The ancient throne room of the Uzumaki clan sat built into red-stone cliffs, towering above whirlpool cliffs. Dozens of candles flickered across the high ceiling. Thick stone walls carved with sealing kanji pulsed faintly with chakra suppression.
Heavy iron doors screeched open as Uchiha Indra entered.
He walked slowly, steps echoing, black kimono swaying across the polished floor streaked with dry blood. His long hair flowed down his back, aura low but oppressive—heavy enough to make air hard to swallow.
Behind him were four shadows:
Three snake princesses, robes clean, eyes emotionless.
And Maria Uzumaki, dressed in ceremonial crimson, hair tied high, eyes dull like cold fire.
Uzumaki elders and elite warriors filled the hall, arrayed before the ancestral seal-pillar.
Indra walked to the head platform—where the Grand Uzukage once stood.
💬 "Kneel."
His voice was low, but it thundered through the silence.
No one moved.
💬 "I said—kneel."
He raised his glare. His aura surged just slightly.
The ground cracked beneath some elders. A few dropped instantly. Others trembled. One man spoke:
💬 "Uchiha or not—you don't command this bloodline like—"
A snake shot out from under Indra's sleeve. It coiled around the man's throat and snapped, crushing his larynx.
The body dropped, legs twitching.
💬 "Anyone else?"
Most knelt. Some hesitated—then Maria stepped forward.
She held up a sealing scroll etched with glowing five-element lines. It pulsed with chakra restraint energy.
💬 "This is the Uzumaki Five Element Tongue Seal. I will link it personally to each chakra flow. Anyone branded will have their speech, chakra usage, and seal casting locked behind my control."
💬 Indra: "It's simple. Submit and live with voice shackled under Maria's flame, or die like rodents."
An older woman stepped up.
💬 "You dare use Uzumaki sealing arts against us?"
Indra half-nodded to the blue-haired snake princess. Ichikishima blinked once, then vanished from sight.
A second later—slash.
Two heads hit the floor side by side. Silence followed. Maria didn't flinch.
Indra lowered his hand, calm.
💬 "Seal ten. Kill the rest."
Maria started the ritual—tongue seal chakra lines began glowing, more whispered voices filled the chamber.
Those who resisted were dragged away. Fists clenched. A child screamed. No one moved.
🐍 Interruption: A Hiss in the Feasting Hall
Suddenly, a fresh serpent, soaked in blood, slithered over the stone from far side corridors. It hissed three times, rapid and high-pitched.
Indra didn't move. His red Sharingan flicked toward the snake princesses.
💬 "Which one of you understands that dialect?"
Ichikishima stepped forward, eye narrow.
💬 "It says... intruders. Four chakra streams incoming. High-level sensory marks. From…"
She paused.
💬 "Konoha."
A heavy silence filled the throne room.
Maria raised her hand, pausing seal inscription.
Indra exhaled slowly.
💬 "Of course. The Leaf shows its spine now that the blood has dried."
He turned to the Uzumaki clan leader—an older man with red-streaked beard and trembling arms. The clan head stepped forward, forced and stiff.
💬 "You said... you wouldn't involve the Leaf. Please—"
💬 "You will talk to them," Indra said. "You will tell them nothing. Tell them this land is under Uzumaki lockdown. Tell them to turn back or vanish."
💬 "What if they ask about... the chakra surge?"
💬 "Say an inner civil ritual is in progress. Say we are sealing nightmares."
He stepped back into the shadows behind the throne, his form vanishing behind billowing black silk.
💬 "And if they ask for me..."
He turned his head slightly.
💬 "You've never heard the name."