Seeking the Secret Record in the Forbidden Grounds, Clues Emerge in the Uchiha Clan Massacre

Before the stone gate to the Uchiha forbidden grounds, the Mangekyō Sharingan in Sasuke's fingertips glowed crimson, resonating with the clan crest carved into the gate. With a soft click, the cracked stone gate slowly swung inward, releasing an ancient air sealed away for a thousand years. Naruto followed close behind Sasuke. The Tailed Beast necklace around his neck grew warm, and the Nine-Tails Chakra inside him seemed to resonate subtly with the energy in the forbidden grounds.

"Be careful." Sasuke raised a hand to stop Naruto, his gaze sweeping over the passage inside. Fluorescent stones glowing with a faint blue light were embedded in the walls on either side, illuminating the history of the Uchiha Clan carved into the stone. From the alliance between the First Uchiha and the Senju Clan to the oaths sworn by generations of clan heads to protect Konoha, the murals depicted the history in clear detail. But when the two reached the end of the passage, the murals suddenly became distorted. The final mural, which should have recorded the Uchiha Clan Massacre, was covered by a layer of black Chakra markings, leaving only the blurry image of a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.

"What's this?" Naruto reached out to touch the mural, but Sasuke grabbed his wrist. "Don't touch it." Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan spun rapidly. "These markings carry the energy signature of Kotoamatsukami. It's very similar to the aura on Ying Zhishui." As soon as he finished speaking, the black markings on the mural suddenly rippled, turning into a dark golden chain that lashed toward them.

Sasuke immediately activated Susanoo, raising its blue arm in front of them to shatter the chain. But the broken chain transformed into countless tiny Chakra Threads and merged with the surrounding stone walls. In an instant, all the fluorescent stones lining the passage went dark. Countless Demon Eater phantoms emerged from the darkness, their bodies covered in dark golden patterns. They were puppets controlled by Ying Zhishui.

"Looks like Ying Zhishui knew we'd come here." Naruto immediately entered Tailed Beast Mode, golden Chakra coiling around him as he smashed an oncoming Demon Eater phantom with a single punch. Sasuke formed Susanoo's long sword, coating its blade in black flames. Each swing burned swathes of Demon Eater phantoms to ash.

Fighting side by side, the two pressed deeper into the forbidden grounds. Beyond the passage lay a circular chamber. A yellowed scroll hovered above the stone platform at its center, its cover bearing four characters in ancient Uchiha script: "Secret Record of Protection." Just as Sasuke reached for the scroll, dark golden runes suddenly lit up in the chamber's four corners. A Barrier Ninjutsu formed in an instant, trapping them inside.

"You Uchiha brats took the bait, just as I expected." A chilling voice came from beyond the barrier. Three ninjas in black robes slowly appeared, the sleeves of their robes embroidered with Ying Zhishui's exclusive insignia. The leading ninja formed Hand Seals. "Lord Ying predicted you'd come looking for the Guardian Fire. He sent us here to wait for you."

Naruto roared and attacked the barrier, but the moment his Tailed Beast Bomb touched it, it was absorbed. "It's no use," the lead ninja sneered. "This 'Consciousness Cage' was created by combining Kotoamatsukami's power with the Uchiha's Barrier Ninjutsu. The stronger your attacks, the sturdier the barrier becomes."

Sasuke's gaze fell on the Secret Record of Protection atop the stone platform, and his Mangekyō Sharingan glowed red. He noticed the ancient script on the scroll constantly changing, as if it were conveying some kind of message. "Naruto, stop attacking the barrier," Sasuke said in a low voice. "Look at the scroll." Naruto followed his gaze. The writing on the scroll gradually became clear, eventually forming a moving image. In it, Shisui held the Secret Record of Protection and spoke to them with a grave expression: "If future generations of the clan face a crisis, only the ocular power of the Mangekyō Sharingan combined with Tailed Beast Chakra can break the seal on the Guardian Fire. Remember, the Guardian Fire is not only the hope of the Uchiha, but also the key to sealing the rift to another dimension."

