Tianmu had repeatedly predicted that Naruto would die. Deep within the belly of the god of death, Minato Namikaze frowned, thinking, "The Great Toad Sage can also foresee the future, and both Fukasaku and Shima insisted that prophecy comes true. But the witch's predictions… they seem different. Maybe there's a way to change them."
Besides, at a critical moment, Naruto still carried the power of the Nine-Tails. If it truly didn't want him to die, it would protect him.
Minato turned to the Yin Jiuwei sealed within him. "What do you think, Jiu Lama? If Naruto is in danger, will your other half save him?"
A cold snort echoed. "Who knows," Yin Jiuwei said maliciously. "After all, I am a collection of hatred. I might just help that monster, Wuliang, kill your son."
Minato smiled faintly. "You're not that kind of being. Why always act like this? Didn't you tell me your name, Jiu Lama?"
"Humph. Don't be too optimistic. It's not me who's sealed in that child's body. As long as that hatred remains unresolved, Naruto cannot be safe." Yin Jiuwei ignored him, leaving Minato sighing helplessly toward the sky. There was only one choice: trust Naruto.
The scene shifted to a canyon, lined with detonating tags along the cliffs. Between them stretched a seemingly endless ghost army.
The detonating tags exploded, sending jagged rocks crashing down onto the ghost soldiers below. From the cliffside, Konoha's counterattack troops appeared, only to watch helplessly as the ghost army pressed on, unscathed.
Tsunade's voice carried over the scene: "The Konoha ninjas ambushed the ghost army repeatedly, but they could not annihilate them in one strike. The army ignored all attacks and continued toward the sealed shrine. Clearly, the only way to stop them is through the sealing technique of the Demon Country's priestess, Lady Shion."
"No way! Konoha's counterattack is so weak!""Right! They just set off some detonating tags. Didn't Hatake Kakashi also appear on the sky screen? He should've gone down to stop the puppet army!"
"Don't speak without understanding," another argued. "Detonating tags are the most efficient way to attack in this terrain. Going down would waste chakra for just a few shots, while the enemy would benefit."
"We also used the terrain to slow them. Fighting an endless enemy army is not easy!"
Meanwhile, Shion watched from above, as the guards below eagerly volunteered to join her protective detail. Her expression softened slightly with pity.
"This is outrageous!" Neji muttered, returning to the room in frustration.
Xiao Li, packing her belongings, asked, "How long are you planning to delay?"
"Ashiho said he would bring guards to escort us. We'll wait until they're ready," Neji explained. Sakura groaned, "When every second counts, really?"
"The guards are loyal, but most are ordinary people. A ninja team escort would be far more efficient," someone added.
"Neji, as captain, can't you show some toughness? We're facing a world-threatening event. Don't follow the client's arrangements blindly!"
Tenten chuckled, covering her mouth. "Neji isn't good at rejecting others in daily life."
Neji didn't look grateful. His face was tense, betraying little emotion. "Tenten, that's enough."
Suddenly, the side room door flew open. Naruto stood there, chest and back armored with steel plates, grinning triumphantly. "Look! No blade can pierce me!"
"Naruto, you're acting useless, worrying about a miko's prophecy," Neji said, arms crossed.
Naruto scrambled to explain. "No! Everyone must've been worried when they heard I'm going to die! This is supposed to reassure you!"
Sakura cut him off coldly: "The world may be ending. Who has time to worry about you?"
Xiao Li jabbed: "Now isn't the time to think about your life or death. Protect what's important!"
Frustrated but determined, Naruto pounded his chest armor. "I know! That's why I want to overturn the prophecy and save the world using this!"
"How disrespectful to the miko's prediction!""For a second, I couldn't tell if he was serious!""Neji clearly thinks the mission matters more than Naruto's life. You can see it in his colorless eyes."
"Damn! Of course those are his white eyes!"
Naruto studied Neji carefully, as if testing whether the assessment was true. Xiao Li reassured him: "Naruto-kun, Neji isn't heartless. Everyone believes in you and isn't taking the prophecy seriously."
Sakura hit Naruto's head in frustration. "Don't let your imagination run wild! In a situation like the sky screen, no one would immediately believe the prophecy! You've already decided to change the future, haven't you?"
Even so, she worried. In her eyes, Naruto was still a fool. Could he truly change a miko's prediction?
"Predictions cannot be changed," Shion's voice called from outside.
*"You…" Naruto stared as Shion pushed the door open. She continued with another ominous prediction: "A new one—your neck will be cut, and you will die."
*"Neck…" Naruto touched it in panic, then armed himself and appeared before everyone again. "Then how about this!"
Shion, unimpressed, flicked the armored Naruto down with a single finger and addressed the others. "Ninjas, let's go. Follow me."
Only Naruto remained, struggling to rise, pinned under his own steel plates.