Asuramaru frowned.
After all, the first time I killed the Nine-Tails, I received a full 250,000 Emotion Points, but the second time I killed it, I only got tens of thousands.
We're still more than a million Emotion Points away from ten million!
The task is arduous and the road ahead is long.
Meanwhile, Shukaku died and immediately revived, his bewildered expression revealing a hint of fear in his eyes, just as he was about to say something.
What followed was yet another heavy punch from Boros.
His body shattered once more.
In just three minutes, he killed Shukaku seven times.
Having obtained a total of 300,000 Emotion Points, and with no more Emotion Points to extract, Asuramaru was forced to stop.
After all, I'm not some kind of demon, and I will never do anything that harms others without benefiting myself!
Shukaku stood still, the fear left in its heart impossible to erase even though the demon had vanished.
Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails, not far away, watched the scene with schadenfreude. "Stupid raccoon, weren't you so arrogant just now?"
Chapter 261 Let me save you, Gaara!
Nine-Tails felt so good that it was hard to breathe, as if the knots in its heart that had been tied up for so many years had been untied all at once.
On the other hand Shukaku was so emo he didn't want to talk, fearing he would get beaten up again.
However, Asuramaru was no longer interested in him and instead looked at Naruto and his companion not far away.
The two were experiencing each other's lives, both being Jinchūriki and suffering from the ostracism and disgust of the entire village.
Furthermore, Gaara was assassinated by his father, unknowingly killing his only remaining loving uncle.
Painful memories kept flooding into my mind.
Even Naruto couldn't help but feel saddened by it.
Gaara also personally experienced Naruto's childhood, a childhood that was extremely similar to his own!
However, he gained recognition from others, made friends and companions, and embarked on a completely different path from them...
When the two of them opened their eyes at the same time.
Gaara, who was once confused, seemed to have an epiphany, and for the first time knew what emotions and love were.
His violent eyes gradually calmed down, and as he faced forward, he so wished he could be like the other person...
Looking at Naruto in front of him, tears were slowly streaming from the corners of his eyes. As he wiped away the tears, he stepped forward, extended his right hand, and smiled brightly.
"I know all too well the pain of being alone. I was once in that abyss myself, and it was my companions who rescued me."
So please let me be your friend, and rescue you from that abyss of loneliness!
The touching words struck Gaara's heart, and he seemed to see his uncle's figure again, telling him what love was.
His long-dormant heart began to beat again, and Gaara instinctively reached out and grasped it, replying somewhat awkwardly.
"Then... I'll leave it to you, Naruto Uzumaki..."
"Leave it to me!"
Naruto responded with a smile.
Seeing this, Asuramaru, who was not far away, also saw everyone off.
Less than a second had passed outside when the two people in mid-air simultaneously opened their eyes and their figures separated.
They each landed on the ground.
But no one made another move, and even Gaara's tailed beast form began to fade rapidly.
At the same time, Kankuro and his companion were greatly surprised upon seeing this.
Why didn't Gaara make a move?
Just as the two were distracted, they were instantly subdued by Naruto's Shadow Clone and knocked unconscious to the ground.
Facing Gaara's gaze, Naruto explained, "Sorry, although we're friends, since you invaded Konoha, I have to arrest you."
"Then let's go."
Gaara chose not to take action, after all, compared to the village that was hostile to him, Naruto made him feel more at ease.
After Naruto completely subdued the three.
Sasuke and the others finally arrived, led by the ninja dog Pakkun.
Looking at the three who had already been subdued, Sasuke had an indescribable feeling on his face. Why was he still so weak?
Even with Asuramaru's approval.
But compared to Naruto, his rate of improvement is far too slow. Can he really defeat that man?
However, Sakura, who was standing next to him, said somewhat excitedly.
"I was a little worried when I didn't see you, but I didn't expect you to have already subdued those three Sand Ninja Naruto!"
However, Naruto didn't pay attention to that. Instead, he heard the continuous booming sounds coming from inside the venue and quickly spoke up.
"I'll head back to the dueling arena first. Gaara and the other two will be in your care for the time being."
As he spoke, he created a Shadow Clone.
Meanwhile, the main body immediately rushed towards the dueling arena.
However, by the time Naruto arrived...
Within the barrier, Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face was filled with determination as he resolutely declared, "I will bury you with my own hands to atone for my past mistakes!"
As he formed hand seals to release two Shadow Clones, he formed hand seals again.
A phantom image of the Death God appeared behind it.
"Reaper Death Seal!"
As the rosary beads wrapped around the Death God's hand, eerie talismans also attached themselves to his arm, piercing into the soul of Hiruzen Sarutobi standing before him.
