konoha:I'm the God of ninja world

"STUPID…"

Hundreds of shadow clones suddenly appeared, assisting all those who were willing to break free from the Curse Seal's control, helping them return to normal.

As for the ones who chose to remain under its influence? Let them spend the rest of their lives in that cage.

After wrapping things up at the fortress, Morkel and Naruto set off once again.

A few minutes later, the two of them walked into a foggy forest.

Naruto rubbed his eyes and pointed forward. "Hey, Morkel… you see that?"

Morkel nodded, unsheathing the Kusanagi sword from his back. "Yeah. I see it."

In the mist ahead, a small figure appeared—like a ghostly child drifting through the fog.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked.

The boy in the fog responded in a soft, eerie voice. "Do you like camellias? Do you prefer white or red ones?"

Morkel and Naruto glanced at each other, thoroughly confused.

Who was this kid? Why was he asking about flowers in such a strange setting?

"I don't really care about flowers," Morkel replied flatly. "I like gold coins—the kind that automatically regenerate every few minutes."

Naruto blinked. "Huh? What does that even mean?"

Even the boy was stunned by the bizarre reply. He hadn't expected such an honest yet nonsensical answer.

The boy spoke again, this time with deeper confusion. "What do you think is the end of human life?"

Morkel paused. "Death. No matter how glorious or pitiful someone's life is, it all ends in death. That's just the natural law."

The boy was silent. His mother had passed away some time ago, and ever since, he'd felt hollow inside.

Mr. Kabuto had been kind to him, but it never felt like home.

Maybe that red-haired boy was right. Maybe death was the answer. Maybe he could see his mother again…

Moments later, the boy vanished into the mist.

Morkel frowned and fell into thought.

---

Dozens of kilometers away

Yakushi Kabuto and Guren led the way through the woods, with a hesitant, green-haired child named Yukimaru trailing behind.

Kabuto sensed something was off and turned back. "Yukimaru, what's wrong?"

The boy looked down. "Mr. Kabuto, where exactly are we going?"

Kabuto smiled gently, not taking the question too seriously. The boy had asked that many times before.

"Wherever someone cares about you—that's your destination."

"Someone… cares about me."

Yukimaru's gaze became distant. Since his mother's death, he hadn't felt real care from anyone.

But then, with sudden determination, he sprinted toward a nearby tree and slammed his head into it!

Kabuto's eyes widened. "Yukimaru! What the hell are you doing?!"

This child was essential to Orochimaru's plans. His chakra had a strange affinity with the Three Tails.

If he died, the mission would fail before it even began.

"Guren!"

Kabuto shouted in panic.

Guren realized the urgency instantly and rushed forward, using her body to block the child from further harm.

Bang!

Yukimaru's head landed squarely against her chest.

"Ahhh—!" Guren gasped in pain.

"Damn it, what's gotten into you?" Kabuto growled, rushing over.

The boy said nothing, his face pale.

Kabuto and Guren had no choice but to tie him up to prevent another outburst. Guren slung him over her back and carried him the rest of the way.

On the road, Guren glared at Kabuto. "Are you even a man? Making a woman carry the kid?"

Kabuto shrugged. "You're Lord Orochimaru's most trusted agent. I wouldn't dream of interfering."

Guren smirked slightly—those were the words she wanted to hear.

The trio continued walking until a vast lake came into view.

Just then—rustling from the woods nearby.

Guren quickly formed a crystal blade on her arm. "Who's there?"

From the trees emerged a large, scarred man.

"You?!" Guren narrowed her eyes.

He was an escaped test subject from the fortress prison she used to oversee.

"You broke out?!" she yelled, readying her weapon.

But the man showed no aggression. "Someone invaded the fortress," he said quietly.

Guren tensed. "Who?"

"Two boys. One with red hair, the other blond. I heard the red-haired one was named Morkel."

Kabuto's face twisted with shock.

"Morkel?! Wasn't he in the Land of Lightning? How did he reach the Land of Water so quickly?"

Guren's expression also grew serious. She had heard of Morkel's reputation. He wasn't someone to underestimate.

