"Orochimaru-sama!"
The barrier was forcibly broken, and the Sound Four had also suffered significant injuries. The four of them quickly arrived at Orochimaru's side, supporting him as they fled outwards at top speed.
"Uzumaki-sama, aren't we going to stop them?" Mui spoke, already extending his hand and aiming it at the Sound Four. As long as Naruto nodded, he could instantly subdue them.
Naruto shook his head: "I have already made arrangements."
"My apologies for overthinking."
"Fourth Kazekage, the time has come for your appearance." Naruto turned his back to the 'Daimyo' of the Land of Waves and said, "Without your command... the Suna-nin cannot withstand the offensive of the Konoha-nin. No matter how well-equipped they are."
"Make some chaos. With the Third Hokage incapacitated, none of these Konoha shinobi are a match for you."
"Let loose the hatred you've been nursing."
The Land of Waves 'Daimyo' ripped his ceremonial garments away, revealing the robes of the Kazekage. His face, was now completely covered in thick bandages. Gold Dust rose from the ground beneath him, lifting him into the air.
"Suna-nin, continue the attack on Konoha!" Rasa's voice rang out, the morale of the Suna-nin surged, while the morale of the Konoha-nin plummeted.
Next, Naruto slowly walked over to the dying Third Hokage, crouched down, and leaned in: "Thinking of dying like a hero? Dying to protect Konoha?"
He extended a finger, his fingertip tapping the Third Hokage's forehead, and a faint trace of 'Ki' entered the Third Hokage's body. This bit of Ki could not restore the life force the Third Hokage had lost, but it was enough to hang onto his final breath, preventing him from dying.
Leaning close to his ear, he looked as if he were about to say something, but his lips never moved from beginning to end.
Yet, Naruto's voice echoed directly in the Third Hokage's mind: 'That won't do, Grandpa Third. You are truly too greedy.'
'You haven't witnessed the scene of Konoha's destruction with your own eyes yet, so how can you go one step ahead?'
'I have been looking forward to this day for a very long time.'
Although he was using honorifics, there was not a shred of respect in his tone. If anyone could sense Ki, they would definitely be able to feel the Ki emanating from Naruto, thick with tangible malice.
"You-" Hiruzen, barely clinging to consciousness, slowly opened his eyes. When he registered that familiar address, his eyes snapped wide in disbelief, staring up at Naruto. "You... you are..."
Naruto placed an index finger over his own lips. "Shhh. Silence now."
"It's enough that you understand. Speaking it aloud would be highly unwise."
In the next second, a special seal appeared on the Third Hokage's tongue. 'Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal'
Not just the tongue, there were also seals placed on his brain and heart.
"Enjoy it slowly. The next part is a show I've prepared for a long time."
Seeing that the Third Hokage had not died after quite some time, the Shinigami standing behind him seemed somewhat dissatisfied, brandishing its knife as it intended to personally harvest the Third Hokage's life.
"The Reaper Death Seal is indeed the most potent sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki Clan," Naruto mused aloud, perhaps for Hiruzen's benefit. "But it is not a Secret Technique only the Uzumaki can learn. With sufficient talent, anyone could potentially use it."
He paused. "What if an enemy learned the Reaper Death Seal and then turned it against our clan? Our ancestors considered this question long ago."
"Regarding this problem, clansmen had thought about it long ago."
"To be precise, this person was the genius who created the Reaper Death Seal in the first place. Therefore, when he created the Reaper Death Seal, he left a countermeasure."
The sound of chains dragging across the ground slowly rang out. At the moment the knife in the Shinigami's hand was about to touch the Third Hokage's soul, a pitch-black chain wrapped around its body.
Clearly, this chain looked as thin as a spiderweb in front of the Shinigami, yet no matter how it struggled, it was bound to the spot, unable to move.
"That failsafe is the Adamantine Sealing Chains. The Reaper Death Seal's perfect nemesis is the Uzumaki Clan's unique ability."
"Relying on these Chains, coupled with their abnormal physique and mastery of sealing jutsu, the Uzumaki clan once thrived, even founding their own nation, the Land of Whirlpools, during the Warring States Era."
"A single shinobi clan establishing a country during that chaos was unprecedented, a truly unique feat."
"What a pity. Success came from founding a nation, and failure came from founding a nation. The establishment of the Land of Whirlpools was also the beginning of the Uzumaki Clan's decline. After establishing the country, the Uzumaki Clan no longer had the tension of struggling for survival in the cracks of the chaotic world. They immersed themselves in the joy of founding a nation, lost themselves, and forgot their roots." Naruto paused, his voice heavy with contempt.
"As shinobi, they focused only on comfort and neglected their training. Complacency killed them."
"They became so complacent that when the Land of Whirlpools was finally destroyed decades ago, besides Mito Uzumaki, who had married into Konoha, and Princess Kushina, there wasn't a single clansman in all of Whirlpools who had mastered either the Reaper Death Seal or the Adamantine Sealing Chains."
"It was like how barely few Uchiha awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan for decades after Madara left, or how no Senju awakened the Wood Release after Hashirama died."
"No, the Uzumaki were even worse. Some of their own people had forgotten their most basic shinobi instincts, foolishly running to Konoha for aid..."
"Little did they know that Konoha was one of the prime culprits who encouraged their destruction that year."
Most of the people observing, Daimyo, Kage, or leaders of various organizations, understood treachery well. Betrayal by allies was a common state of affairs. After all, were allies not simply waiting to be sold out? Otherwise, where would the Konoha Collapse Plan come from?
"Apologies, Shinigami-san." Naruto turned his head to address the massive ghostly shadow in the sky: "This is my prey. You cannot take him away right now."
The Adamantine Sealing Chains behind Naruto tightened slightly, and the Shinigami Hiruzen had summoned immediately dissolved into smoke.
"Did you observe that, Nagato?" Naruto instructed. "The Adamantine Sealing Chains are the foundation of our Uzumaki Clan." He emphasized the next point. "Though the Sage of Six Paths' Sage's Eye is powerful, it is not an ability inherent within our own bodies."
"Elder Uzumaki, I have learned a valuable lesson," Nagato said respectfully.
Sasuke's mind was confused, 'Elder Uzumaki? What did I miss?' Although Sasuke had multiple 'whys' in his heart, out of trust in Naruto, he said nothing and asked nothing. He did everything exactly as Naruto had agreed with him beforehand.
"Take our esteemed Third Hokage," Naruto commanded. "Try not to accidentally kill him."
"The next stop is the place our honored Hokage knows best."
"His home."
With that, Naruto took the lead and launched into the air. Sasuke and Nagato, easily the strongest present, instantly followed.
The remaining Daimyo exchanged nervous glances, eventually settling on Doto Kazahana. Doto erupted in frustration, hauling the unconscious Daimyo of the Grass up by the back of his neck and shaking him violently for all to see.
"It's already exhausting carrying this damn pig around!" he spat. "Don't expect me to carry this old man as well."
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