Dark Chakra
Once inside the flying fortress, the group quickly realized how misleading the exterior had been.
From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a small ruin. Inside, it opened into an enormous, labyrinth-like structure.
"This complicates things," Neji muttered, frowning. With a space this large, confirming whether the villagers were being held here would take far longer than expected.
He was already considering whether retreating to reassess might be the wiser choice.
Then the ground trembled.
A powerful upward force surged beneath their feet, forcing everyone to crouch instinctively.
"…What was that?" Naruto whispered once the shaking stopped.
Neji calculated the duration of the force in his head before answering calmly. "The fortress is rising. We're airborne now."
"…What?"
Everyone froze.
"So the Sky Ninja name isn't just for show," Neji said quietly.
"They can make buildings fly?" Naruto said, impressed despite himself.
"But now what?" Sakura asked, her expression tense. "If we're in the air, we can't escape even if we find the villagers."
Neji nodded. "Our objective has to change. Originally, we planned to search the perimeter and extract any prisoners. Now, even if we find them, we can't leave."
"So we head to the center," Naruto said, catching on.
"Yes," Neji replied. "There's likely a control core there. But…"
"But we'll run into their leader," Naruto finished.
Neji sighed. "Originally, that was the one encounter we wanted to avoid. Now it's unavoidable."
He glanced at Naruto with a trace of resignation. Somehow, nothing ever went smoothly when Naruto was involved.
"…I think I know the way to the center," Hinata said softly, raising her hand. Her Byakugan had already mapped most of the interior paths.
"Nice one, Hinata!" Naruto said, flashing her a thumbs-up.
Hinata flushed slightly. "Y-Yeah."
Ryūko watched the exchange, lips parting as a faint sense of distance crept into her chest.
Of course. They were Konoha ninja. Perfectly in sync.
She was just a village girl.
Neji glanced at Hinata, unsurprised. Among the Hyūga, her Byakugan was exceptionally pure.
"Then you'll lead," Neji said. "Be careful."
"Yes, Neji-niisan."
With Hinata guiding them, they avoided patrols effortlessly. Guards were spotted well in advance and bypassed without conflict.
"…Why do they call each other 'Young Lady' and 'big brother'?" Ryūko whispered to Naruto, curious.
"It's… complicated," Naruto replied, scratching his head. His voice grew heavier as the image of the caged bird seal flashed through his mind.
"Oh." Ryūko didn't press further.
Hinata slowed suddenly. "Ahead… there's a large hall. And someone inside who looks exactly like Shinnō."
Her eyes flicked toward Ryūko with concern.
Ryūko stiffened, then broke into a run.
"Ryūko!" Naruto called, chasing after her.
They entered the hall together.
The space opened wide, revealing a throne at its center.
And seated upon it—
Shinnō.
Alive.
"…That's impossible," Ryūko whispered.
If he was sitting there, it meant only one thing.
He was the Sky Ninja's leader.
Memories of the merciless attack on her village flooded back, and her mind went blank.
Shinnō rose slowly, his expression thoughtful. "For someone as simple as you, how should I explain this?"
He gestured casually. "This fortress is called Anker Bandian. Though disguised as ruins, it is the ultimate weapon built by the Sky Country over decades."
"An ultimate weapon…" Neji said grimly.
Naruto stepped forward, gripping Ryūko's trembling hand. "Hey, old man! Why fake your death? And why are you here?"
Shinnō sneered. "Why fake my death? Fourteen years ago, in search of the Zero-Tails technique, I wandered as a traveling doctor. It took me thirteen years to finally find the revival scroll in Konoha."
"Through it, I obtained the Zero-Tails… and dark chakra."
"Dark chakra?" Neji's eyes narrowed, recalling the black energy that had engulfed Ryūko.
"When darkness fills the human heart, the Zero-Tails manifests," Shinnō said calmly. "That darkness becomes tangible chakra. Simple enough, though it took fourteen years to perfect."
"Grief leads to hatred. Hatred gives birth to darkness."
He smiled at Ryūko.
"That's why your village was destroyed. To awaken the Zero-Tails through you."
Ryūko shook violently. Tears streamed down her face.
"Sensei… this isn't real, is it? Please tell me it's not!"
"Teacher and student?" Shinnō laughed mockingly. "How meaningless. You walked straight into my trap and served your purpose perfectly."
Ryūko collapsed to her knees, eyes empty.
Everyone clenched their fists.
This was cruelty beyond forgiveness.
"You're stalling," Neji said sharply. "Why?"
Shinnō burst into laughter. "So you noticed. No wonder your Hokage sent you in secret. He saw through me early, didn't he?"
"Then why send you here to die?"
"To send you to die," Neji snapped back.
Shinnō laughed louder. "Then witness the result of my patience."
"Dark chakra doesn't just revive the Zero-Tails."
Black energy erupted from his body, flooding the hall with suffocating malice.
"It can be used in many ways."
The darkness surged.