Chapter 347: Before the Final Battle
BOOM!!!
When Naruto appeared in this ward through Flying Thunder God, using the profound chakra connection with his mother to make the jump, this was the tremendously impactful scene that met his eyes.
Dust hadn't yet settled, shattered bricks rustling down. Urashiki's body had directly crashed through the ward's thick wall. Amid collision sounds and the wall's collapse rumbling, he'd tumbled embarrassingly onto the hospital corridor floor, stirring up dust clouds.
"Mom! Are you alright?!"
Naruto's gaze first urgently swept toward that familiar figure inside the ward. Only after confirming Kushina's clothes were slightly disheveled but she wasn't seriously hurt did his heart settle somewhat.
"Naruto?!"
Hearing her son's voice, Kushina violently turned around, face flashing surprise before being covered by worry. Seeing Naruto unharmed, she first breathed a sigh of relief but immediately shouted urgently: "I'm fine! Don't come closer—stay away from that guy!"
Though the just-now exchange made Kushina feel this enemy "seemed not as ridiculously strong as imagined," his strange abilities plus his stated objective targeting Naruto made her unwilling to let her son risk even the slightest danger.
Also just now, that fishhook piercing Kushina's back had been passively pulled from her body due to Urashiki being sent flying and the fishing line's pull.
A strange feeling surged through Kushina. The instant the fishhook entered her body, she'd indeed clearly felt something forcibly "hooked" away from inside.
That was an abnormal emptiness sensation similar to chakra being stripped. According to the Third Hokage's warning and what she'd just witnessed, being struck by this fishhook should result in massive chakra extraction like the Third's current state—falling into extreme weakness and immobility.
But...
Kushina moved her limbs. That massive chakra flow within still surged turbulently.
Aside from slight stinging where her back was pierced, she surprisingly felt no weakness or strength decline signs. Her spirit and stamina both remained at peak.
What Kushina didn't know was—though life energy granted her perfect life form, almost no different from true resurrection, her inner essence still derived from Impure World Reincarnation. One of Impure World Reincarnation body's most core, most contrary-to-reason characteristics was "infinite chakra."
The chakra the fishhook seized—for her, merely an amount that could instantly regenerate from this special body's "source," far insufficient to cause substantial weakening.
"Hmhmhm... hehehe..."
Just as Naruto stayed alert and Kushina puzzled, low yet obviously pleased laughter transmitted from the corridor's smoke.
The originally embarrassed, heavily struck Urashiki was slowly supporting himself with his arms, standing up from the ground.
He patted his dust-covered white clothing. Though blood traces still remained at his mouth corners and clear fist imprints bruised his face, that previous furious ferocious expression had completely vanished.
Replacing it was a mixture of surprise, realization, and... irrepressible joy.
"Haha... hahaha... truly... truly too 'fortunate'! So that's it... no wonder your chakra felt so 'familiar'..."
He raised his head, first looking toward the vigilant Kushina, then turning toward the cold-expressioned Naruto whose body began emanating golden chakra glimmers. Finally, his gaze fell upon the dark red fishing rod in his own hands.
At the fishhook's tip hung an extremely massive, solid, flame-like burning crimson chakra light cluster!
Within the light cluster radiated uniquely familiar fluctuations—Nine-Tails chakra!
During the brief instant the fishhook pierced Kushina's body, Urashiki had surprisingly "hooked" almost all the massive Nine-Tails chakra contained within her—or rather, the Nine-Tails chakra that long coexisted with her soul!
Naruto instantly understood the reason for Urashiki's attitude change. Urashiki's initial objective—obtaining Nine-Tails chakra—had been achieved by the "Nine-Tails inheritance" carried in Mother's body!
"Next..." Urashiki's blue Rinnegan slowly closed. When reopening, they'd transformed into red Rinnegan!
"Returning to my era... the 'plan' can be declared complete!"
"Farewell, 'Uzumaki Naruto.'" Urashiki indifferently glanced at Naruto. "I've lost interest in you."
Before words finished, space rippled with rings of black, transforming into a stable pitch-black portal—Yomotsu Hirasaka!
This was Kekkei Mora-level space-time ninjutsu. Its principles and tier completely differed from Flying Thunder God—coordinate-based, high-speed movement space-time ninjutsu. It directly connected to unknown alternate dimensions or coordinates. Once entered, Flying Thunder God couldn't track or intercept without leaving a mark.
Naruto bit his teeth, knowing internally it was too late.
The next second, Urashiki's figure completely vanished into that profound darkness.
Naruto stood in place, gaze locked on the void where Urashiki disappeared. No... wait. Calmly thinking it through—
Though what occurred was bizarre, now wasn't the time for detailed explanations to Kushina and the Third Hokage. Every additional second delayed increased variables.
First, if Urashiki wanted to accurately "return to his own era," he must obtain that crucial "key"—that turtle-shell-shaped space-time device, the Plow!
His thoughts instantly cleared. Just continue executing the original plan—waiting for the prey!
"Sorry, Mom," Naruto rapidly turned, speaking extremely quickly yet clearly to the two in the ward. "I'll explain the detailed situation after things end."
Words finished—
Whoosh—!
Golden light flashed. Naruto's figure instantly vanished. He'd directly activated the Flying Thunder God mark coordinate left on Uchiha Satsuki.
---
Outside Konoha Village, in forestland with relatively sparse trees.
Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Boruto, and Uchiha Satsuki—used by Naruto as a coordinate—were rapidly moving through.
"Naruto?!"
Space rippled imperceptibly. Immediately after, Naruto's familiar figure appeared without warning beside Satsuki. His sudden appearance startled all three. Sasuke immediately stopped, asking in deep voice:
"How is it? Is Konoha Village alright?!" His voice carried rare urgency.
"Konoha's fine. The attack was stopped." Naruto stabilized himself, concisely reporting safety first. Seeing Sasuke and Boruto obviously relax, he immediately continued explaining what had just occurred in Konoha.
Learning Urashiki obtained Nine-Tails chakra, Sasuke's just-relaxed brow tightly locked again.
"Time to put an end to things."
After silent moments, Sasuke said in low voice: "So that's it. Though he has spatial jump capability, he didn't immediately flee far."
He raised his head. That exposed Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular power slightly flowed.
"Urashiki's chakra presence hasn't completely left Konoha's vicinity—just constantly concealing itself." Sasuke's voice recovered calm analytical mode. "Looks like Urashiki truly suffered considerable injuries in previous battles and the just-now assault."
"That degree of injuries plus forcibly activating high-level space-time ninjutsu's consumption—he absolutely cannot recover to a state capable of ultra-long-distance or precise temporal jumps in the short term."
Sasuke looked toward Naruto. "He needs the Plow to ensure accurate return. Before he heals his injuries and has capability for the next attack or other actions..."
"—Is our best opportunity to proactively strike and completely eliminate him. Can't wait for him to recover. Even less can we let him approach the Plow. Must find him while he's weakest now and finish him."