As the sun set, the cloak of night blanketed the earth, casting long shadows over Rōran. Under the cover of darkness, Minato, Kushina, and Naruto escorted Sara to a vent concealed beneath a central building. The atmosphere was tense, anticipation thick as they prepared to enter the heart of Mukade's operation.
"Down here," Sara murmured, her gaze lowered. "This is where the dragon vein's power converges."
Minato and the others nodded, exchanging a silent understanding. With careful movements, they pried open the vent and descended into the underground labyrinth of Rōran. The moment they reached the bottom, the scene before them was a shocking revelation—a sprawling mechanical production line that seemed to stretch endlessly into the shadows.
"How… how could this be!?" Sara gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief.
The dim, industrial lighting revealed a horrific sight: civilians, shackled in iron handcuffs and leg irons, were lined up along the assembly lines. The workers were of all ages, and disturbingly, many appeared no older than Sara herself—some even younger.
"This is beyond cruel," Kushina muttered, her face darkened with anger as she surveyed the scene.
Naruto's fists clenched, his gaze simmering with fury. How could anyone subject innocent people, especially children, to such conditions? The sight of the enslaved civilians ignited a sense of urgency in the group.
Minato, however, kept his focus. His attention shifted to a strange device near the production line, a mechanical structure resembling a giant, box-like contraption standing two or three meters tall. There was something profoundly unsettling about it—its energy pulsed, sending strong fluctuations into the air.
"That device…" he murmured, his instincts confirming it as the source of the dragon vein's power.
Minato directed Sara's gaze toward the machine. "Do you know what that is?" he asked gently.
Sara's eyes widened in recognition, her voice laced with shock. "That's… that's the convergence point of the dragon vein's power. But how did it end up like this?"
"It seems Mukade used it to channel and manipulate the dragon vein's power," Minato replied, his voice heavy with the implications. A future ninja capable of such intricate manipulation, he thought, it's astounding—and dangerous.
"Mukade?" Sara echoed, unfamiliar with the name.
Kushina stepped forward, her gaze sympathetic but firm. "Mukade is Anrokuzan, the one who deceived you and twisted Rōran's fate. We suspect he may even have been involved in your mother's death."
The mention of her mother stirred an emotional storm within Sara. She pursed her lips, her eyes reflecting a tumult of emotions, but this time, she didn't argue. The truth was sinking in, each painful revelation tearing at the last of her loyalty to Anrokuzan.
"Please…" she whispered, her voice laced with vulnerability. "Please save my people and Rōran."
Minato met her gaze, his expression resolute. "We came here for this very reason, to put an end to Mukade's plans and free Rōran."
Kushina smiled, nodding with reassurance. "We're here to help," she said gently. "Everything will be alright."
Minato's face grew serious as he surveyed the production line, calculating the best approach. "I understand Mukade's primary objective now. Our first priority is to free these civilians. But be aware—Mukade can manipulate the dragon vein's energy. Any place touched by its power isn't truly safe."
"We have to get these people to safety," he continued, eyeing the massive number of captives. "They'll need a secure location."
"I know a place," Sara said, almost in unison with Naruto. Their eyes met, and they both nodded in understanding.
"When I first arrived here," Naruto explained, "I find an area that wasn't affected by the dragon vein. It's a bit cramped, but if we squeeze in, everyone should be able to fit."
"Good." Minato nodded approvingly. "Now, let's put our plan into action." He turned to Naruto and Kushina with a smile. "You two are up. We'll need your skills to release everyone as quickly as possible."
Naruto and Kushina nodded, determination set on their faces. The civilians were shackled with heavy handcuffs and leg irons, restraints designed to prevent escape. They wouldn't be able to move freely in time without some assistance.
"I'll keep Mukade occupied," Minato said, his voice firm. "Meanwhile, Naruto, Kushina, you'll free the civilians with Sara, then lead them to the safe location."
Sara looked at him, her face resolute. "I can temporarily seal the power of the dragon vein, if that will help."
Minato nodded. "Good. Once everyone's safe, seal the dragon vein. As long as it's active, Mukade will keep fighting back. We have to stop him for good."
With the plan set, the four exchanged a final look, then sprang into action, moving swiftly toward the production lines. The sudden appearance of their rescuers startled the civilians, who recoiled in fear, confusion clouding their faces.
"Don't be afraid," Sara called out, her voice clear and strong. "We're here to rescue you."
At that moment, the armored guards stationed around the production line reacted to the intrusion, charging toward the group. Kushina and Naruto exchanged a knowing glance, then smiled and brought their hands together, forming a cross seal.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a series of sharp explosions, thick clouds of smoke filled the air. Hundreds of shadow clones materialized, immediately launching into action. Some clones engaged the armored guards, clashing in a flurry of attacks, while others moved quickly along the production line, breaking handcuffs and leg irons to free the captives.
Meanwhile, Minato made his way to the large, box-like device emitting powerful chakra. He placed a hand on it, feeling the intense fluctuations radiating from within.
This device channels the dragon vein's energy. If I destroy it, we can break Mukade's control over Rōran.
"Odama Rasengan!" he intoned, gathering chakra into a massive Rasengan that glowed with an intense blue light.
With a powerful thrust, Minato drove the Rasengan into the device. The dragon vein's energy reacted violently, a surge of dark purple light radiating from the machine as it resisted Minato's attack.
From a distance, Naruto noticed Minato's struggle. He turned to one of his clones and extended his hand, allowing it to channel chakra into his palm.
"Odama Rasengan!" Naruto mirrored, charging toward the device from the opposite direction.
"Boom!" The combined force of their Rasengan strikes battered the device, the dark purple energy dimming as cracks began to spider across its surface. With a resounding explosion, the device shattered, fragments scattering as the concentrated power of the dragon vein dissipated into the air.
Minato gave Naruto a quick nod of acknowledgment before shifting his focus back to Sara. "Stay close," he instructed her, anticipating Mukade's next move.
In the room where Mukade hid, the stone pillar beside him trembled, then collapsed under the pressure of Minato's attack. The shock sent a ripple through the floor, and Mukade clenched his fists, fury twisting his features.
"Curse you, Sara!" he hissed, though a part of him had anticipated this betrayal. The sight of Rōran's queen siding with his enemy filled him with rage. Children, he thought bitterly, were so easy to sway.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, Mukade's eyes gleamed with cold intent. He began forming hand seals, his chakra flaring as the remaining stone pillars around him pulsed with a sinister light.
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