Chapter 72: Breaking the Barrier
"Ryuzen! Hinata! Shino! Long time no see!"
After dealing with Kisame's clone, Team 8 quickly arrived at the base of a canyon. A massive cave entrance lay before them, blocked by enormous boulders, stretching across the water of a long river.
Team 7 had apparently just arrived themselves.
When Naruto spotted the three approaching, he raised his hand with a bright smile. Beside him, Haruno Sakura also offered a friendly greeting.
Since Sasuke's defection, Shikamaru had organized occasional gatherings. Though Ryuzen had only attended a few times when pestered enough, bonds had formed between Team 8 and the other Rookie Nine. From classmates to trusted partners—that's how Naruto and the others saw it now.
"Long time no see."
Ryuzen, Hinata, and Shino stepped onto the water's surface, nodding slightly in greeting. Their gazes briefly swept over the elderly woman standing with Team 7—Chiyo of the Sand.
Kakashi caught Ryuzen's glance and introduced her: "This is Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure. She's accompanying us to rescue Gaara."
Ryuzen nodded in acknowledgment.
Chiyo studied him with sharp, experienced eyes. "The new generation's White Fang of Konoha. A prodigy who could unleash S-rank slashes at twelve. I thought the reports exaggerated, but now... they undersell him."
Old ginger truly grew hotter. One look, and Chiyo perceived what others missed—beneath Ryuzen's calm exterior lay an aura completely different from the two youngsters beside him, different from anyone else present.
Ryuzen's expression remained unchanged by the praise. His attention had already shifted forward.
A seal tag was affixed to the boulder blocking the cave. His eyebrows rose slightly. "A barrier?"
"Yes. The Five-Seal Barrier." Kakashi nodded. "Besides this one, four others exist elsewhere. Unless all five tags are removed simultaneously, the barrier cannot be broken."
Ryuzen's hand settled on his sword hilt. "I'll try first. If I can't break it, Hinata can search for the other tags."
He glanced back. "Everyone, step back."
Team 7 and Team 8 retreated behind him without question.
Chiyo watched Ryuzen settle into his drawing stance, curiosity evident. "They say he wields S-rank secret slashes without consuming any chakra. Swordsmanship surpassing even the White Fang."
Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "In that regard... my father was far inferior."
"So he truly can perform S-rank secret techniques." Chiyo's ancient eyes narrowed. "In all my years, I've never heard of such sword arts. If the Land of Iron learned of this, they'd be mad with jealousy."
Kakashi seemed not to understand her deeper meaning. "Ryuzen isn't interested in such things. The Fifth Hokage has invited him to join ANBU multiple times—offering various privileges—but he's always refused."
Chiyo fell silent, watching intently.
Ryuzen had finished gathering himself. His gaze fixed on the seal tag, his fingers tightening almost imperceptibly around the hilt.
SHING—SHWOO!
The blade cleared its sheath in a flash of dazzling light.
Before anyone could track the movement, the water before them split—an invisible force parting the long river as if giant hands had pulled it apart.
BOOM!
Dark red sword energy, sixteen or seventeen meters high—towering several times over the boulder—crashed forward with tremendous force. The crimson light reflected off every face present.
Even Team 8 and Team 7, who had witnessed Ryuzen's power before, couldn't hide their shock.
Chiyo, seeing it for the first time, felt genuine horror flood her aged eyes.
But despite its power, the sword energy halted.
It pushed forward but met an immovable wall. The crimson light raged, then weakened, then slowly dissipated into nothing.
The boulder stood undamaged.
However, above it, a deep gouge now marked the canyon wall where the attack had passed.
Ryuzen showed no disappointment. Instead, a slight smile crossed his features. "Its breathing grows heavier. The chakra supply must be running low."
SHING—BOOM!
He raised his blade and struck again without pause.
Sword energy nearly ten meters high slammed into the barrier.
CRACK—
This time, the invisible wall shattered.
The violent sword energy, no longer blocked, struck the boulder directly. The seal tag attached to it tore, and cracks spiderwebbed across the stone's surface, spreading rapidly in all directions.
The sound of breaking glass echoed through the canyon.
BOOM!
With a final explosion, the boulder disintegrated completely. Thick dust filled the air.
When it cleared, the cave interior lay exposed.
And within—the massive form of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path loomed. The figures of Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand stood before it. Above them, the phantom projections of other Akatsuki members flickered.
And at the statue's base, impaled upon its fingers—
"GAARA!"
Naruto's scream tore from his throat.
The red-haired boy, the Kazekage, hung limply, his tailed beast being forcibly extracted. He looked barely human.
Naruto's whisker marks thickened. His sky-blue eyes blazed crimson with vertical pupils.
He charged into the cave without hesitation.
"Naruto!" Kakashi and Sakura rushed after him, faces twisted with worry.
Chiyo's ancient eyes fixed on the red-haired figure within—so different from the grandson she remembered.
Team 8 followed close behind.
As the seven Konoha ninja entered, the nine phantom dragons surrounding Gaara vanished. Pain's projection stared directly at Ryuzen for a long moment before addressing his subordinates:
"Be careful."
POOF!
A massive cloud of white smoke engulfed the cave.
When it cleared, the Demonic Statue had vanished. Only the artistic duo remained—and Gaara's body, lying motionless on the ground.
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