I Became a Demon Sword and Traveled the Anime Worlds

Obito's question left Zetsu visibly helpless.

He had spent years gathering information throughout the Shinobi World, yet Asuramaru remained one of the greatest mysteries he had encountered.

"I have already searched through every source available to us."

Zetsu's strange voice echoed through the hidden chamber.

"The only confirmed information is that Asuramaru was once worshipped as a deity by the Uzumaki Clan."

Obito remained silent.

Zetsu continued.

"According to the intelligence we have gathered over the years, those connected to Asuramaru can use a special sword style that does not rely on chakra."

"They can also enter an unusual transformed state."

Obito's visible Sharingan narrowed.

"The transformation Uzumaki Naruto used?"

"Yes."

Zetsu nodded.

"Whenever that state appears, the user's physical abilities and combat power increase dramatically within a short period of time."

He paused.

"But beyond that, we know almost nothing."

"That is currently all the reliable information we possess."

Obito fell silent.

If even Zetsu could not uncover more, obtaining meaningful intelligence through ordinary channels would be nearly impossible.

The Uzumaki Clan itself had already been destroyed.

Most of its records had vanished along with Uzushiogakure.

Whatever secrets Asuramaru possessed had apparently disappeared from history as well.

But there was another problem.

Uzumaki Naruto.

Obito had originally regarded the Nine Tails Jinchūriki as something they could deal with later.

That assumption was becoming increasingly dangerous.

Naruto's growth had far exceeded expectations.

Flying Thunder God.

Powerful ninjutsu.

An unknown sword capable of harming spiritual entities.

A mysterious transformation that pushed his strength even higher.

Now White Zetsu had personally witnessed Naruto defeat Mōryō alone.

Obito's voice became grave.

"Uzumaki Naruto is developing too quickly."

Zetsu listened.

"At this rate…"

Obito remembered another blond figure.

A white cloak.

A calm smile.

Speed he had once been completely unable to follow.

Minato Namikaze.

"Naruto may eventually reach the same level as the Fourth Hokage."

His voice lowered.

"Perhaps even surpass him."

That could not be allowed.

If Naruto continued growing unchecked, capturing the Nine Tails later might become far more difficult than their original plans accounted for.

Obito made his decision.

"Find Nagato."

Zetsu's eyes shifted toward him.

Obito continued.

"We accelerate the plan."

"Begin capturing the remaining tailed beasts sooner."

Zetsu gave a small nod.

"Understood."

Yet beneath that calm exterior, thoughts of his own were already turning.

Plans hidden beneath plans.

Objectives even Obito did not fully understand.

The pieces on the board were beginning to move faster.

Meanwhile, Naruto and the others finished dealing with the aftermath of Mōryō's defeat.

Once the situation in the Land of Demons and Land of Swamps had stabilized, the Konoha Shinobi returned home.

Their first destination was the Hokage Building.

Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat behind her desk.

Naruto, Sakura, Neji, Lee, Kakashi, and the others stood before her.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat off to the side.

The former Hokage looked increasingly old.

His posture had weakened.

His eyes remained half closed, hovering somewhere between wakefulness and sleep.

Tsunade finished listening to the mission report.

Then the corner of her mouth lifted.

"You all performed extremely well."

Her gaze moved across the group.

"Especially Naruto."

Naruto looked toward her.

Tsunade continued.

"You protected the priestess, reached the Shrine of Seals, and eliminated Mōryō before the situation could grow worse."

"That is well beyond what the mission originally required."

Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes.

His cloudy gaze settled on Naruto.

There was pride in it.

Three years ago, Naruto had already shown extraordinary potential.

Now that potential had become real strength.

He no longer needed others constantly shielding him.

He could stand alone.

Fight alone.

Complete missions that would challenge even veteran Shinobi.

To Hiruzen, the future was becoming increasingly obvious.

Naruto would become Hokage.

Perhaps sooner than anyone expected.

Naruto accepted Tsunade's praise calmly.

"It was my responsibility."

"I only did what needed to be done."

Tsunade smiled slightly.

No boasting.

No exaggerated excitement.

The boy really had changed.

She leaned back.

"The mission rewards will be distributed later."

"If there is nothing else to report, you are dismissed."

Naruto waved casually.

"See you later, Granny Tsunade."

A vein almost appeared on Tsunade's forehead.

Naruto was already walking toward the door before she could respond.

The others followed.

Once they reached the corridor, Kakashi looked toward the group.

His visible eye curved.

"It has been a while since everyone was together like this."

Sakura glanced over.

Kakashi continued.

"How about barbecue?"

Sakura immediately brightened.

"You're treating us, Kakashi sensei?"

Kakashi hesitated for half a second.

Sakura smiled wider.

