Under genjutsu, Mukade completed the sealing formation around the eye-shaped device.
The half-finished markings extended, creating a four-petaled black flower centered on the sealing device.
Mukade then formed hand seals, and the black formation began to glow brightly, dissolving Minato Namikaze's original seal like water pouring out.
"Did he really figure out a way to drain Sensei's seal?" Kakashi muttered in astonishment.
"It's pretty amazing," Karin agreed, understanding the complexity of such a task as someone specialised in sealing techniques herself.
Although Mukade's method was a shortcut, achieving this kind of result wasn't easy.
The ground trembled as the seal gradually faded, and a surge of purple energy began to fill the underground chamber.
Moments later, a powerful wind howled as if some massive entity was about to burst free from beneath them.
The floor cracked open, purple light spilling from the fissures.
"Are we really doing this? Breaking the seal I mean!" Kakashi asked, his worry evident as he took in the apocalyptic scene unfolding around them.
Sasuke gripped his lightning sword tightly. Though powerful, he couldn't help feeling their strength might be insignificant against such an overwhelming force.
Judging by the chakra he sensed, the Dragon Vein could rival the one-tailed beast he'd encountered in the Chunin Exams.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Karin grabbed Shinho's hand, her red hair flying in the turbulent wind.
"Don't worry," Shinho remained calm. "I've read the Fourth Hokage's mission report."
"What did it say?" Kakashi asked, curious.
Although he was a jonin, such mission reports were restricted to only be read by the Hokage.
He had already begun to suspect that his lost memories of Roran were somehow related to Minato himself.
"You'll understand soon enough," Shinho replied, holding back details with a smile.
He was wary of tampering with time, knowing that even the smallest change could create a butterfly effect. His priority was to use the Dragon Vein to train, not to disrupt the timeline.
His knowledge of the future events and the achievement system were his two key advantages in this world.
As long as critical moments unfolded as they did in the original story, he would benefit most.
Misusing the Dragon Vein to meddle with history could have disastrous consequences, and he had no desire to undo the bonds he'd spent years building.
Kakashi started to ask something else when a thunderous roar echoed, and a massive surge of chakra erupted in a towering column of light that shattered the ceiling, filling the air with howling winds and flying debris.
The very space around them seemed to twist and distort.
"Everyone, stay close to me!" Kakashi called out, instinctively stepping back.
"Karin," Shinho murmured, giving her a glance.
Karin hesitated, then reluctantly released his hand.
"I'll get Mukade. He might still be of use," Shinho said, flashing forward to Mukade's side.
In the original story, Mukade traveled back in time slightly before the rest of Team 7.
Though Shinho didn't know why, he planned to keep Mukade close, hoping it would allow him to train and strengthen himself in the past.
With a final boom, the seal fully unraveled, and the Dragon Vein erupted free. Violent energy flooded the underground chamber, its wild power engulfing everything.
"Shinho! Get back here!" Kakashi's worried shout was barely audible over the howling winds created by the energy.
But Shinho seemed unfazed, gripping Mukade's shoulder as the swirling vortex of chaotic energy swallowed them all.
When Shinho finally regained consciousness, blurry images swam before his eyes.
[Achievement Unlocked: Return to the Past. Reward: 100 years lifespan Gu.]
[100 years lifespan Gu: A Rank-3 consumable Gu, grants an additional 100 years of life.]
Shinho sat up, startled.
A life-extending Gu? Adding this to his previous Ten-Year Gu meant he now possessed two life-extending items. Such treasures were rare and precious—this trip resulted ina a bloody profit.
Looking around, he spotted Mukade lying nearby, appearing dazed but unharmed.
So it worked?
Relieved, Shinho stood and examined his surroundings.
The nearby buildings were simple and rugged, built from sand, unlike the metallic structures he'd seen in Roran's ruins before.
"Stop pretending. I know you're awake," Shinho said, smiling slightly.
Mukade leapt to his feet, but fear overcame him. Seeing Sasuke's display of power had left him shaken, and now he was without his puppets. There was no way he could hope to fight Shinho.
He ran with all he had in a frantic struggle.
