Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 230 Death Sacrifice, Minato Namikaze [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

[PS: Requesting monthly votes! It's the last day of the month, and I'm still short about twenty monthly votes QAQ]

Konohagakure, Hokage Building office.

The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor, but it couldn't dispel the somber atmosphere in the office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his large desk, holding a confidential document that had just been compiled by the intelligence team. His brow was furrowed, and he took a deep drag on his pipe, letting the pungent smoke swirl in his lungs, as if only in this way could he calm the turmoil in his heart.

The contents of the document are the intelligence about the Star Kingdom and its leader "Shura" that has been circulating wildly recently through underground gold exchange shops and various clandestine channels.

Among them, the words "mysterious Uchiha ninja" and "dark red armored giant" were heavily circled in red by the intelligence personnel, making them particularly glaring.

“A dark red armored giant… Susanoo…” Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, his white eyebrows furrowed tightly together.

Upon seeing this description, he couldn't help but recall the mysterious Uchiha ninjas he encountered several years ago when Uchiha Shisui was ordered to lead a small team to investigate the upheaval in the Land of Bears.

Shisui was severely injured and even had one of his left eyes gouged out. The report also mentioned that this Uchiha ninja was extremely powerful and could use Susanoo.

At the time, he and his advisors discussed the possibility that the individuals might be followers of Madara Uchiha when he defected from Konoha, or bloodlines left behind outside the village.

After all, the Uchiha clan has a very long history, and it is not entirely impossible that one or two branches have been scattered elsewhere.

For more than fifty years since the village was founded, the Uchiha clan in Konoha Village, although having a delicate relationship with the village, has generally been well-behaved and has not made any substantial rebellious moves, which has reassured the higher-ups somewhat.

But now, this mysterious Uchiha ninja, who possesses the Mangekyou Sharingan and can activate Susanoo, has reappeared.

This forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to become vigilant once again.

Could it be that... our initial guess was true?
Did Madara Uchiha really leave such a terrifying backup plan outside?

The elderly Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with worry and uncertainty.

A "Shura" who could easily defeat the Cloud Village's A and B duo and enter and leave Konoha as if it were his own territory, and a mysterious Uchiha ninja with the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan; they were already troublesome enough, but now another mysterious Uchiha ninja has appeared...

The threat level posed by the Star Kingdom rose sharply in his mind.

Just then, the office door was pushed open, interrupting Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts.

Danzo Shimura, leaning on his cane, slowly walked in.

He was still dressed in his usual Danzo attire, with bandages wrapped around his right eye and right arm, and his remaining left eye was sharp and sinister.

He nodded slightly as a greeting, and asked in a low voice, "Hiruzen, what's the matter that you urgently wanted to see me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer immediately. Instead, he took another deep drag on his pipe and gently pushed the intelligence documents on the table forward, indicating to Danzo that he should look at them himself.

"You should take a look at this first."

Danzo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the contents of the document, his face showing no surprise.

His Root intelligence network is far more pervasive than the Hokage's directly subordinate Anbu, so he naturally knew these things long ago, and might even have known them in more detail than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He glanced at it briefly, then looked up and said in his slightly hoarse voice, "It seems that this Shura of the Star Country has grown too powerful and is now too big to be controlled. Now, it has been confirmed that there are Uchiha clan ninjas colluding with him."

He emphasized the word "collusion".

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and slowly exhaled a smoke ring: "The Uchiha who are scattered outside are not necessarily colluding."

Danzo snorted coldly, a glint of cold light flashing in his left eye: "Not necessarily? Hiruzen, have you forgotten what Itachi Uchiha secretly reported before? That Shura, and that woman named Hikari Uchiha, secretly infiltrated the village and visited Fugaku Uchiha!"

This matter was something Itachi Uchiha decided to report to the Third Hokage after witnessing Shura and Hikaru Uchiha appear at his home and meet with his father, following a fierce internal struggle.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the matter very seriously upon learning of it and secretly convened his advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, to discuss it. Danzo, as the leader of Root, naturally also had access to information about it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened: "Fugaku did not report that meeting afterward, which is indeed suspicious. However, based on just one unverified secret meeting, we cannot conclude that the Uchiha clan as a whole is colluding with Shura. At least, all the Uchiha ninjas in the village are currently under surveillance, and no abnormal mobilizations or secret contacts with the outside world have been detected."