Shadow Clone shadow clones rushed towards the two Naruto who had been Impure World Reincarnation without hesitation, tearing out their souls.
"What kind of ninjutsu is this?!"
Orochimaru frowned upon seeing this. He couldn't see the Death God at all; he could only see the reanimated First and Second Naruto disintegrating.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him no chance, immediately rushing forward without hesitation, even as the Kusanagi Sword pierced his chest from behind.
However, he had already captured Orochimaru, and the Grim Death God's Hand on his abdomen had extracted part of Orochimaru's soul, intending to completely pull it out and devour it.
Feeling his soul being pulled, Orochimaru finally panicked and hurriedly urged, "Release the barrier and save me now!"
Upon hearing this, the Sound Four were responsible for maintaining the barrier immediately dispelled it, with two of them taking charge of holding off the Konoha reinforcements.
The other two rushed straight towards Orochimaru's location, ready to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately.
But it was at this very moment.
A Tri-Pronged Kunai appeared in their sight, followed by a golden streak of light. The next moment, Naruto appeared in front of the two with a sword in one hand.
He slashed out with a single stroke.
One of them had his arm severed instantly.
However, the two didn't care at all and continued to rescue Orochimaru.
However, the Reaper Death Seal had reached its limit, Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer hold on, so he could only forcibly seal Orochimaru's hands.
"From this moment on, your hands will never be able to use ninjutsu again! Although I cannot kill you again, we will meet again in that world one day!"
"You old man, like a candle flickering in the wind, give me back my hands!" Seeing Orochimaru's hands necrotic, he truly panicked this time.
However, since things had come to this, the two Sound Ninja immediately took Orochimaru and fled the area without regard for anything else. Seeing this, the surrounding Sound Ninja also rushed to provide support.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was completely exhausted, and the phantom of the Death God behind him was slowly devouring their souls.
But it was at this moment...
Naruto, who could also see the Death God, immediately and without hesitation slashed at his opponent.
In an instant.
Death God let out a violent wail, and a hideous wound was slashed across its body by the blade!
"Aaaaaaah!"
A piercing scream echoed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears, and in his hazy consciousness, he saw Naruto's figure.
Even now, his resolve remains unwavering.
Naruto can make Konoha great again!
The Grim Death God, having been slashed, glared at Naruto with extreme rage, immediately halting the ritual and extending his claws to strike Naruto.
They wanted to tear its soul out.
However, just before it could touch Naruto's soul, it was blocked by the black smoke that suddenly burst forth from the other's body.
Under everyone's watchful eyes.
With her stunningly beautiful face and dressed in a black and white evening gown, Asuramaru suddenly stood in front of Naruto and said coldly.
"I don't care about the fighting between mortals, but you attacked my sword master! Have you thought about how you're going to die?!"
Chapter 262 The Root are disbanded
Death God remained silent upon hearing this, but his fierce gaze spoke volumes.
Asuramaru, however, was equally determined.
A brief standoff ensued between the two sides.
The silence was broken only when Death God made his move, but he was met with a counter-attack from Asuramaru.
It pierced straight through his chest.
Even the ritual was forced to stop, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's soul returned to his body, which was not yet completely dead.
However, Orochimaru's hands had already been completely absorbed.
Feeling the pain in his soul, Death God ultimately chose to leave, mainly because he chickened out.
Right after he left.
A system notification sounded in Asuramaru's mind: [Ding! Detected that the Death God is experiencing intense negative emotions. Gained 100,000 Emotion Points!]
I'd been looking forward to this for ages, and all they gave me was 100,000?
And what just happened...
The surrounding Konoha ninja had no idea what was happening; all they could see was black mist rising from Naruto Uzumaki.
A young girl materialized and thrust her sword forward.
Kakashi, who was not far away, seemed to have guessed the girl's identity; she was probably the legendary Deity Asuramaru.
And then there were her words.
It seems there's some unseen force trying to harm Naruto...
However, these are ultimately just speculations.
As Death God departed, Hiruzen Sarutobi, lying on the ground, opened his cloudy eyes once more, having been in his soul state just moments before.
He witnessed everything firsthand, and now he was even more convinced of his judgment, as he spoke weakly.
"Naruto... I've always believed... you will become the greatest Naruto of all time..."
Upon hearing this, Naruto quickly bowed sadly and replied, "Don't worry, Third Hokage, I will definitely become Naruto someday!"
The scene was incredibly moving, but Asuramaru couldn't help but remind him, "It seems you're not planning to save this old man."