"Running away, are we?" Shinho snapped his fingers.
"Aaaah!" Mukade cried out in pain, clutching his body as something invisible bit into his skin.
"Can we talk now?" Shinho asked, his smile friendly.
"Y-yes…" Mukade stammered, face pale.
"Relax, I'm not going to kill you." Shinho pointed to the distant Roran, a mirage-like city against the sandy landscape. "Haven't you noticed anything odd?"
"What…what do you mean?" Mukade, still trembling, couldn't think straight.
"We've traveled to the past," Shinho said bluntly.
Mukade stared at him, confusion plain on his face.
The past? He must be talking nonsense. If Mukade weren't under Shinho's control, he would've brushed him off as delusional.
"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not," Shinho continued. "But I have a proposition for you."
"A proposition?" Mukade asked, trying to understand.
"Yes, one I'm sure you'll like," Shinho said with a slight smile. "We're going to see the Queen of Roran and learn how to harness the Dragon Vein's power."
"Huh?" Mukade was dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, Shinho seemed like an upright shinobi, and now he was suggesting they collaborate? The shift in attitude was so abrupt, it barely made sense to him.
"Get up," Shinho ordered.
Mukade scrambled to his feet, the fear still evident in his eyes.
"Do you know what's in your body right now?" Shinho raised his hand. "It's called Parasitic Destruction Insects."
"You're an Aburame?" Mukade's face turned ashen, realizing the implications. Anyone would feel a chill knowing they were infested with insects.
"Correct. But there's no reward for guessing right," Shinho said, dropping his hand. "All you need to know is that your life is in my hands."
"Yes…understood." Mukade clenched his jaw, resigning himself to his fate.
Better to stay alive and cooperate than die here and now. And from Shinho's words, he might even be given a chance to harness the Dragon Vein's power.
As he understood, the Dragon Vein's power was miraculous, and Mukade considered that if he could siphon some energy while Shinho wasn't paying attention, he might eventually rid himself of the parasitic insects holding him hostage.
"Follow me," Shinho commanded, turning towards the heart of Roran.
Roran wasn't the ruin he'd seen before but a flourishing oasis, more like a sprawling nomadic camp than a developed city.
It was only after the exploitation of the Dragon Vein and Mukade's puppet technology that the ancient Roran Kingdom emerged.
However, even after Minato Namikaze defeated Mukade and sealed the Dragon Vein, the kingdom eventually fell. All that remained was a small group of Roran survivors scattered throughout the Land of Wind.
"Who are you looking for?" Two young guards in simple clothing stepped in front of them.
"We're from the Land of Wind," Shinho replied casually. "We have important matters to discuss with your queen."
"The Land of Wind,"After hesitating briefly, one of the guards responded, "Wait here. I'll inform her."
Though Roran possessed the Dragon Vein, it had no trained shinobi to defend it, so they had no choice but to be wary of any visitors from the Land of Wind.
Moments later, the guard returned. "The queen will see you."
Following him, Shinho and Mukade entered Roran's largest building. In the great hall sat a dignified woman with long red hair.
Next to her stood a young girl, just as red-haired and just as adorable—Sara, the future queen of Roran and the protagonist of this story.
The current queen of Roran, however, would eventually meet a tragic end at the hands of Mukade, who would go by the alias "Anrokuzan."
It was an ironic name, considering the ominous theme of the name.
"Welcome, travelers from afar. What brings you here?" The queen inquired politely.
"We wish to harness the power of the Dragon Vein," Shinho stated directly.
"What?" The queen's face went pale as she shook her head, replying without thinking. "That's impossible."
The Dragon Vein had been sacred to Roran for generations, its powers attuned to the royal lineage, each queen possessing an innate ability to sense it.
"On my way here, I noticed your people struggling," Shinho said. "You could use the dragon vein to change all of that."
"The Dragon Vein is dangerous," the queen replied, her fear of its tremendous power overriding her curiosity.
"Roran's possession of the Dragon Vein is itself a danger," Shinho continued. "If we know about it, others can find out as well. How would you defend against the Five Great Nations, if it sparks their interest? Can you defend your people against them?"
