Two puppets shot through the air, discarding their weapons the instant a barrage of kunai rained down. They floated weightlessly back to Chiyo's side.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of muffled thuds erupted as smoke and dust billowed across the sandy terrain between Naruto and Chiyo. When the haze cleared, the two puppets lay in shattered pieces at Chiyo's feet. She knelt, panting heavily, one hand still extended in a pushing motion. A faint blue chakra shield shimmered in front of her.
"Old lady, want to know where your grandson is?"
Naruto glanced at the scattered kunai near Chiyo and asked flatly.
"You're from Konoha, aren't you?"
Chiyo squinted, her vision slightly obscured by the night. The black-robed figure before her was hazy, but the technique he'd just used—she recognized it. It was the signature jutsu of the Third Hokage.
"Yeah... you could say that. But who I am doesn't really matter to you anymore."
As Naruto spoke, a sharp chirping sound pierced the air. Lightning crackled around his hand, forming an intense, blinding glow.
"That technique...!"
Chiyo had just dispersed her chakra shield when the sound hit her. She quickly pulled out a scroll, but before she could open it—
"Urgh..."
She looked down in disbelief. A hand cloaked in lightning had pierced straight through her chest.
"Your grandson is in the Land of Frost. He's completely turned himself into a human puppet now."
As he spoke, the lightning in Naruto's hand suddenly turned black. Arcs of dark electricity exploded outward. Chiyo's eyes shut, and her body went limp.
Thud.
As Naruto withdrew his arm, Chiyo collapsed backwards onto the ground, still clutching the unopened scroll tightly in her hand. The sight reminded him of Sasori's death.
In the original story, Sasori never managed to use the scroll he had prepared either.
Naruto scanned the surroundings, then formed a hand seal. Dozens of Shadow Clones dispersed into the area. Meanwhile, he began collecting the scattered kunai.
During the earlier Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, he had mixed in several kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God seal. If the dust cloud hadn't obscured his vision, Chiyo would've been dead the moment those kunai landed beside her.
After gathering the kunai, Naruto approached Chiyo's body. The corpse needed to be recovered. That was when he noticed the purple scroll still gripped in her hand.
"This must be her White Secret Technique: The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu."
He reached for the scroll, but to his surprise, it wouldn't come loose easily. Just as he applied more force, Chiyo's eyes snapped open.
"Hmm?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed, and his hand shot forward like lightning, seizing Chiyo's throat.
"A last gasp before death? Or just a reflex?"
Just as he was about to crush her throat, a cold system prompt echoed in his mind from the Mirror World.
[Soul detected: Free-form soul available. Would you like to harvest it?]
Naruto's eyes flickered with interest. The Soul Reaping function had activated—he immediately chose to harvest.
[Congratulations! You have successfully harvested a soul from another world: Chiyo.]
[Parsing soul data... Gate of Soul Imprisonment opening...]
[Warning! Insufficient data. Soul Editing and Soul Rebirth functions unavailable. Please complete data collection!]
Hearing this, Naruto's brow rose slightly. In a blink, he entered the Mirror World. Surrounded by shimmering light, he reached into the void. With a hum, a pitch-black gate appeared before him.
"So this is the Gate of Soul Imprisonment."
He stepped inside, and the gate vanished behind him.
Naruto found himself standing on a water's surface. The space was vast and dim, endless and empty. He focused his will, and the water beneath him churned. In seconds, it molded into Chiyo's form.
"Interesting…"
Chiyo stood before him, eyes shut, her face peaceful—her chest still faintly rising and falling. Just as Naruto prepared to bring up a data window, a spatial ripple stirred behind him.
Three massive Tailed Beasts landed beside him.
"What is this Gate of Soul Imprisonment?"
Kurama looked around curiously.
"Eh? Why'd you bring in this old lady?"
Isobu immediately noticed Chiyo.
"She looks familiar... I think she showed up several times in Danzo's memories. Some kind of Sand Village advisor?"
Matatabi squinted, then, without waiting for Naruto, summoned a floating screen and tapped Chiyo's profile. Her memories began to play.
After a while, all three Tailed Beasts wore stunned expressions.
They had witnessed Chiyo performing the forbidden jutsu she developed in Sunagakure—Kishō Tensei (One's Own Life Reincarnation).
The Next Day.
