They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 53: Whirlpool Village lost, but the Whirlpool Clan did not lose!

"Heh...heh..."

Moody was panting heavily. After fleeing repeatedly, even he couldn't help but feel exhausted.

As dusk settled, Moody, using the setting sun as a guide, could vaguely make out the cave ahead—the very cave where they had stayed when they were stationed in the Kingdom of Jiang.

He turned his head and saw no sign of enemies in the dim woods, and there was an open space in front of the cave with no sign of an ambush.

So, this time it's really safe.

Moody let out a long breath and, in the afterglow of the setting sun, slowly walked into the dark cave, as if stepping into the mouth of a ferocious beast ready to devour him.

When he entered the cave and saw this wonderful scene, he was about to say something, but as if by reflex, he looked around warily again. Only after finding that there was no one there did he feel relieved.

"Haha... Everyone says that Hozuki Shingetsu is resourceful and clever, but in my opinion, he's ultimately incompetent. If there were a group of people lying in wait here, I'd be helpless!"

This time, however, no Yunren came to watch his performance.

As he spoke, he carefully checked the cave again to make sure no one was inside before bursting into laughter once more.

pat!

Moody tensed up abruptly, bracing himself for a fight. After a long while, once no one else appeared, he realized he seemed to have kicked something.

He picked up the object, which looked like a wooden board. There seemed to be words carved on it, but since the sun had already set and he hadn't lit a fire in the cave, he couldn't see what was written on it for the time being.

Click!

He quickly slashed the stone with his kunai, and a spark flew out. By the light of the spark, he finally saw what was written on the wooden board.

Nine large characters were prominently engraved on it.

"Capture Moodybi in this cave."

Upon seeing the handwriting, Moody felt a chill run down his spine. He immediately threw the wooden board away and fled without looking back.

"Is it too late to leave now?"

Hozuki Shingetsu and his two companions emerged from the cave entrance, effectively trapping Moody in their trap.

"Heh... I never imagined that my illustrious reputation would be ruined by a brat like you." Modibi now clearly knew that he could not escape. He looked back on everything he had experienced since he set foot on the land of the Whirlpool Kingdom and smiled bitterly.

"However, if you think I will surrender easily, you are underestimating me. In the Night Moon Clan, there is only dying standing, never living on one's knees!"

With a resounding voice, Moody used his last bit of strength to activate Lightning Release Chakra Mode to its maximum power. Enveloped in a chakra aura filled with blue lightning, he charged fiercely towards the three of them.

"Why do we seem like we're the villains?"

Seeing this, Hozuki Shingetsu was not flustered. Instead, he joked with his companion with great interest.

"It's just a desperate struggle." Yukinagi, who had been unhappy ever since Hozuki Shingetsu got engaged, glanced at Moody and said disdainfully.

Although she was no match for Modibi in terms of strength, this guy, who was being played like a monkey, simply did not inspire any respect in her.

Only Yagura Karatachi raised his weapon and stepped forward to fight.

"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"

As he swung his staff through the air, a water mirror suddenly appeared, from which emerged a figure also covered in blue lightning, charging toward Moody in the same manner.

"Since he wants to save face, then let's give him face!" Hozuki Shingetsu, fearing that things might get complicated if he delayed, immediately stepped forward to help.

"When dealing with these evil spirits, we don't need to worry about chivalry; let's all go together!"

Amidst ambiguous words, Hozuki Shingetsu summoned a mirage, and under the cover of the mirage, activated a half-finished Water Release chakra mode and rushed in.

"Ice Release: Thousand Kill Water Flight!" Yukinagi naturally followed suit and immediately joined the battle.

Hozuki Shingetsu had anticipated that the battle would end quickly. While the outcome was correct, some minor mishaps occurred during the fight.

"Nagi! Your ninjutsu hit me!" Hozuki Shingetsu screamed.

"Watch out, Tsuki~" Yukinagi's drawn-out voice, its tone indistinct, rang out.

"Nagi?!...Ah..."

The screams of Hozuki Shingetsu and Moodybi echoed through the cave, creating a beautiful duet-like sound.

-

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Just as Hozuki Shingetsu and his two companions were chasing after the Cloud Village ninjas who had fled the main battlefield, the Five-Tails on the main battlefield had also fully revealed itself and was venting its fury.

Its long period of captivity by humans instilled in it a deep hatred for all humans within its field of vision. And the first to suffer were the Iwagakure ninjas, who were closest to them.

It can be said that of the surviving Iwagakure ninjas, only a small number died at the hands of Kirigakure and the Uzumaki Alliance, while the majority perished under the hooves of the Five-Tails, Kokuou.

This even includes the leader of the Iwagakure team this time, Hunter, the leader of the demolition squad.

Well, or rather, it's more appropriate to call him Hunter Sauce now.

After wiping out all the Iwagakure ninja in the vicinity, it naturally set its sights on Kirigakure and the Uzumaki Alliance in the distance.

