Tsunade was startled and stepped back. "How did you get here so quietly?"
Morkel curled his lips. "You were just too absorbed in your thoughts and didn't notice me coming."
Tsunade exhaled and said, "Well, the reason I called you here isn't because of the Akatsuki causing trouble again."
Morkel raised an eyebrow. "Then what is it?"
Tsunade sighed. "It's about the fake steel paintings you sold to Iwagakure. They sent someone over to ask why those paintings consume so much chakra."
Morkel scratched his head. "How would I know? I only modified the operation panel of the scrolls I sold them. Other aspects..." He paused, then added, "Oh, right, to let them use it without seals, I added a special sealing technique. But when I use it, it doesn't consume that much chakra."
Tsunade said, "You should still go take a look."
Morkel nodded. "Got it. By the way, have you seen Naruto?"
Tsunade slapped her forehead. "Almost forgot to tell you! There's been trouble at Sunagakure recently. A traitor ninja named Baizu appeared, and they asked us for help. I sent Naruto, Sai, and Yamato over."
"Baizu?" Morkel looked confused. "Is he powerful enough that we need to intervene?"
Tsunade shrugged. "He's a puppeteer, but his methods are twisted. The Sand Shinobi are having a tough time dealing with him."
"After you finish with Iwagakure, go assist them," Tsunade added.
"Got it. Where is it exactly?"
Tsunade replied, "The ruins of the ancient city of Loulan."
Morkel's eyes widened. "Loulan? The prosperous city that vanished into the desert?"
Tsunade looked surprised. "You even know about that? Seems like Jiraiya really taught you well."
Morkel smirked to himself, thinking it was because he knew of a similar city back on Earth.
Tsunade continued, "When I was young, Loulan was thriving. There was a strange minister named An Lushan who practically ruled the city. The Third Hokage even sent people to investigate, but I never learned what came of it."
Morkel nodded to show he understood. "Alright, I'll head out."
"Wait a second!" Tsunade stopped him suddenly. "During the time you disappeared, did you go to Ryūchi Cave?"
Morkel simply nodded.
"You went there to learn senjutsu?"
He nodded again.
"You actually mastered both Mount Myōboku's and Ryūchi Cave's sage arts?!" Tsunade was speechless, waving him off. "Forget it, just go."
Later, Morkel traveled to Iwagakure and discovered the real issue: their flying devices had limited range simply because they lacked enough chakra.
After listening to Morkel's objective analysis, the Tsuchikage looked frustrated. "Is there a solution? Not everyone has a chakra reserve as huge as yours."
Morkel smiled awkwardly. "It's not really a flaw in my design. They just don't have the chakra to sustain it."
He offered a suggestion. "If they rotate ninjas to keep supplying chakra, they could fly farther."
After resolving the matter, Morkel bid farewell to Iwagakure and headed toward Sunagakure.
In Sunagakure's Kazekage office, Gaara, now matured and sporting a slight beard, was buried in documents when Morkel suddenly appeared in the room!
The guard immediately shouted, "Assassin!"
Before Morkel could explain, Gaara stood up calmly and placed a reassuring hand on the guard's shoulder. "It's okay. He's my friend."
After the guard left, Gaara said, "You heard about the traitor?"
Morkel nodded. "I heard Naruto and the others came to help."
Gaara sighed. "Yes. Baizu has developed a special method of making clay puppets. Our puppet masters can't handle him, and I've been too busy to go myself."
"I need you to check it out."
"No problem. Could you arrange someone to take me to the ruins?"
Gaara smiled. "Of course. I'll have Jasmine, my student, fly you there."
On the plane, Jasmine, a lively female ninja, chatted endlessly.
"I never expected Mr. Morkel to visit Sunagakure!" she said excitedly. "It's been half a year! You're still as handsome as ever!"
"How did you even learn powerful ninjutsu like Wood Style?"
Morkel pretended not to hear, quietly enjoying the view until they arrived above Loulan.
From above, Morkel marveled at the ancient craftsmanship—towering ruins stretched across the desert, a testament to a once-great civilization.
"The ancient kingdom of Loulan is truly remarkable," Morkel muttered.
Jasmine beamed proudly. "Of course! Loulan thrived thanks to its proximity to the dragon vein."
