link in the synopsis)