"All of them?" Danzo's voice suddenly rose, filled with obvious doubt and pressure. "What about Uchiha Shisui?! How do you explain his disappearance?!"

The name Zhishui was like a sharp thorn, instantly piercing the most sensitive nerve between the two old men in the office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened instantly as he stared directly at Danzo: "Shisui is a hero of the village. He made tremendous efforts and sacrifices for the peace between the village and the Uchiha clan. I trust his character; he would never collude with a dangerous figure like Shura!"

"Trust?" Danzo scoffed. "Trust is the cheapest thing in the ninja world! Hiruzen, your weakness and excessive trust will eventually ruin Konoha!"

“Well then,” Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, stared intently at Danzo, and his tone became more serious than ever before.

"Where were you the night Shisui disappeared, Danzo?"

The air in the office seemed to freeze instantly.

Danzo's exposed left eye pupil contracted almost imperceptibly, but his expression remained unchanged, still gloomy.

He met the Third Hokage's gaze without flinching, his voice even carrying a hint of resentment at being wrongly accused: "Of course I was handling official business at the Root base! Hiruzen, what do you mean by that? Do you suspect that I did something to Shisui?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at him without saying a word, but his deep gaze seemed to pierce through Danzo's disguise and reveal the truth hidden beneath his bandages.

In fact, after Shisui disappeared, Hiruzen Sarutobi's first suspect was Danzo Shimura!

Danzo's extreme attitude towards the Uchiha clan, his greed for the Sharingan, and his habitual use of dark methods all gave Hiruzen Sarutobi ample reason to suspect him.

Moreover, some members of the Root organization did exhibit unusual activity patterns that night.

However, there is no direct evidence.

Danzo was extremely careful in his actions and almost never left any evidence against him.

More importantly, the situation inside and outside Konoha is complex. The Hidden Cloud Village is eyeing it covetously, the Land of Stars is rising, and there is also the problem of the Uchiha clan within the village. He still needs to rely on Danzo and the Root organization he leads to handle those dirty, shady tasks.

After a brief standoff, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly sat back down in his chair, his expression turning inscrutable once more.

He picked up his pipe, lit it again, and took a deep drag, as if to exhale all his doubts and helplessness with the smoke.

“…Never mind.” He waved his hand, his tone returning to its usual composure, but tinged with weariness: “Let’s leave the past aside for now. Danzo, what matters now is the future.”

"The threat from the Land of Stars is imminent. I need your Root organization to mobilize all its resources to intensify the investigation into the Land of Stars, especially that Asura and the mysterious Uchiha! Dig up every clue, every possible piece of information! Report any major discoveries to me immediately! Understand?"

Danzo looked at the Third Hokage, who seemed to have chosen to "compromise," and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth beneath the bandages.

He bowed slightly, his tone returning to its usual respectful manner, but his eyes flashed with a cold light.

"Understood. For the sake of Konoha, Root will naturally do everything in its power." He replied in a deep voice, then leaned on his cane, turned and left the Hokage's office.

Root base, deep down.

Dark, damp, and oppressive.

This is a corner of Konoha where the sunlight can never reach.

Danzo Shimura sat in his seat, his only remaining left eye gleaming faintly in the dim light.

Aburame Ryoma appeared silently before him and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Danzo."

"Ryuma," Danzo's voice was low and cold, "any new information from Kabuto Yakushi's side?"

Ryoma Aburame adjusted his sunglasses and calmly replied, "There is indeed some information coming back about the recent battle in the Land of Stars, which is more detailed than the versions circulating outside and sold in underground gold exchange shops. It has been confirmed that several Uchiha clans participated in the battle, and one of the female Uchiha clans used a Susanoo-like ability, making her extremely powerful. However, the detailed identity of the other Uchiha clan member... was not explicitly mentioned in the information."

“Another Uchiha…” Danzo’s fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest, a cold glint flashing in his single eye: “Is it Shisui?”

He strongly suspected it was Uchiha Shisui!