"..."
The queen fell silent, visibly shaken. It was a concern she'd considered herself.
"Why are you helping us?" she asked, her suspicion evident.
"It's a transaction, nothing more," Shinho replied calmly. "Regardless of what happens, your lineage will survive. That's my promise."
Though he intended to take the Dragon Vein, Shinho had no intention of dooming Roran.
Once they secured the Dragon Vein, he could have the Sand and Leaf villages watch over the remaining Roran descendants.
"And how do I know you'll keep your word?" the queen looked straight at him, her gaze steady.
Shinho raised his hand, focusing his chakra. A spiraling ball of energy formed in his palm—a Rasengan.
"You're a shinobi!" The queen stiffened, feeling the intense threat to her life radiating from the orb of chakra.
"Mother?" Sara tugged at her mother's dress, sensing the tension.
"It's alright, sara," the queen assured her, though her gaze never left Shinho. After a moment, she conceded, "Very well. I accept your offer."
She knew well the might of shinobi and how powerless ordinary people were before them.
"As of today, the two of you are Roran's Grand Ministers," the queen announced, adding, "I don't believe I know your names."
"He's Anrokuzan," Shinho said, gesturing to Mukade, "and I am Shi Siming."
Mukade blinked, bewildered by the false name, but didn't dare to question it.
The queen nodded and arranged lodgings for them.
While Shinho himself had no ability to tap into the Dragon Vein, Mukade did.
Under Shinho's strict orders, Mukade set to work harnessing its power, unable to leave Roran lest he disrupt the timeline.
Meanwhile, Shinho immersed himself in his own intensive training.
...
"Who's singing?" Sasuke's eyes snapped open.
He noticed a red-haired girl singing nearby.
"Where am I?" he called out, interrupting her song.
The last thing he remembered was all of Team 7 being engulfed by the Dragon Vein's energy. But now, he was alone.
The girl glared at him, annoyed, and darted through a nearby door.
Sasuke quickly followed her—any lead was better than none.
On the other side of the door lay a long corridor, and beyond it, Sasuke found himself staring at a massive, steel city, with soaring towers stretching as far as the eye could see.
It seemed even grander than Konoha.
Suddenly, the clattering of footsteps echoed from all directions.
Instinctively, Sasuke drew his Raikiri blade.
Mechanical puppets, armed and ready, surrounded him on all sides. Their design looked eerily similar to Mukade's puppet, he had destroyed earlier.
But how were there so many? Even a highly skilled puppet master could only control around ten puppets at once. This was an overwhelming number.
The puppets raised their arms, revealing circular holes from which purple chakra began to pulse.
"The Dragon Vein?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his body crackling with lightning.
Chidori Stream!
He charged, slicing through the puppets as he moved.
One after another, the mechanical soldiers fell. But after several minutes, Sasuke began to grow frustrated. He'd lost track of how many he'd destroyed, but the waves of puppets showed no sign of ending.
Continuing like this wasn't an option.
Just then, a masked blond shinobi appeared, clearing a path with impressive speed.
Behind him were two more masked figures. Sasuke initially tensed, but relaxed slightly upon seeing the figure on the left—a stocky man whose hand had transformed to an enormous size.
It was the signature Partial Expansion Jutsu of the Akimichi clan.
The other figure on the right summoned a swarm of parasitic insects with a wave of his hands.
"Come on!" the blond shinobi said, glancing at Sasuke. "Let's get out of here!"
The three masked shinobi cleared the path, and Sasuke followed them into a secluded corner.
Once they were certain they'd evaded the puppet soldiers, the blond ninja turned to Sasuke.
"Who taught you that Chidori technique?" he asked.
"Kakashi sensei taught me," Sasuke replied.
"Kakashi? As in your teacher?" the blond shinobi asked, puzzled.
"What are you talking about?" asked the Akimichi ninja in a gruff tone. "Kakashi isn't even a squad leader—how could he be your teacher?"
"But he clearly used Chidori," the Aburame ninja with the gourd on his back added, frowning.
Sasuke's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you all talking about? I don't understand."
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