Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 144 The Moon in the Ancient Book, Kushina's Defection

The Hyuga clan's library.

This is a stone chamber built deep underground, protected by a barrier, accessible only to members of the main family and a very small number of authorized elites from branch families.

The air was filled with the scent of moth-repellent herbs.

Hyuga Masaru walked alone among the bookshelves.

It was already late at night, but for those with white eyes, darkness was not an obstacle.

Moreover, his eyes now show more than just white.

He walked to the shelf in the "Ancient History" category. Most of the scrolls there were covered in dust, clearly indicating that no one had looked at them for a long time.

Although the Hyuga clan is ancient, its descendants are more focused on mastering Gentle Fist and are not interested in those vague myths and legends.

"No—no—"

Hyuga Masaru's fingers traced the scrolls one by one.

"The Origin of Soft Fist Techniques", "Secret Family Transmission: The Insights into Returning to Heaven", "The Essentials of Opening the White Eyes" —

It's all about techniques.

There is not a single word about the "Tenseigan," and even the surname "Otsutsuki" is rarely mentioned.

"Was it destroyed?"

He continued his search.

Finally, at the very bottom of the bookshelf, in a corner, he found a worn-out thread-bound book.

The book looked ordinary, even a little moldy. But in Hinata Masaru's view, there was a page in an ancient script hidden in the book's inner compartment.

This is text written before the Warring States period, and it is obscure and difficult to understand.

But he could barely make out a few keywords.

【Hamura】————【The Moon】————【The Giant Eye】————【Destruction and Rebirth】.

There is also a blurry illustration.

The painting depicts a huge, radiant eye surrounded by countless white eyes.

"This is----"

Hyuga Masaru's heart began to pound.

Although the words "Tensekaigan" are not mentioned directly, the description in this picture perfectly matches what Sousuke said.

Furthermore, at the end of the scroll, there is a line of small writing, which appears to be a note added later by a clan chief:

This is forbidden power. An ancestral decree: the passage to the moon must not be opened unless the main family is exterminated. The passage is located at ————

The writing at the end was smeared.

It was forcibly scraped off.

Some people don't want future generations to know the location of the passage.

But he could barely make out a vague place name.

【————Land of the Great Waterfall————】

The words at the beginning are not clear, but the three characters "大瀑" (Great Waterfall) are barely recognizable.

"The country with a great waterfall —"

"There are only two possibilities. The Land of Waterfalls, or — the Valley of the End of the Land of Fire."

"No, if it were an ancient passage to the moon, it should be in a more secluded place."

He noted down this clue.

"We must tell Mr. Sosuke."

the next day.

Bellflower Pavilion.

After listening to Hyuga Katsu's report, Sosuke carefully took notes in his notebook.

"The Moon — The Great Falls —"

He took out a map of the ninja world.

"The Land of Waterfalls does indeed have many waterfalls. There is a secluded village called Takigakure there, where they are said to guard the Seven-Tails and the Hero's Water."

"Perhaps the passage is there."

"However, now is not the time for adventure."

Sosuke put the map away.

"The situation is too chaotic right now. Although the Hidden Cloud Village lost a quasi-Raikage, they did not retreat. Instead, they are frantically gathering troops at the border."

-

"The Third Raikage seeks revenge."

"There's also a major operation going on in Iwagakure. They've received news of Minato's death and are gathering their forces, preparing to storm Kusanagi and open a direct battlefront."

"As a result, Konoha is now fighting on three fronts. The pressure on supplies is enormous, and they can't do without me."

He looked at Hyuga Katsumi.

"Victory, your mission is complete. Next, you must continue to climb the ranks within the Hyuga clan."

"Only by gaining greater control over the narrative can we mobilize the Hyuga clan's resources to investigate that passage."

"Understood." Hyuga Katsu nodded. "I'll shut them up."

With his current strength, within the Hyuga clan, no one except Hiashi is his match. Perhaps even Hiashi might not be his equal.

