The Proper Use of the Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation)
The Right Sacrifice?
Namikaze Minato frowned as he pondered the White Zetsu clones Naruto had been hunting in recent days. White Zetsu closely resembled humans in form, but they lacked internal organs and conventional biological structures. Could they serve as suitable sacrifices for the Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei)?
If so, that raised another question—where exactly did these humanoid creatures originate?
His mind quickly turned to the masked man who had attacked Konoha years ago and unleashed the Nine-Tails (Kyūbi). Could the two be connected?
A deep unease settled over him. If White Zetsu could indeed be used for Edo Tensei, that meant a powerful force had access to a near-limitless supply of expendable sacrifices. This revelation suggested a larger, more insidious conspiracy lurking in the shadows of the ninja world. But as a soul residing in the Pure Land, Minato was powerless to investigate, let alone stop its progression.
Still, Naruto's familiarity with White Zetsu was troubling. Did he learn about them from Kurama?
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Inside Uzushio's Ruins
Naruto arrived at the office of the surviving Uzumaki elder, Uzumaki Kamon (Huomen), and made his request.
"I want to visit the Uzumaki Shrine."
Uzumaki Kamon studied Naruto for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh. Without a word, he turned and led the way.
It was inevitable. Naruto's presence in Uzushio wasn't just about securing land for the Uchiha—it was about something deeper. Kamon suspected that Naruto was here for the Uzumaki clan's lost fūinjutsu (sealing techniques) or, more specifically, the artifacts that contained their legacy.
Their destination was a hidden cavern, deep within the ruins of Uzushio. Inside lay the remnants of the once-proud Uzumaki Shrine.
Upon entering, Naruto's gaze swept over the numerous death masks adorning the altar. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Why do all these ancient clans love storing their secret weapons in ancestral shrines? Uchiha had the Sharingan, the Uzumaki had these death masks… I wonder if the Hyūga or the Senju have their own hidden trump cards stashed away somewhere."
Kamon's expression remained unreadable. "Aside from the shrine in Konoha, this is the last standing Uzumaki shrine in the ninja world. If you're after artifacts, take what you want, but keep in mind—most of these require a deep understanding of fūinjutsu to wield properly."
Naruto's eyes narrowed at this. "Are these masks just artifacts, or are they physical vessels for sealing techniques? Can any of them be used for the Shiki Fūjin (Reaper Death Seal)?"
Kamon nodded. "In theory, yes. But invoking the Reaper requires a life sacrifice. During the destruction of Uzushio, many of our kin perished, taking their enemies with them using these very techniques."
Naruto tilted his head. "So why didn't you use it back then?"
Kamon's expression darkened. "I was a child when Uzushio fell. The elders forced me to flee before the final battle. By the time I returned, our legacy was already in ruins."
He sighed, his thoughts drifting back to memories of his homeland.
Naruto reached for the oldest-looking mask, running his fingers over its surface, sensing the lingering traces of chakra.
"Kamon," he asked, "do these masks require a blood contract to activate?"
Kamon shot him a flat look. "Most likely. But the knowledge of how to properly use them was lost with our clan's destruction. You might as well keep them as souvenirs."
Naruto's mind raced. "Wait… doesn't the Scroll of Seals in Konoha contain some of the Uzumaki's lost techniques?"
Kamon's eyes widened at the mention of the forbidden scroll. "It does? Then… does it have the Shiki Fūjin as well?"
Naruto nodded. "It does. But that's not what I plan to use." He gestured to a nearby shadow clone, which promptly brought in a White Zetsu body. "I want to cast something else—a forbidden technique that can temporarily revive the dead: Edo Tensei."
Kamon visibly stiffened.
"Edo Tensei? A technique that can revive the dead!?"
Naruto smirked. "You sound surprised. Your clan could summon the Shinigami (Reaper) and use deadly sealing arts. Isn't it only natural that Konoha would eventually develop a countermeasure—something that brings back the dead?"
He crossed his arms. "Besides, you just lamented how the Uzumaki lost their sealing heritage. Well, Edo Tensei can fix that. If the lineage was interrupted, why not just summon our ancestors to restore it?"
Kamon was stunned by Naruto's logic. The reasoning made sense—but something about Naruto's tone unsettled him. It was the same nonchalant attitude he had when he first met Uchiha Shisui.
"…I think we should reconsider this, Menma—"
Before Kamon could finish, Naruto had already completed the Edo Tensei ritual.
A blinding flash of light filled the chamber as shredded paper enveloped the White Zetsu corpse. A moment later, the paper solidified, morphing into the form of an elderly man with a long white beard and sharp, piercing eyes.
Naruto's brow furrowed. "An old man? Guess I got lucky."
Kamon, on the other hand, turned pale.
"Menma… this is Uzumaki Ashina—the patriarch who founded the Land of Whirlpools! My grandfather told me he had a terrible temper and really didn't like being disturbed."
Naruto's face fell slightly. "Oh. That's… inconvenient."
Before he could say anything else, Ashina's eyes snapped open.
The old man wasted no time. In a single motion, he performed a one-handed seal and cut off Naruto's control over the Edo Tensei. Then, golden chakra chains (Adamantine Sealing Chains) shot from his back, rushing toward the two of them.
Kamon paled. "We're dead. He's going to string us up and seal us for ten years."
Naruto frowned. "That long? Wasn't the average lifespan back then like thirty years? That's half a lifetime."
"My grandfather swore it was true!" Kamon wailed.
Naruto sighed and stepped forward, shielding Kamon as he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
As soon as his genjutsu took hold, however, Ashina effortlessly dispelled it with another sealing technique.
"Hmph. A three-tomoe Uchiha brat attacking me? Are you trying to break Madara and Hashirama's peace treaty?"
Naruto groaned. "Great. A battle-hardened Uzumaki and a stubborn old man. This day just keeps getting better."
Without missing a beat, Ashina fired another barrage of sealing chains. Naruto barely dodged using the Flying Thunder God Technique. But Kamon wasn't as lucky—he was immediately bound and immobilized.
Naruto clenched his fists. He had no choice.
With a sharp breath, he activated the Dark Kurama Mode. Cloaked in black chakra, he blitzed toward Ashina, forming a Rasenringu (Spiral Wheel) in his hand.
The moment the Rasenringu connected, Ashina's sealing barrier cracked.
Ashina's eyes narrowed. "The Kyūbi's chakra… You're Konoha's Jinchūriki? And you bear the blood of the Uzumaki… yet you have the Sharingan?"
A long pause followed.
Naruto sighed. "Can we just talk now?"
Ashina crossed his arms. "Fine. But you still need to explain why you woke me up."
Naruto muttered under his breath, "Yeah, I definitely should have thought this through…"
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