Deep-Sea Trial: Breaking Through the Three Tests, the Ancient God's Shadow Attacks the Secret Realm

The Water Release barrier concealed a vast underwater canyon. Deep-blue seawater surrounded them, and light refracted through the surface in a dazzling array of colors. Far within the canyon, the entrance to a secret realm glimmered with a faint blue light. Mei Terumī hovered in the water, a transparent barrier of blue chakra surrounding her and keeping the seawater at bay. Her voice rang clearly in the trio's ears. "The first test is 'Water Binding.' The seawater in the canyon contains 'binding chakra.' Within half an hour, you must reach the platform five hundred meters ahead without relying on outside help. Remember, the harder you struggle, the stronger the seawater's binding force becomes."

As soon as she finished speaking, the three of them felt the immense pressure of the water, and their chakra flow grew sluggish. Naruto had just started to draw on the Nine-Tails' chakra when the seawater wrapped tightly around him, as if he had sunk into a swamp. "We can't fight it head-on!" Su Ye called out in time. His Rinne Sharingan spun, and pale-purple chakra formed spiraling patterns around him. "Follow the current and guide yourselves forward with the smallest possible fluctuations in your chakra."

Sasuke immediately followed his example. He compressed the golden Power of the Fire Seed into his fingertips and used the faint thrust of the flames to move slowly with the current. Naruto, meanwhile, reined in the Nine-Tails' chakra, leaving only a trace clinging to his skin as he adjusted his posture like a fish swimming through the water. Su Ye had the easiest time of all. His power of Rinnegan could slightly distort space, and under the resulting spatial fluctuations, the seawater's binding force formed a passage on its own.

Just as the three of them were about to reach the platform, the water suddenly churned violently. More than a dozen Water Binding Snakes, formed from Water Release chakra, attacked from all sides. "This is an additional challenge in the trial!" Mei Terumī's voice rang out. Su Ye teleported beside Naruto, and his pale-purple chakra turned into blades that severed the incoming Water Binding Snakes. Sasuke infused the seawater with the Power of the Fire Seed. His flames created a brief area of intense heat in the water, driving the snakes back. Naruto seized the chance to form a small Tailed Beast Bomb and struck the core of a Water Binding Snake with pinpoint accuracy, destroying it.

Half an hour later, the three of them successfully climbed onto the platform. Mei Terumī landed beside them and said as she watched them catch their breath, "The second test is 'Water Illusion.' The entrance to the secret realm ahead is shrouded in a 'mirage.' You must find the real entrance within the time it takes an incense stick to burn. The illusion will show you the thing you fear most. If it consumes you, you fail."

The three of them entered the area around the secret realm's entrance, and the scene before them changed in an instant. Su Ye found himself in a dark space. All around him came countless mocking voices, recreating the scene of his betrayal in his previous life. "This is an illusion!" Su Ye immediately activated his Rinne Sharingan. Its pale-purple ocular power erupted, and the dark space shattered in an instant.

Naruto, meanwhile, was trapped in an illusion of the Nine-Tails going berserk. He saw himself losing control and hurting his comrades, and his eyes filled with anguish. "Naruto, snap out of it!" Su Ye's voice came through the illusion, and at the same time, pale-purple chakra flowed into Naruto's mind. Naruto came to his senses at once, formed a Tailed Beast Bomb, and shattered the illusion.

Sasuke faced the most difficult illusion. He saw the scene of Itachi slaughtering his clan, and his body trembled despite himself. "Sasuke, don't let the past hold you back!" Su Ye teleported to his side and used the power of Rinnegan to awaken his consciousness. A look of resolve flashed in Sasuke's eyes. His Heaven-Burning Ancient Sword unleashed crimson-gold flames, completely destroying the illusion.

When the three of them shattered the illusions, the real entrance to the secret realm appeared before them. A faint blue pearl floated at the entrance: an apparition of the Deep Sea Pearl. "The third test is 'Water Guard,'" Mei Terumī's voice rang out. "The apparition of the Deep Sea Pearl is protected by the Water Guardian. You must retrieve it without harming the guardian."

A guardian clad in blue armor emerged from the entrance, gripping a long Water Release spear. Deep-blue chakra swirled around him. Without a word, the guardian swung his spear, sending countless Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Techniques toward the three of them. Su Ye teleported out of the way as pale-purple chakra formed into chains and tried to bind the spear. But the guardian deftly spun it, breaking the chains as he thrust at Sasuke.

