The moment Uchiha Shigure's form vanished into the air, he reappeared on the silent streets below and scanned his surroundings. His eyes narrowed. Though the city seemed alive with crowds only moments ago, his heightened perception whispered the truth—there were no humans here at all. Every figure marching in the festive parade was a puppet.
High above, on the tallest spire of Loulan, a woman with flowing red hair stood at the edge of a balcony. Queen Sara waved to the "people" below with a graceful smile, completely unaware that her devoted citizens had long been replaced with lifeless constructs.
"So that is Loulan's queen… Sara," Shigure murmured, his expression unreadable.
Almost on cue, the puppet guard at her side shoved her without warning. Sara stumbled, her cry of shock cutting through the chiming bells of the city. She tumbled from the tower's great height, certain death awaiting below.
But in the instant before impact, a flash of orange streaked through the plaza.
A boy with spiky blond hair and eyes blazing with fire leapt in. His black-and-orange jacket flapped as he caught Sara mid-air, his body twisting expertly to absorb the fall. They landed safely, dust rising in a gentle burst.
Sara's lips parted in shock, but instead of gratitude, her hand came down hard across her rescuer's cheek.
Naruto blinked dumbly, rubbing his face. "Oi! What was that for? I just saved you—dattebayo!"
Shigure's eyes widened. "Uzumaki Naruto… as expected. I can't tell yet if the future has been altered, or if this is a parallel world. Either way, things are about to get complicated." His gaze flickered, calculating. Negotiations would have to be handled carefully.
Shigure revealed himself, stepping closer.
"Who are you?!" Naruto's kunai was in hand in an instant, his guard raised. "Were you the one targeting Sara-chan just now?"
Before Shigure could respond, a familiar chakra signature suddenly erupted beside them. With a shimmer of space-time, Namikaze Minato appeared, his cloak fluttering in the breeze.
"I hope there's no misunderstanding," Minato said calmly. "We're here to protect Her Majesty the Queen as well." His hand met Naruto's arm, stopping the boy before he could rush forward recklessly.
Naruto's eyes widened. "You…?"
"Let's talk inside." Minato's tone allowed no argument. Together, he and Shigure guided Naruto and Queen Sara into one of the palace's large empty corridors.
The Time Paradox
"The puppets launched a sudden attack on everyone," Naruto explained hurriedly, scratching his head in frustration. "And this place—Loulan—last I heard it was nothing but ruins. Now it's like a whole thriving town! What in the world is going on?"
Minato and Shigure exchanged a glance. Shigure gave a slight nod, passing the explanation to Minato.
"If my understanding is correct," Minato began, removing the mask he had worn during their infiltration, "this is not the Loulan you know. You were drawn here from another time. From the future."
Naruto's jaw almost hit the floor. "Future!? You mean—I traveled through time?!"
Minato sighed. "Yes. To tell the truth, I hesitated to reveal this, because if those from the future interfere with history, the flow of time can be violently altered. This Loulan exists around twenty years before your own era. Six years ago, another shinobi from the future arrived here. His name was Baizu."
"Baizu…" Naruto repeated. His memories of chasing a monstrous centipede came back in a rush. He clutched his head. "Tch! We were hunting Centipede! He escaped into the Dragon Vein—next thing I knew, I was here! Nothing makes sense!"
"Tell us everything." Minato's voice was steady. "Whatever details you know may be key."
Taking a steadying breath, Naruto explained: "We cornered the centipede near the Dragon Vein. He swallowed the sealing formula right into his body. Then… it was like the world tore apart, and I got dragged back here."
Minato's eyes sharpened. "So both you and Centipede used the Dragon Vein's time-space properties. You were pulled from your future into this time." He folded his arms. "That means if we defeat the Centipede now, time should reset to its original flow and you'll return."
Naruto's spirits instantly reignited. "Alright! Then let's crush that bastard and send me home!"
"Not so simple," Shigure interrupted. His smile carried an eerie edge. "The man you call Centipede… here he is known by another name—Minister An Lushan of ancient Loulan. He is Baizu. He's harnessing the Dragon Vein to forge the ultimate puppet weapon."
Sara recoiled as if struck. "That's ridiculous! Minister An Lushan inherited my mother's legacy. He has worked tirelessly for the peace and prosperity of this land! He would never—never—create such horrors!"
"Your majesty." Minato's eyes softened with pity. "I'm afraid you've been deceived."
"No!" Sara's voice was brittle, but iron hard. "I won't believe such slander from strangers. You suspect ones are you. Not him!" She spun and stormed from the hall.
"Oi! Wait, Sara-chan!" Naruto called, about to dash after her.
Shigure stepped in front of him, hand pressing lightly on his shoulder. "Let her go for now. You should be her protector. Queen Sara will need you far more than she realizes. Minato and I will handle Baizu."
Naruto hesitated… but strangely, something about Shigure's presence stirred a wordless trust in him. Slowly, he nodded. "Alright. I'll guard Sara-chan."
Minato unclipped a special kunai from his pouch and handed it to Naruto. The blade gleamed faintly with intricate markings. "Here. This is one of my Flying Thunder God kunai. As long as you keep it, no matter where you are, I can appear at your side instantly."
Naruto blinked, realization dawning. "This sealing mark… could it mean—?"
"There's no time," Minato cut him off, his voice sharp. "Go. Protect her."
Naruto clenched the kunai, nodding fiercely. "Leave it to me, dattebayo!" He dashed off down the hall, following Sara's trail.
Minato and Shigure remained, the heavy silence of the palace pressing around them.
Ashura's Reincarnation
Shigure's dark eyes glimmered as he turned inward. Within his veins a storm churned—Naruto's chakra had mingled with his own, fragments absorbed during their fleeting contact. Not only had he gained traces of the Nine-Tails' immense power, but even deeper, he had touched the essence behind Naruto's soul.
He had felt Ashura's bloodline.
Shigure smirked faintly. "So it's true. This Naruto is Ashura's reincarnation in this age… absorbing his power now saves me decades of waiting."
The knowledge tasted like victory. This mission had already borne fruit beyond expectation.
Shaking off the rush of chakra thundering inside him, Shigure faced Minato again. "Come. I know where Baizu is hiding."
Minato followed without hesitation. Their destination lay beneath the crumbling majesty of Loulan—a cavern where titanic strands of energy pulsed and writhed. It was there the Dragon Vein coiled, the lifeblood of the ancient city.
When they arrived, a tide of puppets awaited, their lifeless faces frozen in grotesque half-smiles. Cords of violet light ran from their cores, binding them all to the enormous vein of energy that tore through the depths.
"So this is it…" Minato's breath caught. "The puppets are powered by the Dragon Vein itself. He's binding the city to its energy to fuel his army."
Shigure's Sharingan spun to life, casting the room in crimson light. "Get ready, Minato. Baizu won't hide much longer. He's about to reveal himself… and when he does, we'll be facing something far worse than puppets."
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