"They said he has a daughter?"
The Sky Ninja looked at each other in surprise.
Normally, whether someone has a daughter or not wouldn't be shocking.
But Sasuke's case was different.
Though they didn't know him personally, judging from his appearance, he looked only sixteen or seventeen—clearly a minor.
A minor with a daughter? That must mean he's already broken the ninja taboos!
"Tch, what a disgrace to the ninja world!" the Sky Ninja muttered.
A ninja who doesn't follow the rules is usually called useless. A powerful but rule-breaking one? That's a disgrace.
Sasuke's face darkened.
I've been seeking revenge and working to restore the Uchiha name! Even when I allied with Orochimaru, I refrained from senseless killing—all for the honor of the Uchiha clan.
And now, one comment makes me a disgrace?
Crackle!
Blue lightning surged and sparked wildly.
This was the Chidori Current!
Electric arcs spread like a web, crackling with the chirping sound of a thousand birds.
"Gahhh!" The Sky Ninja screamed in pain as their eyes rolled back, collapsing one by one without even a chance to fight back.
A total wipeout.
But Sasuke didn't feel the least bit triumphant. He turned to Moss and said coldly, "You used me to deal with them."
Though she didn't need to, he figured she simply didn't want to do it herself.
There are all kinds of weirdos in the ninja world, after all.
Moss had only spoken offhandedly, not expecting things to escalate like this. She now pressed her hands together in a monk-like gesture and said gently, "This humble monk had no such intention."
"Then what did you mean?" Sasuke pressed.
Moss replied, "There was no deeper meaning. You needn't overthink it."
Sasuke's brow twitched. Holding back his irritation, he said, "A monk shouldn't lie."
Monks had stricter vows than ninjas, and not lying was one of them.
"That wasn't a lie," Moss answered calmly.
Sasuke almost laughed. How could that not be a lie? I'm still a teenager—how could I possibly have a daughter?
But then he noticed her gaze—it was meaningful, her tone certain.
Wait… what does that mean? I really… have a daughter?
No way!
Frowning, Sasuke asked, "Who exactly are you?"
Seeing his serious expression, Moss suddenly felt like teasing him. She smirked, though with her current monk outfit—specifically the SanzoBeast form—only her forehead and eyes were visible. Her mouth was covered by a red cloth, hiding the playful smirk from view.
"This humble monk is named Moss…" she answered.
Moss?
Sasuke immediately translated it in his head. The ninja world had English too. While not a genius, his knowledge wasn't lacking.
A monk with an English name? How… trendy.
"What's your background?" he asked again.
"I cannot say," Moss replied.
…
Cryptic much? She just didn't want to lie, which… only made her earlier statement sound more credible.
Wait. Does that mean… I really do have a daughter?
No! That's ridiculous!
Still, Sasuke thought it over. Sure, I don't have a daughter now. But what about in the future?
Could Moss be able to see the future?
He'd heard that the priestesses of the Land of Demons had such power, though only to predict deaths. Monks and priestesses had similar roles—having a future-sight ability wouldn't be too far-fetched.
While Sasuke was deep in thought, Moss had already stepped past the fallen Sky Ninja and headed toward the main chamber of the fortress.
What exactly is she after?
With that question lingering, Sasuke followed.
A few minutes later, inside the fortress's main hall...
Because they'd entered through the side route, Sasuke and Moss were able to hide behind a decorative stone and witness the scene unfolding inside.
Naruto and Amaru, who had entered through the main entrance, were staring at the central throne where a white-haired man was seated.
"Master Shinnō!" Amaru exclaimed in joy.
It turned out that the white-haired man was Shinnō—who was supposed to be dead.
She rushed forward and threw herself into his arms.
Shinnō rose and embraced her.
"I knew it! I knew you wouldn't die, Master!" Amaru cried, rubbing her cheek against him like a kitten.
Naruto looked completely confused. "How is this possible? Why is he alive? What's going on?"
He wasn't wishing for Shinnō to be dead—he was just genuinely puzzled.
After all, both he and Amaru had clearly seen Shinnō get skewered by kunai earlier.
No one—even powerful ninjas—could survive that, and while Shinnō was a famous doctor, that injury should've been fatal.
Still stroking Amaru's head like a pet, Shinnō said, "How can I explain this so even you simple-minded ones understand…"
Amaru, still lost in joy, didn't notice anything odd.
Shinnō continued, "This fortress is called Anku Bandian. On the surface it looks like ruins, but it's actually the ultimate weapon—something the Sky Ninja have researched for decades."
"Anku Bandian?" Naruto echoed.
"It means Royal Capital Fortress," Shinnō said as he looked around at the hall's walls.
Naruto's eyes followed the walls, then fell on Shinnō again. "But you were definitely hit by all those kunai. How are you totally fine now, sitting in the Sky Ninja's fortress?"
Shinnō chuckled. "It's hard to fool people like Sakura and Hinata without a trick like playing dead."
"!" Amaru finally realized something was wrong.
Playing dead?
Why would he need to do that? Why deceive Sakura and Hinata at all?
Shinnō went on, "As long as one uses the body-regenerating technique to restore destroyed tissues, faking death is easy."
"Technique?" Naruto repeated in confusion.
So Shinnō could use jutsu too? That meant he wasn't just a doctor—he was a ninja too?
Naruto's head was spinning. "What are you even saying?! I asked why you're in the Sky Ninja's fortress!"
Shinnō looked at Naruto with a sly smirk. "You really need to wake up."
"Master?" Amaru whispered, alarmed.
Then she screamed.
Shinnō's hand clamped tightly around her head—not gently like before, but with force. He lifted her into the air by her skull.
She struggled in pain, but Shinnō barely noticed her resistance.
"Why would I kill my own subordinates?" he said coldly.
With those words, his true identity was revealed—he was the leader of the Sky Ninja!
"Amaru!" Naruto yelled, rushing forward.
Shinnō threw Amaru at him, knocking Naruto away. He then added, "Fourteen years ago, I disguised myself as a wandering doctor and infiltrated villages across the nations. After thirteen years, I finally got the data I needed in the Leaf Village."
Amaru was stunned.
"You lied to us all this time!" Naruto roared.
Shinnō sneered. "Now I've revived the Zero-Tails and gained the power of Dark Chakra!"
"You…!" Naruto clenched his teeth.
Amaru grabbed Naruto's sleeve, pleading, "Naruto… Master Shinnō… he's acting so strange, right?"
Naruto looked at her with pity.
If Iruka-sensei… or the Third Hokage… or Kakashi… or Pervy Sage… or Granny Tsunade—if any of them had betrayed him from the beginning, he'd probably feel the same: crushed.
After the pain would come silence.
Amaru collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Shinnō laughed wildly as tendrils of black mist—Dark Chakra—poured from his body.
Apparently, the Zero-Tails hadn't been destroyed, just relocated to the fortress's core. Amaru's despair had been converted into Dark Chakra and flowed into Shinnō, strengthening him.
Hmm?
Shinnō suddenly sensed a force at the side entrance—something completely opposite to Dark Chakra.
Light.
His eyes narrowed.
"Could this be… Light Chakra?"
If it existed, it would certainly counter Dark Chakra. It couldn't be allowed to exist.
With that thought, Shinnō raised his hand toward the side entrance.
Boom!
A blast of Dark Chakra surged forward, shattering the decorative stone—forcing the hidden figure to reveal themselves…
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