In the underground hall of the ancient Kingdom of Loulan, two groups of ninja from different dimensions clashed in battle.
Sai moved gracefully, pulling out an empty scroll and unfurling it in front of him.
Brush strokes flashed across the parchment as he wielded his brush like a blade, channeling chakra into ink—just a few strokes, and vivid eagles took shape.
[Super Beast Imitating Drawing: Eagle Hunt]
"Screech!"
With piercing cries, the eagles sprang from the scroll to life. Flapping their wings, they soared out, claws extended toward Heiyan and his squad.
"Leave this to me."
Pakura had been eager for action. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she quickly formed seals, conjuring several Scorch Release fireballs that hovered around her.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Under Pakura's command, the Scorch Release fireballs shot forward, carving unpredictable paths through the air like precision-guided missiles, striking each ink eagle one after another.
Hissing filled the chamber.
The ink-formed eagles instantly vaporized upon contact, turning into wisps of steam as they vanished into smoke.
Kekkei Genkai? Scorch Release?!
Sai's expression changed dramatically. As an elite member of Root, he had vast knowledge and immediately recognized the opponent's technique as the rare Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai.
By now, those scorching fireballs had surrounded Sai, leaving no escape.
"I suggest you don't move recklessly," Pakura warned with a confident smile. "If you touch my Scorch Release fireballs, your bodily fluids will evaporate instantly, turning you into a mummy. Not even I could save you then."
"...I surrender."
Shocked by Pakura's strength, Sai dropped his scroll and brush, ending all futile resistance.
He rapidly searched his memory based on Pakura's teenage appearance, green hair, and orange bangs but couldn't recall any Scorch Release user among the world of the shinobi matching that description.
Elsewhere on the battlefield...
"Hyaah!"
Sakura Haruno stomped the ground and launched herself high into the air, clenching her fist as powerful force erupted around her. Beneath her delicate exterior lay volcanic power—an unstoppable monster strength capable of crushing enemies effortlessly.
Tsunade couldn't help but be astonished watching this unfold.
Monster Strength was the Senju Clan's most forbidden technique—never meant to be shared outside the family. Yet here was an unknown pink-haired girl who somehow knew it too.
She had no time to dwell. Tsunade narrowed her eyes, leapt upward, coiling her strength before launching a punch straight at Sakura Haruno.
Monster Strength versus Monster Strength.
Boom!
Like two bulls charging head-on, neither woman gave ground, delivering a direct midair blow. Instantly, violent gusts exploded outward, sweeping the entire underground chamber, lifting broken stones and dust into the air.
Next second.
Whoosh.
High in the air, Tsunade remained motionless while Sakura Haruno flew backward like a falling meteor, crashing into the rubble below.
Tsunade quickly stood up and climbed out of the rubble. Although she looked disheveled, Tsunade's tough body kept her from getting badly hurt.
Of course, this was also partly because Tsunade had held back.
"Who exactly are you? Why do you not only look identical to Tsunade-sama but also possess Monster Strength too?"
Sakura ceased fighting and instead stared in shock, questioning Tsunade once more.
"I'd like to ask you the same thing—who taught you Monster Strength?"
Frowning, Tsunade approached the young girl, planning to subdue her first before interrogating her thoroughly.
Just then—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless Wood Release tendrils shot out from the side, resembling giant snakes as they targeted Tsunade's body and limbs, attempting to bind her completely with [Celestial Binding Chain].
[Great Forest No Jutsu]
Wood Release?
Facing the incoming attack, Tsunade's expression turned even more astonished. She could understand Monster Strength, but how did someone using Wood Release show up here too?
You should know that all these techniques are the abilities of the Senju clan.
Her frown deepened as she turned her gaze from Sakura to Yamato.
Yamato originally aimed for Heiyan, hoping to rescue Naruto immediately, but he hadn't expected Sai and Sakura to fall so quickly.
With things going like this, he switched strategies, deciding first to use Wood Release techniques to capture Tsunade and Pakura, rescuing his two companions before teaming up against Heiyan.
However, what surprised Yamato even more was—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Tsunade didn't even form any hand signs. She simply extended one hand, releasing an immense amount of chakra from her palm that manifested into hundreds of wood tendrils, launching furiously at Yamato.
