Chapter 183: Naruto is Already Dead!

Chapter 183: Naruto is Already Dead!

Uchiha Yi's words caused an uproar.

For Minato Namikaze, they were especially painful.

At first, he dismissed the comment as a misunderstanding, refusing to let his mind dwell on the worst. But the silence from the person who looked like his son, combined with his unfamiliar demeanor, caused an overwhelming sense of foreboding to rise within him.

"Apologies," the boy said, his voice tinged with regret. "I am not Naruto. My name is Ashura, the son of Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, and I've come to save the ninja world."

Minato stared, his confusion turning to disbelief. The boy in front of him looked exactly like Naruto, yet he claimed to be someone else entirely.

Uchiha Yi, growing impatient, gestured toward Black Zetsu.

"Black Zetsu, explain it to him," he said casually, giving Zetsu a chance to provide the context.

Black Zetsu slithered out of Kaguya's sleeve, its inky form twisting into a mocking grin.

"The progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki—the woman standing before you—had three children," Zetsu explained.

"The eldest was Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the so-called Sage of Six Paths. The second was Hamura Ōtsutsuki. And the third was me, Black Zetsu."

"Hagoromo had two sons, Indra and Ashura. Over millennia, these two reincarnated endlessly, seeking to resolve the conflict between their ideals."

"The last reincarnation of Indra was Uchiha Madara, and for Ashura, it was Senju Hashirama."

"This time, Indra's reincarnation was Uchiha Sasuke, though he's already dead."

"And Ashura's reincarnation... was Naruto Uzumaki."

As Black Zetsu finished, murmurs rippled through the crowd of shinobi who had gathered to witness the confrontation.

"Impossible..." Minato whispered, his face pale. "That can't be true."

Black Zetsu laughed cruelly. "Oh, but it is. And that's not even the worst part."

Turning to Ashura, Zetsu continued with a sinister grin.

"The moment Ashura's will awakened, Naruto ceased to exist."

The words hit Minato like a hammer.

His body trembled as he clenched his fists. He had fought tooth and nail throughout this war, enduring the unthinkable, all for the chance to protect his son and give him a better future.

But now, he was being told that his son—the light of his life—was gone.

"Apologies, Namikaze Minato," Ashura said, his tone heavy. "Naruto's soul merged with mine upon awakening. He's gone. I'm sorry."

"No..." Minato whispered, shaking his head. "No! That's not possible!"

Unable to contain his emotions, Minato charged at Ashura, his fist pulled back to strike.

But just as his fist was about to make contact, it froze mid-air.

Minato couldn't bring himself to harm the person wearing his son's face. His trembling hand hovered just inches from Ashura's cheek before falling limply to his side.

Seeing Minato like this broke the hearts of those who knew him.

Jiraiya and Kakashi rushed to his side, their expressions grim.

"Minato..." Jiraiya said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know this is hard, but—"

"How could this happen?" Minato interrupted, his voice shaking. "Why my son? Why Naruto?"

Ashura bowed his head, guilt etched across his face.

"I am truly sorry for your loss," he said earnestly. "This wasn't my choice, but the world was on the brink of destruction. Sacrifices had to be made for the greater good."

"Greater good?" Uchiha Yi's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

He stepped forward, his expression cold.

"You people always justify your actions with those words. 'Sacrifices for the greater good.' 'It had to be done.' It's disgusting."

Ashura frowned but remained composed.

"The ninja world was at risk of annihilation," he said. "If I hadn't acted, everything would have been lost."

Minato dropped to his knees, his hands clutching his head.

"This war..." he muttered, his voice barely audible. "I fought so hard. I gave everything. And for what? To lose my son in the end?"

Black Zetsu couldn't resist the opportunity to twist the knife further.

"What did you expect, Fourth Hokage?" it sneered. "This is the legacy of the Sage of Six Paths. Peace built on endless sacrifices."

Ashura's gaze hardened.

"Enough," he said firmly. "The past cannot be undone, but the future can still be saved. The ninja world is still in danger. We must seal Kaguya once and for all."

Uchiha Yi chuckled darkly.

"You? Seal Kaguya? Don't make me laugh," he said. "You couldn't even stop me, and now you think you can handle her?"

Ashura turned to face Uchiha Yi, his eyes blazing with determination.

"If you stand in my way, I will stop you too," he said.

The tension between them crackled like electricity, and it was clear that a clash was imminent.

End of Chapter 183.

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