Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 94 Hell for Villains, The Choice of the Seven Deadly Sins
"Hmm! No wonder this village is famous for its health-preserving hot springs."

Inside an inn in Yugakure, 'Kage' lay in the hot spring, with only his head floating above the water.

As his nerves, which had been taut from the killing, gradually relaxed, 'Shadow,' still dressed in a black robe, looked up at the sky.

Although this body of 'Shadow' is just a clone, if it dissipates or is dispelled, the memories, including fatigue, will return to the original body.

Therefore, it would be best to use some method to cover up those memories of killing before this clone dissipates.

This is why the "Multiple Shadow Clone Technique," which is clearly an A-rank ninjutsu, is listed as a forbidden technique and recorded in the Book of Seals.

If Naruto Uzumaki creates thousands of shadow clones at once, and then is killed in an instant, then the memories of those thousands of deaths will be transmitted back to his original body.

Even Hyuga Kumokawa admired Naruto Uzumaki's strong heart; that kind of feeling was definitely not something just anyone could easily endure.

"Speaking of Naruto Uzumaki," he thought to himself, "now, with the power of 'Karma,' I should be able to do something about him and have some backup plans."

If nothing unexpected happens, once the events inside the underground palace and the contents of that stone tablet spread, "Otsutsuki Kumoshiki" will soon become the target of public criticism.

It's hard to guarantee that Otsutsuki Isshiki won't send someone or even come personally to test the waters.

However, it doesn't really matter.

I was already mentally prepared when I set up this scheme.

Hinata Kumokawa's goal was to gradually reach the end of the world and become an existence at the level of Otsutsuki Shibakai, or even higher.

His true destination is "God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light," not just the simple lie we see today.

To achieve this goal, one will inevitably have to face Isshiki Otsutsuki; the only difference is whether it will happen sooner or later.

If he really ran into that guy, Isshiki Otsutsuki, so soon, Hyuga Kumokawa would definitely burn his life to the fullest.

Otsutsuki Isshiki will become a figure feared by everyone, and he will use his "life" to drag everyone into a lie.

This was what he thought of after realizing the existence of Gamamaru.

Why can't it be the savior, the son of prophecy?
"Thinking about these things now is still too far ahead."

After soaking quietly for a few minutes, 'Shadow's' thoughts drifted back, looking towards the other side of the hot spring, where a figure was faintly visible in the mist.

"You haven't felt this temperature in a long time, have you?" he asked with a smile.

Nagato, whose entire body was shrouded in white Zetsu, was also soaking in the hot spring with his eyes half-closed.

While it's true that you don't need to strip naked to soak in a hot spring, if someone entered this hot spring room and saw the two of them dressed like this, they would definitely think they were some kind of weirdos.

"Yes."

Nagato looked up at the blue sky above the open-air hot spring and responded softly.

so good.

It's nothing like the Land of Rain, which is constantly shrouded in rain.

The existence of a ninja village known as the "village that has forgotten war" is enough to prove just how stable this country is.

It has even become a health resort with the highest average lifespan because of its health-preserving hot springs.

If only I had been born in this country.

Will things have come to this point?

Thinking of this, Nagato touched his eyes, already having the answer in his heart.

It still will.

Because he was chosen from birth, chosen to be the vessel for these eyes.

The pain he is suffering now is all caused by that person.

“Uchiha Madara…” he whispered.

Just then, the door was pulled open to the side, and a broad figure walked in.

"Hmph, you two are really taking it easy."

Seeing the two soaking in the hot spring, Kakuzu, shirtless, sneered, "I'm starting to doubt whether joining you was the right choice."

"The only time you can be stubborn and get away with it as cute and tsundere is until you're an adult."

As always, 'Shadow' said with a smile, "It's really not cute for an old guy in his seventies or eighties to say things like that."

This guy……

Upon hearing this, Kakuzu's face darkened, but he still said, "What's next? Don't tell me that joining Akatsuki only requires soaking in hot springs."

Nagato fell into a long silence.

According to the normal plan, the search for members should continue.

But right now, it seems there isn't a suitable candidate...

"Ghost Lantern City."

'Shadow' suddenly spoke up, laughing, "How about we go take a look at Ghost Lantern Castle?"

Hozuki Castle, a prison built by Kusagakure Village at the request of various countries to specifically detain criminal ninjas, is a hell for countless villains and rogue ninjas.

Even Uchiha Sasuke later ended up here, doing hard labor while swinging a manuscript, only to have it smashed in the face by a prison guard.

