197Before the decisive battleAI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 197 Before the Decisive Battle
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Uchiha Madara, with his arms crossed and a banana fan on his back, was sitting cross-legged on a stone. Hearing this, he nearly stumbled.
He barely recovered from his shock, took a deep breath, and stared coldly at Uzumaki Naruto: "That joke isn't funny at all."
"Hmph, no sense of humor."
Uchiha Madara was expressionless.
"Forget it."
Seeing Uchiha Madara, who was not easily teased, Naruto sighed and stopped teasing him. He said seriously: "Essentially, I wasn't teasing you."
"Do you want to see Senju Hashirama?"
"What?"
Uchiha Madara, who was somewhat annoyed, was stunned. He suddenly stood up, his sharp eyes fixed on Naruto: "Isn't he dead?"
"I can bring him back."
"Speak, what do you want me to do?"
Uchiha Madara slowly sat down, suppressing his excited heart.
There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially for someone like Uzumaki Naruto. He wouldn't be overflowing with saintly compassion.
"Help me guard a region."
"No!"
Uchiha Madara's face darkened: "No freedom, no interest."
"That's a pity."
Naruto shook his head and got up to leave.
"One!"
'Two!'
"Three!"
"Wait!"
Uchiha Madara, with a dark face, stopped Naruto, who was pretending to walk slowly.
Someone who can use Flying Thunder God still walks slowly? Do you think I'm a fool?
"Changed your mind?"
"Guard where?"
"You decide."
"Where is Hashirama?"
Uchiha Madara said in a deep voice: "Where he is, I am."
"Land of Fire, Mysterious Sacred Land."
"Mysterious Sacred Land?"
Uchiha Madara was indifferent.
What kind of place is this? Is there another sacred land besides the legendary Three Sacred Lands?
"As long as you want to enter, I can give you permission."
"Within Konoha City, you can enter anytime."
"Alright, I agree."
Uchiha Madara sneered.
He was already eager to torment Senju Hashirama.
Now, he was terrifyingly strong.
"Alright, I'll come find you after I'm ready. You will definitely see Senju Hashirama."
"I'm looking forward to it."
...
"When will Shinigami come for me?"
Back in Konoha City, Naruto lay in his rocking chair, swaying it and enjoying the rare leisure.
"I feel like you're courting death."
Six Paths Sage suddenly appeared beside Naruto, sitting cross-legged and floating in the air.
His gaze was deep and melancholic.
"What do you mean?"
"Shinigami, like the Ōtsutsuki, are considered extraterrestrial visitors. Both are very mysterious."
"And there's an even more mysterious Underworld. From Shinigami's tone, the scale of this Underworld is incredibly vast."
"You might be able to offend the Ōtsutsuki, but the Underworld is definitely a terrifying place."
"I know."
Six Paths Sage was startled: "You know?"
Naruto smiled without speaking.
The Underworld.
What a familiar name. Although he didn't know what differences existed between the Underworld of this world and the Underworld he knew.
But they were both places that managed the dead, so they probably weren't too different.
Besides, he stole from Shinigami, not the Underworld.
If people from the Underworld really came, they would definitely look for Shinigami's trouble first, not his.
As for himself?
Naruto didn't feel there was anything to be afraid of.
Shinigami had managed the Pure Land for so many years, and no one from the Underworld came to settle accounts with him. Could it be that they would come as soon as he stole people?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
"Can you tell me?"
Six Paths Sage floated to Naruto's side, staring at him expectantly.
Only by standing at a certain height can one understand the mysteries of this world.
First the Ōtsutsuki, then Shinigami, and later the Evil God.
He had basically never seen these gods, but their terrifying and mysterious abilities made him feel awe.
These gods might not be strong in terms of raw power, but the various abilities they possessed should not be underestimated.
"There's nothing to say. I'm just guessing."
Six Paths Sage stared at Naruto with a dark expression.
Damn little fellow.
This was seduction, blatant seduction.
Speaking halfway, the whole family...
Ahem!
Six Paths Sage stared blankly at Naruto for a few moments, then sighed helplessly and disappeared.
Nine-Tailed silently poked his head out, letting out a sigh of relief: "He's finally gone."
"Don't you respect Six Paths Sage very much? Why don't you dare to come out now?"
"Good heavens, you provoke him like that, it's very difficult for me to be in the middle, alright."
"Correction, you are not human."
"Alright, alright, I'm not human."
Nine-Tailed was too lazy to talk nonsense with Naruto. His tone shifted as he asked: "Orochimaruhas already gone to find the corpses. Are you sure doing this won't get you cursed to death?"
"Naruto, I'm here."
Kakashi strode over, casually sat beside Naruto, and looked at him curiously: "Did you need me for something?"
"I want to discuss something with you."
"What is it?"
Kakashi was curious as to what needed discussing with him.
In the current Ninja World, what couldn't Narutosay?
He could call a deer a horse.
"Hmm, I found a Sacred Land, similar to Mount Myōboku, but this Sacred Land is a bit unique. Like the Pure Land, it collects souls."
Naruto explained the relationship between Shinigami and the Pure Land to Kakashi, finally saying: "Your father's soul should also be in the Pure Land. How about bringing him to this Sacred Land? You can visit him anytime."
Kakashi was expressionless.
Heh heh!
It sounded good, but it was just a life of a worker.
This guy really thought beautifully.
But being able to see his father would be very good for him.
Besides, working for Naruto was better than being exploited by Shinigami.
There was nothing to hesitate about. Kakashinodded in agreement directly.
At the same time, he was very excited.
He hadn't seen his father in many years, and he was thrilled to have this opportunity.
"Sakumo Hatake, huh."
Watching Kakashi's retreating back, Naruto shook his head.
Konoha Village was truly dark back then; all sorts of bizarre things happened.
It was truly laughable that a powerful Ninja like Sakumo Hatake would commit suicide.
If not for many ambitious youths, Konoha Villagewould have collapsed long ago.
...
Just as Naruto was expanding his space for workers, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and the others weren't idle either.
After preparing everything, they rested for three days.
"It's time to depart."
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki sneered: "This Uzumaki Naruto is truly arrogant. He hasn't even taken the initiative to attack yet."
"Powerful people are always arrogant, and so are we."
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki stood by, casually saying a remark, then looked at Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki: "What do you think are our chances of victory this time?"
"I don't know, the future is unseeable."
Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki was in a heavy mood.
"It doesn't matter, I will make my move!"
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki still had a trump card hidden. If worst came to worst, he would directly seal Narutofirst.
Without Naruto, this Ninja World would be a scattered mess, all just chickens and dogs.
Vulnerable...