Chapter 117: Morkel’s Strength! Execute the Mission! Miss Ying! Naruto!

As the fortress crumbled into ruins, a deep sadness washed over Ying.

She rushed to the fallen Dunbei.

"Grandpa Dunbei, are you alright?"

Dunbei shook his head, trying to smile despite his injuries. "I thought I was done for… but the Konoha shinobi arrived just in time and pulled me back from the brink of death."

"Miss, with these two Konoha ninjas protecting you, I can rest easy."

Ying didn't know how to respond. Her lips parted, but no words came.

Meanwhile, Morkel was eager to complete the mission and escort Bubble to Kirigakure to collect the bounty. He packed up and pulled out a scroll.

"Iron Fake Painting: Aircraft Technique!"

With a loud burst, a black and white airplane formed from ink shot out of the scroll, soaring into the sky.

Bubble, Ying, and Dunbei were left wide-eyed and speechless.

Their jaws nearly dropped.

After a moment of stunned silence, Bubble muttered, "Wow… As expected of the legendary genius Morkel. A Grandmaster of so many unique ninjutsu... it's unbelievable!"

Nearby, the four thief ninjas tied up with Morkel's Wood Style were whispering among themselves.

Thief Ninja A said, "That red-haired guy... he's terrifying."

Thief Ninja C scoffed, "Obviously! How else would he have caught all four of us so quickly?"

Thief Ninja D, the calmest of the group, added, "Let's hope the boss comes to rescue us…"

Thief Ninja B interrupted, "Forget it. Have you been living under a rock? That guy used Wood Style!"

"Wood Style! Do you know what that means?! That's the technique of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi!"

"This guy has to be Morkel—the one who destroyed the Rain Village all by himself not long ago!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the other thieves gasped.

Thief Ninja A clung to a shred of hope, whispering, "I mean... he does look pretty good-looking. Maybe he has a kind heart?"

"Besides, he hasn't killed us yet. If we beg, maybe he'll spare us..."

Bubble overheard and chuckled. "Dream on. Even if he doesn't kill you, he'll take you in for the bounty. If there's no bounty on you... then he might reconsider."

"What are you whispering about?" Morkel turned and stared them down.

The thieves instantly fell silent, straightening up like obedient students.

Morkel then loaded everyone into the plane. He asked Naruto to keep an eye on the thieves, then took the pilot's seat and launched the aircraft using the natural terrain of Mount Katsuragi.

From the dense forests below, the leader of the thief ninjas watched the plane disappear into the sky, stunned.

"Is that some kind of secret weapon developed by a ninja village?"

Morkel's plane, powered by chakra, was lightning fast. In less than thirty minutes, they were soaring above the Tsuchigumo clan's village.

Inside the plane, Naruto turned to Dunbei and asked, "Grandpa Dunbei, why do you live in the Katsuragi Mountain Fortress instead of the village?"

Dunbei sighed. "Because of old disagreements, the Tsuchigumo clan split into two groups—one in the fortress, and one in the village."

"There used to be a lot of people in the fortress, but over the years, most have moved back to the village. With the servants gone, there was no reason for many to stay."

Naruto blinked. "Then why didn't you two move back?"

Dunbei glanced at Ying. His eyes flickered with emotion. "It's complicated… but unless it's absolutely necessary, we won't return."

As they spoke, Morkel landed the plane in a clearing outside the village.

It was late at night. The streets were quiet and empty.

Naruto, ever straightforward, shouted, "Tsuchigumo Ying is back! Aren't you going to come welcome her?!"

At his voice, the entire village went dark.

Clearly, the villagers had no intention of greeting Ying. They didn't welcome the bloodline of the enslaving walkers...

Ying's expression darkened. Morkel saw her face and understood immediately.

Bubble, standing nearby, lowered his head in empathy.

But Naruto, true to form, refused to give up. He walked boldly to the large village bell and rang it.

BONG—!

The loud ringing echoed through the village.

Naruto called out, "Fire! Fire!!"

Panic spread, and the villagers quickly gathered in the central square.

Once they realized there was no fire, murmurs and accusations spread.

"Who lied to us?"

"They just wanted us to come out to greet her?!"

"Why did she even come back?!"

"She should've stayed in the fortress!"

"That girl only brings bad luck."

A middle-aged man with great authority stepped forward, silencing the crowd.

Morkel stepped up, gaze calm and serious. "We are shinobi of Konoha Village, tasked with protecting the Tsuchigumo secret art and the enslaving walker's granddaughter. We've completed our mission."

The middle-aged man bowed with a smile. "We understand. Thank you for your efforts. From now on, we will protect her and the secret techniques ourselves."

He then offered, "Why don't you stay for a meal?"

Morkel shook his head. "We have other matters to attend to."

He turned and left with Naruto, Bubble, and the others.

As they walked, Naruto kept glancing back.

