Spatial Echo, Anomaly Emerges, and the Prologue of Protection

The setting sun gilded the broken walls and ruins of Konoha. Su Ye leaned against the medical kit Sakura had handed him, his fingertips gently stroking the lusterless Rinnegan that had belonged to Nagato, while pale purple chakra flickered faintly at the edges of his pupils. Naruto stomped the last of the small, fleeing Demon Eaters into nothingness; as his golden Tailed Beast Cloak dissipated, he suddenly clutched his temples, brow furrowed. "Strange. Something seemed to burrow into my brain just now, but now it's gone."

Kakashi's Sharingan remained active, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield from behind his mask. "It wasn't your imagination." He crouched down, his fingertips touching the black mist residue on the ground, which writhed like a living thing as it burrowed into the soil. "These black mists haven't fully dissipated; they are infiltrating the soil of Konoha." No sooner had he spoken than a ninja's cry of alarm echoed from afar. The group looked toward the training ground, where the space rippled like water, and several translucent Demon Eater phantoms emerged from the distortions.

"It's a Spatial Echo!" Su Ye stood up abruptly, his Rinne Sharingan spinning rapidly. "When the extra-dimensional rift closed, the energy shock destabilized the surrounding space. The residual black mist is using these fissures to form temporary passages." He raised his hands to weave seals, and pale purple chains shot from his palms to ensnare a phantom. Yet, the moment the chains touched the apparition, it dissolved into black mist and merged back into the spatial ripples.

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan glowed red, his vision piercing through the spatial barriers. "These phantoms are merely energy aggregates; the true threat lies deep within the spatial rift. Furthermore..." He looked at Sasuke. "Do you feel your Cursed Seal burning?" Upon hearing this, Sasuke immediately clutched his left arm; the black Cursed Seal was emitting a faint red light, its frequency of fluctuation eerily identical to that of the spatial ripples.

Sakura's medical kit suddenly emitted a strange sound. She opened it to find that the antidotes inside were decomposing on their own, the pale green liquid turning into mist and drifting toward the spatial ripples. "The chakra is being interfered with," Sakura said, her expression grave. "Ordinary ninja tools and potions will lose their intended effects under the influence of the Spatial Echoes."

Guy flexed his aching arms, steam still swirling around his body. "If this continues, Konoha's defensive system will gradually fail. Su Ye, can your Rinne Sharingan pinpoint all the Spatial Echoes?" Su Ye closed his eyes, his Rinne Sharingan releasing a wave of chakra perception. But before it could cover even half of Konoha, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his chakra sensory network shattering as if it had slammed into a wall of solid copper.

"It's no use," Su Ye wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "The fluctuations of the Spatial Echoes are chaotic, and there seems to be a force deep within interfering with my perception. Nagato's Rinnegan..." He gripped the eye in his hand, his pupils constricting. "This eye is responding to the Spatial Echoes; there is some kind of connection between them."

Just then, Tsunade arrived with the Anbu. Looking at the scene on the battlefield, she said in a low voice, "The Hokage's office has received reports. Three abnormal spatial zones have appeared on the outskirts of Konoha: the training ground, the back mountain, and the commercial district. Ninjas have been dispatched to seal them, but the spatial fluctuations in those areas are growing stronger." She handed a scroll to Su Ye. "This is the record Jiraiya left behind regarding extra-dimensional spaces. It mentions that certain extra-dimensional creatures can use energy residues to awaken the 'Spatial Mark' dormant within a ninja."

Sasuke suddenly covered his eyes, his Mangekyo Sharingan spinning uncontrollably. Strange images flashed before him: under a scarlet sky, countless Demon Eaters were surging toward a spatial rift; on the other side of the rift lay a version of Konoha covered in black veins. "I saw it," Sasuke's voice trembled. "Those Demon Eaters are using the Spatial Echoes to search for ninjas who bear the Spatial Mark. Once the mark is activated, they can open new rifts."

Naruto suddenly remembered something. He pulled out the necklace at his throat—a memento left by Kushina—which was now emitting a faint blue light. "This necklace started burning the moment the spatial ripples appeared. Could it be..." Su Ye took the necklace, bringing his Rinne Sharingan close to it. As the pale purple light intertwined with the blue, he immediately understood. "The Tailed Beast chakra has resonated with the Spatial Echoes. Naruto has the most prominent Spatial Mark."

Tsunade's expression turned grim. "We must deal with these abnormal spatial zones as quickly as possible, or Konoha will become a gateway for extra-dimensional creatures. Su Ye, you, Itachi, and Sasuke are responsible for the training ground area. Naruto, Guy, and Kakashi, take the back mountain. I will lead the Anbu to handle the commercial district. Remember, prioritize protecting the villagers; do not venture deep into the abnormal spatial zones lightly."

The group moved immediately. When Su Ye, Itachi, and Sasuke arrived at the training ground, the spatial ripples had already expanded to a diameter of ten meters, with transparent Demon Eater phantoms constantly emerging and lunging at nearby villagers. Sasuke immediately activated his Susanoo, the blue arm shielding the villagers behind him. Itachi condensed a Great Fireball Technique, but the flames were distorted upon contact with the spatial ripples and exploded in the opposite direction.

