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Chapter 201: Naruto's Shock, The Seal
"So..." Konan looked at Naruto with eyes cold as ice. "For the sake of so-called peace in the Ninja World, the Land of Rain can be sacrificed... but Konoha cannot?"
Naruto clenched his fists, remaining silent.
If this were his younger self, he would have roared that for the sake of peace, he wouldn't sacrifice anyone or any country. He would have shouted that such a trade-off was absolutely wrong. He would have insisted there must be a perfect solution.
As for how to achieve that perfect ending? He wouldn't know.
How many difficulties would he face? He wouldn't know.
But his younger self wouldn't have cared about those details. He would have just continued to scream his will to everyone, taking for granted that as long as he kept moving forward, he would definitely do it. He would definitely succeed.
But now, as the Hokage, he couldn't even shout out those empty words of his youth.
He understood reality. He knew that was impossible.
Sacrifices had to be made...
He had to face reality. Ideals were just ideals; they could never be perfectly realized.
"So, you understand it too," Konan sneered. "You sound so righteous when asking the Land of Rain to sacrifice for peace. But when it's Konoha's turn, you can't even speak... What ugly double standards."
Naruto steeled his will, meeting Konan's gaze without a hint of guilt, and spoke in a deep voice. "The situation dictates it. The Land of Rain is located at the borders of the great nations and lacks official military strength. It is naturally suited for such a role."
Yes, my actions and choices aren't wrong!
Besides, there are no 'ifs' in this world. I cannot hypothesize a scenario where sacrificing Konoha would exchange for peace in the Ninja World.
Sigh...
Alex watched this mature version of Naruto and sighed softly.
Although the younger Naruto was ignorant and reckless, always holding onto impossible dreams, he at least had a spark. He truly believed in his dreams and worked hard for them, infecting others with his conviction. Even if many knew that a perfect world was impossible, his hot-blooded, sincere emotions truly moved people.
But the Naruto who had now become Hokage had unknowingly lost the heat and sincerity of chasing dreams.
You've become realistic, Naruto...
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations... it really is unwatchable trash...
It really shouldn't exist.
Naruto looked at Konan seriously. "Konan, back then you entrusted Yahiko and Nagato's dreams to me. For over a decade, I haven't dared to forget it for a moment. I struggled for the peace of the Ninja World, and finally realized that initial dream."
"I haven't failed the trust the three of you placed in me."
Konan remained expressionless, completely disappointed in the Naruto of this parallel world.
He's started using sophistry...
During that conversation before Nagato's body, she had admittedly been influenced by Naruto's 'Talk no Jutsu'. But she had also genuinely felt his incomparably sincere, incomparably firm will and determination. He truly believed the dream could be realized, and he would risk everything to achieve it.
But now, she couldn't feel it anymore.
"Naruto." Konan's voice was devoid of emotion, cold to the extreme. "You have betrayed your own Ninja Way and your dream. You have betrayed Nagato's trust, and you have betrayed Yahiko's dream."
She instantly entered Sage Mode and flashed in front of Naruto.
She punched directly at his face.
"So fast!" Naruto's pupils constricted.
In a split second, he activated Sage Fox Mode. His entire body turned golden, and his pupils transformed into a cross shape. He crossed his arms in front of his face to block.
Bang!
The fist landed.
Naruto was sent flying by the immense force, smashing into the wall behind him and creating a web of dense cracks.
With Konan's current physical strength, superimposed with Sage Mode, she had already surpassed Naruto.
Moreover, the Yang power granted to him by the Sage of Six Paths back then had mostly been used to seal Kaguya Otsutsuki. It was hard to say how much remained now. Judging by his current strength, probably very little.
Sasuke Uchiha's situation was likely similar. It was no wonder they were crushed by Isshiki Otsutsuki later on. A single punch or kick could shatter the Complete Body Susanoo and the full Nine-Tails form.
"So strong! And..." Naruto crashed to the ground, disbelief in his voice. "There's Senjutsu chakra. You learned Sage Mode!"
In this moment, facing a powerful enemy, the consequences of his decade-long routine of creating thousands of Shadow Clones every day began to show. His body and spirit were constantly in a weak and exhausted state.
This was a fatal disadvantage.
"Naruto!" inside the seal, the Nine-Tails spoke gravely. "She is already an enemy, and an extremely powerful one. Do not be soft-hearted or careless!"
"Kurama, I know." Naruto's face was heavy, his resolve unwavering. "I absolutely won't let anyone harm the village, not even an old friend!"
"As long as you understand. Do not deny yourself because of her words. Believe that what you did was right! I have watched your life for over thirty years; you have done well."
"Thanks, Kurama. You really are the most reliable partner."
After bumping fists with Kurama, Naruto left his mental space. He immediately scrambled up from the ground.
"Konan, I won't let you harm Konoha! You—"
Just then, a red light flashed in Konan's eyes as she activated the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Naruto, completely unaware, hadn't realized she possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan. Looking directly at her, he was instantly caught in the Mangekyo Genjutsu and froze in place.
However, as a Perfect Jinchuriki, even if his consciousness was briefly suppressed by Genjutsu, he still had a clear-headed Nine-Tails inside him!
"Naruto!" Kurama shouted, immediately surging his own chakra into Naruto to break the Mangekyo Genjutsu.
The action was incredibly fast; he was under the Genjutsu for less than half a second.
Naruto felt a blur, then snapped awake.
But it was too late.
His body was already firmly bound by nine golden chains.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!! How is this possible?!"
He was shocked beyond words.
It was one thing for Konan, who had been dead for over a decade, to suddenly appear. But her strength had become so terrifying—not only knowing Sage Mode but also strangely possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan.
And now, she could even use the core ability of the Uzumaki clan, the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
What on earth happened to her?!
Naruto didn't have time to think; escaping was the priority.
"Haa!!"
He shouted angrily. Under Sage Fox Mode, the golden chakra cloak on his body expanded violently. It visibly stretched the nine entangled golden chains.
It seemed escape was inevitable.
Unfortunately...
A sheet of white paper, surfaced with complex and twisted runes, had quietly attached itself to his back.
It emitted an extremely powerful sealing fluctuation.
It was the Sealing Paper controlled by Alex.
Instantly activated, the power of the seal swept through Naruto's entire body. The surging chakra was sealed in a split second.
The golden chakra cloak faded, the cross-shaped pupils in his eyes disappeared, and the surging power was completely locked away.
With Alex's current mastery of Sealing Jutsu, this super-strong Sealing Paper, created by combining multiple sealing techniques, was more than enough to lock Naruto down tight.
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