"But why would he come to the fortress?" Kabuto wondered aloud.

"To study the curse mark," the man replied. "He spent hours on test subjects, removing their Curse Seals completely."

Kabuto's jaw dropped. "What?! Orochimaru spent months perfecting the Curse Seal—and Morkel solved it in a few hours?!"

The man nodded. "He failed a few times, but saved the subjects with advanced medical ninjutsu."

"He's like a miracle doctor—resurrecting people on the verge of death."

Kabuto, who had conducted countless experiments, felt the sting of inferiority.

"And how did you escape?" Guren asked suspiciously.

"I slipped out during the chaos," the man said.

In truth, he had waited for Morkel to leave before escaping. But he kept that to himself.

"He went toward the lake," the man added.

Kabuto flinched and looked around nervously.

When he didn't see Morkel, he quickly handed Yukimaru over to Guren.

"You take him! I'm out!"

"What a coward," Guren muttered as she watched Kabuto flee.

She turned to the man. "Niutou, find us a boat. We're going to the center of the lake."

Niutou obeyed, casting her a complex glance before heading off.

---

Elsewhere, Kakashi's team approached the fortress

"The door's open?" Kakashi asked, stepping inside.

They looked around and found abandoned cells and experimental chambers.

"This is definitely Orochimaru's place," Kakashi muttered. "Monstrous experiments…"

Sai noticed something. "There's an operating table here… but why?"

"Akamaru picked up Morkel's scent," Kiba said.

"Don't tell me he's doing weird science experiments now?" Sai asked, alarmed.

"Please," Kiba rolled his eyes. "He's not Orochimaru. He must've had a reason."

Kakashi agreed. They soon learned about Morkel's work breaking the Curse Seal.

"For Sasuke," Kakashi murmured. "He still remembers his friends…"

---

Meanwhile, Akatsuki members were rushing to their objective

"I wonder if that red-haired kid knows we're after the Three Tails?" Deidara asked.

"How could he? We only just planned this," Sasori said.

"Still… he's sneaky. What if he overheard us through the rings?" Deidara muttered.

"You're scared of him?" Tobi teased.

"Shut up, Tobi!!"

Sasori ignored the argument. "Let's just focus on the plan."

"Three Tails has no host—it'll be easy," Deidara said confidently.

But Tobi suddenly grew silent. Behind the mask, his lone eye trembled.

"No host…" he muttered.

---

Back at the lake

Guren, Yukimaru, and Niutou floated in a boat at the lake's center.

Guren placed a strange helmet on Yukimaru and gave him a pill.

"I don't know your bond with Three Tails," she said, "but do your best. I'll help you find your place after this."

She stepped onto the water as Niutou rowed back.

"Crystal Style: Hexagonal Crystal Pillars!"

Six massive crystal towers erupted from the water, forming a ring.

Yukimaru winced in pain as the device on his head activated.

Suddenly—bubbling from the water…

CRASH!

A gigantic turtle emerged, towering 40-50 meters high with blood-red eyes and three swirling tails.

"The Three Tails!" Guren gasped.

But as she watched in awe, the beast's chakra surged. The lake shook.

The crystal formation shattered in an instant. Yukimaru cried out in pain.

Guren gritted her teeth. "Guess I'll have to fight, too."

"Crystal Style: Crystal Dragon Jutsu!"

Three massive dragons made of pink crystal surged forward—but were crushed by Three Tails' raw chakra.

"Damn it!" Guren retreated.

One of the tails slammed down, sending a massive wave her way.

Three Tails began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb in its mouth—its chakra compressed into a glowing orb.

Guren swallowed nervously.

Then—a white bird soared overhead.

Someone aboard tossed a clay figure.

"HEY!!!"

BOOM!!!

The explosion rocked the lake, sending heat waves across the surface.

Guren barely shielded herself with crystal in time.

"Niutou! Yukimaru! Are you okay?!" she shouted, turning to the debris-filled water.

After a tense moment, Yukimaru's head popped up. "I'm fine… Guren-san."

---