"So at this moment, all we need to do is watch the Emperor fight?" Keqing asked, staring at the petrified Nine-Tailed Fox. She couldn't hide the frustration in her voice. "If every mission is like this, we are nothing more than bystanders in the guild. Are we really okay with just taking the rewards while the Rock King Emperor does all the work?"
Ningguang glanced at Smith, silently agreeing with Keqing. It was true—such a battle was beyond their capabilities. Not only herself and Keqing, but even Ganyu, an adeptus, might struggle to complete these tasks.
"Morax doesn't seem to mind. There aren't many things that points can do for him at the moment," Smith said, shaking his head slightly. "Besides, not every mission will be this difficult. If you feel guilty, then work harder to improve your strength and contribute to Liyue in the future."
Keqing furrowed her brows. "But are you saying we can get more than just the guild's point rewards from these missions?"
"Of course," Smith replied with a smirk. "Everything in this world can become our treasure. We may only have an hour to stay here after completing our mission, but we can still seize opportunities for ourselves during that time."
He pointed to a distinctive building below. "That is the Hokage Building. Inside, there is a collection of forbidden scrolls. Konoha has many powerful forbidden techniques. We may not have chakra, and the energy systems of our worlds are different, but there are elements we can adapt to our own powers. For example, we can substitute chakra with elemental energy."
Ganyu nodded thoughtfully. "That does sound interesting. But what about you, Smith? You speak of these things, but you haven't tried acquiring them yourself?"
"I lack the strength to do so," Smith admitted with a chuckle.
Keqing and Ningguang stared at him in disbelief. "You dare to test those two powerful shinobi without any strength of your own?" Ningguang asked incredulously.
"If I didn't speak up, they might have attacked us," Smith explained. "Besides, I trusted Ganyu to protect us."
Ganyu hesitated, touching her horns. "I can't guarantee that I could protect you, but I would certainly try my best."
---
Meanwhile, Namikaze Minato stood before the petrified Nine-Tails, his gaze shifting toward Zhongli. Bowing his head slightly, he expressed his sincere gratitude. "Thank you, sir. Without your intervention, I don't know how we could have stopped the Nine-Tails."
He realized he had misjudged Zhongli earlier. Though wary at first, the man had not taken any hostile action. Instead, he had neutralized the Nine-Tails and allowed them to seal it safely.
"You're welcome. Your sealing technique is intriguing," Zhongli replied. "Now that the Nine-Tails has been subdued, you should have no problem sealing it, correct?"
Minato sighed, glancing at his exhausted wife, Kushina Uzumaki. "No. The Nine-Tails' chakra is too vast. Even in this state, Kushina can only seal half of it at most."
After a brief moment of hesitation, Minato vanished in a flash of yellow light. He reappeared moments later, holding a crying infant in his arms.
Zhongli's gaze sharpened as he looked at the child. "Your child?"
"Yes. This is my son, Naruto." Minato looked down at his newborn son with a mixture of love and sorrow. "I plan to split the Nine-Tails in two—half will be sealed within Kushina, and the other half within Naruto."
Zhongli studied the infant carefully. Unlike the others, he could sense an extraordinary energy within Naruto, something beyond the power of any ordinary ninja. Even compared to the Nine-Tails, this energy was unique. It wasn't possession, but something else—something that could influence the child's future, though whether it would be for good or ill was uncertain.
"Your child is special," Zhongli said at last. "And so is the Nine-Tails. Have you ever considered that it is not merely a beast, but an intelligent lifeform?"
Minato hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't have the luxury of considering that right now. This is the only way to ensure Konoha's safety."
At that moment, a squad of shinobi, led by Sarutobi Hiruzen, rushed onto the scene. "Minato, are you alright?" Hiruzen called out anxiously.
Minato straightened. "I'm fine, Third Hokage. But from now on, I entrust Naruto and Kushina's safety to you. I will seal the Nine-Tails within them both."
Hiruzen's expression darkened. "Are you certain? There must be another way—"
"There isn't," Minato interrupted. "And one more thing—be cautious of the Uchiha clan. The masked man who attacked us may have been Uchiha Obito."
Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock. "Obito? But he was… he was supposed to be dead."
Minato clenched his jaw. He, too, had once believed that, but the events of the night had shattered that certainty. "Regardless, be wary. Some within the Uchiha are unhappy with Konoha's leadership. I fear that Obito may not be acting alone."
Hiruzen nodded grimly, understanding the weight of Minato's words.
As Minato turned back to begin the sealing process, Zhongli took one last glance at the scene and sighed. "It seems my presence is no longer needed here. I hope we meet again in the future."
With that, he transformed into golden light and vanished from sight.
Minato let out a breath of relief. Though Zhongli had been an ally today, his power was immense—too immense. If such a being ever turned against Konoha, there would be little they could do to stop him.
Taking a deep breath, Minato steeled himself. He performed the necessary hand seals, summoning the Reaper Death Seal.
Watching from the side, Hiruzen recognized the jutsu immediately. His mouth opened as if to speak, but after a moment, he remained silent, letting Minato continue. He had considered stepping in, taking Minato's place, but in the end, he let the young Hokage make his decision.
The village needed its hero, even if it came at a great cost.
---
In the distance, atop a secluded rooftop, Smith watched the scene unfold with a thoughtful expression. "This world is truly dangerous."
"Are we returning soon?" Keqing asked.
Smith nodded. "Yes. But next time, let's make sure we are more than just bystanders."
for more Episodes visit
patreon.com/Noan994