It was the same [Great Forest No Jutsu].
Except this time, the technique came from Tsunade's Sage Transformation, making the number and hardness of those vines overwhelmingly superior to Yamato's.
So—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Yamato's Wood Release was utterly destroyed. Worse yet, countless vines swallowed him whole as terror filled his face.
Tsunade used the same move on Sai and Sakura, trapping them too and rounding up all three prisoners.
"I am Tsunade, Director of Konoha's Medical Department and a member of the Elders. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, calm down now."
Standing alongside Pakura with arms crossed, Tsunade looked down coldly at Yamato and the others.
Hearing this, the three exchanged uneasy glances—everything happening until now was completely beyond their comprehension.
Right after Tsunade finished speaking, suddenly a nearby column collapsed with a thunderous crash onto the floor, shaking the ground beneath everyone's feet.
Moreover, this falling pillar triggered a chain reaction, causing other columns within the chamber to topple one after another. Consequently, the unsupported ceiling began collapsing downward amid deafening rumbling sounds.
Previously, the Dragon Vein's explosion had already damaged the structure of this underground hall. The subsequent battle further worsened the damage, finally causing the entire underground chamber to cave in.
"Damn it—it's going to collapse!"
Seeing this scene, Team 7 panicked instantly.
This was deep beneath the earth, over one hundred meters underground. If anyone got buried here, there would be no chance of survival.
Just when the three were starting to lose hope—
*Clap!*
Tsunade swiftly brought her hands together in a prayer position. The shadow of the Sage Eyes flared up on her face, followed by a sharp cry as she slammed her palms onto the ground, injecting a massive amount of Sage Chakra deep underground.
The next second.
Rumble... rumble...
With intense shaking, more than thirty wooden pillars erupted from the ground like mushrooms after rain, shooting up fifty or sixty meters high.
Each pillar was as thick as several people holding hands around it. Together, they forced the collapsing dome back up halfway.
Seeing this scene, Heiyan gave a slight nod and smile to Tsunade, who returned the gesture before lightly patting her ample chest, as if saying it had been no big deal.
"Sss..."
Yamato and the other two could only suck in a sharp breath, feeling that this "Tsunade" before them was terrifyingly powerful—perhaps even stronger than the Fifth Hokage they knew.
Because this Tsunade here could not only use Wood Release but also Sage Techniques, reminding all three of them of the awe-inspiring presence of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
After the battle ended,
Heiyan turned to Naruto and started questioning him directly.
"You bastard! Let me go!" Obviously still confused about the situation, Naruto struggled fiercely, shouting nonstop.
However, when Heiyan tightened the giant hand made of soil slightly, Naruto's face immediately twisted into an expression of pain and he couldn't scream anymore.
Once he quieted down, Heiyan finally spoke:
"Answer some questions for me, and I'll let you go. First question: Do you know who I am?"
"Eh…"
Naruto blinked, then pretended to look unimpressed and sneered, "Who the hell are you anyway? Are you so famous that I should know your name?"
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Heiyan didn't get angry because he knew Naruto was just that kind of immature guy. He continued asking calmly:
"If so, then I guess you've never even heard of me—Uzumaki Heiyan."
"Uzumaki Heiyan? Are you also from the Uzumaki clan?"
Naruto widened his eyes in shock. But what truly stunned him was the surname—not the first name.
"Of course. I'm the clan head of the Uzumaki clan." Heiyan looked at Naruto and said lightly.
"What?" Naruto exclaimed, his mouth dropping open wide enough to swallow an egg whole.
Not only him, but Yamato and the others nearby also wore expressions of astonishment.
At this moment, Heiyan leaned closer to Naruto and softly whispered in a voice only the two could hear:
"You're following orders from the Fifth Hokage Tsunade, coming here to the Loulan Ruins to capture the rogue ninja Bazu, right?"
"You… how do you know that?" Naruto's eyes widened again. This was supposed to be a top secret mission.
That settled it.
After hearing Naruto's reply, Heiyan's suspicions were practically confirmed.
Clearly, Team 7 had come from the future—specifically, thirty years into the future.
However, in their world, there was no Uzumaki Heiyan. Furthermore, Tsunade's life trajectory appeared unchanged.
That left only one possible explanation—parallel worlds.
