The underground depths of Rōran hummed with tension as a dark purple glow erupted from the remnants of the dragon vein device that Minato and Naruto had destroyed moments before. The intense energy pulsed through the chamber, filling the air with a foreboding power.
"Looks like he's prepared for a final showdown," Minato murmured, frowning as he sensed the surge of energy below them. Mukade was gathering all his strength, using every ounce of the dragon vein's power to make this last stand.
Turning to Sara, Minato spoke with urgency. "Sara, you need to guide these civilians to the surface as quickly as possible. There are too many to move at once, and we don't have much time."
Sara nodded, her expression resolute. Minato then turned his attention to the production line, shouting, "Naruto, Kushina, recall your shadow clones! Have them bring the civilians in the back up front so we can get them all out."
Hundreds of shadow clones acknowledged the command with nods, their swift movements putting them far ahead of the civilians' pace. Though they were just clones, their agility far surpassed that of ordinary people, giving them the advantage of speed.
Sara took a deep breath, addressing the nearby civilians. "Everyone, please follow me! Let's go!"
But just as they were about to move, a nearby civilian glared at Sara, her face twisted with anger. "It's because of your orders, Princess," she accused bitterly, "that we've been forced into this misery!"
With a surge of frustration, she grabbed a sharp metal shard from the production line and lunged at Sara, her hand trembling as she prepared to strike. Sara stumbled back, fear flashing across her face.
Swish!
Before the civilian could get any closer, Minato appeared in front of Sara, his grip firm around the woman's wrist, stopping her attack mid-air. His voice was calm but firm as he spoke, addressing both the angered woman and Sara.
"This isn't Sara's doing. Anrokuzan has been using her name to issue these orders. He's the one responsible for all this," Minato said, meeting the woman's gaze with sincerity. "He deceived her, just as he deceived all of you, and even killed her mother, your queen."
The woman's expression faltered, confusion and shock replacing the anger in her eyes. She released her grip, the metal shard clattering to the ground. Minato's words had a ripple effect; the civilians nearby, having overheard the exchange, cast uncertain looks at one another, their previous animosity wavering.
The woman glanced toward the restrained armored guards who had been subdued by Naruto and Kushina's clones. Her voice softened, yet worry lingered. "But… we can't just leave. Our families… our husbands are still in danger."
Understanding her fears, Minato replied reassuringly, "My companions and I will make sure everyone gets out safely. You have my word."
After a moment's hesitation, the woman nodded, a glimmer of hope returning to her gaze. With renewed resolve, Sara turned back to the group. Minato gave her an encouraging nod. "All right, Sara, get everyone out. We're running out of time."
The ground suddenly rumbled beneath them, shaking with ominous intensity. Minato glanced upward, his eyes narrowing. "Move faster!" he urged, his tone sharpening. With that, he disappeared, vanishing in a blur of motion.
Above, a massive section of the ground gave way, collapsing with a roar. Dark purple energy spheres, glowing with a menacing light, hovered in mid-air. They emitted an intense gravitational pull, drawing in chunks of debris from the surrounding structures. Rock and rubble hurtled toward the spheres, merging to form towering stone giants.
One of these newly formed giants stood dangerously close to the ventilation shaft Minato and the others had used to enter. Without hesitation, the colossal figure drew back its arm and swung a massive fist at the structure.
Swish!
In an instant, Minato appeared directly in front of the giant, his three-pronged kunai held ready. With precise movements, he traced a pattern in the air, forming a spatial barrier just as the giant's fist descended. The blow collided with the barrier, and the giant's massive hand was swallowed up as though it had fallen into a black hole, its entire form slowly absorbed.
As the giant vanished within the barrier, Minato scanned the surroundings, spotting another stone behemoth barreling through the buildings, heading their way. With a slight shift of his kunai, he redirected the first giant, materializing it directly in front of the oncoming one.
"Bang!"
The two giants collided with a deafening crash, tumbling into a heap as their massive forms crumbled under the impact. Minato seized the opportunity, forming hand seals to create two shadow clones, each clone flashing him a nod of understanding before splitting off in different directions.
Meanwhile, Sara emerged from the ventilation shaft, guiding the civilians upward. She glanced back at the thunderous clash behind them, her face pale with anxiety. "Hurry!" she urged, her voice rising above the commotion.
The woman who had accused Sara earlier now clung tightly to her child, casting one last fearful glance at the wreckage as they climbed out of the vent. More civilians followed, their expressions a mix of relief and trepidation as they moved to safety.
The ground shook once more as more giants began converging on the ventilation shaft, their ominous forms looming closer.
"So, you're still hiding?" Minato muttered, sensing Mukade's presence nearby. He knows I can teleport. If he shows himself, I'll be able to transport him out of Rōran, cutting him off from the dragon vein's power entirely.
Minato and his clones bypassed several giants, their attention locked on the pair of stone behemoths that had fallen in the collision. In a synchronized move, they reappeared beside each of the three remaining giants, only to disappear a moment later.
"Boom boom!"
With another series of explosive sounds, the giants crashed atop one another, stacking in a chaotic pile as Minato's clones maneuvered them into a massive heap. Five giants lay stacked like toppled stones, and in the settling dust, Minato bit his thumb, forming hand seals as he prepared a summoning technique.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Bang, bang, bang!"
With a rumbling impact, Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro appeared beside him. The three toads assessed the scene, Gamabunta squinting at the heap of giants.
"More of these stone monsters," Gamabunta muttered, unfazed. They had faced similar foes earlier in the day and understood what was at stake. His short sword gleamed as he drew it, standing at the ready.
"Hold these giants down for now," Minato instructed, his tone calm but commanding.
"No problem," Gamabunta replied, exhaling a massive cloud of smoke as he prepared for battle. Gamaken and Gamahiro each drew their weapons, launching attacks on the giants with formidable force.
As the three toads engaged the giants, Minato sat down nearby, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. With the immediate threat managed, he could prepare for the next phase of the fight.
In the meantime, the tremors from the ongoing clash reverberated through the ground, catching the attention of the civilians still making their way out. Awestruck, they looked back at the scene, their eyes wide as they took in the sheer scale of the battle.
"Damn it!" In the shadows, Mukade seethed, clenching his fists in frustration. His knowledge of space-time ninjutsu was limited, leaving him at a disadvantage against Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique. But abandoning the power he had worked so long to control was not an option.
"Shhh!"
Suddenly, a faint purple glow illuminated the rooftop above. Mukade channeled the dragon vein's power, transforming it into a massive beam of energy that enveloped the building. Sensing the shift, Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro withdrew, bracing themselves. The dark purple energy began to rejuvenate the giants, restoring their fractured forms.
The giants' low, guttural roars filled the air, each sound vibrating with an unnatural hum, almost like wind and thunder combined. Their eyes glowed a dark, menacing purple, locking onto Minato and his toad allies with renewed intent.
As the energy intensified, a change occurred around Minato. The air currents swirled faster, gathering chakra as orange pigmentation settled around his eyes. He opened his eyes slowly, revealing his horizontal pupils, his blue irises now focused and sharp.
Rising to his feet, Minato faced the reanimated giants, his lips curving into a small, confident smile.
"Alright then," he murmured, his voice steady. "It's time to find the one pulling all the strings—the one hiding in the shadows."
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