Time is the best medicine for healing wounds, but also the poison of forgetting.

A month has passed.

The people of Konoha began discussing new topics, such as who would succeed the Fourth Hokage, and whether the war on the front lines should continue.

carry on.

Minato Namikaze's name gradually became a symbol enshrined on a memorial stone.

Only one person still lives in the past.

Uzumaki Kushina.

Her home became an isolated island.

"Lady Kushina, please return."

As soon as Kushina reached the door, she was stopped by two masked ANBU members.

"I just want to go buy some groceries."

Kushina was carrying a basket and looked pale.

She lost a lot of weight in the past month, and her red hair lost its former luster.

"We'll buy it for you."

The secret service coldly refused.

"This is an order from above. It's to protect the Nine-Tails' safety."

"I am human, not a nine-tailed fox!"

Kushina shouted angrily.

"How could you do this to me!"

The ANBU didn't speak, but remained blocking the doorway. Their eyes held the air of guarding a dangerous object that could explode at any moment.

Kushina's heart turned cold.

Is this the village that Shuimen protected with his life?

Is this what they call the Will of Fire?

When a hero dies, those he cared about are not only not taken care of, but are imprisoned like criminals.

"hehe----"

Kushina's smile was desolate.

She went back inside and closed the door.

When will this kind of life end?

Loneliness. Suffocating loneliness.

Every day, facing the empty room, I recall the bits and pieces of the past, and then I am awakened in the middle of the night by the whispers of the Nine-Tailed Fox.

She's going crazy.

late at night.

A thunderstorm struck unexpectedly.

Rumble!

The thunder drowned out all other sounds.

Kushina changed into a ninja outfit.

She carried the sealed scroll on her back, which contained all of Minato's belongings.

She didn't want to stay in this cold cage anymore.

She's leaving.

"Diamond Lockdown!"

Splash!

Several golden chains shot out from behind her, instantly shattering the window and the barrier set up by the Dark Guard.

"What's that noise?!"

The secret agents outside were greatly alarmed.

"The target is trying to break through! Stop her!"

Kushina's figure rushed into the rain.

She is an elite member of the Uzumaki clan, possessing immense chakra. If she wanted to leave, ordinary ANBU wouldn't be able to stop her.

"Get away!"

Kushina didn't kill anyone; she simply used her chains to knock the Anbu members away.

She ran across the rooftop.

Direction — outside Konoha Village.

"Quickly! Notify the Hokage! The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has gone berserk!"

A signal flare was launched into the sky. The entire Hidden Leaf Village was alerted.

Bellflower Pavilion.

Sosuke stood by the window, watching the red signal flare.

"Finally—did he finally give in?"

He sighed.

In the original work, Kushina had Minato's affections, which allowed her to endure this loneliness.

But now, she has nothing.

"Kaori, take the sword."

Sosuke turned around.

"We're going out."

"yes!"

The barrier team in Konoha was in complete chaos.

"The second barrier—has been torn apart!"

The ninja, sensing the danger, screamed in terror.

"Chakra reaction—it's Kurama! Kurama is about to emerge!"

on the street.

Kushina's figure moved with lightning speed.

She broke through three lines of defense from the Dark Division simply by relying on the immense vitality of the Uzumaki clan and those few Vajra-sealed chains.

"Get out of the way, everyone!"

Kushina's long hair danced wildly in the rain, each strand like a burning flame.

Her eyes had turned into vertical, beast-like pupils.

hatred.

The Nine-Tails' chakra is eroding her sanity.

"Is that... the power of a monster?!"

An undercover agent, flung by the chains, lay on the ground with broken ribs, staring in terror at the red figure's back.

Kushina arrived at the gates of Konoha, but she stopped in her tracks.

Because the road was blocked.

A dozen or so Root ninjas wearing masks blocked the entrance.

Behind them stood an old man leaning on a cane.

Danzo Shimura.

He half-closed his one eye, his expression sinister.

