Chapter 73

The Root ninja were struck dumb with shock.

Anyone who lived in Konoha had heard of Naruto.

Even though Root operatives seldom appeared in public, they had all seen Naruto before. He was, after all, Konoha's Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi.

But now...!?

This young man was supposed to be Naruto!?

Impossible!

Just two months ago, he had seen Naruto with his own eyes. Back then, Naruto was still just a brat.

Yet now, with the girl blurting out his name, no matter how he looked at the blond youth in front of him, he could see the resemblance.

Naruto flicked his finger against Yakumo's forehead and scolded, "How many times have I told you—call me Namikaze Menma in public! Now you've caused trouble."

Yakumo guiltily stuck out her tongue.

Karin looked a bit tense, but still drew a kunai from her waist.

The three Root ninja, having confirmed Naruto's identity, went pale with fright and cried out:

"It really is the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki…"

"No way..."

"This is bad! We have to notify Danzo-sama immediately—something's wrong with Uzumaki Naruto!"

True to their brutal training, even in shock, they made the right choice.

Rather than attack Naruto, they scattered and began fleeing at full speed.

"Heh..."

Naruto chuckled, staring at their backs as he raised his right hand.

"Now that you know my identity, did you really think I'd let you leave alive?"

"Kongō Fūsa!" (Adamantine Sealing Chains)

With a thought, four golden chains burst from behind Naruto, streaking through the forest like meteors.

Under his precise control, they danced between trees like golden dragons.

In mere moments, they were closing in on the fleeing Root shinobi.

Seeing the chains closing in, the Root operatives were shaken to their core.

"This is... the Uzumaki clan's Kekkei Genkai… The same ability that Kushina-sama once possessed!"

"The most powerful sealing technique—Kongō Fūsa! How did Uzumaki Naruto awaken this ability!?"

"Go! I'll hold them off!"

One of the Root ninja turned with a cold expression, weaving signs rapidly.

"Doton: Jūryūheki!" (Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall)

With a rumble, a thick wall of earth rose up from the ground.

But under Naruto's control, the golden chains pierced the earthen wall effortlessly—and skewered the Root ninja's heart.

"Impossible…"

His eyes filled with disbelief as blood gushed from his chest.

And then came the blackness.

His lifeless body slumped onto the forest floor, blood soaking into the leaves.

"These chains can bind even tailed beasts. Did you really think a little wall of dirt could stop them?"

Naruto's voice was calm as he answered the dead man.

The other two Root ninja didn't even stand a chance.

The chains tore through them like paper, silencing their screams forever.

When the last Root member dropped, Naruto calmly retracted his Kongō Fūsa.

Kurama Yakumo and Karin Uzumaki clung to his arms with flushed cheeks, gazing up at him in awe.

"Naruto-kun is amazing! Those were Root ninja… I heard they're basically killing machines!"

"Naruto-sama is the strongest!"

Naruto smiled and patted their heads. Then he turned his gaze toward the battlefield where Susanoo had rampaged.

The battle was over.

Dozens of Root corpses lay at Uchiha Shisui's feet, each one pierced cleanly through the chest.

Blood soaked the earth. They had all fallen to the sacred weapons of Susanoo.

But Shisui wasn't unscathed either.

Blood trickled from the corner of his eye, and he staggered weakly as he fled the battlefield.

"Alright, Yakumo, Karin, let's follow."

Naruto patted the girls' heads again and pushed open an invisible air gate.

Before leaving, he glanced one last time at the forest.

With a flick of his hand, he set it ablaze.

The raging fire consumed the trees and the corpses alike, reducing everything to ash.

Only then did Naruto step through the air gate.

—

"Why did you set the forest on fire?" Karin asked curiously after stepping through.

Naruto answered, "It's experience. Remember this well—ninja corpses are dangerous."

"There are all kinds of jutsu out there. Some can extract memories from dead bodies."

"But if you burn them to ash, you prevent most reconnaissance techniques and erase your scent trail."

Karin's eyes sparkled with understanding.

"Naruto-sama knows everything!"

Naruto smiled and looked around.

They were now beneath a waterfall—torrential water, deafening noise, jagged rocks. A very concealed location.

Through his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), Naruto sensed Shisui had reached the top of the waterfall.

But he wasn't alone.

"…Uchiha Itachi."

Hearing him mutter, Yakumo tilted her head.

"Naruto-kun, if you wanted Shisui to join us, why didn't you just capture him earlier?"

Naruto shook his head.

"No. He's too stubborn. Only after experiencing true despair will he be open to joining us."

"Stubborn? Despair?"

Yakumo was confused.

She thought Shisui had already fallen into despair after being betrayed by Konoha.

But Naruto just smiled and looked up at the waterfall.

"He's a fool. Even in death, he still believes in Hiruzen Sarutobi. So... he has to see the consequences of that belief firsthand."

Yakumo nodded, still a bit lost.

—

Atop the Waterfall

Uchiha Shisui, bleeding and weary, pulled out his remaining Mangekyō Sharingan and handed it to Uchiha Itachi.

"Itachi… Danzo didn't trust me to protect the village… so he took one of my Mangekyō."

"He won't stop until he has the other. So I'm giving it to you."

"Once I'm gone, the Uchiha will have no more power to resist Konoha. That way, they won't consider rebellion."

"Shisui, you…"

Itachi stepped forward urgently.

But Shisui stepped back and smiled.

"Don't stop me, Itachi. I'm leaving the Uchiha clan to you. Don't let them go to war with Konoha."

"If necessary, use Kotoamatsukami to change the clan head's will."

With those words, Shisui closed his eyes and let himself fall backward—

—into the abyss below.

"Shisui!!"

Itachi ran to the edge of the cliff, but all he could see was the white foam of the falling water.

—

As Shisui plummeted, a voice suddenly whispered by his ear:

"Yo… how's that no-rope bungee jumping?"

His eyes snapped open in shock.

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]

[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[Thank You For Your Support!]