Seeing the Nine-Tails curling up into a ball, Shinju finally withdrew his hand.
After giving the Nine-Tails a thorough scolding and lecture, Shinju exited the seal space.
Outside, in the open field, Naruto's breathing was steady — he was clearly fast asleep.
"Your wounds healed this quickly... looks like the Nine-Tails' chakra is really useful," Shinju said after checking Naruto's injuries.
Then, waking Naruto from his deep sleep, Shinju asked, "So, what's your plan from here?"
Naruto stayed silent.
He didn't want to return to the village — not yet.
After everything that had happened, his belief in becoming Hokage had… wavered, if only a little.
After thinking for a while, Naruto finally said,
"Shinju… let's keep traveling, yeah? There are still so many countries we haven't been to yet. Like the Land of Demons… and the Land of Swamps…"
Shinju nodded.
Only by walking the road ahead could one escape confusion and obsession — only then could doubts and fantasies turn into something alive, something real.
And so, the two close friends once again set out on their journey.
...
Half a month later.
Hokage's Office.
The Konoha council members were gathered around the table.
"The Third Hokage still hasn't returned, and we haven't heard any news from him anywhere… Could something have happened to him?" one council member asked worriedly.
"Hiruzen chased after them back then… trying to atone for the mistakes of his youth… At his age, still being so reckless… I just hope he's safe," another elder said, shaking his head.
"The Third has plenty of battle experience. He should be fine. Right now, we should discuss Shinju and Naruto, those two kids," Koharu suggested.
"After what they did, and since there's still no word from them, I think it's time we remove them from Konoha's ninja registry," Homura said, nodding in agreement. "In the end, they're just two foolish children. Running away from the village over something like this… after all the effort Konoha put into training them."
"I disagree!" Tsunade stood up sharply.
"Tsunade, this is a decision made by the council…" Homura hesitated but tried to argue.
"Decisions? How many stupid decisions have you already made?!" Tsunade shot back without backing down.
"The contributions those two kids made are worth more than everything you old relics have done in decades! What right do you have to erase their names from the registry?!"
"Tsunade, watch your mouth! Are you really going to side with those two traitorous brats against Konoha's leadership?!" Homura shouted back, standing up.
"Leadership?! Konoha's leadership should've been replaced ages ago! Take a good look at all the idiotic choices you've made!"
Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, her voice sharp with authority.
"ANBU!"
Yamato, who had been standing by to ensure security, immediately stepped forward.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
He was an ANBU squad captain — and Shinju's sensei.
No matter what, Shinju was his pride.
There was no way he'd allow such an exceptional ninja to be erased from Konoha's records.
"Take these senile fools away," Tsunade ordered coldly, "and let them reflect on their decisions!"
"Yes!" Yamato replied firmly.
Within moments, the office was cleared out, leaving only Tsunade and Shizune behind.
Standing by the tall window, Tsunade gazed outside, her expression complicated.
"Konoha was never perfect… but generation after generation, we've tried to build it into something better…"
"Shinju… what's going through your head right now…?"
...
At the same time, in the forests of the Land of Demons.
Shinju and Naruto were grilling fish over a small fire, showing absolutely no sign of being worried about nearly being branded as missing-nin.
Naruto took a big bite of fish, chewing happily.
"Shinju, your cooking's amazing! Not only can you make great food with a pot, but even grilled fish comes out perfect!"
Shinju sighed helplessly.
"When are you going to learn to cook, huh? I want to eat something made by someone else for once…"
...
Land of Demons — at the entrance of a hidden underground palace.
After knocking out the guards, several figures were gathered there, plotting something in secret.
At the front stood a middle-aged man with long hair and a dark, sinister expression. He stepped forward and said coldly, "From here on, you stay. What lies ahead is the rift between this world and the next. Only someone bearing the name 'Yomi' can enter."
The guards nodded silently.
Then the long-haired man, Yomi, stepped into the narrow, pitch-black passage.
After walking through the twisting corridor for quite some distance, the space suddenly opened up before him.
A vast underground chamber spread out ahead.
On both sides stood rows upon rows of armored clay soldiers.
In the center, a stone bridge extended forward.
At the far end of the bridge stood a strange, ancient formation — a sealing array glowing with brilliant white light. Beneath its glow stood six stone pillars surrounding an ornate, otherworldly gate.
The gate was covered from top to bottom in countless sealing talismans.
Yomi slowly approached, his expression feverish as he stared at the massive, tightly sealed doors.
Raising his hand, he began chanting an ancient, obscure incantation…
Minutes later, the stone gate suddenly burst open, revealing endless darkness beyond.
"Mōryō-sama…" Yomi whispered reverently, before dropping to his knees in devotion.
From within the darkness came a voice — ancient, cold, and heavy with malice.
"So… I have returned to this world once again?"
"How nostalgic."
"It's been far too long, Mōryō-sama," Yomi said respectfully.
The voice from beyond the gate asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Yomi," the man answered, bowing his head. "Once, I borrowed your power to create the Ghost Army. I am one of the few survivors."
"Why summon me now?" Mōryō asked.
"The stars have aligned once more," Yomi said, his voice burning with ambition. "Now is the time for us to join forces and build the Thousand-Year Kingdom!"
After a brief silence, Mōryō replied, "But as I am now, I have no body — only a soul. I cannot exist in this world for long."
"If you don't mind, Mōryō-sama… then please… use my body," Yomi said, rising to his feet.
He pulled open his cloak, revealing numerous surgical tools strapped inside.
In the next instant, he drew out a scalpel.
Slish—
Without hesitation, Yomi drove the scalpel straight into his own chest.
Cold sweat drenched his face as he dragged the blade downward, cutting open his torso all the way to his navel.
Blood poured freely onto the ground.
Using surgical hooks, Yomi pried open his own chest, fully exposing his ribcage and organs…
Now that's what you call an open heart.
"Mōryō-sama… please… enter my body," Yomi said, his face calm, almost resolute in his madness.
Whoosh—
The darkness surged out from beyond the gate, pouring into Yomi's chest.
The man didn't even flinch.
Afterward, with astonishing composure, he pulled out a needle and thread, calmly stitching his own chest back together.
Once he finished, Yomi exhaled slowly. "The ritual… is complete."
Then a chilling smile spread across his face.
"And now… it's finally time to realize my grand ambition!"
"Awaken… my army!!!"
Dark purple light burst from Yomi's body, spreading across the entire underground chamber, enveloping every armored clay soldier.
Clatter… clatter…
One by one, the soldiers' eyes lit up — glowing ominously as they moved in perfect unison.
...
At the same time, Naruto and Shinju, still eating grilled fish, suddenly felt the tremors deep underground.
Naruto blinked. "Huh? Was that an earthquake? (꒪⌓꒪)"
Shinju shook his head. "Not sure. Let's go check it out."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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