"That sounds wonderful."

Kakashi suddenly looked far less enthusiastic.

Naruto barely heard them.

His thoughts were elsewhere.

"Asuramaru."

"What?"

Naruto remembered Hiruzen sitting quietly inside the office.

Something about the old man had bothered him.

"Does Grandpa Third seem strange to you?"

Asuramaru answered without hesitation.

"He is dying."

Naruto's steps stopped.

The others continued several paces before noticing.

His expression changed.

"What?"

Asuramaru remained calm.

"The Reaper Death Seal from three years ago consumed a large portion of his soul."

"I repaired the damage to his body."

"But a body and a soul are not the same thing."

Naruto's hands slowly tightened.

Asuramaru continued.

"The missing part of his soul never returned."

"His physical condition may look stable, but the foundation supporting his life has been steadily weakening."

Naruto looked back toward the Hokage Building.

"How long?"

"Not much longer."

Naruto fell silent.

Then he asked the question Asuramaru had expected.

"Can we save him?"

Asuramaru sighed.

"There is only one obvious way."

Naruto waited.

"Recover the portion of his soul that the Shinigami took."

Naruto remembered that monstrous spectral figure.

The Reaper Death Seal.

The creature Asuramaru had wounded years ago.

Naruto frowned.

"So if we get his soul back…"

"He may survive longer."

Naruto's eyes brightened slightly.

Then Asuramaru finished.

"But that requires the Shinigami to release what it already consumed."

A brief silence followed.

Asuramaru asked,

"Do you really think it will willingly do that?"

Naruto did not answer.

He already knew.

Back inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade returned to the mountain of documents waiting for her.

For several minutes, the room remained quiet.

Then she stopped writing.

Her eyes moved toward Hiruzen.

"Old man."

Hiruzen opened his eyes.

"What is it?"

Tsunade looked at him carefully.

"You should stop coming here every day."

Hiruzen smiled.

"That sounds unlike you."

"I'm serious."

Tsunade set down the document.

"Your condition is getting worse."

"You should go home."

"Spend some time with Konohamaru."

"Rest."

Hiruzen looked toward the window.

Sunlight fell across Konoha.

The village stretched beneath them.

Homes.

Shops.

Training grounds.

People moving through the streets.

The place to which he had devoted nearly his entire life.

"My life has always belonged to Konoha."

Tsunade's expression tightened.

Hiruzen smiled softly.

"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns."

"And as long as the fire burns…"

"The village will continue."

His voice was weaker than it had once been.

But the conviction behind it remained.

"These last few years, I stayed because you needed time."

Tsunade said nothing.

"You had been away from Konoha for too long."

Hiruzen continued.

"There were elders to deal with."

"Departments to stabilize."

"Old relationships to repair."

"People who needed time to accept their new Hokage."

He looked toward her.

"But now…"

"That work is finished."

Tsunade's hands slowly folded together.

Hiruzen smiled.

"When I am gone, Konoha will be yours completely."

For much of his later life, Hiruzen had accumulated regrets.

Decisions delayed.

Problems tolerated.

People he had failed to protect.

Mistakes he could no longer undo.

Yet there was one decision he did not regret.

Naruto.

Protecting him.

Allowing him to grow outside Root.

Giving him the truth about his parents.

Believing in him.

Perhaps, Hiruzen thought, he had helped Naruto.

But in another sense, Naruto had saved him as well.

The boy had reminded him of the kind of Hokage he had once wanted to be.

Before age.

Before compromise.

Before fear made every difficult decision easier to postpone.

Naruto had pulled him away from that weakness.

Tsunade understood more than she said.

There had been a time when she had lost nearly all respect for her teacher.

The Hiruzen she remembered near the end of his reign had seemed exhausted.

Hesitant.

Far too willing to compromise.

Yet during the years after she left Konoha, something had changed.

He had confronted Danzō.

Dissolved Root.

Protected Naruto.

Faced Orochimaru.

Nearly died defending the village.

The old Shinobi who had once been called the God of Shinobi had somehow reappeared near the end of his life.

Tsunade had wondered why.

After meeting the Naruto of today, she understood a little better.

She looked at Hiruzen.

"Don't worry."

Her tone lost its usual teasing edge.

"I'll take care of Konoha."

Hiruzen smiled.

That was enough.

The office door opened.

Neither of them had invited anyone inside.

Danzō Shimura entered.

Tsunade's expression immediately soured.

"What do you want?"

Danzō stopped before the desk.

He did not bother with greetings.

"Reestablish Root."

Tsunade stared at him.

Danzō continued.

"Konoha needs it."

A vein rose on Tsunade's forehead.

She slammed one palm against the desk.

Bang!

"No."

Danzō's visible eye narrowed.

