With a loud rumble, the massive stone door sealing the hidden chamber was slowly pushed open with the combined efforts of several Yellow Springs Sect members.
The leader of the Yellow Springs Sect, without saying a word, walked in slowly. As he passed his followers, they all noticed the intense, barely suppressed joy in his eyes.
Soon, the leader of the Yellow Springs Sect arrived alone at the underground chamber where the soul of Moryo was sealed.
He gently stroked the talismans on the sarcophagus containing the seal, muttering quietly to himself.
In a hidden corner of the underground chamber, Obito emerged from a distorted vortex, watching the Yellow Springs Sect leader from afar.
Zetsu also surfaced from the ground.
After observing for a while, White Zetsu asked, "What is he doing?"
Black Zetsu replied, "He's chanting, attempting to break the seal."
White Zetsu quickly followed up, "Do you think he'll succeed?"
Seeing the seal of the priestess beginning to loosen, Black Zetsu, who had maintained a relaxed demeanor, suddenly grew serious. "It seems this leader of the Yellow Springs Sect has already had his soul corrupted by Moryo. Even without our help, he would have found this place eventually."
Obito looked on indifferently.
He didn't care whether the Yellow Springs Sect leader's soul was corrupted or not. He was merely trying to ascertain whether the Yellow Springs Sect or Moryo was worth recruiting to his cause. If this was nothing more than a farce, he would have to consider cleaning up the mess.
Suddenly, with a thunderous crash, the sarcophagus containing Moryo's soul cracked open, leaving a massive hole.
The priestess's seal had been broken!
Both Obito and Zetsu immediately became more alert. At the moment the seal was lifted, they both sensed an incredibly malevolent chakra surging from within.
A deep, seductive voice emanated from the sarcophagus. "To return to the world once more... how nostalgic."
The leader of the Yellow Springs Sect knelt on one knee. "I welcome your return, Moryo-sama!"
The voice from within the sarcophagus spoke again, "Yellow Springs, is it? I didn't expect it to be you."
The Yellow Springs Sect leader respectfully replied, "The stars have aligned. This is the perfect time for us to join forces and create the millennial empire."
The voice inside the sarcophagus was silent for a moment before saying, "I need a body."
The Yellow Springs Sect leader stood up, pulling open his robes. "Please, use my body as a temporary vessel. I will accept your soul with my dark medical ninjutsu!"
He took out a surgical scalpel from his robes and calmly made an incision across his chest. "Afterward, I will retrieve your true body."
"Hmm."
A low, approving sound came from within the sarcophagus.
Suddenly, a thick, dark-purple chakra gushed out from the sarcophagus, flooding into the Yellow Springs Sect leader's body, launching him into the air!
"Hiss!"
White Zetsu gasped.
The sheer quality and quantity of the chakra far exceeded his previous estimates. He had initially thought that Moryo, being only a soul, would have strength on the level of a Jonin at most. Perhaps after reuniting with its body, it might reach Kage-level.
But this... Moryo was far more powerful than expected. Its soul alone had chakra levels nearing that of a tailed beast.
Even Obito was somewhat shaken.
He considered more possibilities than White Zetsu. If this was just Moryo's soul, how powerful would it become when reunited with its body? And what if Moryo merged with the priestess?
...
"Shinji, let's spar later when we have a chance."
Once again, Sasuke requested a sparring match with Shinji.
"Let's talk about it later," Shinji replied, exasperated. He had hoped to find some peace but was now dealing with even more trouble.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, a scream erupted from the group!
Shinji quickly turned and saw that the scream had come from within Shion's carriage.
In an instant, the guards from the Land of Demons, the accompanying students, and the squad leader, Asuma, all rushed to the carriage.
Shinji was the first to reach the carriage, lifting the curtain to find Shion, pale and trembling as if she had just experienced a great fright. He immediately asked, "What happened?"
Shion shook her head, her voice shaky. "I... I don't know. I just saw..."
A guard from the Land of Demons seemed to realize something and cautiously asked, "Your Highness, did you... have a vision?"
"A vision?!"
Asuma was startled. He hadn't known that the priestess of the Land of Demons possessed such a power.
The guards, not wanting outsiders to know of Shion's ability, didn't answer Asuma's question. Instead, they focused intently on Shion.
Tears streaming down her pale face, Shion nodded. "I saw it!"
One of the guards swallowed nervously. "Wh-Who?"
Shion pointed at the guard.
The guard's face turned ashen, filled with despair.
But before anyone could relax, Shion pointed at another person beside her.
Then she continued pointing, one by one, at everyone surrounding her—even Shinji, who looked at her with surprise.
"Th-This can't be!"
"Why is this happening?"
"Everyone's going to die?"
Panic erupted within the group. The guards from the Land of Demons were visibly shaken and distraught.
Sasuke, hands still in his pockets, scowled. "Hey, what's going on? Why are you all freaking out?"
Neji, too, was confused. "Shion, what exactly did you see?"
Clutching Shinji's sleeve, Shion said with urgency, "I... I saw your deaths! You're all going to die soon!"
Sasuke frowned. "Shion, that kind of joke isn't funny."
Even Asuma didn't take it seriously. He reassured her, "Your Highness, rest easy. I'll make sure you arrive in the Land of Demons safely."
At that moment, one of the guards from the Land of Demons suggested, "Maybe... we should return to the Hidden Leaf."
Sasuke widened his eyes. "You're not seriously going to believe this death prophecy nonsense, are you?"
Another guard shook his head. "Since Her Highness has already foreseen it, returning to the Hidden Leaf isn't necessary."
After their initial shock, the rest of the group calmed down and nodded in agreement.
Sasuke smirked. "Now that's more like it."
Still not fully convinced, Neji asked the guards, "Has Shion made predictions like this before?"
The guard nodded. "Yes, so there's no need to worry too much."
Relieved, the group sighed in unison. Asuma began walking back to the front of the convoy, Sasuke smirked confidently and followed suit, and even Kimimaro looked away from the commotion.
Only Neji noticed something odd in the guard's tone and asked again, "Why shouldn't we worry? You didn't seem like you were taking it that lightly just now."
The guard gave a bitter smile. "I mean that we're doomed anyway, so there's no point in worrying. It's better to face it calmly."
Asuma, who had barely taken a few steps, nearly stumbled.