Dragon Vein Crossing
As the first rays of sunlight pierced the darkness, the temperature in the desert began to rise rapidly.
Following the clues left behind by Danzo, Naruto led Shisui through the vast expanse of the Wind Country's desert.
Faced with an endless sea of sand, Shisui found himself at a loss, while Naruto relied on his instincts to press forward. Along the way, they encountered a fierce sandstorm, forcing them to take shelter and costing them several precious hours.
Standing atop a sand dune, Naruto pulled out a map from his backpack and surveyed the horizon.
Soon, he spotted the ruins of a once-thriving city, half-buried by shifting sands, as well as a small oasis settlement nearby. His eyes narrowed slightly in recognition.
The combination of the words "desert" and "ruins" could mean only one thing—Loulan.
Once a prosperous city built upon the powerful dragon vein, Loulan ultimately fell into decline after the dragon vein was sealed, reducing it to little more than a desolate remnant in the desert.
The ever-changing desert winds had erased Danzo's tracks, but it was clear that he had come to the ruins in search of something.
Danzo had only two options for escape: either following the oases toward Sunagakure or venturing deeper into the desert in pursuit of Loulan's secrets.
The existence of the dragon vein was a mystery to most ninjas, but not to someone like Danzo.
Setting aside his wandering thoughts, Naruto leapt down from the dune and said to Shisui, "There's an oasis nearby. Let's check it out and find something to eat while we're at it."
Shisui stared at the endless dunes, a trace of doubt in his expression. "Mianma-sama, are you certain Danzo is still here?"
"He hasn't gone far," Naruto replied. "Let's investigate the oasis first and see if he left any traces behind."
While Naruto wasn't certain whether Danzo had reached Loulan, one thing was clear—if Danzo sought to harness the full power of the dragon vein, he would need to find the Queen of Loulan. Only the queen, bound by contract to the dragon vein, could truly wield its power.
Before long, Naruto and Shisui infiltrated the oasis.
Root ninjas lurked throughout the settlement, restricting the movements of the locals.
With a single glance between them, Naruto and Shisui swiftly incapacitated the Root operatives and freed the residents.
The villagers revealed that they were descendants of Loulan's survivors, choosing to remain and protect their last queen, Sara, in hopes of one day restoring their homeland to its former glory.
People often clung to the past. Hearing their words, Shisui was reminded of his own history, as if looking into a mirror reflecting a bygone era.
Naruto inquired about Root's presence. The villagers explained that Danzo's forces had been stationed in the ruins for over half a month, controlling the oasis while operating within Loulan's remains.
But the most urgent revelation was that their queen, Sara, had been kidnapped by foreign ninja only a few hours earlier.
Exchanging a glance, Naruto and Shisui vanished in an instant, tracking their target to the largest camp in the settlement.
Wasting no time, Naruto activated his Sharingan. A mere moment later, a captured Root operative fell under his genjutsu, turning his blade on himself.
Naruto's gaze then shifted to the queen, a woman in her thirties, sprawled on the ground. She eyed him warily before speaking.
"Thank you for your help, but why are you here, so close to Loulan's ruins? Are you trying to steal—"
Her words faltered when she caught sight of Naruto's fox mask, her expression softening.
"You must have come for the dragon vein," Sara said. "But it was sealed long ago by the Fourth Hokage. Even as Loulan's last queen, I no longer have control over it."
"We're not here for the dragon vein," Naruto responded. "Though its power is considerable, it's of little consequence to me. We're hunting an enemy. Have you seen the leader of these ninja? An older man with a bandaged eye?"
Seated on a tattered cushion, Sara hesitated before shaking her head. "I have not seen a man like that, but if these ninja have taken control of the ruins, their goal is likely the dragon vein itself. That's why they took me hostage."
"Where is the dragon vein now?" Naruto asked.
Sara hesitated again before finally replying, "It lies within the Lost Tower, the tallest structure in Loulan. The core of the dragon vein is sealed inside."
"Thank you, Queen Sara." Naruto turned to Shisui, clapping him on the shoulder before dashing off toward the Lost Tower.
Shisui lingered for a moment, casting a thoughtful glance at Sara before following.
After they left, a young girl, no older than eight or nine, emerged from the tent.
"Mother Sara," she said, pointing toward the exit. "That ninja with the fox mask… he's the one you always talked about, isn't he?"
Sara gently stroked her adopted daughter's hair and shook her head. "I don't know… Perhaps."
The girl tilted her head. "But you always told me stories about him when I was little and taught me to be brave. Why didn't you say anything just now?"
Sara fell silent, the only sound left in the tent the whispering of the desert wind.
---
The Lost Tower, standing alone amidst the ruins, was easy to spot.
Naruto and Shisui approached the remnants of Loulan, where only fragments of structures peeked out from beneath the sand. Even in its ruined state, the city's former grandeur was undeniable.
Shisui exhaled in awe. "I've heard Loulan was prosperous, but I never imagined it rivaled the Fire Country's capital. The power of the dragon vein must have been immense."
Naruto remained unimpressed. "A nation's strength isn't defined by its resources alone. With just a few years of development, Uzushio Village will surpass what Loulan once was."
Shisui nodded. He had witnessed the rapid transformation of Uzushio, a mere fishing village evolving into a flourishing port city—all under Naruto's leadership.
As they neared the Lost Tower, both shinobi felt the overwhelming energy emanating from the sealed dragon vein. Its raw, continuous power rivaled that of the Tailed Beasts.
From what Naruto recalled, the dragon vein wasn't a natural energy source of the ninja world. Like the God Tree, it had originated from beyond the stars.
Minutes later, Naruto and Shisui arrived within sight of Danzo and his Root operatives. The group was deep in the process of breaking the dragon vein's seal.
Danzo's eyes flickered with fear as he noticed Naruto and Shisui's arrival.
The Fourth Hokage's seal was complex—it had taken Danzo and his men hours to decipher even a fraction of it. He estimated they still needed another two hours to fully release the power contained within.
But now, his worst nightmare had arrived—Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Shisui.
Gritting his teeth, Danzo ordered his men into formation. As he weighed his options, his gaze darted between Naruto and the unstable dragon vein core.
For a moment, hesitation clouded his judgment. Could he risk forcefully breaking the seal? The dragon vein's power was volatile—tampering with it could be catastrophic.
Before he could decide, a voice rang out.
"Feel pain—Shinra Tensei!"
From atop the ruins, a red-haired figure extended his hand, unleashing an overwhelming surge of repulsive force.
Danzo barely had time to react before he was sent flying, the dragon vein's seal fracturing under the pressure.
Within seconds, a swirling vortex of raw energy erupted, consuming everything in its path.
Danzo, Nagato, and even an unseen intruder lurking in the shadows vanished into the rift.
Shisui and the remaining Root ninja stood frozen in disbelief.
Naruto turned to Shisui. "Hold this position. Don't let anyone near."
And with that, Naruto stepped forward, letting the dragon vein's energy consume him.
Time itself blurred as he vanished into the vortex.
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