"Iwagakure has really gone mad. Can they really carry around a tailed beast like that?" Hozuki Zangetsu was also a bit of a headache, watching the Five-Tails in the distance, constantly breathing white air from its nostrils and scraping the ground with its hooves, as if it was about to charge this way.

Although they were top-tier ninjas who had experienced countless bloody battles, they had absolutely no confidence in subduing such a behemoth.

Unfortunately, most ninjas lack the ability to attack large animals, or rather, such behemoths should not appear on the battlefield!

"You just need to hold him off for half a minute, then leave the rest to me!"

Takumi Uzumaki glanced at the fleeing Uzumaki elder and child behind him, a resolute look flashing in his eyes, as if he had made a decision.

"Chief! Let me do it!"

Realizing what kind of ninjutsu Takumi was about to use, the other Uzumaki elders all rushed forward to try to stop him.

"I am the daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, and the patriarch of the Whirlpool Clan! If you want to die, you are not qualified to be ranked before me!" Takumi Uzumaki waved his hand and pushed all the other elders aside.

Hozuki Zangetsu and Yukina, who had vaguely heard of the power of the Uzumaki clan's forbidden techniques, exchanged a glance, nodded, and immediately began to control the Five-Tails.

"Water Release: Exploding Water Wave!"

"Water Release·Water Crush Wave!"

Led by Hozuki Zangetsu, and aided by the flowing river, many Hozuki clan ninjas once again unleashed their Water Release ninjutsu, and the overwhelming waves engulfed the Five-Tails, Kokuou.

hold head high!

Before the Five-Tailed King Mu could react, he was drenched in the river water.

"Ice Release: Absolute Zero!"

"Ice Release: Ice Storm!"

Similarly, under Yukina's leadership, the Yuki clan ninjas also unleashed Ice Release, recreating the control chain from before.

Instantly, chunks of ice appeared on the body of the Five-Tailed King Mu. Soon, the ice chunks connected together, sealing the entire Five-Tailed King in solid ice, like an ice sculpture.

Under the sunlight, the ice sculptures shimmered and radiated a myriad of colors.

Hozuki Zangetsu and Setsuna both looked at Uzumaki Takumi. Whether they could subdue the Five-Tails depended on this forbidden technique of the Uzumaki clan!

Seeing this, Takumi Uzumaki took a step forward, casually taking off his cloak to reveal his blood-stained armor underneath.

Wow!

As his robes fell to the ground, Takumi Uzumaki gradually straightened his back, his hunched figure slowly grew taller, his steps became more bold, his head was held high, and a strong aura suddenly emanated from his body.

This momentum stems not only from confidence in their own strength, but also from the pride of the Uzumaki clan, a thousand-year-old ninja clan!

"All royal blood must end with the sword!"

This old man, who had lived a life of luxury as a daimyo for many years and had long been detached from the life of a ninja, seemed to have returned to the moment when he first stepped onto the battlefield.

"Uzumaki Village may have lost, but the Uzumaki clan has not!"

Takumi Uzumaki slowly formed hand seals, as if his hands weighed a ton.

The Uchiha clan's emphasis on honor is not unique to them; the Uzumaki clan is no less so!

Throughout their long history, the Uzumaki clan has always stood proudly at the pinnacle of the ninja world!

The village of Uzumaki may be destroyed, but that does not mean the Uzumaki clan will admit defeat!

It is precisely for this reason that he did not use the Vajra Chains, but instead chose the "Corpse Demon Sealing Technique".

He wanted to use the blood of this clan leader to declare to the world: the Whirlpool Clan will never be slaves!

"Forbidden Technique: Corpse Demon Sealing!"

As the hand seals were completed, a gigantic phantom of the Grim Reaper appeared behind Takumi Uzumaki, facing the Five-Tails directly.

Click!

At the same time, the ice sculpture standing on the ground finally gave way, and with ice blocks flying everywhere, the five tails finally broke free.

hold head high!

Before the enraged tailed beast could retaliate against the enemies who dared to imprison it again, it felt a strong gaze upon it, and at the same time, a feeling of unease filled its heart.

It looked up and saw a tall, white figure resembling a demon raising a short dagger and slashing it across the chest!

hold head high!

A scream rang out as the Five-Tails transformed into a flowing mass of chakra, continuously surging into Takumi Uzumaki's abdomen along that mysterious connection.

With the sealing marks appearing one after another, the Five-Tails Kokuou was successfully sealed inside Takumi Uzumaki's body.

"Grandpa Chief!"

Kushina Uzumaki cried out and rushed into his arms.

As Hozuki Shingetsu's fiancée and the crown princess of the Hozuki clan, she had been watching the battle from a safe place until now.

"Death is but a great journey, and I will watch over you all silently." Takumi Uzumaki raised his hand to touch Kushina Uzumaki's head, gently wiping away the tears on her face, and then passed away peacefully with a smile.

(End of this chapter)