That Asura was able to infiltrate Konoha undetected, and may even have gouged out the Byakugan of the Hyuga main family. His familiarity with the Konoha barrier is astonishing.

The fact that a powerful Uchiha ninja appeared in the Land of Stars after Shisui's disappearance is too much of a coincidence!
But then I thought about it again, and the Uchiha Hikaru who suddenly appeared was also incredibly powerful. If there really were Uchiha branches that had been scattered, there were probably more than just one or two of them who were very strong.

The water in the pool was even muddier than he had imagined.

Just then, he remembered another thing that was bothering him.

The “accidental” death of Pharmacist Nonou.

This important pawn he planted in Iwagakure Village mysteriously "died" during a routine border patrol mission, and his body could not even be found!
This is too suspicious!
He absolutely refused to believe it was an accident!
Danzo, who was extremely suspicious, immediately connected these events.

The mystery of the Land of Stars, the abnormalities of the Uchiha clan, the bizarre death of Nonou...

Behind all of this, there seems to be an invisible net.

He needs confirmation!
To confirm whether Kabuto is still loyal, and to ascertain the true situation in the Land of Stars!
Danzo suddenly raised his head, a resolute and ruthless glint flashing in his single eye: "Ryuma, immediately send a top-level emergency order to Kabuto!"

"The contents?" Aburame Ryoma asked without any change in expression.

"He is ordered to return to Konoha within seven days to report for duty, no matter what, at all costs!" Danzo's voice was resolute and carried an unquestionable tone.

"Tell him this is the highest order from Root; failure to arrive by the deadline... will be considered defection!"

He intended to use the "death" of Kabuto's adoptive mother, Nono Yakushi, as a test, judging whether Kabuto had betrayed him, or..., by observing Kabuto's immediate reaction and whether he could return on time.

At least we can extract some more core secrets about the Star Kingdom from him!

Without the slightest hesitation, Aburame Ryoma bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, Lord Danzo!"

The figure slowly retreated into the shadows to carry out the order that could determine Kabuto Yakushi's fate.

Deep within the dimly lit Root base, only Danzo Shimura remained, his single eye flickering uncertainly in the shadows, like a lurking viper awaiting its prey's response.

The Kingdom of Stars, the Capital of Stars.

The increasingly prosperous capital city is full of vitality under the warm spring sun, and the streets are bustling with traffic. Most of the pedestrians have expectations for the future on their faces.

In a quiet training room at the Star Kingdom's Medical Department.

Yakushi Kabuto was staring intently at his palm.

A soft ball of chakra, glowing with a pale green light, slowly rotated under his precise control, sometimes condensing into a fine needle shape, and sometimes spreading into a thin mist.

He is studying advanced medical ninjutsu in depth, while trying to understand and control the nature transformation of Yin Release chakra.

Since being recognized and formally recruited by Lord "Shura", he was not assigned to the combat sequence. Instead, due to his outstanding medical talent and calm mind, he was transferred to the medical department for in-depth training.

In addition to honing his medical ninjutsu, he also takes courses in espionage techniques.

Just then, an encrypted message flooded into his mind—a secret communication order sent by the Konoha Root through the Yamanaka clan ninja!

Kabuto's movements did not pause at all, and the chakra in his palm quietly dissipated.

He calmly tidied up the scrolls and equipment on the table, said goodbye to his instructor, and slowly left the medical department.

Only when they reached a secluded spot did he quickly decipher the contents of the secret order.

"Return to Konoha to report for duty within seven days...at all costs...failure to do so will be considered desertion..."

He pushed up his glasses, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes behind the lenses.

There was no anxiety, no panic, only calm analysis running at high speed.

Danzo became suspicious.

This was his first judgment.

When news of Dean Nonou's "death" reached them, Danzo was unable to provide more concrete information about the core of the Star Country, especially about "Shura" and those powerful Uchiha. In addition, the recent battle with the unknown ninjas on the Star Country's border may have leaked some information. The suspicious Danzo was bound to become restless.

This command was less of a summons and more of a blatant test!
They were testing his loyalty, and perhaps even trying to extract the truth about the dean's "death" from him.

He has to go back.