The moment the image vanished, the Chakra inside Sasuke and Naruto stirred at the same time. Red Chakra poured from Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan, while the golden Tailed Beast Chakra around Naruto surged in response. The two powers intertwined, forming a beam of red and gold that shot toward the barrier.

"How is this possible?!" The lead ninja's expression changed. He tried to reinforce the barrier, but it was too late. The moment the beam struck, the barrier's dark golden runes began to shatter, and the Consciousness Cage collapsed. Sasuke seized the opening, charged forward, and kicked the lead ninja away, then reached out and took the Secret Record of Protection from the platform.

As soon as Sasuke took hold of the Secret Record of Protection, the scroll unfurled on its own, revealing the contents within. The Uchiha's Guardian Fire was not a physical flame, but a Chakra seed left behind by the First Uchiha Clan Head, hidden beneath the Fire Temple in the mountains behind Konoha. The seed contained power that could counter the black mist from another dimension, and it was also the key to opening the Uchiha's secret vault. Even more shocking, the record contained a hidden clue about the Uchiha Clan Massacre: on the night of the massacre, a third party besides Itachi had been involved, and the Chakra signature of that force was strikingly similar to the black mist from the other dimension.

"A third party?" Sasuke clenched his fists, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He had always believed that the truth behind the night of the massacre was exactly as Itachi had told him, but it turned out there was more to it. Naruto patted Sasuke on the shoulder. "Don't do anything rash. Let's find the Guardian Fire first, then investigate the truth behind the massacre."

Just as the two were about to leave the forbidden grounds, the chamber floor began to shake violently. The three black-robed ninjas formed Hand Seals in unison. "Lord Ying's orders: even if we have to destroy the forbidden grounds, we must keep you here!" They poured their Chakra into the floor, and countless dark golden chains burst from beneath the ground, lashing toward them. At the same time, stones began falling from the ceiling. The entire forbidden area was on the verge of collapsing.

Sasuke immediately activated Perfect Susanoo, shielding Naruto behind him as he swung its long sword and cut through the chains. "Let's go!" Sasuke charged toward the passage entrance, with Naruto close behind. But just as they were about to escape, the lead black-robed ninja suddenly detonated his own Chakra. "You think you can leave? Not so easily!"

The violent explosion swallowed the passage in an instant. Sasuke shielded Naruto with Susanoo, but the blast wave hurled them away. They crashed onto the open ground outside the forbidden area, and the Secret Record of Protection fell nearby. Sasuke struggled to his feet and saw that the three black-robed ninjas had disappeared. Only the dark golden Chakra lingering in the air proved they had ever been there.

"Sasuke, are you all right?" Naruto asked worriedly, supporting him. Sasuke shook his head and picked up the Secret Record of Protection. "We have to head to the Fire Temple right away and find the Guardian Fire. Ying Zhishui's remaining forces are already after us. If we're too late, they might beat us to it."

The two immediately set off toward the Fire Temple. Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Konoha Hospital, Su Ye stared at the Rinnegan in his hand. After the battle, Nagato's Rinnegan had lost a great deal of energy, its crimson glow dimming. Suddenly, the Rinnegan gave off a faint red light, and a blurry image entered Su Ye's mind. Deep underground beneath the Fire Temple, a golden flame burned, surrounded by dark golden Chakra of the same origin as Ying Zhishui's.

"The Guardian Fire." Su Ye's heart tightened, and he immediately flew toward the Fire Temple. He knew Ying Zhishui's remaining forces must have already sent people to the Fire Temple. A new struggle for the prize was about to begin.

Outside the Fire Temple, a monk in a red robe stood before the temple gate. He was the temple's abbot, Chiriku. Sensing an unusual Chakra fluctuation in the air, Chiriku tightened his grip on the Vajra. Suddenly, three dark golden figures darted out of the shadows and rushed toward the temple. "Stop!" Chiriku roared, swinging the Vajra at them. But the three were incredibly fast. They easily dodged his attack and stormed into the Fire Temple.

