The Demon attack on Raiden's mansion did not cause any disturbance in the village at all. His residence was already remote, and Uzumaki Raiden didn't publicize the incident after that night. He simply discussed it with Minato and Shikaku.
As for the well-known figures in the village, they only noticed a flash of lightning in the clear night sky and took it as an anecdote, spreading it in a small circle.
In the ninja school office, Uzumaki Raiden sat behind the desk, carefully flipping through a scroll. On the sofa, Namikaze Yoriichi sat upright, staring at the book in front of him. Although he appeared focused, the little guy wasn't paying attention at all.
"Yoriichi, why are you distracted?"
"Have you already mastered everything in the book?!"
Even though Uzumaki Raiden was studying a sealing technique scroll, he still noticed that Yoriichi's mind wasn't on his textbook. He raised his head slightly and asked in a soft tone.
"I'm sorry, Uncle."
"I..."
"The Demon I caught last night..."
As soon as Yoriichi heard Raiden's words, he slapped his cheeks in embarrassment. He opened his mouth but, unable to organize his thoughts properly, fell silent again.
"Do you have any questions? Speak up. If you don't clear the doubts in your heart, you won't be able to concentrate on your studies."
"Go ahead."
Uzumaki Raiden gently closed the scroll in his hand and encouraged him. He liked this nephew very much. Despite being young, Yoriichi was well-mannered and highly intelligent. He was quite different from Naruto, who had a fiery personality, was noisy all day long, and was a typical troublemaker—much like Kushina.
But Yoriichi was different. He was thoughtful, quiet, and more like Minato in personality.
Blond-haired Naruto resembled Kushina, while the red-haired Namikaze Yoriichi took after Minato. It was quite interesting.
"Uncle, you sealed the Demon last night instead of killing it."
"Why?"
"Do you also seek the ability to live forever?"
"Even though I'm young, I understand that obtaining such an ability comes at a great cost. I don't want you to..."
As Yoriichi spoke, his voice grew quieter. He retained the memories of his past life and knew how terrifying the Demon King was. That terror wasn't about strength but about the temptation the Demon King embodied.
He was deeply afraid that Uzumaki Raiden would be lured by the Demon King. He knew that the stronger a person was, the deeper their obsession with immortality. His elder brother in his past life had succumbed to the temptation and became the Demon King's ally.
Yoriichi deeply respected his powerful uncle and didn't want to see him go astray. Even though Raiden had shown no signs of temptation yet, Yoriichi was well aware that his uncle could have easily destroyed the Demon King, yet he had chosen to seal him instead. It wasn't hard to guess why.
"Is that what's on your mind?"
"Yoriichi, your thoughts are incredibly mature—not like a four-year-old child at all."
Uzumaki Raiden's words startled Yoriichi. He had spoken openly out of concern for Raiden, without realizing that his reasoning had surpassed what a child of his age should exhibit. His expression stiffened—had his uncle noticed something?
"You're thinking at a level similar to when Itachi was a child."
Uzumaki Raiden narrowed his eyes slightly and observed Yoriichi's reaction with a smile.
"Itachi? Do you mean your disciple, Senior Uchiha Itachi, Uncle?"
Yoriichi was slightly worried that Raiden would question his unnatural maturity, but upon hearing his uncle's words, he let out a small sigh of relief. He then curiously asked about Itachi.
"Yes, Uchiha Itachi."
"That child had already mastered ninjutsu at your age and had even set foot on the battlefield."
"During his first battle, he had already killed an enemy."
"Although the opponent was in a weakened state, Itachi's performance was exceptional."
"Even at a young age, he displayed a level of maturity far beyond his peers. You're quite similar to him."
Uzumaki Raiden stood up, sat beside Yoriichi, and gently patted his head, his gaze filled with nostalgia.
"Senior Itachi is a very gentle person."
Upon hearing that Itachi had been forced into battle at the age of four, Yoriichi couldn't help but feel a little sad. He had interacted with Itachi before and knew him as a kind and gentle person. Though he was quiet, he had a warm personality. It was hard to imagine that someone like him had been forced to kill at such a young age.
"Yes, he has a sharp mind and exceptional talent. In both intelligence and ninjutsu, he is a genius."
"Yoriichi, you are the same."
"Though you haven't formally studied chakra applications yet, I can sense that there is an immense power within you."
"To ensure your proper development, I've discussed with your parents, and I will officially begin teaching you ninjutsu when you turn five."
"Until then, your main focus will be strengthening your foundation."
"Training will primarily consist of physical exercises."
Uzumaki Raiden spoke softly, then shifted the topic back.
"To be honest, immortality is something everyone desires. Even I would like to grasp such power."
"But if you think the Demon King is the only immortal being in this world, you are mistaken."
"There is an immortal entity sealed in the sky. Her method of immortality is entirely different from that of the Demon King."
"However, you're not wrong—obtaining immortality always comes at a great cost."
"But don't worry, I won't lose myself to the temptation of eternal life."
Uzumaki Raiden wrapped his arm around Yoriichi's shoulders to reassure him. But his words did little to put Yoriichi at ease.
"I won't lose my mind because of the temptation of eternal life."