While the team took a midday break in the forest, Naruto split off dozens of Shadow Clones for guard duty. He himself sat on a stone, consciousness deep in the Mirror World. Together with the three Tailed Beasts, he was relentlessly destroying puppet-data copies of Chiyo in a desolate desert.
[Congratulations! Gained experience in Chakra Shield usage.]
[Congratulations! Gained experience in Human Puppet Modification.]
[Congratulations! Acquired valuable experience in Puppet Control.]
[Congratulations! Gained experience in Mystical Palm Technique.]
"ROAR!"
Kurama smashed one Chiyo puppet to bits with a single claw.
"Don't interfere. Let me try solo for a bit."
A few seconds later—
[Congratulations! Gained experience in Poison Crafting.]
[Congratulations! Gained experience in Hemostasis Techniques.]
Isobu and Matatabi pretended not to hear the system prompts, one staring at the ground, the other at the sky.
Naruto chuckled softly.
"Take your time, Kurama. We've got all the time in the world."
"Bastard!"
Kurama opened its jaws, rapidly condensing chakra. In an instant, a massive black chakra sphere formed—about ten meters in diameter.
"Tailed Beast Bomb!"
BOOM!
After the blinding flash, the Mirror World's system chimed again.
[Congratulations! You've gained flawed experience in Puppet Creation.]
Now even Naruto was speechless.
"Hmph."
Kurama snorted and brought up Chiyo's profile again.
"I refuse to believe I can't unlock that Reanimation Jutsu."
"Kurama, let me try."
Isobu's deep voice rumbled.
"I'm lucky. Got two forbidden jutsu on day one."
Matatabi glanced sideways, secretly impressed by Isobu's boldness.
"What did you say?"
Kurama shot a glare at Isobu, its tone dark. A tail whipped out—Chiyo was instantly engulfed.
[Congratulations! You've gained experience in Sealing Technique: Lion's Roar.]
"Uh…"
Isobu backed away.
"I didn't say anything."
Naruto shook his head.
"Let me speak to Kurama alone. You two can go."
With that, Matatabi and Isobu vanished instantly.
"Hmph. Useless loudmouths."
Kurama cursed, then looked down at Naruto.
"Naruto… That Reanimation Jutsu really made me believe you might actually keep your promise."
"Oh?"
Naruto replied with a smile.
"So you didn't believe me before?"
"Heh—not exactly."
Kurama's ears twitched.
"I just didn't believe a Jinchūriki could survive losing their Tailed Beast. I thought the best you'd manage was to break the seal."
"But then you saved Matatabi, helped Isobu find peace, and even tracked down Saiken's whereabouts. You've never once used my power either… You're not like other humans. That's what made me see a new possibility in you."
"Is that so?"
Naruto smiled faintly.
"Then why are you so eager to obtain the Reanimation Jutsu?"
"Uh…"
Kurama looked awkward.
"It's alright, Kurama. I understand the desire for freedom."
Naruto said calmly.
"Even if that old toad from Mount Myōboku is playing tricks in the shadows, I already have several plans to undo the seal."
"If all goes well, I won't just set you free—I'll even return your other half."
(continued in next message...)
Chapter 136: Some Things Have Changed, Some Never Will (continued)
"Really?!"
Kurama lowered its massive head in front of Naruto.
"Tell me everything! That other half of my chakra—remember, it's currently with—"
"Naruto! Bad news!"
Isobu suddenly reappeared.
"Danzo had Minato's coffin opened. He sent Minato's hair to Orochimaru via Yamanaka Fū and that bug guy—probably to attempt Edo Tensei!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"Just his hair?"
"Yes."
Isobu said urgently.
"This isn't mirrored data. Yamanaka Fū just returned to Konoha and is already heading out again. Want me to control him via the Mirror World?"
"No need."
Naruto replied calmly.
"They don't know. Dad used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal—his soul was taken by the Reaper. It's impossible for them to reincarnate him."
"Aren't you worried something might go wrong?"
Isobu asked, surprised.
Naruto's eyes glinted.
"Nothing will go wrong. The only ones who know about the Dead Demon Consuming Seal are my parents, the Third Hokage, and us."
"Trust me. Orochimaru won't be able to summon my father. But your warning is helpful. Have Fū leave a sample of my father's hair and secretly send it to the Procurement Department in the Land of Snow through the bounty exchange."
"Alright..."
Isobu seemed confused, then glanced at Kurama, who was staring right at him.
