Oath

Shao Nan held Karin Uzumaki and gently patted her back.

"Whatever grievances you have, tell your big brother. I'll do everything I can to help you!"

Shao Nan knew that after the Uzumaki clan had been exterminated, only Kushina had been brought back to Konoha.

The other scattered Uzumaki survivors had fled throughout the Ninja World and gone into hiding!

At first, Shao Nan had thought Karin Uzumaki had escaped to Kusagakure alone.

After all, in the original story, Karin Uzumaki was the only Uzumaki clansman!

As an old veteran, Kosuke also knew about the Uzumaki clan.

The Uzumaki clan had signed a friendship treaty with Konoha!

The Uzumaki emblem on the backs of Konoha jonin flak jackets was the best proof of that treaty.

"Since you were survivors of the Uzumaki clan, why didn't you flee to the Land of Fire? Why didn't you come to Konoha?"

Crying in Shao Nan's arms, Karin Uzumaki said, "I don't know! We followed wherever the clansmen led us."

Shao Nan let out a breath, seeming to understand the reason. Then he spoke to Kosuke.

"You're a veteran too, so you should understand some of the reasons!

Because Konoha didn't need people like them. What Konoha needed were the relics left behind after the Uzumaki clan's destruction.

What Konoha needed were Uzumaki clansmen suited to becoming jinchuriki!

Kushina in the past, Naruto now!"

"So, old man, do you see it clearly now?

The village you wanted to devote yourself to, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's so-called leadership, was this cowardly!

It refused to aid its own allies and allowed the Uzumaki clan to be exterminated.

Konoha could not escape blame for the Uzumaki clan's destruction!

Because old men like you didn't want other villages to obtain suitable jinchuriki.

Old men like you wanted the tailed beasts of other villages to remain in a berserk state and keep troubling them!"

"That's why she, and the other Uzumaki clansmen, didn't dare flee to Konoha, because Konoha had already betrayed the Uzumaki clan!"

Shao Nan paused, then held Karin Uzumaki in front of him as he faced Kosuke!

In Shao Nan's arms, Karin Uzumaki tightly clutched his back with both hands.

Her nails had even sunk into Shao Nan's flesh, drawing traces of blood.

Shao Nan continued relentlessly.

"And the chief culprit behind all this was the teacher you respected, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

His inaction led to this tragedy!

Don't talk about how ruthless Danzo was. Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't much better!"

"So, Senior Kosuke, have you awakened now? The village you devoted yourself to wasn't as bright as you saw it to be!

On the contrary, darkness had always existed!

To put it plainly, the Uzumaki were allies of the Senju, not Konoha's!

After the Senju clan declined, why should Konoha's other clans sacrifice their own interests to help the Uzumaki clan?

They would rather carve up the Uzumaki clan's benefits for themselves!"

The aged Kosuke was utterly lost, speechless, pale-faced, and hesitant to speak.

In the end, he weakly collapsed onto the ground.

The iron pot on Kosuke's back slipped off.

It fell to the ground and spun without stopping!

Clang!!!

The iron pot's hum sounded especially loud at that moment.

Kosuke raised his head. "Shao Nan, when you bring peace to the Ninja World and unify it, this old man is willing to follow you unto death!"

Hearing Kosuke's words from Shao Nan's embrace, Karin Uzumaki widened her eyes and looked at Shao Nan.

Then she stepped away from Shao Nan and said in shock, "Brother Shao Nan! You want to unify the Ninja World?"

Perhaps it was because of this body's bloodline, or perhaps because he had already become this body's master.

At this moment, the blood in his body seemed to be boiling.

With one hand, Shao Nan shrugged off Tsunade's green coat!

He declared majestically, "I will sweep across the Five Great Nations and unite the Ninja World! I will raise a towering tree to defend my great ninja nation and protect my great Ninja World.

In the name of the God of the Ninja World, I swear here!

While I live, I shall sweep away all foes and lay the foundation for my great Ninja World to endure for ten thousand generations! Even in death, I shall become the soul of a tree and bless my great Ninja World so that it never declines!"