Morkel nodded. "You can head back now. I'll go down alone."
With that, he jumped off the plane, and it automatically returned along the pre-set route.
While falling, Morkel suddenly smacked his forehead. "Ah, I could've just used the Flying Thunder God to teleport to Naruto!"
In the ruins, Naruto and his team had been searching for two days without luck.
Frustrated, Naruto said, "If only Neji or Kiba were here. Neji's Byakugan and Kiba's sense of smell would make finding the traitor so much easier."
"And Morkel too," Naruto added. "His chakra sense could cover this whole place."
Yamato pointed up at Sai. "We have Sai helping us. His ink beasts help search."
Naruto pouted. "Still, I wish Morkel were here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Morkel appeared!
Yamato was stunned. "Speak of the devil..."
Morkel greeted Yamato, then asked, "Any signs of Baizu?"
Yamato shook his head. "Sai has scanned almost everything. No sign yet."
"Let me try," Morkel said.
Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and stretched his chakra senses to the limit.
A buzzing filled his perception field—and there it was, a dazzling mass of chakra underground, larger than that of a tailed beast!
"Found it!"
Morkel opened his eyes sharply. "It's underground!"
"No wonder we couldn't find him," Yamato exclaimed.
"Let's move!" Morkel ordered.
When they reached the underground chamber, they saw Baizu, a mad grin on his face, standing atop a stone platform covered in ancient seals.
The entire ruin trembled ominously.
Baizu saw them and laughed. "You're too late! I'm about to pull the sealing blade from this relic and claim the power of the dragon vein! Soon, I'll conquer the Five Great Nations!"
Just as Baizu grabbed the kunai embedded in the platform, Morkel frowned.
The kunai looked eerily similar to a specially-made Flying Thunder God kunai!
Thinking quickly, Morkel activated Flying Thunder God and teleported toward the kunai—but he was a second too late.
Baizu pulled the kunai free.
Boom!
The ground shook violently as purple chakra erupted from the platform, forming a sky-piercing beam of light!
Dazed by the overwhelming energy, Morkel realized in horror that the stone platform's talismans weren't just seals—they were time-space seals!
Naruto rushed forward instinctively, but Yamato restrained him. "Stay back!"
"If even Morkel can't handle this, you won't stand a chance," Sai said coolly.
Naruto clenched his fists but stayed put, trusting in Morkel's abilities.
---
When Morkel opened his eyes, he found himself in a sunlit cave. A sweet, distant singing voice had roused him.
Standing nearby was a young girl with wide, startled eyes.
"Who are you?" she gasped. "There was no one here a moment ago."
"You're a—"
She stopped mid-sentence as her eyes met Morkel's, mesmerized by his warm, serene gaze.
Morkel asked gently, "Who are you?"
"Sarah," she replied in a soft voice.
"Where am I?" Morkel asked, confused.
"Loulan," she answered firmly.
At her words, Morkel's heart skipped a beat.
Loulan? The real Loulan?
Realizing what had happened, he dashed upward, leaping through the cave's opening.
Sure enough, a massive ancient city spread out before him—Loulan in its prime!
Morkel's face darkened. Did I just travel back decades? Maybe even a hundred years?!
The girl looked up at him in concern. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm fine," Morkel lied, forcing himself to stay calm.
I just need a few years of space-time study, he thought. I'll find a way back.
Just then, danger approached!
A strange puppet floated nearby, aiming a chakra cannon at him!
Morkel reacted instantly, dodging and forming hand seals.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"
A powerful invisible blade of wind slashed through the puppet, cutting it cleanly in two.
But the danger wasn't over. More puppets appeared, descending from the sky!
Morkel prepared a Fire Style jutsu, but before he could launch it, a group of masked Konoha shinobi appeared!
Among them, Morkel recognized a young Akamichi Choza.
"Uncle Choza?" Morkel blurted out.
The young Choza frowned. "Uncle? I'm barely older than you!"
Morkel realized these were Konoha ninjas from this era.
Maybe... he wasn't that far from his own time after all.
At least it gave him hope.
Before any more confusion erupted, Morkel stepped forward, forming seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, blasting the puppets out of the sky.
Some puppets even melted under the sheer heat.
The Konoha ninjas stared at Morkel, stunned by his overwhelming power.