"Kushina Uzumaki."

Danzo's voice was hoarse, yet carried an air of authority.

"Are you going to betray the village?"

"Get out of the way!"

Kushina's voice had changed, now tinged with the low growl of a wild beast.

Four golden chains bared their claws behind her.

"I just want to leave here—I don't want to stay in this cage anymore!"

"leave?"

Danzo sneered.

"You are the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. You belong to Konoha. You cannot go anywhere without the village's permission."

"property----"

These two words completely enraged Kushina.

After Minato's death, in these people's eyes, she wasn't even considered a human being, but merely an armory sealed off.

"Then I'll destroy you all too!"

boom!

Kushina's red chakra surged.

A red tail materialized from behind her using chakra.

Half-tailed beast transformation!

A terrifying killing intent swept across the entire scene.

"Let's do it."

Danzo showed no mercy whatsoever.

"Since we can't control her, let's break her limbs and drag her back."

At Danzo's command, the Root elites blocking the gate instantly formed hand seals. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they shared a single brain.

Six people on the left, three in front and three behind.

The three people in the front row slammed their hands on the ground, causing the earth to bulge and three huge rock dragon heads to burst out of the ground, spewing out countless heavy mud bullets.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

The three people in the back row took a deep breath, their chakra compressed wildly in their throats, and they spewed out blazing flames.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Earth and fire clashed in the air. The scorching flames instantly enveloped the mud bullet, carrying suffocating heat, and slammed towards Kushina.

Combination Ninjutsu: Earth Flame Bullet Rain!

The six people on the right also worked together seamlessly.

The three people in the front row unleashed a roaring water dragon, the current swift and the pressure astonishing.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

The three people in the back row unleashed a surge of lightning, channeling high-intensity lightning chakra into the water dragon.

"Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave!"

The transparent water dragon instantly transformed into a blinding blue-white. The water became the perfect conductor of electricity, creating a raging thunder dragon capable of instantly paralyzing or even electrocuting enemies!

Combination Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!

Two S-rank combined ninjutsu techniques enveloped Kushina's figure. This level of firepower would instantly obliterate even a Jonin.

However, it's useless against Kushina now.

"Get out of here!"

Kushina wielded the Adamantine Chains. With the aid of the Nine-Tails' chakra, the golden chains grew to be as thick as a thigh.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

The chains left afterimages as they were pulled through the air.

The burning earth dragon bullet was lashed out by the chain in mid-air, turning into sparks and clods of earth scattered across the sky. The lightning water dragon was severed in half by the Vajra chain.

Zi—

A high-voltage current powerful enough to char rocks struck the chains, but was completely blocked by the layer of golden chakra. The chains churned violently, instantly turning the enormous water dragon into a cloud of mist.

"What?!"

The eyes beneath the Root ninja mask revealed horror.

Their combined ninjutsu was so easily shattered?

Snapped!

The three Root ninjas at the front were sent flying along with the defensive earthen wall.

Danzo frowned.

"So this is the power of the Nine-Tails—this is troublesome indeed."

He unwrapped a bandage from his right eye.

Just when the two sides were about to completely break off relations, and it was even possible that the Nine-Tails in its complete form would be forced out.

"Stop it, all of you!"

A furious shout rang out, and two figures fell to the ground.

That was Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Third Hokage finally arrived. He was wearing his battle suit and holding the Vajra Staff.

Orochimaru was also with him.

"Hiruzen, you're too late."

Danzo said coldly.

"The Jinchūriki has gone out of control. We must take forceful measures."

"Shut up, Danzo!"

Hiruzen looked at the mess on the ground and Kushina, who was enveloped in red chakra.

"Kushina! Calm down!"

Hiruzen shouted loudly.

"Minato died protecting the village! How can you do this to him?!"

Upon hearing the word "Minato," Kushina paused for a moment.

But then, an even more violent rage surged within him.

"Don't mention Watergate to me!"