Sasuke raised his sword to block. The golden flames collided with the Water Release spear, producing a great cloud of steam. Naruto seized the chance to circle behind the guardian and tried to use the power of the Uzumaki Sealing Stone to restrict his movements. But the guardian's chakra was connected to the seawater. The instant the sealing power touched him, the water absorbed it. "This isn't working!" Su Ye shouted. "The guardian draws his power from the seawater. We have to cut him off from it."

Su Ye activated the power of Rinnegan, creating a spatial barrier around the guardian. The barrier severed his chakra connection to the seawater, and his power instantly weakened. Sasuke seized the opportunity to strike the guardian's spear with a slash of flame from his Heaven-Burning Ancient Sword. Naruto formed a Tailed Beast Bomb and struck a gap in the guardian's armor with pinpoint accuracy, knocking him back. Su Ye teleported forward and gently took the apparition of the Deep Sea Pearl.

"The trial is over." Mei Terumī landed by the entrance and said as she looked at them, "The real Deep Sea Pearl is hidden at the heart of the secret realm. Follow me." The three of them followed Mei Terumī into the secret realm, where they found an enormous underwater palace. A pearl formed entirely from Water Release chakra floated above the stone platform at its center. It was the Deep Sea Pearl.

"The Deep Sea Pearl can control the power of water," Mei Terumī said as she handed it to Su Ye. "Together with the other four treasures, it can unleash the Five Elements Sealing Formation, which is powerful enough to seal the Shadow of the Ancient God. But remember, the remnants of the Shadow of the Ancient God will surely come to seize the treasures. You must leave as soon as possible."

Su Ye accepted the Deep Sea Pearl. Pale-purple chakra intertwined with Water Release chakra, forming a brilliant glow. "Thank you, Mizukage." He said, "We'll gather all five treasures as quickly as we can and stop the Shadow of the Ancient God from reviving."

At that moment, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the palace. A Kirigakure ninja rushed over in a panic. "Mizukage, this is bad! The remnants of the Shadow of the Ancient God have attacked the secret realm. They're trying to seize the Deep Sea Pearl!" Mei Terumī's expression changed sharply. She turned to the three of them and said, "Take the Deep Sea Pearl and go. I'll hold them off."

Su Ye, Sasuke, and Naruto exchanged glances, all of them grave. "We can't leave you to face them alone." Sasuke gripped his Heaven-Burning Ancient Sword. "We'll fight together." Naruto nodded as a golden Tailed Beast Cloak instantly covered his body.

Outside the palace, dozens of men in black cloaks were fighting the Kirigakure ninjas. Their leader wielded a sword formed from Dark Chakra. He was the Left Protector of the Shadow of the Ancient God. "Hand over the Deep Sea Pearl, and I'll spare your lives." The Left Protector's voice was cold with killing intent.

Mei Terumī attacked first, sending the Great Water Arm Technique toward the Left Protector. He swung his sword to block it, and the collision of Dark Chakra and Water Release chakra unleashed a tremendous shock wave. Su Ye teleported behind the Left Protector and thrust a pale-purple chakra blade toward his back. But the Left Protector had anticipated the attack. He spun and swung his sword, clashing with Su Ye's chakra blade.

Sasuke and Naruto attacked at the same time, sending crimson-gold flames and a golden Tailed Beast Bomb toward the Left Protector. He sneered as Dark Chakra formed a barrier and blocked their attacks. "It's useless!" the Left Protector cackled. "My Dark Chakra can absorb your chakra. The stronger your attacks, the stronger I become."

Su Ye furrowed his brow, then suddenly thought of the power of the Five Great Treasures. "Sasuke, use the Power of the Fire Seed to ignite the Thunder God Pearl. Naruto, use the power of the Uzumaki Sealing Stone to activate the Earth Crystal. I'll control the Deep Sea Pearl." Sasuke immediately infused the Thunder God Pearl with the Power of the Fire Seed. Crimson-gold flames intertwined with lightning, forming a pillar of fire and lightning. Naruto infused the Earth Crystal with the power of the Uzumaki Sealing Stone. Pale-blue sealing runes merged with Earth Release chakra, forming a defensive barrier.

Su Ye fused the Deep Sea Pearl with the power of Rinnegan. Pale-purple chakra intertwined with Water Release chakra, forming a massive water dragon. "Unite the power of the five elements!" Su Ye shouted. The pillar of fire and lightning, the defensive barrier, and the water dragon all charged toward the Left Protector at once. Under the assault of the five elements, the Left Protector's Dark Chakra barrier shattered in an instant.

"Impossible!" The Left Protector stared in disbelief. Su Ye teleported forward and plunged his pale-purple chakra blade into the Left Protector's chest. The Left Protector let out a scream, and his body dissolved into black mist. Seeing their leader defeated, the other remnants fled in every direction.