Its tail trembled slightly.
"I'll go now. You two carry on…"
With that, Isobu vanished.
"You're really not worried?"
Kurama asked seriously.
"Of course not. Now, let me answer your earlier question."
Naruto's gaze turned thoughtful.
"Plan one: force Mount Myōboku to hand over the key themselves. This requires entering Mount Myōboku, so it only has a 50% success rate."
"And honestly, if they don't take the bait with Sasuke, I may have to consider using Edo Tensei myself."
"That's easy enough. I can learn it from the Forbidden Scroll during the Chūnin Exams, or take it from Orochimaru, who's obsessed with Sasuke."
Kurama looked puzzled.
"What's the point of learning Edo Tensei? Are you planning to reincarnate Minato to undo the seal?"
"Not at first."
Naruto sneered.
"Jiraiya told the Third Hokage he'd return to Konoha during the Chūnin Exams. I'll track him using Flying Thunder God. Either Mount Myōboku forcibly reverse-summons him, or he'll summon a toad himself."
"Under the summoning contract rules, unless Jiraiya dies or the toads sever the contract, I'll definitely get the key."
"And if it comes to that, Mount Myōboku will have essentially abandoned Jiraiya. Then I'll summon my father to clean up their mess."
"But what if they don't abandon him, and he doesn't summon the toads?"
Kurama asked.
"How can you be sure he will?"
"I'm sure."
Naruto raised a fist and smirked.
"Once I master Edo Tensei, he'll obey."
"Hmm?"
Kurama hesitated, then suddenly widened his eyes in realization.
He stared deeply at Naruto.
"And what if that old toad sees through your plan?"
"Exactly why I had Isobu intercept and store part of my father's DNA."
Naruto replied evenly.
"If that toad makes any preemptive move, I'll still be able to summon my father."
"Wait a minute…"
Kurama's eyes sharpened.
"Didn't you say his soul was taken by the Reaper?"
"I said Orochimaru couldn't summon him."
Naruto smirked.
"I can."
"How?"
Kurama asked suspiciously.
"You don't even have Edo Tensei yet."
"Just unlock the Dead Demon Seal, right?"
Naruto answered casually.
"I've had people in the Land of Snow combing the bounty networks for Uzumaki sealing techniques. I've already found how to undo the Dead Demon Seal."
"Since when?!"
Kurama's eyes widened.
"I've never heard you mention this!"
"Why would you?"
Naruto replied coolly.
"Lately, you and the others barely spend an hour a day inside the seal."
"Is that so…"
Kurama twitched his ears.
"Heh. We Tailed Beasts aren't like humans—we don't need rest. Besides, I've got way too much chakra anyway."
Naruto waved it off.
"No need to explain. I'm heading out."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kakashi led the team to the border of the Land of Fire. After setting up camp, Naruto sat in his tent, deep in thought.
He was thinking about Rōran.
He still had another plan—to use the power of the Dragon Vein to travel back in time. The idea was to return to the past and find his father during his mission in Rōran, asking him directly to undo the seal.
Last night, his Shadow Clone had marked the ruins of Rōran with Flying Thunder God seals. Once he captured Mukade, he'd consider whether or not to activate the sealed chakra of the Dragon Vein.
(Note: This concept was previously used by "Fried Rice-senpai" in another Naruto world fanfic. This novel will not use it.)
However, Naruto was deeply skeptical about the possibility of time travel. He had used a hypothesis from a certain wheelchair-bound scientist from his past life.
If he were truly destined to travel back to Rōran one day, to prevent his father from casting a memory seal like in the original story, the very first thing he would do is leave a message and a letter with the bounty exchange, placing a long-term high-reward task—to deliver him a message every month, on a fixed day, after he took control of the Land of Snow.
Yet he had never received any such message.
The bounty network was capable of such long-term tasks—once, they'd even delivered the wills of noble clans from the First Shinobi War to their descendants during the Third. It had already been proven to work.
Which meant either:
He hadn't traveled back in time…
Or the Dragon Vein didn't work the way he thought.
Besides, if the Dragon Vein really allowed time travel, that old toad from Mount Myōboku would surely know—and would've used it long ago to benefit Mount Myōboku.
Until Naruto's birth, the history of the Shinobi World had remained unchanged.
But ever since his first intervention in Konoha, history had already diverged from the timeline he once knew.
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