Kushina roared, her tears instantly evaporated by the high-temperature chakra.

"You don't care about him at all! You only care about the Nine-Tails!"

"You used him as a tool, and now you want to use me as a tool too!"

A second tail appeared.

The crimson chakra began to corrode her skin, and her sanity teetered on the brink of collapse.

Hiruzen gripped his stick tightly.

He knew that if he didn't act, the Nine-Tails would really come out. But if he did act, he might kill Kushina.

This is a dead end.

Just then.

"What an ugly scene."

A calm voice came from the side of the roof.

Everyone looked up.

Sosuke stood there, wearing a green vest and a coat.

"Sousuke Takaya? What are you doing here?" Danzo's eyes were hostile.

Sousuke ignored Danzo.

He jumped off the roof, neither heading towards the Hokage nor towards Danzo.

He walked towards Kushina, who was on the verge of going berserk.

"Don't go over there! That's the Nine-Tails' chakra; it will corrupt you!" Hiruzen hurriedly warned.

Zongjie ignored it.

He stepped into Kushina's killing intent range.

The red chakra, like a strong acid, distorted the surrounding air.

But a faint chakra glow emanated from Sosuke's body.

He stopped three meters in front of Kushina.

"Lady Kushina, there is something I need to tell you."

Kushina's beastly eyes stared at Sousuke. She recognized this man. The man who brought the red bean soup.

"Get out—" she growled.

"This matter concerns Minato Namikaze's legacy."

Sosuke made a startling statement.

Kushina froze.

"heritage?"

"Yes."

Zongjie continued to spout nonsense without batting an eye.

"Before his death, Jonin Minato purchased a huge personal accident insurance policy from the Takaya Trading Company. If something happens to him, the Takaya Trading Company will pay out a large sum of money to his designated beneficiary."

"You are the beneficiary, Kushina Uzumaki."

"The amount is—thirty million taels."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Even Danzo was stunned. Personal accident insurance? What the hell is that? When did Konoha start offering this service?

Only Orochimaru let out a low chuckle. He knew that Sousuke was manipulating people's minds again.

"Thirty million taels—"

Kushina regained a little more consciousness.

"It's not just thirty million taels."

Sousuke continued.

"Minato also asked me to help him fulfill a wish if he doesn't come back."

"He hopes you can use this money to build a home."

"Not one of those cold, impersonal apartments. But one with a garden, a kitchen, and a place where kids can run around freely in the future—"

A big house.

He said he didn't want you to live alone in that cramped place.

Sosuke's voice was soft and very captivating.

"Kushina-sama."

"If you destroy the village now, you destroy yourself."

"Then no one can inherit Watergate's legacy and his wishes."

"Are you really going to let his final plans fall through as well?"

This is called winning hearts and minds.

For those who have lost a loved one, nothing can hold them back more than "fulfilling the deceased's last wishes".

Even if this will was written by Sosuke.

The red chakra on Kushina's body began to fluctuate, and then slowly receded.

That description of "home" touched the softest spot in her heart.

That was the future she and Minato had dreamed of countless times.

"Home----"

Kushina murmured to herself. The beastly light in her eyes gradually faded, returning to its original dark blue.

"But—Minato is gone—"

She covered her face, knelt on the ground, and wailed loudly.

This time, it was the cries of humans, not the roars of wild beasts.

The crisis is over.

There was no battle, no sealing technique. It all came down to a merchant's lie and a non-existent "legacy."

Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Danzo narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Sousuke.

"This man's manipulation of people's hearts is more terrifying than illusion."

Sousuke walked over to Kushina and draped his coat over her shoulders.

"Just cry it out."

He said in a low voice.

"As for the thirty million taels—rest assured, Takaya Trading Company has the best reputation. It will be delivered to you tomorrow."

Of course, Sosuke had to pay for this himself.

But it cost 30 million taels to buy the trust of a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the peace of the entire village.

This deal was worthwhile.

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