Of course, Hozuki Castle is also the location of the "Box of Elysium".

Meanwhile, in the Land of the Moon, at the Konoha military base. "Do we need ground troops to provide support?"

Inside the tent, several Konoha Jonin appeared, their purpose being to hold a strategy meeting.

After hearing about Hyuga Kumokawa's plan, everyone fell into thought, and Jiraiya's eyes also flickered.

He was considering the feasibility of this action.

If it can really be realized, then it will definitely deal a heavy blow to the Hidden Clouds.

As the core of the entire operation, Hyuga Kumokawa will undoubtedly be the greatest contributor.

After pondering for a long time, he looked up at Hyuga Kumokawa in front of him and asked, "How confident are you about that ninjutsu you mentioned?"

"Eighty percent," Hinata Kumokawa said frankly, "provided the ground troops cooperate."

“Eighty percent…” Jiraiya pursed his lips, his heart pounding.

An 80% chance is enough for them to take the risk.

However, Jiraiya did not rush to answer. Instead, he looked at Hyuga Kumokawa and Hatake Kakashi in front of him and said, "I have already sent the information about that underground palace and what happened back to the old man."

"You have done an excellent job on this mission. The inscription on the stone tablet is still being deciphered, and we will continue to send people to explore the underground palace."

"Since you obtained that ninja tool called 'Flying Ten Thousand Miles [Abomination]', you can use it as you see fit."

"As for that broken sword, we still can't figure out what it is, and Kakashi, this thing you brought back..."

He paused for a moment, looking at the black box placed in front of him.

The black box is engraved with intricate text, which appears dark gold under the light, leaving no doubt about its preciousness.

"The writing on the box is the same ancient script as the writing on the stone tablet," Jiraiya said in a deep voice. "These characters have already been deciphered."

Anything that bears such writing, whether it's an ancient book or an artifact, carries a heavy history, bearing the marks of fate and extinction.

"The blood of every god must end with the sword."

Jiraiya looked at the ancient characters on the black box and slowly uttered these words, which sounded like a prophecy or a curse.

Boom!dong dong!

After he uttered those words, a heartbeat could be heard coming from the box, causing everyone's pupils to shrink.

If you listen very carefully, you can even hear seven heartbeats.

"This……"

Kakashi Hatake's throat bobbed as he stared intently at the black box in front of him.

What exactly did he bring back from the underground palace?
Why can I still hear a heartbeat?
Jiraiya raised his hand and pressed the pivot in the middle of the black box, and a series of complex mechanical clicking sounds were heard.

Kaka...

The black box opened to both sides, and dark light refracted out from inside.

Seven swords, each with a unique shape and intricate patterns, were presented to the crowd.

These seven weapons were stored in the same box. Although they had been hidden underground for thousands of years, they still shone brightly at the moment of their emergence.

Exaggerated yet concealing a ruthless edge, they subtly suggest that while maintaining the appearance of works of art, they are also peerless weapons of life and death.

the most important is……

"Are they alive?"

One of the Konoha Jonin present murmured absentmindedly.

Yes.

The feeling these seven swords gave them.

It means "alive".

Seven swords of different shapes and sizes were quietly placed in the box, but everyone present could clearly feel that they were being "watched" by something.

Or rather, it's about scrutinizing them, examining their bodies, and their souls deep within.

"You are right."

Jiraiya's gaze swept over the crowd, and he said softly, "Although I know it's incredible, these seven swords are indeed 'alive'."

His name is 'The Seven Deadly Sins'.

"These are pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust."

Jiraiya's finger pointed at each of the seven swords.

Greed - Ring-pommel sword, Pride - Eight-sided sword, Wrath - Katana, Envy - Wakizashi, Sloth - Broadsword, Gluttony - Horse-slaying sword, Lust - Short dagger.

This was the first time anyone present had seen the design of some of the swords.

However, ninja tools in the ninja world are naturally strange and unusual, so they were not surprised.

What truly surprised them was Jiraiya's next sentence.

"Let's give it a try," Jiraiya said in a deep voice. "Pull them out."

"Only those who can gain their approval are qualified to use them."

(Still writing 10,000 words a day, please vote with monthly tickets. There was a meeting at school yesterday, and I stayed up too late after finishing writing. My chest has been hurting all day. I didn't finish this chapter before midnight, so my daily 10,000-word streak was interrupted. I feel so bad QAQ...)
(End of this chapter)