I'm drawing manga in Naruto

These are all Akabane's inner monologues. In reality, Shinnosuke only likes Fusou's gentleness and thoughtfulness, and based on the subtle emotions he senses through his perception and Observation Haki, he feels that Fusou probably also likes Shinnosuke.

only……

One was an ordinary member of the Uzumaki clan, and the other was the eldest son of the Third Hokage.

In terms of status, they are worlds apart.

Therefore, it's not that Fusō dislikes Shinnosuke, but rather that she feels like a subjugated person and an ordinary citizen, harboring a hidden sense of inferiority in front of Shinnosuke. She doesn't dare to confess to him, and even less dare to believe that Shinnosuke likes her.

Akabane had no intention of getting involved in the young couple's affairs.

Love is always more realistic when it's a bit bumpy; isn't that how it's always portrayed in Korean dramas?

However, his love life didn't seem to be too bumpy. As he drew, Tsunade became his fangirl, and as he drew, he won Tsunade over.

uh~

That's just how extreme her personality is.

When she's gentle, she can melt even the toughest man; when she's angry, she can smash a house down with a single punch. Who could stand that?

Akabane silently complained to himself while simultaneously dreaming about tomorrow.

In Konoha, updates should be happening simultaneously, while here the festival will begin tomorrow.

The whirlpool clan's rituals are presided over by a clansman with a special physique.

Such people often possess the strongest chakra and other attributes, such as Mito Uzumaki and Kushina Uzumaki.

In this generation, it should have been Uzumaki Seigetsu.

However, she and ten children of the Uzumaki clan were separated from the family, essentially forming a separate branch family. They were no longer members of this clan, and the selection of replacements had to be redone.

Judging from some of the conversations with Shinnosuke, the saintess who was temporarily chosen should be Fusō.

At that time, I wonder if that Grim Reaper mask will be brought out...

Akabane thought to himself.

He wanted to participate in the festival day because he wanted to know what the Grim Reaper really was and what his connection was with the Uzumaki clan.

Clearly, Mito Uzumaki also wanted to know, especially after obtaining the Bat Fruit.

If the Grim Reaper truly possesses consciousness and wisdom, and is watching over the Uzumaki family, then from the moment Mito Uzumaki obtained the Bat-Bat Fruit, she defied the Grim Reaper's will.

By the afternoon, the shadow clone from the Daimyo's side had returned.

As expected, the shadow clone tricked him, altering Kaihime Muzan right in front of the daimyo... Fortunately, the daimyo didn't mind, and instead happily praised it repeatedly.

In the evening, all the members of the Whirlpool Clan gathered together for a lively feast.

However, some people were preparing for the sacrificial ceremony the following day.

The next morning, everyone except Akabane got up very early.

Due to the turmoil, most of the elderly died in the Land of Whirlpools, while those who fled to the Land of Fire were mostly young people and children who were strong, energetic, or had great potential.

This has led to a situation where everyone understands the general process of the sacrificial day, but the specific details are somewhat forgotten.

Fortunately, Mito Uzumaki understood.

Although she had been away from the family for decades, she kept the family's ancestral worship ceremony in her mind and dared not forget it. This time, she played a leading role in organizing the event.

For this reason, her status in the new Vortex clan has become that of an "ancestor".

When Akabane woke up at noon, the general arrangements were already made, with only some details still to be prepared. However, these details were irrelevant to Akabane, as these outsiders only needed to wait for the evening ceremony to begin.

Chapter 339 Is there a traitor in my Hidden Cloud Village?

As dusk approached, the territory of the Whirlpool tribe became increasingly lively.

Akabane was fortunate enough to be invited to observe the ritual. After experiencing a calamity, the population of the Uzumaki clan was greatly reduced, and even when gathered together, they could not fill a small training ground.

However, the sacrificial ceremony was not held in the training ground, but in a small grove not far from the training ground.

An ancestral hall was built in this grove of trees.

As the main force reached the edge of the forest, Akabane saw inside. Fusang sat upright, kneeling before a group of masks, muttering incantations.

The distance was too far to hear the exact words being recited, but it should be some kind of sacrificial incantation.

Akabane watched silently, observing the masks as he did so.

There are many masks.

However, only one of these masks is associated with the Grim Reaper. Only through this mask can one perform the Reaper's Seal Release, thereby releasing the souls that were previously swallowed.

Although there will be a price to pay, it is clear that this "Grim Reaper" is definitely related to the Uzumaki clan, and it is even possible that he is the ancestor of the Uzumaki clan.

Akabane was filled with curiosity.

He was below, unleashing his perception and Observation Haki, attempting to use his powerful sensory abilities to detect the anomaly on the mask, but to no avail…

Perhaps because he was too far away, or perhaps because the ceremony hadn't started, he couldn't see any flaws at all.

Not far away, Mito Uzumaki stood quietly, not approaching the small shrine where the ritual was being held, but her eyes were fixed on one of the masks.

That mask was only used by the highest priest.

Akabane walked to her side and asked in a low voice, "Grandma, that mask..."

Shh, wait.

Mito Uzumaki's eyes remained motionless.

Soon.

Fusang stretched out her hands and took a mask down from the mask rack. Her voice grew louder and louder, a strange incantation that seemed to be a ritualistic phrase.

Then everyone started reciting along.

Under the cover of night, the grove resembled a lively bonfire party, with the masked Fusang in the very center.

Akabane sensed an increasingly powerful chakra emanating from her.

