Island Reef Seal Opens, Ruins and Secret News Emerge, Ambushers Encountered

The sea breeze, laden with a salty tang, lashed against the hull as the Hyuga clan's ship cut through the waves, heading toward Mist Island on the border of the Land of Water. Su Ye stood at the bow, his Rinne Sharingan quietly active; his pale purple ocular power pierced through layers of mist, vaguely revealing the outline of the island—the entire landmass was shrouded in a pale blue chakra barrier, its surface rippling with the unique sealing runes of the Uzumaki clan.

"We'll reach the shore in three miles." Sasuke held the Six Paths Secret Record, his fingertips brushing over the yellowed pages. "According to the records, the sealing barrier of Mist Island was personally laid by the first patriarch of the Uzumaki clan. Aside from those who carry the bloodline, anyone who attempts to force their way in will be backlashed by the power of the seal." Naruto walked to the ship's rail, gathering pale gold chakra in his palm, within which the faint pattern of the Uzumaki clan crest emerged. "Don't worry, with me here, I'll definitely be able to open the entrance."

Half an hour later, the ship docked at a reef beach on the edge of the island. As the three stepped onto the damp rocks, the stone beneath their feet suddenly glowed with a pale blue light, and countless runes surged from the cracks, creeping up their ankles toward their bodies. "This is the entry restriction of the Uzumaki clan, used to verify bloodlines." Su Ye quickly channeled his Rinne power, temporarily blocking the runes from his body. "Naruto, hurry and release your bloodline power."

Naruto immediately injected his chakra into the ground, and the gold and blue energies intertwined like two streams merging into the earth. The runes on the reef instantly boiled, flying toward the center of the island, and the barrier that had shrouded the entire land slowly opened a gap, revealing a passage formed of light patterns. "Let's go." Su Ye stepped into the passage first, with Sasuke and Naruto following closely behind.

The end of the passage led to a dense forest where the trees were all pale blue, their leaves covered in sealing runes. As soon as the trio entered the forest, the surrounding trees shook violently, and countless vines struck at them like venomous snakes. "It's a triggered sealing trap!" Sasuke quickly drew the Heaven-Burning Ancient Sword, incinerating the vines with crimson-gold flames. "These vines have been reinforced by sealing power; ordinary attacks are completely ineffective."

Su Ye's pale purple eyes flickered, seeing through the sealing nodes at the base of the vines. "Attack the blue runes at the roots of the vines!" Naruto immediately condensed a Tailed Beast Bomb, the golden sphere of chakra striking the runes with precision. The vines instantly lost their vitality, dissolving into ash. The three continued forward, encountering traps along the way—sealing pits that suddenly collapsed, giant runic boulders falling from the canopy, and chakra threads hidden in the grass—all of which they neutralized one by one through the insight of the Rinne Sharingan and the explosive power of the Nine-Tails chakra.

Passing through the forest, a massive ruin appeared before them. The structure was built of pale blue stone, with the Uzumaki clan crest carved above the main gate and a line of ancient text beneath it. Sasuke stepped forward, his fingertips brushing the text, and the Six Paths Secret Record suddenly glowed red. "This is text from the era of the Sage of Six Paths; translated, it means 'Source of the Seal, Beginning of the Guardian'."

Naruto pressed his palm against the crest, injecting his golden chakra. The crest slowly rotated, and the main gate groaned open, releasing a wave of ancient and powerful chakra. The three entered the ruins, finding a long corridor with walls covered in murals. Su Ye stopped to examine them—the first mural depicted the Sage of Six Paths holding a staff, standing side-by-side with a woman in Uzumaki attire before a massive sealing formation; the second showed Uzumaki clansmen building the ruins on the island and embedding a glowing blue stone in the center; the final mural was covered in black mist, showing only vague silhouettes of countless shadows attacking the ruins.

"These murals must record the history between the Uzumaki clan and the Sage of Six Paths." Sasuke frowned. "The last mural has been damaged; it seems the remnants of the Shadow of the Ancient God have been here before." Naruto reached out to touch the mural, but as his fingertips brushed the black mist, it suddenly transformed into a sharp claw, lunging for his face. Su Ye acted instantly, his pale purple chakra blade severing the claw. "Be careful, there is dark power lingering in this mist."

