I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 398 Uzumaki Shrine! Death God Mask!

The shadow creature flew over the walls of Konoha and continued flying towards the outskirts for a while before finally landing in front of some ruins.

The Yin Release chakra returned to Nara Rinka's shadow, and he and Yakushi Nonou looked at the dilapidated ruins ahead.

This is a dilapidated shrine that has been neglected for many years.

Sometime in the past, it suffered a terrible attack. The shrine's fence, outer walls, and wooden doors were damaged to varying degrees, and even the shrine's eaves tilted and collapsed.

The slightly torn insignia of the Uzumaki clan hung askew on the dilapidated eaves of the shrine.

"Is this a shrine belonging to the Uzumaki clan?"

Yakushi Nonou's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the dilapidated building in front of her with considerable surprise.

"How did it become like this?"

According to the Konoha education that Yakushi Nonou received, Konoha and Uzushio Village have been on good terms for generations.

Even the vests worn by Konoha ninjas bear the iconic red vortex mark of the Uzumaki clan.

Although Yakushi Nono has only ever met one member of the Uzumaki clan in her entire life, Uzumaki Kushina...

Although Yakushi Nonou never encountered any other Uzumaki ninjas while traveling the ninja world as a wandering shrine maiden...

However, considering the close relationship between Konoha and Uzushio Village that has been friendly for generations, no matter what, they still have a strong bond.

No matter what, Konoha should not allow such an ancient shrine belonging to the Uzumaki clan to fall into such a dilapidated state.

Yakushi Nonou has excellent observation skills.

Looking at the dilapidated shrine in front of me, and the thick layer of dust covering the shrine's approach path.

Yakushi Nonou was quite certain that she and Nara Rinka were probably the only couple to visit this shrine in recent years.

in other words.

The only ninja in the village with the surname Uzumaki should never have visited this shrine.

"Who knows?"

Nara Lan Gui spread his hands and shrugged.

He had also considered the things that Yakushi Nonou had thought of.

The Uzumaki Shrine is located on the outskirts of Konoha Village, even closer to Konoha's "homeland" than Kikyo Castle.

Logically speaking, no one should be able to cause such destruction on the outskirts of Konoha Village.

If someone really went to the outskirts of Konoha Village and destroyed the Uzumaki clan's shrine.

Is this a slap in the backside of the Uzumaki clan?

This is clearly kicking Konoha in the face!

However, there are just too many secrets (bugs) in the ninja world.

Let the whirlpool shrine be damaged, even if it's a little.

Nara Rinkei doesn't have the surname Uzumaki, so there's no need to explore the reasons behind the dilapidated state of the Uzumaki Shrine.

As long as he can ensure that his target item is still inside the shrine, that's fine...

Nara Rinka glanced at the filthy, dilapidated Uzumaki Shrine in front of her, then looked hesitantly at Yakushi Nonou beside her.

"Nonou-nee, are you coming in with me, or are you waiting for me outside?"

"Let's go inside and take a look."

Yakushi Nonou is not some delicate little girl.

I like cleanliness and hate dirt, but there are different times for it to happen.

Clearly, the strange, dilapidated shrine in front of her held a far greater attraction for Yakushi Nonou than her aversion to the run-down environment.

Nara Rinka and Yakushi Nonou walked together toward the Uzumaki Shrine. As they stepped onto the shrine's wooden floor, their feet immediately made a series of "creaking" sounds.

"Nonou-nee, watch your step."

"Um."

Nara Rinka and Yakushi Nonou crossed the half-open gate of the shrine and entered the shrine.

Compared to its dilapidated exterior, the interior of this whirlpool shrine is equally chaotic.

On the old, rotten wooden walls, there were black marks from flames everywhere, and a faint smell of dust filled the air, making one want to cover their mouth and nose.

On the front wall of the shrine, beneath the tattered and dirty curtains, a whole wall of special masks are quietly placed.

The surface of these masks is a pale, bloodless color, like that of a human corpse. Each mask has different details, but they are all basically grotesque, ugly, and have two horns on their heads.

It was as if an unknown force was protecting these special masks, preventing the dust in the shrine from settling on them.

