The fly ferryman kicked off the boat by Naruto landed on the Heavenly Solid Stone. Watching helplessly as the boat sailed away. His face livid with rage.
"This is outrageous!"
Its long, thin forelegs hooked together. Constantly manipulating. This was its unique hand seal method.
Whoosh. At that moment—all its kind scattered across the Meigawa received its message.
"Colleagues—a bunch of wicked souls just hijacked my boat. Heading toward the Sanzu River. Intercept them immediately. Absolutely do not let them cross!"
"What? Who dares to be so bold! To cause trouble here!"
"I don't know. But they all have physical bodies. They must have been people with powerful chakra before death."
Just then—an authoritative voice echoed in its mind. "Number 58—how could you be so careless? If something goes wrong—you could lose your head. And you might drag me down with you."
It replied fearfully. "C-Captain—I'm truly sorry. I thought they were newcomers. Lost souls. So I was going to give them a ride. But I didn't expect some punk with a cat face to kick me off the boat when I wasn't paying attention—"
The fly squad leader interrupted. "Enough! Stay where you are. A boat will come pick you up."
"Yes... Captain. I've caused you trouble."
After the communication cut off—the fly ferryman lamented. "I suffered in Abi Hell for hundreds of years. Finally got this job and could be free. And now I run into something this messed up—AHHHHHHH!"
The more it thought about it—the angrier it got. It began rubbing its head frantically with its forelegs. Screeching in frustration.
Suddenly—its cries stopped abruptly.
Thud. Its head tilted to the side. And its body collapsed. Lifeless.
It had rubbed too hard. And twisted its own head off.
Naruto and the others sailed the borrowed boat downstream along the Meigawa.
Obito said, "We came to rescue Madara—but we don't even know his exact whereabouts. After reaching the Sanzu River—we have no clue what to do next."
Sasuke said, "If Madara violated the so-called taboo—he'd be considered a sinful soul. Maybe he was cast into Abi Hell."
Hashirama shook his head repeatedly. "No—that can't be! Madara is a gentle and kind person. He just took a wrong turn for a while. Besides—he didn't know about the so-called taboo. Ignorance of the law isn't a crime—right?!"
None of them had the heart to break it to him.
The laws of heaven and earth are executed without fail. The makers of these laws won't forgive a lawbreaker's crimes just because they didn't know the law.
Hashirama was naive—but not stupid. It was just that anything involving Madara made him lose his composure.
But what's done is done. They had to face reality.
Sasuke said, "If Madara really did enter hell—what should we do?"
Hashirama said decisively. "What else? Even if it means going to heaven or hell—I'll bring Madara back. Worst case—I'll bear his punishment for him!"
Obito said, "First Hokage—I understand how you feel. Of course we'll rescue him. But stop talking about bearing his punishment. First—Madara definitely wouldn't agree. Second—our mission would just change from rescuing Madara to rescuing you."
Hashirama sighed. "Sorry. I lost my composure again."
Sasuke said, "Naruto... what are your thoughts?"
Naruto sat cross-legged at the bow. His gaze dark. "Actually—I've been thinking about something. Madara violated Yomi's taboo ten years ago. Why didn't they deal with him then—but waited a full ten years?"
The three of them belatedly realized something was off.
Hashirama said without thinking. "Could it be that the King of Yomi was asleep at the time? Or had other matters and didn't get around to it?"
"That's impossible." Naruto smiled faintly and shook his head. Then said seriously. "I think about it this way. What was our strength level ten years ago? Weak. So weak we couldn't get any weaker. We didn't even have the qualifications to touch this level of secrets."
"So those people gave us time. To become strong enough to gain the qualifications to touch these secrets."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "You mean—"
Naruto smiled. "That's right. This is a trap. A trap to lure us in."
Sasuke said, "You're saying that Madara being taken away after ten years was a deliberate arrangement by Yomi? To make us come looking? Why would they do that?"
Naruto shook his head. "I don't know. The above is just my speculation."
With that—Naruto stood up from the bow. Gazing darkly at the mist ahead. "But even if this is a trap—I'm pissed. Because setting a trap represents looking down from above. It's the arrogance of those in power toward those beneath them. Honestly—I had enough of that so-called arrogance in my past life. So I'm pissed."
Hum.
From the mist ahead—a humming sound grew from distant to near. Gradually becoming cacophonous. Clusters of spherical green lights emerged. Like the eyes of some disgusting creatures.
Sasuke's brow furrowed. "Could it be the same species as that fly from before!"
Naruto's gaze darkened. "Probably. But more accurately—the essence of those guys should be human."
From the first moment he saw that fly ferryman—Naruto could tell. Its soul was a human soul.
As for why those human souls were stuffed into fly bodies—Naruto didn't know. But he at least knew it must be for reasons beyond their control.
Buzz buzz buzz.
The fly ferrymen swarmed in. Hovering in the sky. Watching the boat emerge from the mist ahead.
"That's the boat!"
"There are people on board!"
"When it gets close—sink it!"
The fly ferrymen raised the spears in their hands. Ready to strike.
Sasuke stood up coldly.
Naruto said, "No rush. We're technically guests. Shouldn't steal the spotlight."
With that—he took out a small bag of golden sand from his ninja pouch. And poured it onto the deck.
Whoosh.
With hand seals—the sand grains gathered into an eye with a rice grain pattern.
It was Isshiki's eye.
Ten years ago—after defeating Isshiki—Naruto had implanted Isshiki's mutated Byakugan into his palm. But later finding it inconvenient—he removed the eye and turned it into the Sand True Eye.
Everything remained the same. Except for needing to carry some sand with him. It was easier to use. And more flexible.
"Take him down!"
The fly ferrymen hurled their spears downward.
Whoosh.
The Sand True Eye gazed upward.
—Sukunahikona.
Szzzt szzzt szzzt szzzt.
The overwhelming barrage of spears all shrank.
"What?!"
"What's going on?!"
The boat emerged from the mist. Naruto stood at the bow. Attempting to negotiate. "Everyone—we're just passing through. We have no ill intentions. If possible—we'd like to avoid any unpleasant friction. Can you let us pass?"
The fly ferrymen looked at each other.
Naruto struck while the iron was hot. "I know you're probably working stiffs. But working stiffs also have the right to choose their own lives. You don't have to blindly obey your boss's orders."
Hearing Naruto say this—quite a few began to waver.
A cold warning echoed in their minds. "Do you want to go back to suffering in hell? You bunch of wicked souls. Get to work!"
They no longer dared slack off. "Letting you pass is impossible. To avoid friction—unless you obediently surrender!"
Naruto sighed helplessly. "Then there's no choice. If you're going to blame someone—blame your bitter fate. You poor working stiffs!"
Szzzt. In his right hand marked with the Yin Power seal—a spherical barrier enclosed a miniature gray object.
—Mini Susanoo.
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