Many had spoken similar words. Every strong individual believed they could resist temptation. But when death truly loomed over them, how many could actually withstand it?
Seeing that Raiden was firm in his stance, Yoriichi had no choice but to nod and focus on his book. He was not naïve enough to think a few words could change his uncle's mind. Raiden had his own clear goals.
Raiden believed Yoriichi understood him, so he said no more and returned to studying the scroll. Would Uzumaki Raiden abandon his pursuit of the Demon King's immortality? Clearly not. However, he had no interest in becoming a Demon himself—what he sought was the secret behind it.
But such matters required professionals.
At that very moment, as Raiden and Yoriichi were conversing, professionals in the study of immortality entered Wufang City with Guren and an Upper-Rank Demon in tow.
During the day, Wufang City was bustling, and among the ordinary citizens, knowledge of Demons was scarce. Most were unaware that they were trapped within the city. But such things did not concern the residents—they continued their daily lives, oblivious to any abnormality.
"Lord Orochimaru, the people in this city don't seem to realize they are trapped!"
Guren followed Orochimaru, carrying a massive wooden barrel covered in intricate seals and bound tightly with heavy chains.
She was just a young girl, yet Orochimaru had her carrying such a burden. However, she showed no signs of dissatisfaction—rather, she curiously observed the pedestrians.
"Ho ho ho ho, not necessarily!" Orochimaru chuckled, his gaze landing on a store not far away. It was a funeral shop selling candles and coffins, yet its location was strangely out of place—in the middle of a bustling street. Even more unusual was the long line of customers waiting at the entrance.
Typically, funeral shops are tucked away in remote corners of a village. Such businesses don't rely on foot traffic; people only visit when they have a need. It's not as if a random passerby would decide to purchase a coffin just because a shop was well-decorated.
Thus, placing a funeral shop in such a prime location was highly peculiar. Its presence suggested that there were so many funeral shops in the city that they were competing with one another.
As Orochimaru spoke, he made his way toward the funeral shop. His presence alone attracted significant attention as he walked through the bustling streets.
His and Guren's appearance made them stand out too much. Orochimaru, with his pale complexion, long hair, and unsettling demeanor, hardly looked trustworthy. Meanwhile, Guren, though just a young girl, carried a massive wooden barrel wrapped in heavy chains and covered in intricate seals. This bizarre combination was more than enough to draw curious gazes.
Unbeknownst to them, certain individuals had already begun gathering intelligence on their arrival.
The Demon's subordinates weren't necessarily Demons themselves—some were merely fallen humans who had chosen to follow them.
Not long after Orochimaru and his group entered Wufang City, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his subordinates arrived outside the city. Unlike Orochimaru's direct approach, Hiruzen had his team begin setting up a barrier around the city.
His goal was clear—he would not allow a single Demon to escape.
"Lord Third, the barrier team has started the formation, but due to gathering personnel along the way, our numbers are still limited. It will take time to complete the setup," Nara Shikadai reported from beside Hiruzen, standing atop a hill overlooking Wufang City.
"How long?" Hiruzen asked.
"At least two more days before the large-scale barrier is complete," Shikadai estimated.
"Have them hurry. I've already sent the Monkey King into the city to rendezvous with Asuma. The situation inside is still stable for now, so we don't need to worry."
"According to Asuma's intelligence, the two strongest Demons in Wufang City are a Upper-Rank Demon named Tonggu and another named Heijian. These two will be our top priority when we enter."
"At the same time, we must ensure the safety of the Daimyō and his retainers."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the distant city, his mind already formulating battle strategies.
"Yes. Our plan is to raid the city early the morning after tomorrow. It will be advantageous for us to search for the Demons during the day," Shikadai continued.
"At night, we will remain hidden. Unless absolutely necessary, we will avoid direct combat with the Demons."
Hearing this, Hiruzen frowned in doubt.
"During the day? Will Demons even appear?"
"Based on past encounters, they don't come out in the sunlight. How do you plan to fight them?"
This question hadn't occurred to Shikadai. In his tactical mind, choosing an environment that favored their side was always the priority.
Unlike previous battles, where Demons had initiated nighttime attacks, this time they were marching into enemy territory. Naturally, it made sense to fight under conditions that benefited them.
"As for the fact that Demons don't come out during the day… if they won't come to us, then we'll go to them," Shikadai said calmly.
"In order to track them, I requested additional Hyuga Clan shinobi from the village. The Aburame Clan's insects have already identified the scent of the Demons, and they will help locate their hiding spots."
"If the Demons won't emerge on their own, we'll flush them out!"
Hearing this, Hiruzen nodded in approval. He had always fought Demons at night, so it hadn't occurred to him that with Konoha's resources, they could completely change their approach. If they could eliminate the Demons in daylight, their chances of victory would increase significantly.
Konoha's barrier team worked at an efficient pace. A few days later, just before dawn, Hiruzen gathered his forces and advanced toward Wufang City.
But as soon as they entered the city, the sight before them defied all expectations.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"We arrived at sunrise!"
"But… this…?"
Within Wufang City, a thick darkness blanketed the sky, and the air reeked of blood. Despite entering the barrier at dawn, the city within remained locked in eternal night.
(End of this chapter)