This is……

Akabane's eyes widened. At this moment, he finally felt the power of the mask—this priest had made Fusang even stronger.

Somewhat like bloodline purification?

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but glancing sideways at Mito Uzumaki, he noticed her brows were also furrowed, clearly indicating she had also noticed the unusual state of Fusō—

She had noticed this before, but it was clearest this time.

The bloodline of Fusang is growing stronger.

Her physique is closer to that of Mito Uzumaki.

"The people around have weakened to some extent; this is a ritual that comes at a price."

"Uzumaki Mito said in a low voice."

She wasn't far from Akabane, so no one else could hear her whispering. Tsunade wanted to come closer, but there were a bunch of people in between, so she could only watch from afar as Akabane whispered to her grandmother.

Reminded by her, Akabane noticed the surrounding clansmen. This weakening was very subtle, almost imperceptible, and only someone of Mito Uzumaki's level could detect the slightest clues.

but……

After being reminded, Akabane also noticed the changes.

Their physical condition seemed to have been "plundered".

Of course, only a little bit was "plundered" from each person, and the power of the mask seemed to gather them into Fusang, making Fusang's physique and bloodline closer to the ancestors.

"No wonder the clan leader always selects the clansman with the strongest chakra and vitality to serve as the priest. So that's why."

Mito Uzumaki sighed softly.

The vortex clan has a unique physique, which she speculates may be related to the bloodline of their ancestors, and each generation will produce one or two clan members with exceptionally strong physiques.

For example, her, Whirlpool Moon.

Uzumaki Seigetsu's physique far surpasses that of the other ten children. Even Fusang, who underwent the ritual, is only on par with her, not surpassing Seigetsu. As for surpassing Mito, that is even more impossible.

If nothing unexpected had happened, the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan would have gradually weakened, just like the Senju clan is now...

So that's where the problem started.

Akabane looked at Fusang thoughtfully, and then he understood something.

Back when Kushina Uzumaki was still strong, she could use the Adamantine Lock to control the Nine-Tails and had a very strong sealing ability, but Karin could only separate a few tails.

At that time, the village of Whirlpool had been wiped out, its traditions had been severed, and ceremonies were no longer held. In addition, the hidden Whirlpool clan intermarried with other clans, so their bloodline and physique gradually weakened.

Therefore, the importance of the Death Mask to the Uzumaki clan goes without saying, but it is probably only useful to the Uzumaki clan. Even if Akabane gets it, he will not be able to use its effects.

In addition, one's own bloodline comes from exchange.

Taking it would bring him no benefit whatsoever, and since Akabane doesn't know sealing techniques, he wouldn't be able to make good use of the mask and might end up getting himself into trouble.

not worth it.

At this point, the sacrificial ceremony had ended.

Mito Uzumaki led Akabane away from the forest, pondering the situation as they walked.

After taking a few steps, Akabane couldn't help but ask, "Grandma, where did those masks come from?"

“I don’t know either, but… it might have been left behind by our ancestors. I even suspect that the ‘Grim Reaper’ involved in the Reaper Death Seal might be an ancestor of the Uzumaki clan.”

"Uzumaki Mito sighed."

Although these were all just baseless guesses, she did have a vague feeling about it. It was just strange, though. Why would her ancestor turn himself into the Grim Reaper?

Few in the clan use the Corpse Demon Sealing Technique, so no one has ever truly seen what the Grim Reaper looks like.

Akabane's curiosity grew even stronger after seeing the Grim Reaper's mask.

That night.

Under his perception, everyone had fallen asleep. Akabane activated the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan and used the power of materialization to create a "self" so that it could "replace" him to examine the mask.

At midnight, only a few people on the outer perimeter were watching over the masks at the ancestral hall.

"Red Feather" is the effect of illusion materialization. It has the ability to switch between illusion and reality, so no one noticed it and walked into the ancestral hall on their own.

In the illusionary world, Akabane saw this mask through it.

Its entire body was strange, filled with a peculiar power. From its body, Akabane "saw" a strange mark.

This mark may be associated with death.

but……

Akabane had no intention of investigating further.

He came to see the Grim Reaper mask mostly to satisfy his curiosity, and also to avoid the limelight. The Grim Reaper mask was of little use to him, and there was no need to risk stealing it.

Therefore, Akabane plans to return to Konoha tomorrow.

At this moment, in Kumogakure, ANBU ninjas hurriedly delivered the latest volume of the manga.

The third-generation Ai sat in his chair, impatiently finishing all his tasks, and was just about to go to sleep when...

"Sir, the comic...comic has arrived."

The ninja from the Dark Guard was panting heavily.

Having run back from the Land of Fire without stopping, he was so exhausted that he just wanted to lie down and get a good night's sleep. But first, he had to deliver the comic to Ai.

"Actually, there's no need to rush. Anyway, it's been delivered, let me take a look."

The third generation of Ai took over.

He originally wanted to rest, but seeing how dutifully his subordinates delivered the supplies, he couldn't bring himself to say he wanted to take a nap.

In addition, he was indeed curious about what would happen next.

The manga will inevitably involve Kumogakure in the future, since only the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails remain as Jinchuriki in the manga, and the Eight-Tails belongs to Kumogakure. In addition, according to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, Naruto must find the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in order to complete his final training.

What will happen next?

Ai the Third generation propped his head up and opened the comic book to start reading.

The initial encounter between Naruto and Killer Bee was not unexpected, but later, when the True Waterfall appeared and a ninja from Kumogakure mentioned Brube, the Third Hokage A's expression finally changed.