The three continued forward until the corridor ended in a circular hall. In the center of the hall hovered a pale blue stone, its surface flowing with sealing runes—this was the Uzumaki Sealing Stone. But just as Su Ye prepared to step forward to retrieve it, black flames suddenly ignited around the hall, and dozens of black chains shot out from the fire, striking at the trio.

"I expected you to come." A cold voice emerged from the flames as a man in a black cloak slowly stepped out, wearing a mask carved with the pattern of the "Shadow of the Ancient God." "Su Ye, Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki—your luck has run out." Sasuke gripped the Heaven-Burning Ancient Sword, crimson-gold flames burning along the blade. "You remnants again. We defeated you at the Hyuga compound last time; you dare come back to throw your lives away?"

The man sneered and performed a hand seal, the black flames instantly transforming into countless fireballs that surged toward them. "These flames can devour chakra; don't get hit!" Su Ye channeled space-time ninjutsu, teleporting himself, Sasuke, and Naruto to the other side of the hall. Naruto activated Nine-Tails Mode, condensing his golden chakra into a Tailed Beast Bomb and firing it at the man. The man did not dodge, instead forming a barrier with his black chains; the Tailed Beast Bomb struck the barrier and was instantly swallowed whole.

"How is this possible!" Naruto's eyes widened. "My Tailed Beast Bomb was actually absorbed!" The man slowly removed his mask, revealing a face covered in black markings. "I am the Black Flame Envoy under the 'Shadow of the Ancient God,' master of the Black Flame Chains that can devour all chakra. Today, not only will I take the Uzumaki Sealing Stone, but I will also turn the three of you into nourishment for the darkness."

The Black Flame Envoy waved his hands, and countless black chains lashed out toward the Uzumaki Sealing Stone in the center of the hall. Su Ye immediately channeled his Rinne power, a pale purple light shield manifesting to block the stone. The chains struck the shield with a piercing screech, causing ripples to spread across its surface as it began to corrode. "Sasuke, use the Flame Shadow Tracking Mirror!" Su Ye shouted, simultaneously pouring more Rinne power into the shield.

Sasuke quickly produced the Flame Shadow Tracking Mirror, the bronze surface glowing red as a beam of crimson-gold flame shot out, striking the black chains. The fire and chains collided with a sizzling sound, and the black mist on the chains began to dissipate. "The power of the bloodline treasures truly can suppress the dark power!" A hint of joy flashed in Sasuke's eyes as he continued to fuel the flames.

Naruto seized the opportunity to circle behind the Black Flame Envoy, his golden chakra forming sharp claws as he lunged for the man's back. But the Black Flame Envoy was prepared; black chains suddenly erupted from the ground, binding Naruto's ankles. "Naruto!" Su Ye moved to rescue him, but the Black Flame Envoy manipulated the chains to fling Naruto against the hall wall. Naruto slammed into the stone, coughing up blood as his Nine-Tails chakra instantly fell into chaos.

The Black Flame Envoy sneered, turning his target toward Su Ye. "Next, it's your turn." Countless black chains struck at Su Ye, the black flames on them burning fiercely. Su Ye activated his Rinne Sharingan, reading the trajectory of the chains while continuously teleporting with space-time ninjutsu. Yet, the chains pursued him like a persistent curse. Just as Su Ye was about to be struck, Sasuke threw the Heaven-Burning Ancient Sword; the crimson-gold flames transformed into a long blade, severing the incoming chains.

"Su Ye, go get the Sealing Stone! Leave this to me!" Sasuke shouted, releasing the power of the golden Fire Seed as his entire body became shrouded in crimson-gold flames. Seeing this, a flicker of wariness crossed the Black Flame Envoy's eyes. "Golden Fire Seed... I didn't expect you to have mastered this power." He performed a hand seal, the black flames and chains intertwining to form a massive black-flame beast that charged at Sasuke.

Su Ye seized the moment to rush to the center of the hall, injecting his Rinne power into the Uzumaki Sealing Stone. The stone suddenly erupted with a blinding blue light, and countless sealing runes surged from within, spreading in all directions. Sensing the sealing power, the Black Flame Envoy's expression changed drastically. "No!" He tried to stop Su Ye, but Sasuke held him back firmly; the collision of crimson-gold flames and black fire caused the entire hall to shake violently.

