A life-and-death clash between titans—
Came to an abrupt halt the moment Iwagakure intervened.
Like a blade stopped mid-strike.
By the time Uchiha Anlan received the battle report—
The moon had already risen.
"Nine-Tails…"
Even in a battlefield of monsters—
The strongest Tailed Beast still shone.
And tempted.
"…Soon."
"When either I—or Uchiha Mikoto awakens the Mangekyō…"
"Even beasts… will return to their cage."
The thought lingered—
Then faded.
His gaze shifted.
To the black cat on his desk.
"Report."
"Lord Shogun."
"Kakuzu has located the altar."
Anlan smiled.
"Good."
"Notify Uchiha Yayoi and Uzumaki Minako."
"It's time."
The Next Day — Forest, Land of Rivers
Space folded.
Reality shifted—
Like stepping through water.
Then—
Ground.
Air.
Forest.
They had arrived.
Anlan adjusted instantly.
"Location?"
Minako nodded.
"One kilometer ahead."
"Let's move."
He led.
Because this time—
He wanted to meet her himself.
Not as a ruler.
But as the first person she would see.
The Altar
Ancient.
Silent.
A structure of dark stone—
Covered in vines.
Time itself seemed buried within it.
Nearby—
A figure waited.
Kakuzu.
"Transaction complete."
No greetings.
No nonsense.
Money appeared.
Checked.
Accepted.
"Pleasure doing business."
And he left.
Without a single question.
Because for Kakuzu—
Only money mattered.
The Seal Awakens
Minako stepped forward.
Chakra flowed.
Ancient words echoed.
The altar responded.
A deep hum.
Light spread—
Golden—
Across engraved seals.
Then—
The ground split open.
A staircase.
Descending.
Into the unknown.
"…Dragon Vein."
Anlan murmured.
Now—
He understood.
Why this seal had lasted centuries.
Why time itself—
Had stopped.
Underground Chamber
Cold.
Silent.
Ancient.
At the center—
Something impossible.
A massive—
Amber-like construct.
Alive.
Flowing.
Inside—
A girl.
Uchiha Hikari.
Fourteen.
Sleeping.
Preserved—
Perfectly.
Time—
Frozen.
Anlan stopped.
His Sharingan activated.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Understanding.
"…Found you."
The lost weapon of the Uchiha.
The wielder of—
Eight Thousand Spears.
Returned.
The Problem
"Minako."
"Release her."
"But…"
"Do not damage the seal."
Minako stepped forward.
Carefully.
Her chakra—
Like threads.
Probing.
Testing.
Searching.
Minutes passed.
Then—
She stopped.
Retreated.
Pale.
Exhausted.
"…I'm sorry."
"This seal…"
"It's not a prison."
"It's a fusion."
"She and the seal…"
"Are one system."
"To extract her without breaking it—"
"…I can't do it."
Even she—
A master of Uzumaki Clan sealing—
Could not solve it.
"Multiple experts might…"
"But it will take time."
Silence.
Then—
Anlan smiled.
"Good."
Because that meant—
The seal was even more valuable.
Decision
"We withdraw."
"Prepare a team."
"Long-term operation."
"Understood."
Return — Infinite City
Orders moved instantly.
Seven Uzumaki sealing experts selected.
Deployment initiated.
Within minutes—
The operation began.
Back in his office—
Anlan looked at the map.
His gaze settled on one place.
Rōran (Louran).
Dragon Vein.
Then—
Shifted slightly.
Toward the warfront—
Where Orochimaru stood.
A faint smile formed.
Two threads.
One future.
And in between—
A sleeping girl.
Waiting—
To awaken.
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