These ninja varied in strength, but in front of Kiyosuke and Killer Bee they were nothing. Each of them left one survivor alive, leaving the rest to their subordinates to finish off.
Their appearances were bizarre, covered in strange markings, and their chakra felt just as abnormal.
But Sasuke and Naruto hadn't been off training for nothing. Their improvements were obvious. One unleashed a Rasengan, the other a Chidori, slamming their enemies to the ground. Sasuke went further, ending his opponent's life without hesitation, while Naruto held back and left his target barely clinging to life.
Kiyosuke stepped forward, crushed the man's head underfoot, and said,
"Mercy toward the enemy is cruelty to yourself. Even if he's helpless, you kill him. That's what it means to be a ninja."
He rapped Naruto lightly on the head, then led both of them deeper into the palace. Killer Bee's squad had already finished and joined them.
Two of them tossed their beaten opponent to the ground.
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke stepped forward.
"Sharingan!"
He cast his genjutsu, slipping into the man's mind.
Kiyosuke asked,
"Who sent you?"
"Yomi… sama."
"Yomi?" Kiyosuke frowned. He'd never heard the name. But Kitsuchi, who had fought in that war years ago, spoke up.
"That name was among those who gathered the Ghost Army back then. After Mōryō was sealed away, most of them died or scattered. Yomi was one of them. I didn't think he'd resurface decades later."
"Tch, what a pain. Makes you wonder how many of these kinds of monsters are still lurking in the shadows," Kiyosuke muttered. Then he asked,
"What was the point of assassinating Shion-sama?"
"The priestess… Shion is the only threat to Mōryō-sama and Yomi-sama's control of the world. She must die."
Only the priestess of the Land of Demons could seal Mōryō. There was always only one priestess per generation, and only she could threaten that demon from another world. Right now, Shion wasn't just her nation's hope—she was the world's sole savior.
Mōryō feared her power deeply. That was why Yomi had sent assassins. Kill her, and nothing would stand in their way. With an immortal ghost army, they could conquer the world.
Kiyosuke pressed further.
"Your jutsu was strange. Where did you learn it?"
"Yomi-sama… provides chakra… and…"
Before he could finish, something bulged from his neck—like a worm wriggling under the skin. It burst out, snapping toward Kiyosuke's throat.
Kiyosuke's hand moved faster. He pinched it between two fingers. Looking closely, the thing's body was black, with tiny horns on its head. Its mouth was like a lamprey's, round like a suction cup, lined with rings of razor-sharp teeth.
"What the hell is this thing?" Kiyosuke asked, holding it up. He had never seen anything like it.
He glanced back at the others. None of them had, either. He tossed it to Sakura.
"Cut it open. See what makes it tick."
The man who'd carried it was already dead. They turned to interrogate the other survivor.
"Hey, kid from Kumogakure," Kiyosuke said. "Bury the body with Naruto."
"Why me?" Omoi complained.
"Hm?" Kiyosuke's glare silenced him instantly. Omoi and Naruto obediently carried the corpse outside.
This time, Ao took charge of questioning. As a former Mist ANBU, he was more skilled than Kiyosuke at digging out the truth. He got the man talking.
The worms transferred chakra from Yomi and his subordinates into others, even letting them use different chakra natures. Swallowing one gave explosive bursts of power.
And they weren't just parasites—they had their own awareness. Even as the prisoner spoke, one crawled out through his skin and tried to attack Ao. A kunai pinned it to the floor before it could strike.
When Omoi and Naruto returned from burying the corpse, Chōjūrō and Kankurō went to dispose of another.
"Mōryō's target is Shion-sama," Kitsuchi said. "We can't waste time. We need to escort her to the Land of Swamps and strengthen the seal."
Shion's eyes shifted toward Naruto. She said nothing, but a violet flower-like pattern spread in her irises. She stared at him without blinking.
The others turned to look at Naruto. Even her attendant, Taruho, stiffened in surprise.
"Eh? Why's everyone staring at me like that?" Naruto asked.
"You will die," Shion whispered.
"What?" Naruto stepped closer, frowning. "Didn't hear you. Say that again."
Shion repeated softly,
"You will die. Your chest will be pierced through, and you will die."
"Don't joke with me! Before I become Hokage, I'm not dying to anyone!" Naruto snapped.
Taruho spoke up, her tone solemn.
"Every prophecy Shion-sama has spoken has come true without exception. She can foresee the deaths of others."
It was one of the powers of the priestess—sometimes she could glimpse the moment someone's life would end.
And this time, among all of them, she had seen Naruto's death.
Kiyosuke frowned. He didn't believe it. Perhaps Shion could see fate, but when it came to Naruto—the child of destiny himself—such visions could not hold.
Naruto clenched his fists.
"I don't believe it!"
"Come," Taruho said. "Let's rest first before we continue."
He led them to a tatami room. Tea and sweets were served.
Naruto strode in proudly, wearing a bulky iron cuirass.
"See? Now I won't get skewered through the chest."
He was clearly rattled, no matter what he claimed.
Sasuke smirked.
"Looks like you are scared after all."
"I'm not scared! Just being careful, that's all!" Naruto huffed.
From behind, Shion's voice came again.
"You will die with your throat slit."
"Ehh?!!"
Naruto yelped and toppled over, eyes wide.
Shion, having changed out of her shrine maiden robes, walked gracefully past him into the room. She sat down lightly.
"Sealing Mōryō's body alone is useless," she said. "But for now, it's all we can do—reinforce the seal."
If Mōryō's soul were ever reunited with its body, the world would be doomed. They wouldn't even need to wait for the Ōtsutsuki clan to descend. Mōryō itself would bring destruction.
Its goal was to wipe out the Five Great Nations and build a thousand-year kingdom atop the ruins.
Everyone nodded grimly. Kiyosuke asked,
"So then, we wait for Mōryō's soul to arrive, and when it does, Shion-sama, you'll seal it away?"
"Yes. That is my mission," Shion replied. She glanced around, and seeing that Taruho was absent, rose to her feet.
"Ninja, follow me."
They stood and trailed after her through the palace, until they emerged before a great waterfall.