By then, some of Konoha's jōnin were already heading toward the Land of Demons. Moryo's rampage there was simply too massive to ignore.
But Naruto's team of three had reached the Land of Demons even earlier. They had long since received a mission to protect Shion.
Yet the moment they arrived, Shion spoke.
"You're too late."
Those few softly spoken words left all three of them stunned.
"We came as soon as we got the mission. How are we too late?"
"Exactly!"
Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura exchanged looks.
"Moryo has already completed his final resurrection."
"He has completely broken free of the seals on both his body and soul. He no longer needs a vessel or anything to restore his essence."
"A thousand years of the world's accumulated resentment has gathered within him. His power now far exceeds anything he possessed in ancient times."
Shion gazed through the thick darkness of the night.
"As he is now, even if I burn through all my power as a Miko and recreate my mother's sacrificial technique at the cost of my life... I might still be unable to seal him completely."
Naruto stiffened, his blue pupils contracting sharply. His feet stayed rooted to the ground as fierce resistance and confusion surged within him.
"You mean... Yūya, he... he's dead?"
"I didn't say that."
Shion looked bewildered. Why did this man's thoughts take such strange turns? Her mind briefly stalled before she stood up.
"I mean sacrificing myself."
"Why do you have to sacrifice yourself?!"
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief, but he still didn't understand.
"Sealing a monster and protecting the world has never been one person's responsibility. We still have Yūya, don't we?"
"Exactly. Yūya is fighting Moryo on the front lines. We just need to protect you here."
Sakura hurried