After the battle, Mei Terumī looked at the three of them and said, "The Five Great Treasures have been gathered. You must head to the Six Paths Altar as soon as possible and activate the Five Elements Sealing Formation. The seal on the Shadow of the Ancient God is about to break. You don't have much time left." Su Ye nodded and gazed toward the Six Paths Altar with his Rinne Sharingan. He could feel the Shadow of the Ancient God's presence growing stronger. The final battle was about to begin.

Mei Terumī prepared a Water Release warship for the three of them. Formed from Water Release chakra, it could travel quickly through the sea. The three of them boarded and set course for the Six Paths Altar. Along the way, Su Ye began fusing the power of the Five Great Treasures. The power of Rinnegan intertwined with chakra of the five elements—earth, water, fire, wind, and lightning—forming five-colored chakra and giving his strength a qualitative leap. Naruto infused the power of the Five Great Treasures into his Tailed Beast Cloak. Five-colored runes began to appear on the golden cloak, greatly enhancing its defensive and offensive capabilities. Sasuke also tried fusing the Power of the Fire Seed with the power of the Five Great Treasures. The flames unleashed by his Heaven-Burning Ancient Sword began to carry five-colored chakra, leaving an eternal mark in the air.

By the time the warship reached the Six Paths Altar, a great many ninjas had already gathered around it. At their head stood Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage; Gaara, the Kazekage; and Raikage A. "You're finally here." Tsunade looked at the three of them and said, "The seal on the Shadow of the Ancient God has already begun to weaken. We must activate the Five Elements Sealing Formation as soon as possible."

Su Ye, Sasuke, and Naruto nodded and followed Tsunade and the others up to the Six Paths Altar. Five enormous pillars stood at its center, each corresponding to one of the five elements: earth, water, fire, wind, and lightning. "Place the Five Great Treasures in their corresponding pillars," Tsunade said, "then pour in your chakra to activate the Five Elements Sealing Formation."

Su Ye placed the Deep Sea Pearl in the Water Release pillar. Sasuke placed the Thunder God Pearl in the Fire Release pillar, and Naruto placed the Uzumaki Sealing Stone in the Earth Release pillar. The other two Kage placed the treasures corresponding to wind and lightning in their pillars. The instant all five treasures were in place, the runes on the pillars lit up, and five-colored light enveloped the entire altar.

"Pour in your chakra!" Tsunade shouted. Su Ye, Sasuke, Naruto, and the other Kage all poured in their chakra. The five-colored light grew brighter and brighter, and a gigantic sealing formation rose from the center of the altar and soared into the sky.

At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, and a massive shadow emerged from the clouds. "The Shadow of the Ancient God!" Gaara shouted. The creature's body was formed from Dark Chakra, and countless black bolts of lightning circled around it. "You think you can seal me like this?" the Shadow of the Ancient God said mockingly. "Today, I'll devour the entire Shinobi World!"

The Shadow of the Ancient God swung its enormous arm, sending countless bolts of black lightning toward the altar. Su Ye teleported to the altar's center, where pale-purple chakra intertwined with the five-colored light to form a massive barrier. The black lightning struck it, sending ripples across its surface. "Hold on, everyone!" Su Ye shouted. "The Five Elements Sealing Formation is almost complete. Just hold on a little longer!"

Sasuke and Naruto attacked at the same time, sending crimson-gold flames and a golden Tailed Beast Bomb toward the Shadow of the Ancient God. The other Kage also unleashed their strongest techniques. The Shadow of the Ancient God sneered as Dark Chakra formed into a gigantic fist, destroying every attack. "It's useless!" the Shadow of the Ancient God cackled. "Your strength is nothing but an ant before me."

At that moment, the Five Elements Sealing Formation was finally complete. The five-colored light formed a gigantic chain that shot toward the Shadow of the Ancient God. It tried to dodge, but the chain wrapped around it. "No!" the Shadow of the Ancient God roared as its body began to be consumed by the five-colored light.

Once the Shadow of the Ancient God had been completely sealed, the sky brightened again. Su Ye, Sasuke, and Naruto collapsed to the ground, their chakra almost entirely depleted. Tsunade stepped forward and said as she looked at them, "The Shinobi World owes its peace to you." Su Ye smiled and nodded, weariness in his eyes, along with a trace of relief.

From then on, peace returned to the Shinobi World. Su Ye, Sasuke, and Naruto became heroes, and their story would be passed down forever. The Five Great Treasures were each stored in one of the Five Great Nations, where they became symbols of peace and protection for the Shinobi World.