"Ninjutsu is being interfered with by the space," Itachi said, his brow furrowed. "We can only use taijutsu and ocular techniques." Su Ye nodded, his Rinne Sharingan releasing Shinra Tensei to blast the phantoms away. However, after hitting the ground, the phantoms merged into the earth and burrowed out from beneath Sasuke's Susanoo. "They can travel through the Spatial Echoes," Su Ye said grimly. "Sasuke, use Kagutsuchi to coat the Susanoo; the flames can temporarily block the black mist."

Sasuke complied immediately. As black flames covered the surface of the Susanoo, the Demon Eater phantoms let out shrill screams the moment they touched the fire, dissolving into black mist. Itachi seized the opportunity, his Mangekyo Sharingan releasing Tsukuyomi to pull several phantoms into an illusionary space. But just as he was about to launch an attack, the illusionary space began to shatter, and the phantoms reappeared in reality.

"Illusions are unstable, too," Itachi's face darkened. "The Spatial Echoes are devouring the surrounding energy, including chakra and illusionary energy. Su Ye, can your sealing jutsu seal the spatial ripples?" Su Ye took a deep breath, weaving seals with both hands as pale purple chakra condensed into a sealing formation in his palms. "I'll try. Samsara Spatial Seal!"

The sealing formation flew toward the spatial ripples but was repelled the moment it made contact. A sharp pain shot through Su Ye's arm, and the backflow of chakra caused him to spit blood once more. "It's no good," Su Ye gritted his teeth. "The energy of the spatial ripples is too strong, and there is a force deep inside resisting. Wait..." He looked at the Rinnegan in his hand; at that moment, the eye began to float on its own, flying toward the spatial ripples.

"Nagato's Rinnegan is guiding us," Itachi reacted instantly. "It can sense the core of the Spatial Echoes. Su Ye, follow it." Su Ye nodded. His Rinne Sharingan resonated with Nagato's Rinnegan, and the pale purple and scarlet lights intertwined, forming a pillar of light that shot deep into the spatial ripples.

The three followed immediately. The moment they entered the ripples, the surrounding scenery changed: a scarlet sky, black earth, and in the distance, the figures of countless Demon Eaters. At the center of this space, a black crystal was emitting the same fluctuations as the Spatial Echoes. "That is the Spatial Core," Su Ye said in a low voice. "As long as we destroy it, we can eliminate the Spatial Echoes here."

But just then, the swarm of Demon Eaters in the distance lunged at the three. The leader was massive, possessing four arms, each wielding a giant black blade. "It's the same type as that previous Demon Eater leader." Sasuke activated his Complete Body Susanoo; the blue giant held a long sword and slashed toward the swarm. Itachi condensed the Susanoo's bow and arrow, firing flaming arrows at the leader.

Su Ye seized the chance to fly toward the Spatial Core, but as he approached, the core released a black beam toward him. Su Ye immediately activated Shinra Tensei to deflect the beam, but the shockwave still grazed his shoulder, and black mist began to erode his chakra. "Such strong corrosion," Su Ye gritted his teeth, channeling the power of his Rinne Sharingan to force the black mist out of his body.

Sasuke's Susanoo was struck by the leader's giant blade, and cracks appeared on the blue armor. He couldn't help but spit out blood. "Su Ye, hurry! We can't hold on much longer!" Itachi provided immediate support, his Susanoo's bow firing continuously as flaming arrows exploded among the swarm, temporarily halting their advance.

Su Ye took a deep breath, pouring all his chakra into his Rinne Sharingan. Simultaneously, it and Nagato's Rinnegan erupted with ultimate brilliance. "Samsara Final Seal!" The pale purple sealing formation enveloped the Spatial Core, which shook violently, releasing even stronger black beams. Su Ye's body was pierced by the beams, blood pouring out, but he gritted his teeth, pushing the power of the sealing formation to its limit.

"Seal!"

With Su Ye's roar, the light of the sealing formation surged, and the Spatial Core was gradually sealed. The surrounding swarm of Demon Eaters let out shrill screams as their bodies began to dissipate. Sasuke and Itachi immediately rushed to Su Ye's side, supporting his swaying frame. "We did it," Su Ye managed a faint smile before his vision went black and he collapsed.

When Su Ye woke up again, he was lying in a hospital bed in Konoha, and Sakura was changing his bandages. "You're finally awake," Sakura said with a relieved smile. "You've been unconscious for three days. Itachi and Sasuke are guarding outside, and Naruto and the others have already cleared the Spatial Echoes in the back mountain. However..." Sakura's expression turned grave. "The Spatial Echoes in the commercial district have mutated. Lady Tsunade says that the Spatial Core there is related to an unknown ninjutsu."

Su Ye struggled to sit up, his Rinne Sharingan spinning slightly. "I have to go see." Sakura wanted to stop him, but seeing the determination in his eyes, she could only nod. "Alright, but your body is still very weak; someone must go with you."

As Su Ye stepped out of the ward, Itachi and Sasuke immediately approached. "How do you feel?" Itachi asked. Su Ye nodded. "I'm fine. Is the situation in the commercial district very serious?" Sasuke frowned. "Yes. The Uchiha clan crest has appeared within the Spatial Echoes there, and..." He paused. "Tsunade said that Jiraiya's scroll mentions that the Spatial Core might be related to 'Kotoamatsukami'."

Su Ye's pupils constricted. "Kotoamatsukami?" He immediately headed toward the commercial district, secretly resolving that no matter the crisis, he would protect Konoha and those around him. Behind him, Nagato's Rinnegan flickered slightly, as if signaling that a greater storm was approaching.