Su Ye gripped the Sealing Stone, the blue light weaving with the Rinne power in his body and the red glow of the Flame Shadow Tracking Mirror to form a three-colored pillar of light. The beam shot toward the black-flame beast, instantly shattering it. The Black Flame Envoy suffered a heavy blow, spitting out black blood. "You... don't get cocky. Lord 'Shadow of the Ancient God' is about to awaken, and the ninja world... will eventually be swallowed by darkness!" As his voice faded, he dissolved into black mist and vanished from the hall.

Sasuke extinguished his flames and walked over to Naruto, helping him up. "Are you alright?" Naruto shook his head, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I'm fine, just a bit drained of chakra." Su Ye walked over to them and handed the Uzumaki Sealing Stone to Naruto. "You possess the Uzumaki bloodline; it is most appropriate for you to keep the Sealing Stone." Naruto took the stone and absorbed it into his body, where his golden chakra and the blue chakra intertwined to form a protective film.

The three exited the hall and followed the path back. Along the way, Sasuke opened the Six Paths Secret Record again, and new text appeared on the pages. "The fourth bloodline treasure, the 'Thunder God Pearl of the Thunder Clan,' is hidden in the Cloud Thunder Gorge of the Land of Lightning. According to the records, the Thunder God Pearl has been guarded by the Thunder Clan for generations. To obtain it, one must pass the 'Thunder God Trial' of the Thunder Clan."

Su Ye nodded, a glimmer passing through his Rinne Sharingan. "The Thunder Clan has a fierce temperament and has never been on good terms with Konoha; passing their trial will likely not be easy." Naruto smiled and clenched his fists. "No matter how hard it is, we can overcome it. Didn't we make it through the Byakugan trial and the ruin traps before?"

The three returned to the ship, and the Hyuga crew immediately hoisted the sails, heading toward the Land of Lightning. Su Ye stood at the bow, gazing at the distant thunderclouds—the Land of Lightning was shrouded in thunderstorms year-round, and the Cloud Thunder Gorge was the heart of the storm, where not only the protection of the Thunder Clan but also unknown dangers awaited them.

During the journey, Naruto attempted to refine the Uzumaki Sealing Stone, and as his golden and blue chakras gradually merged, his sensory perception improved significantly. "I can sense a powerful lightning-attribute chakra within the Land of Lightning; that must be the Thunder God Pearl. Furthermore, the remnants of the 'Shadow of the Ancient God' are also moving toward the Land of Lightning."

Sasuke placed the Flame Shadow Tracking Mirror and the Uzumaki Sealing Stone together; as the two lights intertwined, more information appeared on the Six Paths Secret Record. "The Thunder God Trial consists of three stages, testing strength, speed, and willpower respectively. The Thunder Clan patriarch, Thunder Fang, is a top-tier Lightning Style ninja in the ninja world; his strength should not be underestimated."

Su Ye closed his eyes, channeling his Rinne power to sense the aura across the ninja world. "The power of the 'Shadow of the Ancient God' is growing stronger; we must collect the bloodline treasures as quickly as possible. Once we get the Thunder God Pearl, only the final 'Earth Crystal of the Earth Clan' will remain." The three exchanged glances, their eyes burning with firm resolve.

The ship passed through the thunderclouds, and the outline of the Land of Lightning gradually became clear. In the distance, the Cloud Thunder Gorge towered into the clouds, with countless bolts of lightning weaving above the canyon to form a massive net of electricity. Su Ye knew that a new challenge was about to begin, and this time, they would be facing one of the most powerful clans in the ninja world—the Thunder Clan.

When the ship docked at the port of the Land of Lightning, three ninjas dressed in Thunder Clan attire were already waiting. The leader held a lightning blade, his eyes as sharp as steel. "Ninjas of Konoha, what is your purpose in trespassing into the territory of the Land of Lightning?" Sasuke stepped forward and produced the Six Paths Secret Record. "We have come for the Thunder God Pearl and wish to participate in the Thunder God Trial." Upon hearing the words "Thunder God Pearl," the Thunder ninjas' expressions changed instantly. "The Thunder God Pearl is the supreme treasure of the Thunder Clan; how can outsiders lay a finger on it! If you want to participate in the trial, you must first get past us!" As the words fell, the three ninjas simultaneously unleashed their Lightning Style, and countless bolts of electricity surged toward the trio.