Just as Uzumaki Heiyan fell into deep thought, a cold and sinister voice suddenly echoed inside Naruto's mind.
"Naruto, this guy is dangerous! Don't believe anything he says! Let me out right now—I'll lend you my chakra and help you take him down."
"Seriously? You're telling me Uzumaki Heiyan's actually the bad guy?"
Naruto hesitated, surprised and uncertain, though on the surface, he still feigned his usual clueless expression.
"Don't you remember? I can sense human malice—why would I ever lie to you?" the Nine-Tails urgently insisted, urging him onward. "Hurry up! If you don't release me soon, it'll be too late. Team 7 will all die, and the Dragon Vein will fall into enemy hands."
In truth, the Nine-Tails was lying. It had realized that after crossing into this unknown time and space, an excellent opportunity for regaining freedom had unexpectedly appeared.
Naturally, Naruto fell for the trick.
His eyes turned into the Nine-Tails' eerie red fox-like pupils without a sound.
In an instant, Naruto activated his [Semi-Tailed Beast Transformation] as a massive surge of chakra erupted from his body, wrapping him in the Tailed Beast Cloak. With five tails now waving behind him, the Nine-Tails' will began to overwhelm Naruto's mind.
Though trapped by the giant sand hand, its five tails remained free, sweeping directly toward Heiyan and the crystal beside him.
The Nine-Tails aimed to smash the crystal and release the Dragon Vein trapped within—it hoped this would help turn the tide against Heiyan.
Faced with Naruto's sudden transformation and immediate attack, Heiyan slightly furrowed his brow.
[Whoosh!]
He leaped backward with the crystal, evading the tail strike. Then, he manipulated Xirang, shaping it into a colossal fist that slammed straight into the Nine-Tails.
[Boom!]
The Nine-Tails underestimated Xirang's power, flying backward violently like a cannonball crashing into the wall.
But quickly, it climbed out, furious now, pouring out even more chakra. Nine full tails materialized behind it.
An overwhelmingly terrifying aura surged into the sky from the Nine-Tails' body.
"That... is that the Nine-Tails?"
Tsunade stared in shock upon seeing [Tailed Beast Mode]. Could this boy be Konoha's future jinchūriki? She wondered whether he had any connection to that girl Kushina.
"Not good!"
Yamato cried out urgently, quickly telling Tsunade,
"Please restrain Naruto immediately! If he completely loses control and releases the Nine-Tails' original body, everyone here will die!"
Is it really that serious?
Tsunade looked puzzled as she replied to Yamato and others,
"Sure, it's the Nine-Tails, but does everyone have to freak out? We can just seal it again, can't we?"
Her tone remained calm, clearly not taking the threat too seriously.
"…"
Yamato and the others exchanged stunned glances, momentarily speechless.
Coming to their senses, they began to think about Tsunade's terrifying Wood Release techniques, and suddenly her words started to make a lot of sense...
However, Tsunade no longer had the chance to take action.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Under Heiyan's control, Yin-Yang Release Xirang surged across the ground, forming a massive earthen wall that crushed toward Nine-Tails.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Instinctively sensing the danger, Nine-Tails opened its giant mouth and spat out seven or eight small [Tailed Beast Balls] in succession, hoping to pierce through the earthen wall.
However, with several muffled thuds, all the [Tailed Beast Balls], upon impact with the wall, tore only a small opening before more soil regenerated instantly, sealing the gap.
The terrifying power of Xirang didn't lie solely in its toughness, but more so in its horrifying regeneration ability.
After failing its attack, Nine-Tails never got another chance. Masses of Yin-Yang Release Xirang surged from all directions, coating its body and pinning it in place.
Finally, it formed a sphere similar to [Planetary Devastation], encasing Nine-Tails completely except for its head.
After Nine-Tails was sealed, its chakra reluctantly faded away. Naruto returned to his normal appearance, although the shock to his consciousness left him temporarily unconscious.
"That's terrifying."
Yamato witnessed firsthand Heiyan subduing Nine-Tails and murmured, without realizing he had broken into a cold sweat.
He had never seen such a powerful ninja before. Even members of the Akatsuki couldn't compare to Heiyan at all.
In Heiyan's hands, Nine-Tails was simply like a toy.
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