Chapter 362: Eye
Minato stood at a distance, focused on sensing this mental world belonging to Naruto. He forced himself ignoring continuously transmitted "tragic" tremendous commotion from the other side.
Nine-Tails and enraged mother were conducting merciless, fury-venting crazy "abuse" on Urashiki consciousness body who'd lost all power, reduced to pure "punching bag."
His attention completely concentrated on sensing world itself's changes.
That massive heterogeneous chakra—or rather Otsutsuki chakra aura—currently at disturbingly "smooth" speed, accelerating permeation, penetrating every corner of mental world, undergoing deeper-level entanglement with Naruto's own chakra and life aura.
"As expected..." Minato's heart was heavy. Urashiki consciousness body successfully sealed equaled temporarily isolating the 'soul' and 'personality' controlling this power.
But power itself hadn't vanished. Rather—losing master's resistance and consumption—it was conducting forced 'fusion' with Naruto's body at faster speed.
He didn't know whether this accelerated fusion was good or bad. Could only silently pray, hoping this external power's forced infusion wouldn't cause irreversible damage or distortion to Naruto's own consciousness, personality, or even life essence.
On the other side, Otsutsuki Urashiki enduring storm-like attacks was currently tasting more humiliating and despairing flavor than physical annihilation.
Cannot be eliminated. This was consciousness body relying on [Karma] data's characteristic—now becoming endless torment's source. No matter how Nine-Tails and Kushina above violently beat him, consciousness body's felt tearing, burning, crushing-like severe pain was incomparably real yet always unable to welcome "death's" release.
However, compared to this continuous, sufficient-to-collapse-any-mind physical pain, a deeper-level fear was coiling around Urashiki's soul—fear of unknown ending.
In Otsutsuki clan records, similar situations had never been recorded.
Caster's complete power essence had already begun forced fusion with "vessel," but caster's soul, personality, consciousness were thoroughly isolated and confined by target world's bizarre technology called "sealing techniques," completely severed from power source!
Soon, fusion would probably thoroughly complete. At that time, what would happen to himself?
Power returning to "vessel," yet "vessel's" soul wouldn't necessarily become Otsutsuki because of this. Where would this sealed "original master personality" go?
Would it thoroughly dissipate with fusion completion? Or forever as sealed, useless data imprisoned in this body's depths?
Less than one day—[Karma's] thawing and fusion process would complete. This itself was extremely abnormal phenomenon.
Normal [Karma] was caster highly compressing, refining self data then imprinting into "vessel," then through long time adaptation, or under intense battle stimulation, letting Otsutsuki power bit by bit "thaw," gently transforming, adapting "vessel's" body.
But Urashiki's [Karma]... calling it "half-finished product" was flattery. It was completely crude, violently "inferior product"!
Using rough analogy—other Otsutsuki casting [Karma] was like carefully cooking, easily digestible food, one bite at time patiently feeding "vessel," slowly completing transformation.
What about Urashiki? Taking an entire uncut, hard watermelon, directly violently, entirely stuffing into "vessel's" throat! No—probably not that gentle.
More specifically, he seemed to directly use brute force prying open "vessel's" "stomach," then all unprocessed, violent "ingredients" in one go, completely without method, all stuffed in!
Also fortunate it was Naruto—this vitality-vigorous-to-abnormal level, even possessing autonomous life energy replenishment bizarre trait "freak" physique—barely "withstanding" this extremely crude infusion.
"Move aside! Kushina, my turn!!"
After Kushina vented one round fury, slightly retreating, Nine-Tails still burning with rage, hatred hard to calm, growled lowly. Giant tails raised high, then one after another, viciously slapping ground where Urashiki's limp consciousness body lay!
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
Each slap made entire mental world violently tremble, releasing muffled giant sounds.
Though Kushina also wished dismembering Urashiki, she more worried about outside son's true condition. Since unable to thoroughly eliminate this disaster here, she must shift energy toward more practical direction.
"Minato," she walked toward husband. "That external chakra fluctuation... getting stronger, more 'close.' Approximately... how long until complete fusion ends?"
Unable to directly stop this fusion process, Minato could only speculate based on sensed speed, voice low replying: "Very soon... because without Urashiki consciousness body's interference and usage, fusion process lost greatest 'consumption point' and 'unstable factor,' speed accelerating... should be... immediate matter."
