"White…"
Uchiha Fūyō stared with his newly awakened Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and the Susanoo in the distance gradually overlapped with the "memory" he had seen.
"Th-that's…" His heart pounded like a drum, and his throat tightened. "Naraku…!"
"What did you say!?"
Fugaku, being close, clearly heard the faint murmur from Fūyō's lips.
He no longer cared about Danzo; he threw Fūyō into the Uchiha crowd, ordered the Clan Member to maintain vigilance, dispelled his Susanoo, and rushed towards that direction at top speed.
Losing his footing, Fūyō fell to the ground but immediately scrambled up, a look of ecstatic, foolish joy on his face.
In his twenty years of life, he felt he had never been so happy, wishing everyone could hear him: "It's Naraku! It's Naraku's Susanoo!!"
Before his words faded, Tsunade had already vanished from her spot, transforming into a blurry shadow leaping across the rooftops.
Jiraiya quickly went to help Kakashi, not noticing the expression on his old friend's face behind him.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a knowing smile, as if he had long anticipated this.
"Naraku…?"
Kakashi was helped up by Jiraiya, and a sliver of strength surged back into his exhausted body amidst the hope, causing him to sprint towards where the white Susanoo had appeared.
Hope reignited in the eyes of many Uchiha Clan Member, praying that this genius was indeed still alive.
However, since the Ninja on Konoha's side had not yet moved, they dared not disperse on their own; it would be dangerous if they were picked off one by one.
This included Kushina, who was at the very center of the Uchiha crowd; she couldn't just abandon Danzo like this, so she could only anxiously pray that Sister Tsunade would bring Naraku back alive.
Jiraiya watched as Uchiha Fugaku and Tsunade, two important figures, both ran off. He had no choice but to remain stationed, lest one side seize the opportunity to act—he had to protect the Uchiha… "Get down!"
The moment the structure above collapsed due to the explosion, Naraku timely activated his Mangekyo, firmly protecting the children with Susanoo's ribs, creating a hollow space beneath the layers of earth and rock large enough to accommodate them.
After the rumbling ceased, silence fell all around, with only their tense breathing audible.
The collapsing rock walls had destroyed all illumination, and it was pitch black before their eyes. Shisui's Sharingan had already been deactivated, so even he couldn't clearly see the situation.
"Kazuki! Hibiki! Are you alright?"
"What about Shisui? Shisui!"
"Hana, Brother Obito, are you okay?"
As everyone asked about each other, Shisui seemed to hear a suppressed, low cough, but it was so brief it felt like an illusion.
An inexplicable panic seized his heart, and he asked with a trembling voice: "Senior Naraku?"
"…Hm? I'm fine."
Fortunately, Senior Naraku's voice was still as steady as before. He even patted Shisui's little head as a gesture of comfort, then deliberately cleared his throat to signal everyone to be quiet.
The children had long regarded Naraku as their backbone, and even though they were very scared, they quickly shut their mouths and waited for him to speak.
"Don't worry, everyone, I still have a plan."
Naraku's tone was gentle, showing no panic at being buried underground; instead, he appeared composed.
"Later, when we get to the surface, there might still be enemies… Don't be afraid no matter what you see, don't stop, run immediately towards Konoha, understood?"
"Understood! Brother Naraku!" Kazuki answered crisply.
"Yes, I understand, Brother Naraku, Senior," Shisui also agreed.
"Obito," Naraku softly questioned, "Are you listening?"
After a long pause, Obito awkwardly replied: "I won't be scared, Naraku, you guy, don't treat me like a child and coax me, hey."
"I know… Obito, you are everyone's older brother…" Naraku paused, then continued, "Protect your younger siblings…"
The sound of chest-patting echoed in the confined space, followed by Obito's firm promise: "Of course!"
Naraku was probably a bit tired; his breathing gradually became more noticeable, but his tone remained gentle and calm.
"Alright, let's go."
The entire underground began to vibrate violently. The few people felt the space above them gradually expanding, the earth being pushed open, and moonlight shining through the cracks in the rocks and soil, growing more and more, brighter and brighter.
The children finally saw what had been protecting them all this time.
Their wide-open eyes, stunned, reflected the pure white skeletal Susanoo in the dust.
This colossal entity roared, breaking through all obstacles, bringing them back into the open air, once again bathed in bright silver light.
The enemies who had destroyed the base still surrounded the area. After their initial surprise, seeing that they were not dead, they all picked up their weapons and charged.
"Go… cough cough…"
Naraku floated in the chest of the skeleton, breathing heavily, then choked and coughed twice as if he could no longer hold on, blood spilling from his mouth and staining his chin.
But he was still concerned about the others, frowning tightly and urging once more: "…Hurry and go!"
Shisui's dark eyes trembled, fear and worry clutching his throat, leaving him frozen in place, unable to utter a single word.
After Naraku swiftly cleared out the enemies in the direction of Konoha, it was Obito, who had first regained his composure, who pulled him and the other children, jumping out of the encirclement through that gap, and quickly retreated towards the Village under Naraku's cover.
He cast a hurried last glance, only seeing Naraku continue his attack while suddenly coughing up blood again, and couldn't help but cry out.
"Senior Nara—"
"Shisui!"
Obito sternly stopped him. On that face, usually filled with a foolish smile, was an expression of anger and pain Shisui had never seen before.
—I am the older brother, I must…—protect my younger siblings…!
Remembering what he had promised, Obito deeply resented how weak he was at this moment, capable of nothing but fleeing.
Naraku was the same age as him, yet in a life-or-death situation, he had to abandon him, even if it was the wisest choice.
"We must leave!"
"Only then can Naraku escape!"
…Watching Obito and the children gradually disappear into the distant jungle, Naraku formed hand signs while spitting blood, launching several Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation arrows to take down the Root members who were attempting to pursue them. He controlled Susanoo to block all enemies, continuing to form hand signs.
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
Rolling waves of flames incinerated large swathes of trees around them, burning ever more intensely, trapping him and all the enemies together in this ravaged battlefield.
Before the flames died down, no one would be able to catch up.
Naraku dealt with the enemy's attacks, yet still had the presence of mind to observe the two Chakra signatures within his sensory range—Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
Presumably, not wanting to reveal their existence too early, they had been lurking nearby, showing no signs of making a move.
Only when all the Root members were killed by Naraku, and no one else was left alive here, would be their best time to appear.
—Unfortunately, Black Zetsu's elaborate plan would have to be put on hold for now.
Naraku dispelled Susanoo, swaying backward, allowing the enemies to approach him.
Just as various Ninjutsu and weapons were a step away, a fiery red Susanoo burst through layers of fire waves, its giant bone hand sweeping away all attacks.
Following this was a roar of fury.
"Die—!!!"