The Dragon Vein lay deep beneath Rōran. No one knew where it ca from, or why it existed.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was that it had beco the focal point of the conflict between Akatsuki and the Remnants.
Whoever controlled the Dragon Vein—
Controlled an infinite future.
As for the original inhabitants?
In the face of overwhelming forces, they had no choice but to endure.
Fortunately, Uchiha Hikaru and Uzumaki Nagato weren't bloodthirsty. The civilians had simply been relocated.
At this mont, Kyusei and Kaoru had encountered their respective opponents.
Uchiha Hikaru.
Uchiha Yuma.
Standing atop a slope, their clothes fluttering in the wind, the two faced them down.
Kyusei turned to Nao and Orochimaru.
"The rest is up to you."
Everyone involved carried a large-scale Flying Thunder God transfer formation, jointly developed by Kushina, Kyusei, Karin, nma, and Kaoru.
Once anyone broke free, they had to head to the Dragon Vein and set up the formation.
The mont it was complete—
Kaoru would disengage and begin the transfer.
Everyone else would hold the line.
"Understood."
Nao nodded, calm and composed.
Without hesitation, she and Orochimaru moved ahead.
Hikaru didn't stop them.
Not because she didn't want to—
But because Kyusei had already entered Nine-Tails Mode and was staring her down.
This pressure…
Her heart tightened.
This was different from last ti.
Then, Kyusei had been forced to split his chakra to protect Kaoru.
Now—
He was at full power.
Kaoru fixed her gaze on Yuma.
Last ti, she had been caught off guard and forced to retreat.
She hadn't forgotten.
"Uchiha… Hikaru?"
Kyusei pulled out a small booklet and flipped through it.
After speaking with Jiraiya, he had investigated the Uchiha clan.
While no critical secrets were uncovered—
Hikaru's background had been revealed.
"Five hundred years ago, you were created as a weapon against the Senju."
"Later sealed by the Senju and Uzumaki."
He spoke calmly.
Ignoring her darkening expression.
"Didn't expect you to survive all this ti."
He tossed the booklet aside and asked sincerely,
"So what sealing technique did the Uzumaki use on you?"
He was genuinely curious.
Nothing in the Uzumaki arsenal matched that description.
Centuries without food or water.
Frozen in ti.
What kind of technique could achieve that?
Kaoru twitched slightly.
He was literally poking at her trauma.
"Want to know?" Hikaru asked, eerily calm.
"…Yes."
"Then go ask your ancestors in the Pure Land."
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Flas erupted.
A towering inferno surged forward like a tidal wave.
"Wind Style: Gale Devastation!"
Yuma followed up instantly.
Wind fueled the flas.
The firestorm expanded—
Turning night into day.
"Kaoru, here it cos!"
Kyusei remained unfazed.
"Mm!"
They ford hand seals simultaneously.
"Water Style: Water Formation Pillar!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Water and wind surged together.
A massive storm clashed against the inferno.
Steam exploded across the battlefield.
Mist filled the air.
The two forces collided evenly.
—
Far from the battlefield, a strange figure erged from underground.
"Impressive…"
White Zetsu muttered.
"In a desert, no less."
"Is that the Nine-Tails' chakra?"
Black Zetsu remained silent.
He hadn't expected Konoha to act so quickly after Madara's death.
But this only proved how important the Dragon Vein was.
His gaze shifted toward the distant clash—
Where titanic figures battled.
Finding a version of Madara right after leaving Konoha…
What luck.
If needed—
They could use him.
"Hikaru's drawing on our chakra," White Zetsu said.
"Of course," Black Zetsu replied coldly.
"Her chakra isn't enough to match Kyusei."
White Zetsu were expendable.
They had eighty thousand more.
More than enough.
What mattered—
Was when Nagato would arrive.
At that mont—
A sonic boom tore through the sky.
A figure streaked across the heavens.
In an instant—
He arrived above the Dragon Vein.
"Ah, Nagato's here."
"We've won," White Zetsu said casually.
"…Yes," Black Zetsu replied.
—
Inside the Dragon Vein chamber—
Nao and Orochimaru were preparing the formation.
Then—
CRACK!
The ceiling exploded open.
Moonlight poured in.
A figure hovered above them.
Red hair.
Black cloak.
Ripple-patterned eyes.
Rinnegan.
The pressure froze Orochimaru in place.
Nao looked up calmly.
"So… this is the Rinnegan."
"Now that I'm here," Nagato said coldly, "this ends today."
"You will beco the foundation of peace."
He raised his hand.
"Universal Pull!"
But—
The force stopped.
Distorted.
Blocked.
Nagato's eyes narrowed.
Those eyes…
Blue rings, white glow, black core—
They pulled at his gaze.
A power equal to the Rinnegan.
"Tenseigan…"
Nao stepped forward.
Floating.
"I'll handle this."
"Do you think you can stop alone?" Nagato said coldly.
Six bursts of smoke appeared.
Six White Zetsu—
Each with Rinnegan.
The Six Paths.
Orochimaru sighed.
"…Looks like I'll have to work for this."
Then—
Nao vanished.
Appearing in front of Nagato.
"Let see your strength."
"Shinra Tensei!"
Repulsive force exploded outward.
Nao responded instantly.
Tenseigan's repulsion—
Canceled it completely.
"Impossible—!"
Green chakra flas erupted around her.
Tenseigan Chakra Mode.
Before Nagato could react—
Her palm struck his chest.
BOOM!
She forced him away—
Dragging him out of the Dragon Vein area.
Nagato understood instantly.
She was protecting it.
He wouldn't allow that.
Human Path—
Soul Extraction!
His hand shot toward her chest.
A killing move.
But—
A black Truth-Seeking Orb intercepted it.
He grabbed it.
Preta Path—
Chakra Absorption!
Her chakra began draining.
Nao kicked—
Forcing distance.
But Nagato twisted—
Grabbed her wrist—
And slamd her into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth shattered.
Dust filled the air.
Nagato hovered above.
She wasn't defeated.
Just shaken.
"Tch…"
Even he found her troubleso.
But he would not lose.
Never.
Nao rose slowly.
They were far enough from the Dragon Vein now.
She could go all out.
Standing on a rare patch of greenery—
She exhaled.
A Truth-Seeking Orb ford in her hand.
"Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
A massive tornado erupted—
Rising toward the sky.
Nagato reacted instantly.
Preta Path—
Absorption barrier!
But—
It failed.
The attack couldn't be absorbed.
His eyes widened.
"What… are those eyes?"
To Read 60 ahead advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon/DarkVerse146
User Comments
0 comments from readers