Chapter 132 Sealing the Dragon Veins!

In the hastily constructed earth shelter, Uzumaki Raiden slowly opened his eyes. He had learned a great deal about the future, but one question lingered in his mind: why did Uchiha Madara target the newborn Naruto Uzumaki?

Although Raiden hadn't asked Kurama this question, he understood that the answer was something he'd have to uncover himself. If Kurama had known, it surely would have shared such crucial information.

"Uncle Raiden?" Naruto called softly when he saw Raiden stir. Naruto had overheard the conversation between Raiden and Kurama in the consciousness space and was concerned for his uncle.

"Raiden, what happened just now?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, noting Raiden's pensive expression.

"Nothing. I just had a chat with the fox."

"This matter ends here. Everything concerning Uzumaki Naruto stays buried. Do not mention it to anyone."

"Hizashi, Fugaku—you two find and eliminate a man named Anrokuzan . Minato, Kakashi, and Duy, come with me to seal the dragon veins."

"We move tonight."

"Naruto, you're coming with us."

Raiden didn't want to discuss the matter further with his teammates. The future was full of variables, and keeping those variables under control was critical. Naruto had already revealed more than enough information.

Upon hearing Raiden's orders, the others suppressed their curiosity and refrained from questioning him further. Kakashi, the youngest among them, seemed uninterested in future revelations and went to sleep early. The rest began rotating their duties, preparing for the night's mission.

Raiden's journey to the dragon veins was originally intended as a way to glimpse the future. Now that his purpose was fulfilled, he had no reason to delay further. As the others rested, he extended the range of his Kagura's Mind Eye, locating the dragon vein's center and identifying Anrokuzan, who had also traveled through time.

Night fell, and a hurricane swept through Rouran, eroding the oasis. In the dark stillness, six figures emerged under the moonlit sky, moving swiftly toward the tallest structure in Rouran City.

"Do not alert the guards. Follow the directions I've given you to locate Anrokuzan," Raiden instructed in a whisper.

"Fugaku, use the Sharingan. Don't give him a chance to resist."

At Raiden's command, Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hizashi left the group, heading toward a nearby building. Meanwhile, Raiden led Minato, Kakashi, and Duy into an underground structure.

Beneath Rouran lay an enormous subterranean complex. The dragon vein's chakra network sprawled through the facility, powering the countless puppets that Anrokuzan had built. Almost all the inhabitants of Rouran had been taken underground, forced to work as laborers.

When Raiden and the others infiltrated the underground palace, Anrokuzan was attempting to brainwash Queen Sara. However, as Raiden's team moved stealthily, Anrokuzan seemed to sense something amiss and hurriedly left the palace.

The palace gates creaked open, and Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hizashi confronted him.

"This is the target," Hizashi confirmed, pointing at Anrokuzan.

Before Anrokuzan could react, Fugaku lunged at him, Sharingan gleaming in his scarlet eyes.

"Who are you?" Anrokuzan cried out in alarm, but Fugaku closed the distance too quickly. His Sharingan spun, casting a powerful genjutsu.

Anrokuzan collapsed, unconscious, before he could even struggle.

Queen Sara, hearing faint noises, stepped out of her chamber to investigate. Finding the corridor empty, she returned, puzzled.

Meanwhile, Raiden's group reached the center of the dragon veins. At its heart lay an altar, with an eye-shaped structure radiating a faint purple glow.

"Naruto, hand me the kunai on your waist," Raiden said, holding out his hand.

Although puzzled, Naruto complied. Raiden inspected the kunai briefly, then adjusted its seal. With practiced precision, he inserted the kunai into the eye-shaped platform and began forming hand seals.

The altar rumbled, and the glowing purple light dimmed. The eye-shaped structure slowly closed, sealing the dragon vein's chakra.

"Is that it? That looked too easy," Naruto remarked, his expression bewildered.

Just then, Naruto's body began to emit a faint white light, which grew increasingly intense.

"What's happening to me?" Naruto asked, startled. He glanced nervously at Raiden and Minato.

"Don't worry. You're returning to your original timeline now that the seal is complete," Raiden replied calmly.

"If that's the case, Fugaku and Hizashi must have succeeded," he added.

Naruto's anxious expression softened. This was his first time meeting the real Uzumaki Raiden, someone he had only heard about in stories from his parents. There was so much he wanted to say.

"Boy, don't look so glum," Raiden said, waving dismissively.

"I have a feeling we'll meet again."

The light surrounding Naruto grew blinding. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but no sound emerged. Within moments, the light consumed him entirely, and he vanished.

Not long after Naruto disappeared, Fugaku and Hizashi rejoined the group. Fugaku carried a corpse over his shoulder.

"It's Anrokuzan," Fugaku confirmed.

Raiden examined the body, then nodded.

"Good. The abnormal chakra here has been dealt with. Burn the body. Let's go."

Raiden watched as Fugaku set the corpse ablaze with a Fireball Jutsu, reducing it to ashes.

The next day, the people of Rouran discovered that the puppets that had enslaved them were gone. Queen Sara noticed the absence of her minister, Anrokuzan, and began uncovering his treacherous deeds.

After completing their mission, Raiden and his team returned to their temporary shelter. Following an overnight rest, they set out for Konoha. Raiden wrote a detailed report on the mission and sent it ahead to the village.

Several days later, as they reached the Land of Fire's border, a messenger hawk arrived with new orders from the Third Hokage:

"The Sand Village has launched an attack, targeting our stronghold in the Land of Rivers. They've inflicted severe losses."

"Order Namikaze Minato and Hatake Kakashi to return to Konoha immediately. Raiden's team is to proceed to the Land of Rivers and join Mitokadu Homura on the front lines. Follow his directives."

(End of this chapter)