Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 171: Madara Is Also Our Comrade

Minato Namikaze's soul continued ascending.

If a person could pass into the afterlife without regret, they might be able to face death peacefully. Yet, Minato could not find such peace—he was still too concerned about the world he was leaving behind.

"Dad!"

Naruto Uzumaki ran toward him.

"Naruto..."

Minato looked at his son, wanting to say something—anything—to help him face the looming crisis of Shigen. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't think of the right words.

The only thing he could do...

Was plant the seed of victory in his son's heart.

"Naruto."

With what little time he had left, Minato did his best to encourage him. "I'm really sorry I couldn't help resolve this crisis in the ninja world... but the hope of stopping Lord Shigen now rests on your shoulders."

"I... I will stop him!"

In truth, the twelve-year-old Naruto barely understood anything. He didn't know what kind of war machine Shigen had created, nor the full scope of the conflict between him and Konoha. He only saw the expectation in his father's eyes, and so, he clenched his teeth and promised.

"I believe in you, Naruto."

Minato's gaze remained fixed on his son, his voice filled with both encouragement and pride. "Just like your mother and I always believed you would grow up to become an outstanding ninja..."

And with those final words...

The soul of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, ascended.

He was the first Hokage to be forced off the battlefield.

Meanwhile—

Senju Tobirama had no time for farewell speeches.

The Second Hokage immediately tried to use Spirit Transformation Technique to keep himself anchored in the world for a little longer—he was not ready to give up.

But even so...

It was futile.

He couldn't even get close to Shigen.

His spirit was sent flying with a mere flick of Shigen's finger!

All Tobirama could do was watch helplessly as his elder brother, Senju Hashirama, was beaten into utter disgrace—completely stripped of the strength that once earned him the title of "God of Shinobi."

Lucky...

Or perhaps unlucky.

Even with Spirit Transformation Technique, Tobirama's soul could not last.

He, too, was finally forced to leave the mortal world. But even in death, his soul was not at peace.

The Second Hokage was gone.

Yet Hashirama didn't even have the time to mourn.

He couldn't afford to process his emotions—not when he was still fighting!

Even the weakest of them, Hiruzen Sarutobi, refused to surrender!

The Third Hokage was already forming the hand seals for Reaper Death Seal!

Summoning the Shinigami would mean certain death.

Perhaps it was already too late.

But as a Hokage, Hiruzen had no choice—he could not retreat!

"Ninja Art: Reaper Death Seal..."

Determination flashed in Hiruzen's eyes.

A towering spectral figure of the Shinigami emerged from behind him!

The instant the death god laid eyes on Shigen, it opened its mouth in silent terror, brandishing its short blade as it lunged toward him!

"You still haven't learned, have you?"

Shigen merely raised his hand, curling his fingers into a gripping motion—

As if he were holding a skull in his grasp.

From his last encounter with Edo Tensei, he had taken the time to... converse with the Shinigami in the underworld.

At the very least, he had taught the death god to fear.

It was a precaution—just in case Reaper Death Seal ever became an obstacle for him again.

Of course, now that he was fully resurrected, he didn't even need such a countermeasure.

But it was always better to eliminate potential annoyances.

And as expected—

It worked.

The moment the Shinigami saw Shigen's hand gesture, a wave of absolute terror washed over it.

The same soul that had dominated it in the underworld...

Was standing before it once again.

Like a small animal encountering its natural predator, the death god instantly recoiled in fear, retreating back into the void at lightning speed!

It was so frightened—

That it didn't even bother to take Hiruzen's soul before fleeing!

Yet, despite all this—

Hiruzen's body had already reached its limit.

Summoning the Shinigami had drained the last of his life force.

But the most disheartening part?

The god of death—the ruler of the underworld—had cowered like a mere beast.

It didn't even put up a fight!

"..."

Hiruzen couldn't comprehend it.

But others...

Were already succumbing to despair.

Jiraiya had believed that Reaper Death Seal was Hiruzen's final trump card—his last-ditch effort to stop Shigen.

To be blunt...

There was no greater jutsu in all of Konoha.

Reaper Death Seal had once been powerful enough to cut through even the Nine-Tails with ease!

And yet...

It had been nullified just like that.

If even this had failed—

What else could possibly stop Shigen?

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"

Hashirama pressed his hands together.

Even though he knew he was no match for Shigen—

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Even though he knew his defeat was inevitable—

He still had to fight.

Until the very last moment...

Senju Hashirama would never give up!

But even his iron resolve—

Would only serve to highlight the overwhelming power of his enemy.

A massive wooden dragon coiled around Shigen, attempting to bind him!

But with a single surge of his arm—

Shigen shattered the wooden beast into splinters, scattering debris across the battlefield!

Then, in a flash, he appeared before Hashirama, his palm striking forward!

Hashirama's Edo Tensei body—

Was instantly torn apart!

His soul was forcibly ejected from his vessel—

And in a single moment, the Edo Tensei binding him was erased!

"Lord Shigen..."

Hashirama's soul rapidly ascended into the sky.

He gazed down at Shigen's form, his face filled with concern and unease.

Even now, he tried to reason with him:

"Slaughter can never bring true peace..."

"There's nothing left to discuss."

Shigen, though blind, could still sense Hashirama's lingering thoughts.

And he cut them off without hesitation.

"I have no interest in wasting any more time here."

Because—

His goals had already been achieved.

And yet, despite his success...

He felt no joy.

Even now, at the culmination of his plan—

There was no satisfaction.

Because...

Black Zetsu was still by his side.

And this resurrection...

Was merely the beginning.

This entire process—

Had served not just to grant him power—

But to force the true mastermind of the ninja world—Black Zetsu—into making its next move.

"Black Zetsu, let's go."

Shigen's body floated effortlessly, nine Truth-Seeking Orbs orbiting beneath him as he passed through the ranks of stunned Konoha shinobi.

None dared move.

Their bodies were paralyzed beneath the sheer weight of his chakra.

"Yes..."

Black Zetsu followed him, its voice dripping with amusement.

But beneath that amusement—

There was something else.

A flicker of unease.

It watched Shigen's Truth-Seeking Orbs closely, realizing a very troubling fact.

Shigen...

Might have become too strong.

Truth-Seeking Orbs.

The pinnacle of chakra transformation.

Only those who had truly mastered Six Paths abilities could create them.

If Shigen had reached this level—

He was nearly equal to the Sage of Six Paths himself.

And that...

Could be a problem for Kaguya's revival.

If Shigen's power truly rivaled Hagoromo's—

Then controlling him...

Might become impossible.

"Our plan has no issues now."

Black Zetsu carefully broached the subject.

"Shigen, once we return... shouldn't we focus on reviving Madara?"

"Madara..."

"After all, he is our comrade."

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