After a journey that lasted an entire day and night, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki escorted Shin Rakuri to Amegakure, the Hidden Rain Village.
Naruto carefully examined Shin Rakuri's back, comparing the markings there to the ones he remembered seeing on Sumire Kakei years ago. They were identical. There was no doubt—this was the Minotaur King.
"Thank you both for your hard work. Kisame, feel free to rest now," Naruto said calmly.
"Then I'll take my leave," Kisame replied with a toothy grin, his exhaustion evident.
After all, Kisame was still human, and even someone of his caliber needed rest after such a grueling journey.
With Kisame gone, Naruto and Itachi began discussing how to handle the Minotaur King.
"The true cause of the spatial anomalies," Itachi began, "is a creature known as the Nue. The Nue wasn't created by Danzo—it's a being that has always existed in an alternate dimension. However, the Minotaur King, which Danzo created, inadvertently became the key to summoning the Nue."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "So, the only way to eliminate the threat of the Nue—and prevent the Otsutsuki from sensing this land—is to destroy it. But to destroy the Nue, we'd have to open that alternate dimension, which would just create another contradiction."
Itachi's voice turned grave. "Which means the crux of the issue circles back to the Minotaur King."
The Minotaur King was a spatial summoning technique developed by Danzo using Hashirama's cells. Even if Shin Rakuri, the host, were to die, the technique itself wouldn't vanish. To erase it completely would require the power of Yin-Yang Release.
"Currently," Naruto mused, "the only one in this world capable of using Yin-Yang Release is Black Zetsu. But relying on him is… obviously out of the question."
Naruto's tone grew resolute. "For now, our best course of action is to separate the Minotaur King from Shin Rakuri and seal it away. Once I've become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and gained the power of Yin-Yang Release, I'll find a way to eradicate it completely."
Without delay, Naruto worked through the night. Using the Eight Trigrams Sealing Technique, he extracted the Minotaur King from Shin Rakuri's body and suppressed it deep beneath Amegakure. He fortified the seal with layers of intricate mechanisms, transforming the site into a forbidden zone.
With the Minotaur King temporarily dealt with, the next matter was deciding Shin Rakuri's fate.
In his previous life, Naruto had never met Shin Rakuri, but their fates were intertwined in unexpected ways.
Shin Rakuri had been a follower of Danzo and, paradoxically, a contributor to the Fourth Great Ninja War. After the war, Konoha's pursuit of the remnants of Root forced Shin Rakuri and his family into a life of exile.
It was during this time that Sumire Kakei, Shin Rakuri's daughter with the kind-hearted civilian woman Shin Rakuri Fumari, was born. Tragically, Fumari succumbed to illness during their escape.
Driven by vengeance against Konoha, Shin Rakuri transferred the Minotaur King into the young Sumire before his death. He then orchestrated Sumire's infiltration into Konoha, where she became a contemporary of Boruto Uzumaki.
Years later, after the Minotaur King incident, Sumire, moved by Boruto's compassion, let go of her hatred. She went on to join Konoha's Scientific Ninja Tools team, making significant contributions alongside Katasuke Tōno.
But now, in this timeline, Sumire had yet to be born.
Naruto sat in a chair, his gaze heavy as he looked at the half-dead man before him. "If it weren't for Sarada," he murmured, "the person who'd likely marry my son would be Sumire."
His voice hardened. "Shin Rakuri, you are guilty. But your wife and daughter are innocent. For their sake, I'm willing to give you a chance."
Naruto's piercing eyes locked onto Shin Rakuri's vacant ones.
Kotoamatsukami.
"Shin Rakuri," Naruto said coldly, "I will announce to the world that you are dead. This way, Konoha will no longer hunt your family. From now on, you will live in anonymity. Cherish your wife and live a quiet life. If your daughter is ever born, consider sending her to Amegakure. She has the potential to become an exceptional ninja. That's all. When you wake up, you're free to leave."
Thus, just as he had rewritten the fate of Shin Uchiha, Naruto once again altered the destiny of Shin Rakuri.
Naruto was about to retire for the night when a White Zetsu arrived with a message concerning the drama unfolding in Konoha and Shikaku Nara's deductions.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Shisui Uchiha has been resurrected through Edo Tensei? Is that what Shikaku believes?"
The White Zetsu seemed disinterested in prolonged conversation. "That's what Tobi's intel suggests. I don't know the details."
"I see. You're dismissed," Naruto said curtly.
Resting his elbows on the desk, Naruto steepled his fingers under his chin, his expression dark. "No wonder… When I tried using the eyes I swapped out to resurrect Shisui via Edo Tensei, it failed. I thought it was because those eyes had lost their light. But this explains everything."
In his previous life, Ryoma Aburame had disappeared after the Fourth Great Ninja War. Now, his recent maneuvers painted him as a cunning and patient man.
Naruto reasoned, "Back then, Ryoma must have realized the tide had turned against him and chose to live out his days in peace. Even though he held Shisui as a trump card, he dared not act rashly. But now, he must see an opportunity worth seizing. It seems my current deterrence isn't as deeply ingrained as I thought."
Naruto muttered to himself, "It's time to defuse this ticking bomb."
"Let me handle it," Itachi volunteered, his voice firm. "If Shisui is in his hands, I can't stand idly by."
Naruto trusted Itachi's abilities, but the opponent was Shisui. With Ryoma's interference, sending Itachi alone seemed risky.
"Should I wake Kisame? It's already so late…"
Before Naruto could decide, a raspy yet sophisticated voice interjected, "Leave Ryoma to me."
From the shadows, a serpentine figure emerged.
Itachi turned to see the familiar face. "Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a sly smile. "Itachi, we haven't had a proper chat since your return. Our past interactions have been all business. It's about time we caught up."
Itachi's tone was indifferent. "What a pleasure."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Orochimaru, you've never been interested in field missions. What's brought on this change?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "Ryoma and I go way back. During our time in Root, he was always low-key, never drawing attention. But I knew better—he harbored significant ambition and ability."
Pausing for effect, Orochimaru added, "Besides Shisui, Ryoma has another treasure in his possession. Something I believe you'd be very interested in, Naruto-kun."
Naruto adjusted his posture, intrigued. "Oh? Do tell."
Orochimaru's smile widened. "The Chimera Technique."
Naruto's eyes darkened.
He remembered that technique well. It was created by a man named Hiruko—a contemporary of the Sannin. Hiruko, driven by his mediocrity, had developed the Chimera Technique to steal five Kekkei Genkai from others. When he appeared, he had already claimed four and was targeting Kakashi's Sharingan as the fifth. Naruto had defeated him, but the technique had left a lasting impression.
The ability to amass multiple Kekkei Genkai without grotesque surgeries was undeniably tempting.
Orochimaru's voice was almost seductive. "Naruto-kun, after acquiring the Sage Arts, don't you wish to gain more Kekkei Genkai?"
Naruto nodded, his resolve firm. "Alright, Orochimaru. You'll accompany Itachi on this mission. I have only one condition."
Orochimaru tilted his head. "And that is?"
Naruto's voice dropped to a chilling tone. "Whether or not you obtain the Chimera Technique, I want Ryoma gone. Permanently. Ensure not even Edo Tensei can bring him back."
Orochimaru's interest was piqued. "Such bloodthirsty words… That's not like you, Naruto-kun. Do you have a personal grudge against Ryoma?"
Naruto's rare, icy glare was like a blade. "A grudge? It's far more than that. He dared to target Hinata. Even if he were a dragon, I'd turn him into a donkey."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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