Maruboshi Kosuke stared solemnly at the imposing Shao Nan.

In an instant, he straightened his hunched back.

Then he dropped to one knee, holding a military salute with both hands as he faced Shao Nan, carrying the bearing of a general!

"I, Maruboshi Kosuke, swear here that I am willing to become the foremost vanguard under the God of the Ninja World,

Braving death and danger, charging into battle, even if my brains are spilled upon the ground, I will not hesitate!"

Shao Nan swept out his hand!

"Good! With such a fierce general, why should I fear that my great cause will not succeed!!!"

Shao Nan pressed his palms together.

"Wood Release: Sage Mode!"

Sage markings immediately appeared on his face.

Shao Nan leaped into the air.

He brought his hands together.

Then, with a palm strike descending from the sky,

He slammed fiercely into the ground.

"Sage Art: Wood Release: Super Deep Forest Emergence."

Boom!!!!!

A violent gale swept across the ground of the entire Forest of Death.

Rumble!!!!

A deafening sound rose from underground.

All of Konoha shook violently.

It was as if a massive earthquake had struck.

The birds and beasts of the Forest of Death scattered in all directions!

Every examinee inside was shaken!

"What happened?"

"Was that an earthquake?"

Bang!!!

A colossal tree nearly five hundred meters thick rapidly grew from beneath the Forest of Death!

Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!!

When it reached nearly one hundred meters in height, all the examinees and Konoha's villagers saw the giant tree.

But it continued growing upward.

Three hundred meters!

Five hundred meters!

...One thousand meters!

With his hands pressed together, Shao Nan shouted, "Not enough!"

Then he opened his mouth wide and roared.

"Aah!!!"

The colossal tree continued to grow!

One thousand five hundred meters!

One thousand eight hundred meters!

Two thousand meters!

Only when it reached two thousand meters tall did the colossal tree stop growing.

Shao Nan seemed somewhat exhausted, and his body swayed from side to side.

Karin Uzumaki immediately went over to support Shao Nan. "Brother Shao Nan, isn't this tree too huge?"

Shao Nan looked calmly at Karin Uzumaki. "This tree is one means by which I will protect the Ninja World. In the future, I will plant one in every great nation."

"It isn't finished yet. Kosuke, water the tree's roots. We need an enormous amount of Water Release. Can you do it?"

Kosuke raised his head and said firmly, "I can!"

Then Kosuke formed four hand seals.

He shouted!

"Water Release: Super Water Dragon Jutsu."

A water dragon dozens of meters thick burst from the dry ground and shot straight into the sky!

Kosuke poured out all his strength and chakra, and the water dragon grew longer and longer!

Shao Nan watched as the water dragon reached three hundred meters.

But it was clearly impossible for it to irrigate a tree five hundred meters thick!

Kosuke screamed wildly, while the chakra required by the water dragon was desperately drained from his body!

Blood began spilling from the corners of Kosuke's mouth and nostrils!

Was I forcing Kosuke too hard? He was already so old!

But seeing Water Release on this scale, it was probably even stronger than the Second Hokage's!

Then, through the blood contract with the Nine-Tails, he contacted Kurama.

"Kurama, teach me the technique for sharing chakra with others!"

"Shao Nan? You made this giant tree, didn't you?"

"Now isn't the time to chat. I need to immediately share chakra with someone else. What technique do I need?"

The Nine-Tails instantly understood the importance of the matter!

"It might be difficult for others, but for you, it's actually very simple.

This old man has discovered that your chakra is even purer than the Sage of Six Paths'.

It can be said to contain no impurities at all!

You only need to release your chakra and let it touch someone's body to transfer it.

However, senjutsu chakra will not work!

Ordinary people cannot withstand a Sage's power!"

"Thanks, Kurama! I'll find you a female tailed beast someday, so you can ease your loneliness!"

Shao Nan cut off his connection with the Nine-Tails.

Inside Naruto's body, the Nine-Tails cried out in wild delight, "One isn't enough!!!"