Chiriku immediately chased after them, only to find the three heading toward the temple's forbidden grounds. Beneath the forbidden grounds lay the seal containing the Guardian Fire. "You dare trespass in the Fire Temple's forbidden grounds!" Chiriku activated the Six Forms and attacked them. The lead ninja sneered and raised a hand, releasing a burst of dark golden Chakra that struck Chiriku. He instantly fell into an illusion, his body frozen in place.

Just as the three were about to open the gate to the forbidden grounds, a golden beam descended from the sky and struck the lead ninja, sending him flying. Naruto landed beside Chiriku and waved a hand, dispelling the illusion. "Master Chiriku, are you all right?" Chiriku came to and looked at Naruto and Sasuke, who had arrived right behind him. "It's you two. What was that just now?"

"Ying Zhishui's remaining forces," Sasuke said gravely. "They're after the Guardian Fire beneath the Fire Temple." As soon as he finished speaking, the other two ninjas had already opened the gate to the forbidden grounds and rushed underground. Sasuke and Naruto immediately chased after them, with Chiriku close behind.

The underground passage was filled with a dense Chakra presence. The three reached the end of the passage, where a massive altar stood before them. A golden flame burned at its center: the Guardian Fire. The two ninjas immediately charged toward the flame, hoping to seize the seed. Sasuke formed Susanoo's long sword and swung it at them. But at that moment, the lead ninja suddenly darted out from the shadows, holding a black crystal. He threw it toward the Guardian Fire.

The instant the black crystal touched the Guardian Fire, the flames churned violently. Countless black vines burst from the crystal and wrapped around the Guardian Fire. "This is bad!" Sasuke's expression changed. "That's a black mist crystal from another dimension. He's trying to corrupt the Guardian Fire!" Naruto immediately released a Tailed Beast Bomb at the crystal. But as soon as it drew near, the black vines absorbed it.

Just as everyone was at a loss, a pale purple beam descended from the sky and struck the black crystal. The crystal shattered, and the black vines vanished with it. Su Ye landed on the altar, the Rinnegan in his hand glowing red. "Good thing I made it in time." He looked at the Guardian Fire as the Rinne Sharingan in his eyes turned slightly. "The Guardian Fire's power needs to be activated with the ocular power of both the Rinnegan and the Mangekyō Sharingan. Sasuke, come here."

Sasuke immediately stepped forward and stood beside Su Ye before the altar. The two released their ocular power at the same time, and purple and red Chakra intertwined as they poured into the Guardian Fire. The golden flames instantly surged, illuminating the entire underground passage. Within the fire, a phantom slowly took shape. It was the First Uchiha Clan Head.

"At last, someone has managed to activate the Guardian Fire." The First Clan Head's phantom spoke. "The Guardian Fire can not only counter the black mist from another dimension, but also awaken the bloodline power of the Uchiha. Now you must use the seed to reinforce the space barrier around Konoha and stop Ying Zhishui from opening the gate to another dimension." As he finished speaking, the Guardian Fire turned into a golden streak of light and merged into Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Sasuke felt power surging through him, and a flicker of delight crossed his eyes. "Let's go," Su Ye said, looking at the others. "We need to return to Konoha immediately and reinforce the barrier with the Guardian Fire. Ying Zhishui could attack again at any moment."

Just as the group was about to leave the underground passage, the altar began to shake violently. Stones fell from the passage ceiling, and a dark golden spatial rift slowly opened in the center of the altar. Ying Zhishui stepped out of the rift, even more powerful dark golden Chakra coiling around him. "I didn't expect you to activate the Guardian Fire. But it's already too late." Ying Zhishui raised a hand and sent a burst of spatial energy toward them. "This time, I'll destroy Konoha once and for all!"

Su Ye immediately activated the Rinnegan and released Shinra Tensei, blocking the spatial energy. Sasuke and Naruto released their powers at the same time, ready to fight. Chiriku gripped the Vajra and stood beside the three. "Whoever you are, you won't hurt the people of Konoha!"

Ying Zhishui sneered. His body transformed into countless ripples in space and rushed toward them. A battle that would decide whether Konoha survived began once more. This time, they had the power of the Guardian Fire, but Ying Zhishui was far stronger than before.