Not only to dispel Danzo's suspicions and protect the secret of the Dean's feigned death and escape, but also because... Menma is still in Konoha.

He couldn't let that child face the darkness of Konoha alone.

Having made up his mind, Kabuto did not hesitate at all and turned to walk towards the Star Kingdom's administrative building.

He needs to report to Lord Shura and receive instructions.

On the top floor of the administration building, in Shura's office.

Menma sat behind the large chair, quietly listening to Kabuto Yakushi's report and analysis, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his gaze behind the white three-eyed fox mask deep and unfathomable.

“That old fox Danzo has a pretty keen nose.” A deep, calm voice came from behind the mask, devoid of any emotional fluctuation: “If he wants to test me, then let him test me.”

He hesitated for a moment, then continued, "You should prepare to go back. As for the intelligence... you can 'appropriately' reveal some things to him. For example, confirm that there are indeed multiple Uchiha ninjas in the Land of Stars, one of whom is a woman with terrifying strength. And the other..."

Menma paused, then deliberately emphasized: "He is a male, and possesses a pair of... three-tomoe Sharingan."

Yakushi Kabuto's mind raced, and he immediately understood Lord Shura's intention.

Revealing some true information, such as a male Uchiha with three tomoe, could increase credibility, confuse the public, and even mislead Danzo into focusing his attention on the "three tomoe," thereby underestimating the true threat from the Land of Stars.

"Yes, Lord Shura. I understand." Kabuto bowed respectfully and accepted the order.

“Remember, your safety comes first,” Menma added, her tone calm yet protective: “When necessary, the Star Kingdom will always be your support.”

"Thank you, sir." Kabuto felt a warmth in his heart, bowed again, and left the office.

After leaving the administration building, Kabuto Yakushi did not immediately head back to Konoha, but instead turned towards the Star Ninja Academy.

As soon as the school bell rang, the children poured out of the classrooms like cheerful little birds, laughing and running towards their families outside the school gate, or going in groups to the training ground for extra ninjutsu practice.

The campus is full of youthful vigor and vitality.

This is completely different from the atmosphere of competition and repression in the ninja academies of other ninja villages.

Dou stood in the shadows of the corridor, quietly watching this scene, the children's carefree smiles reflected in his glasses.

Once upon a time, he and the director also longed for such a peaceful and hopeful life in the orphanage in Konoha.

He arrived at the principal's office and gently knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

Dou pushed open the door and entered.

The office was simply and elegantly furnished, and Pharmacist Nono was sitting behind her desk reviewing documents.

She now serves as the vice principal of Xingren School, mainly responsible for the students' ideological education and life management. Her complexion is rosy, and her eyes are full of peace and contentment, making her completely different from the "wandering priestess" who used to walk on the edge of life and death.

"Kabuto?" Nonou smiled gently when she saw her adopted son arrive, but then noticed a hint of seriousness between his brows.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

“Dean…” Kabuto walked to the desk, lowered his voice, and succinctly explained the Root secret order and Danzo’s probing intentions.

The smile on Nono's face vanished instantly, replaced by worry: "Danzo... Kabuto, this is too dangerous! He's calling you back at this time, he definitely doesn't have good intentions!"

She instinctively gripped the pen in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white.

She knew Danzo's methods all too well.

“I know, Dean.” Kabuto’s tone remained calm. He adjusted his glasses and reassured him, “But that’s precisely why I have to go back. Not going, or delaying, will only make him more suspicious, and he might even suspect that there’s more to your ‘death’ than meets the eye. Besides…”

His gaze hardened: "Menma is still in Konoha. I can't leave him there alone. I must return to Konoha no matter what. Please rest assured, I will handle this carefully."

Looking at his adopted son, who had become mature and composed, Nono knew that his mind was made up and understood that what he said made sense.

She sighed softly, stood up, walked to Dou, and straightened his neatly combed collar, her eyes filled with love and reluctance: "Be careful... always put your safety first. I... am waiting for you and Mianma to come back safely."

"I will, Dean." Dou nodded solemnly.

……

Meanwhile, after handling the necessary official business for the day, Menma returned to her residence.

As soon as I entered the living room, I heard a sobbing sound.