The moment Nara Rinkei and Yakushi Nonou stepped into the shrine, the dozens of masks on the wall, with their empty, indifferent pupils, seemed to focus all on the two of them.

Staring at her by these strangely shaped masks, even the battle-hardened and experienced Yakushi Nono couldn't help but feel a strange and eerie sensation.

"To embrace the laurel."

Yakushi Nonou's gentle voice echoed within the Uzumaki Shrine.

"careful."

"I know."

Nara Rinka's tone was not flustered at all; on the contrary, it carried a hint of joy.

"Nonou-nee, just wait a moment."

Yakushi Nonou had no idea what this whole wall of strange masks was.

Doesn't Nara know about the laurel?

These masks are his true target for this trip—the Grim Reaper masks!

Previously, Nara Rinka killed Uchiha Madara at the Mountain Graveyard and looted all the secret techniques of the Uzumaki clan that Madara had accumulated over many years.

At that time, Nara Rinka discovered the forbidden ninjutsu [Impure World Reincarnation Technique] developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

They also discovered multiple forbidden sealing techniques developed by the Uzumaki clan, including the [Corpse Demon Sealing Technique]!

According to Nara Rangsuke's recent research.

The complete [Dead Demon Seal] technique should consist of three parts: [Dead Demon Seal], [Dead Demon Seal Release], and the Death Mask.

Both the Reaper Death Seal and the Reaper Death Seal Release are in Madara Uchiha's personal collection.

The only thing missing is the Grim Reaper mask.

Now it is placed in front of Nara Rangsei.

It's an entire wall!

Although, in my perception, none of the masks on the wall in front of me emitted any chakra fluctuations.

However, Nara Rinkei, who had "foresight," knew that all the death masks in this shrine were genuine!

In the normal timeline, Orochimaru's hands were sealed away by Hiruzen Sarutobi using the Reaper Death Seal during the Konoha Crush plan—in reality, they were the souls of Orochimaru's hands.

After three years of dedicated research, Orochimaru finally found a way to break the Reaper Death Seal.

After being "revived" by Uchiha Sasuke, he brought Team Taka to the Uzumaki Shrine and used a Shinigami mask inside the shrine to completely unseal his hands.

of course.

Orochimaru unsealed more than just his hands.

Also released from their seals were Minato Namikaze (with half of the Nine-Tails), Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi!

"That being said, Minato Namikaze committed suicide during the Nine-Tails' attack, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two had their souls sealed by the Shinigami during the Konoha Crush plan, a gap of more than ten years."

"But Orochimaru could use a Shinigami mask to unseal all their souls in one instance of the Reaper Death Seal."

"What's the reason for this? Could it be that the [Reaper Death Seal] actually shares the same Shinigami?"

Nara Rinka's mind stirred slightly, and his Yin Release chakra, in accordance with his will, transformed into a condensed shadow rope.

[Shadow Convergence Technique]!

Under Nara Rinka's manipulation, the nearest mask was removed by his shadow.

The moment you come into contact with this mask, its attribute information pops up on the panel.

[S-Rank Ninja Tool: Death Mask]

Regarding the Uzumaki Shrine, my personal impression is that it only appeared once in chapter 618 of the manga, and never appeared again afterward.

Even Orochimaru's use of the Impure World Reincarnation technique did not take place at the Uzumaki Shrine, but at the Uchiha clan's Nanka Shrine.

In chapter 618, the Uzumaki Shrine is in a state of disrepair, and one of the walls inside is covered with Shinigami masks.

Considering that the Uzumaki Shrine is located on the outskirts of Konoha Village.

My personal speculation is that the Uzumaki Shrine may have suffered damage from the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' rampage.

Of course, it is also possible that it was damaged a long time ago.

For example, it was affected when Madara Uchiha controlled the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha.

This chapter adopts the second conjecture.

As for Payne's invasion or attacks from other villages...

If it were Pain's Shinra Tensei, the Uzumaki Shrine wouldn't even be considered "ruined"; it would be completely razed to the ground.

As for the other villages, there probably isn't anyone who can reach the outskirts of Konoha.

(End of this chapter)