"...Then I'll first dismiss this chakra body." Kushina decisively made calmest decision. She deeply looked at Urashiki being repeatedly "ravaged" by Nine-Tails, then looked toward Minato. "Synchronize all memories and situations here back to reality main body. See if outside... I can do something more for Naruto."
Words falling, Uzumaki Kushina's chakra body began slowly becoming transparent, carrying all information experienced here, flowing toward mental world and reality's connection point, returning to main body.
Minato watched wife's chakra dissipate, then refocused grave gaze toward that accelerating fusion, aura increasingly strange and unclear mental world depths, plus that still madly venting fury Nine-Tails and ground that mass symbolizing failure and unknown "prisoner."
When Otsutsuki's soul, personality, consciousness were completely sealed, isolated...
After [Karma] power thoroughly, forcibly fused into Naruto's body and life origin... exactly... what would happen?
---
"...You're saying this time's enemy came from outer space, race named 'Otsutsuki'? Target is Tailed Beasts, this attack's target is Nine-Tails inside Naruto's body?"
In Konoha Hospital's temporary conference room outside, Jiraiya listening to Uchiha Sasuke's concise yet information-explosive explanation, couldn't help forcefully rubbing swelling temples with fingers, face written with disbelief and absurdity.
"If outside still remained that battlefield, I'd probably say... even fabricating explanation, no need fabricating this 'outrageous,' right."
"Yes."
Uchiha Sasuke's voice was low. "I understand this is difficult immediately accepting. But I have no reason lying to deceive you at this time. Please definitely... believe this fact. Their threat is real."
"...Alright." Jiraiya exhaled long breath, temporarily suppressing further investigation of their identities. "About your specific origins, we can discuss later. Now most urgent is—what must be done to save Naruto back?"
He urgently pressed, gaze tightly staring at Sasuke and equally worried Boruto beside him.
However—"BANG!"
A sudden chair-moving sound interrupted questioning.
Originally quietly sitting aside, tightly gripping both hands Uzumaki Kushina suddenly violently stood from seat!
"Kushina?!" Jiraiya was startled, surprised calling out.
Kushina didn't immediately respond. She closed eyes, facial expression rapidly transforming from worry to shock.
Next second, extremely fast speech: "Finished! No, about to finish! Naruto... he's about to wake up!"
Her words instantly stirred thousand waves in room!
Kushina deeply breathed, making her voice remain stable. "It's me... the chakra part I left in Naruto's body years ago worked! That side's 'battle'... temporarily controlled situation."
Uchiha Satsuki reacted fastest. Almost the instant Kushina's words fell, immediately rushed from conference room, sprinting toward Naruto's ward!
Jiraiya also suddenly stood, grave expression replaced by urgency. "Go! First check Naruto!" As long as Naruto could safely awaken, other doubts—including these two mysterious people's identities—could temporarily postpone.
The group hurriedly left conference room, at fastest speed returning to that oppressive-atmosphere special care ward.
On bed, Naruto's body's intense trembling completely stopped. Previous painful, struggling-with-invisible-things tense posture also relaxed.
Breathing became steady, chest regularly rising and falling. Though complexion still somewhat pale, no longer transparent with death aura—rather recovering some blood color.
"Naruto..." Satsuki first rushed bedside, almost instinctively wanting to grasp Naruto's hand placed at body side, seemingly wanting to obtain slight security sense through this real touch, confirming he was truly improving.
Just as her fingertip was about to touch Naruto's hand back—on bed, Naruto's long-closed eyes suddenly opened!
Pupils initially somewhat scattered, filled with separated-worlds confusion, obviously somewhat bewildered about his situation.
"Naruto! You..." Satsuki's heart delighted, immediately calling out, voice carrying irrepressible excitement.
However, her call and movement suddenly halted this moment. She stared shocked deadly at Naruto's opened eyes.
Following close behind reaching bedside Uzumaki Boruto also saw Naruto awakening scene. He first breathed relief but immediately—his gaze falling on Naruto's eyes—entire person instantly froze.
In Naruto's opened eyes—left eye still everyone's familiar, clear azure like clearest sky, same as usual.
But...
Right eye—originally should-be-white part now transformed into deep-as-dark-night pitch black! And located at this pitch black's center pupil no longer blue but became like melted gold, emanating nonhuman radiance brilliant golden color!
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