Kushina Uzumaki was sitting cross-legged on a soft carpet, tightly holding the fluffy, dark red nine-tailed fox girl in her arms. A melodramatic romance drama was playing on the large screen television in front of her.

Kushina watched with tears in her eyes, completely immersed in the story. She even unconsciously grabbed the little Nine-Tails' fluffy tail and used it without hesitation to wipe her tears and snot.

"Waaaaah... It's so touching... Why did there have to be a misunderstanding... We could have just explained it clearly... Waaaaah..." she muttered between sobs.

Little Nine-Tailed Fox looked utterly dejected, disdainfully trying to pull its tail back, but not daring to use too much force. It could only sullenly glare at Menma, who had just entered, with a resentful look, as if accusing him: 'Shut up! My tail isn't a towel!'

Mianma's lips twitched slightly. He walked over and said helplessly, "Mom, you've practically plucked all of Xiao Jiu's hair out."

"Ah! Menma, you're back!" Kushina only then noticed her son, quickly letting go of the little nine-tailed fox's tail, and wiped her eyes somewhat embarrassedly: "This drama was so tear-jerking..."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the little nine-tailed fox darted onto Menma's shoulder, rubbed its head against his cheek, and let out a soft, aggrieved hum.

Menma gently rubbed the little Nine-Tails' head, then looked at Kushina and calmly dropped a bombshell: "I'm ready to begin. I'll free Father's soul from the Shinigami's belly and then use the Impure World Reincarnation."

Kushina's expression froze instantly.

The emotions in his eyes had shifted from dramatic sadness to genuine shock and anticipation.

She keenly sensed something, her voice tightening slightly: "Menma...you suddenly decided to do this...are you preparing...to attack Konoha?"

She knew her son's strength and unfathomable ambition; Konoha was an indispensable part of her plan to unify the ninja world.

Menma shook his head, walked to the window, and looked at the scenery of the Star Capital in the distance: "No, it's not time to make a full-scale attack yet. It's just... the day when the 'clan extermination script' that Konoha wrote for the Uchiha clan seems to be coming soon."

He turned around, his mask already removed, revealing a young face with a profound expression that belied his age: "I think we'll need some 'audience' to appreciate this rare 'theater' together."

"And as the father of the Fourth Hokage... perhaps he should also see for himself just how corrupt the Hidden Leaf Village, which he once risked his life to protect, has become. Of course..."

He paused, his tone now tinged with a pure, inquisitive interest: "I do indeed have some research interest in techniques related to the soul. Death God, Corpse Demon Sealing Technique, Impure World Reincarnation... these areas involving taboos of life and death are quite interesting, aren't they?"

Kushina remained silent.

She understood that while Mianma's words made sense, they were more of an explanation and a form of reassurance.

Reviving Minato, even if it's through the Impure World Reincarnation technique, must have a deeper strategic purpose.

But she didn't ask any more questions, only nodded slightly: "I understand. Is there anything I can do?"

“Just follow me,” Menma said.

Menma, with Kushina in tow, arrived at a certain level deep underground in the military zone.

The place is heavily guarded, and the atmosphere is cold and solemn.

Kisame Hoshigaki, who had just returned from the front lines, was already waiting there with three Star Ninja Anbu members.

Behind them, two men wearing snow ninja headbands were tightly bound by special chakra chains, looking listless. They were none other than the captured Daimyo of the Land of Snow, Fuuka Nutō, and his general, Ryōga Yuppō.

"Lord Shura!" Kisame Hoshigaki bowed respectfully upon seeing Menma.

The three secret agents also bowed at the same time.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work. You may all step back now and remain on the perimeter. No one is to approach without my order," Menma instructed calmly.

"Yes!" Kisame Hoshigaki did not hesitate at all, and immediately led his three subordinates into the shadows and disappeared.

In the empty and cold underground space, only Menma, Kushina, and two prisoners remained.

Kushina held the little Nine-Tails, watching the scene before her with a mixture of anticipation and unease.

Menma raised his right hand, and the dark red mark on the back of his hand began to emit a faint and mysterious light.

At the same time, the same faint engraving marks also appeared on the backs of the hands of Feng Hua Nu Tao and Lang Ya Xue Beng, who were bound!