"Those villagers didn't seem very welcoming to Ying or Dunbei. Are you sure they'll be safe?"

Morkel responded quietly, "I doubt it."

He understood all too well the look in those villagers' eyes.

They were the same looks he and Naruto had faced as children—full of judgment and rejection.

"But what else can we do? We can't drag her along forever."

Naruto fell silent.

"Anyway," Morkel said, stretching, "Let's head to Kirigakure and collect the 50 million ryo bounty."

He gave Bubble a side glance.

Bubble asked, "Are you looking at me or the 50 million?"

Morkel grinned. "Both."

"Actually, I don't need to take you back for the bounty."

Bubble raised an eyebrow. "What's your angle?"

Morkel's tone turned serious. "I want you to release the Six Tails inside you."

Bubble's eyes widened. "Are you insane?! Releasing a tailed beast at random could destroy everything!"

"Besides… I was forced into this seal. I don't even know how to unseal it."

"Don't worry," Morkel said confidently. "I have my ways."

Bubble studied Morkel's face. The boy spoke with such certainty—like the tailed beasts were just toys to him.

Maybe... just maybe... he could actually do it.

"If you can ensure the release won't hurt anyone, then the Six Tails is yours," Bubble agreed.

"Deal."

Morkel admired the kindness in Bubble's heart.

He flew the plane to a remote mountainous area and used Wood Style to construct a wooden house and operating room.

Then, the ceremony began.

Morkel didn't plan to release and then reseal the Six Tails—it was inefficient.

Instead, he would directly transfer the seal.

He drew a complex sealing array and began chanting an incantation.

Completing a series of hand seals, he activated the technique.

"Seal Transfer Technique!"

A huge surge of tailed beast chakra erupted.

Outside, Naruto was unfazed by the noise and fell asleep.

The thief ninjas, however, were horrified by the power.

"If I survive this, I'll never commit another crime again!"

"I'll help old ladies cross the street!"

"I'll become a monk!"

Finally, the chakra storm faded.

Morkel had successfully transferred the seal from Bubble's stomach to his right hand.

Inside the seal's space, the Three Tails greeted the Six Tails.

"Old buddy, you're here too?"

Six Tails groaned. "Not by choice."

Back in the operating room, Bubble awoke.

"Did it work? Where's the Six Tails?"

Morkel raised his right hand, revealing the sealing mark.

"It's here now."

Bubble was amazed. "Unbelievable… You really did it. And during the transfer… I felt something oddly familiar…"

He trailed off in thought, while Morkel left to rest.

Upstairs, he found Naruto shaving the heads of the thief ninjas.

"What are you doing?" Morkel asked.

Naruto shrugged. "After the tailed beast chakra explosion, they insisted on shaving their heads and becoming monks."

Morkel blinked. "...Even if you repent, you'll still be punished."

The thieves nodded. "We know. This is just to show we're serious…"

Morkel shook his head and went to sleep.

Meanwhile, far away in the Land of Fire, Sasuke lay in a hospital bed, his eyes bandaged.

Suddenly, he sensed a strange presence.

"Sui Getsu?"

"No," a hoarse voice replied. "We've met before."

Sasuke tensed. That voice...

"Uchiha Madara?!"

"Don't be angry. I'm just here to tell you the truth."

"I already know the truth," Sasuke said coldly.

"Are you sure?" the masked man asked. "Because what you know... might be a lie."

Sasuke fell silent.

"It doesn't hurt to listen," the masked man said. "You decide what to believe."

And with that, he began to speak.

Elsewhere, back in Morkel's wooden house, someone knocked urgently on the door.

Bang bang bang!

Morkel got up cautiously. No one should be here—this place was built in a secluded forest.

He opened the door.

Outside stood several masked shinobi.

Morkel recognized the masks immediately—Kirigakure's tracking unit.

The lead ninja bowed. "Mr. Morkel, we're here to retrieve the escaped Jinchūriki, Bubble."

Morkel replied calmly, "I don't know anyone named Bubble."

"But we tracked the Six Tails' chakra here," the ninja replied.

"Oh, that? The Six Tails is sealed inside me now."

Morkel raised his right hand, revealing a sticky tentacle that emerged from the seal.

The Mist ninjas stepped back in fear.

One of them shouted, "The Six Tails is Kirigakure's strategic resource! Keeping it could cause a conflict!"

Morkel shrugged. "Does it have Kirigakure's name engraved on its head? I just picked it up."

"By your logic, I also have the Three Tails."

Silence.

They knew they couldn't win.

So the lead ninja bowed again. "We'll take our leave… but please tell Bubble that Kirigakure is no longer the Blood Mist Village."

"We've discovered the truth about his master's death."

With that, they vanished.

Morkel closed the door and went upstairs.

"You heard them, didn't you, Bubble?"

Lying in bed, Bubble nodded quietly. "I heard…"

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