Their eyes instantly became empty and dull, as if they had lost all self-awareness, standing frozen in place like lambs to the slaughter.

This is a secondary level of authority granted to Menma by Uchiha Hikaru, so that even when she is not around, Menma can still manipulate these fully controlled "assets" through the inscription.

Kushina watched as Menma summoned an item from a storage scroll. It was a strangely shaped white mask with a ferocious face, two horns on its head, and an extremely ominous and cold aura.

"This is... the Grim Reaper's mask!" Kushina exclaimed in a low voice, recognizing the object.

This is a dangerous forbidden object enshrined in the Uzumaki clan's Namen Hall, used to communicate with the Grim Reaper!

Her heart leaped into her throat, filled with anticipation to see the water gate, yet also with an instinctive unease about the forbidden ritual that was about to take place.

Mianma sized up the raging waves and the wolf-tooth avalanche, seemingly assessing something.

Ultimately, he chose Fuuka Nata, whose chakra reserves and life energy were far greater.

He handed the hideous Grim Reaper mask to the completely controlled Wind and Waves.

Next, Mianma issued instructions through engraving.

After putting on the Grim Reaper mask, Feng Hua Nu Tao stiffened and began to dance a dance filled with an eerie atmosphere—the Dance of Death!
As the dance continued, a powerful, visible blue chakra aura suddenly erupted from Fuuka Nuto's body, swirling wildly around him!
A chilling wind howled through the underground space, and the temperature plummeted!
The next second, a gigantic, soul-chilling phantom slowly emerged behind Feng Hua Nu Tao!

The phantom was over ten meters tall, with long, messy, pale hair that flowed like seaweed. It wore a large white robe, revealing eerie purple skin beneath. Its face was incredibly ferocious, with a gleaming short knife between its teeth, and a pair of crimson horns on its head curving towards the sky.

This is the very embodiment of death!
As a resurrected being, Kushina was already dead and could clearly see the terrifying Grim Reaper.

Menma, with his powerful Mangekyou Sharingan, the power of the Crimson Moon Book, and his profound understanding of Yin-Yang Release, also stares directly at this god who symbolizes death.

The ceremony has reached its most crucial step.

The phantom of death slowly raised its withered arm, took the dagger from its jaws, and then…

He stabbed himself hard in the abdomen and slashed to the side!

At the same time, Feng Hua Nu Tao, who was both the sacrificial offering and the ritual executor, also suddenly developed a huge, bloody wound in his abdomen!
His body trembled violently, his life force rapidly draining away, yet he could not utter a sound; the scene was eerie and terrifying!
As Death slit its own belly, a wisp of eerie blue soul fire suddenly drifted out from the crack in its abdomen!

That's the soul of Minato Namikaze!
Death seemed to have fulfilled its pact, greedily extracting the soon-to-dissipate soul of Feng Hua Nu Tao, who had been sacrificed in the ritual, and swallowing it into its mouth. Only then did the enormous phantom slowly dissipate into the air, satisfied.

Having lost its soul, Feng Hua Nu Tao collapsed to the ground with a "thud," its body like a puppet with broken strings, utterly lifeless.

"Minato!" Kushina exclaimed, her voice choked with emotion as she looked at the wisp of dark blue soul fire.

Without pausing for a moment, Menma rapidly formed hand seals, and the Impure World Reincarnation technique he had prepared instantly lit up on the ground!

"The art of reincarnation from dirty soil!"

The blue soul fire fell into Wolf Fang Avalanche's body, and countless grayish-white, paper-like dust particles surged out from the spell, rushing towards the standing Wolf Fang Avalanche as if they had a life of their own, quickly enveloping and devouring it...

"Ugh!!!" Wolf Fang Avalanche let out a shrill scream, its body twisting and deforming in the dust...

His flesh and blood, his soul, are being forcibly transformed as sacrifices and vessels.

The dust gradually condensed and took shape...

Amidst the flying confetti, a figure appeared with brilliant golden hair, a handsome face covered in cracks, and wearing the robes of the Fourth Hokage.

[PS: It's the last day, please vote for me! I'm only about twenty votes short QAQ]

(End of this chapter)