"The current situation in the Shinobi World is unstable."

"Akatsuki is moving."

"Orochimaru remains active."

"Foreign villages are watching us."

"Now more than ever, Konoha needs an organization capable of acting from the shadows."

Tsunade's voice hardened.

"Konoha does not need your Root."

"You can forget about rebuilding it."

Danzō's face darkened.

He turned toward Hiruzen.

The former Hokage sat quietly, showing no sign of helping him.

Danzō's frustration deepened.

"The great tree you admire survives because roots grow beneath the soil."

His cane struck the floor.

"Root did what ordinary Shinobi could not."

"We dirtied our hands so the village could remain clean."

"Without those sacrifices, how do you think Konoha maintained its peace?"

Tsunade stood.

Danzō continued.

"You cannot simply erase decades of necessity because you dislike the methods."

Tsunade glared at him.

Then she shouted,

"Shut up, Danzō!"

The room fell silent.

Tsunade pointed toward him.

"I am the Hokage."

Danzō froze.

The words struck him with almost physical force.

He had heard them before.

Same office.

Different person.

His head slowly turned.

Hiruzen sat nearby, watching him.

For a moment, Danzō almost seemed unable to speak.

Then his expression hardened.

"You…"

His hand tightened around his cane.

"You will regret this."

Tsunade remained completely unmoved.

Danzō spun around.

His robes swept behind him.

He pulled the door open.

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

Silence returned.

Hiruzen stared at the closed door.

Then he began to laugh softly.

Tsunade glanced over.

"What?"

Hiruzen shook his head.

"Nothing."

His smile remained.

Perhaps this was what inheritance looked like.

Elsewhere, the mission team arrived at an Akimichi Clan barbecue restaurant.

A private room had already been prepared.

Platters of raw meat covered the table.

The grill hissed.

The smell alone was enough to make everyone hungry.

Sakura sat down eagerly.

Lee immediately began talking about how much training he would do after eating.

Kakashi looked like a man already regretting promising to pay.

Naruto sat with Ryūjin Jakka at his waist.

Slices of meat began sizzling on the grill.

The aroma filled the room.

Naruto stared at the food for a moment.

Then a thought occurred to him.

"Asuramaru."

There was a short pause.

"What?"

Naruto smiled.

"Do you want some?"

Asuramaru did not understand.

"Some what?"

"Barbecue."

Silence.

Naruto continued.

"The Akimichi Clan's barbecue is really good."

Another silence.

Inside the sword, Asuramaru stared blankly ahead.

When was the last time he had eaten actual food?

Hundreds of years?

He honestly could not remember.

For most of his existence, eating had been completely unnecessary.

But unnecessary did not mean impossible.

Naruto picked up a freshly cooked piece of meat.

"You sure you don't want to try it?"

Asuramaru's expression became solemn.

This was clearly a test.

A cruel one.

What kind of deity was supposed to resist freshly grilled meat after centuries without food?

Asuramaru made his decision.

"Move over."

Naruto's eyes widened.

Then his face lit up.

Black mist began pouring from Ryūjin Jakka.

Everyone around the table stopped talking.

Sakura froze with chopsticks in hand.

Lee stared.

Kakashi slowly lowered the book he had been holding.

The black mist gathered beside Naruto.

It thickened.

A figure emerged.

Shoulder length purple hair drifted lightly despite the still air.

Crimson eyes opened beneath delicate, almost beautiful features.

Asuramaru took physical form beside the table.

His gaze went immediately to the sizzling meat.

He sat down.

Then, without looking at anyone, he said,

"Just this once."

Naruto could not suppress his smile.

For years, Asuramaru had been there.

From Naruto's earliest memories.

Through loneliness.

Training.

Danger.

Victory.

Fear.

Every important moment.

Naruto had long since stopped thinking of him merely as some ancient deity sealed inside a sword.

Asuramaru was family.

And ever since childhood, Naruto had wanted something absurdly simple.

To sit at the same table and share a meal with him.

Now it was finally happening.

Naruto grinned.

Asuramaru glanced at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Naruto quickly placed several pieces of cooked meat onto a plate.

"Try this."

Asuramaru looked at the meat.

Then at Naruto.

The others remained completely silent.

Everyone in the room knew at least part of the story.

Asuramaru.

The ancient deity once worshipped by the Uzumaki Clan.

The mysterious existence connected to Naruto's impossible abilities.

The being who had once manifested before Konoha and wounded the Shinigami itself.

And now that legendary figure was sitting beside them at an Akimichi barbecue restaurant.

The atmosphere immediately became stiff.

Lee sat straighter.

Sakura carefully placed down her chopsticks.

Even Kakashi seemed unsure whether casual conversation was appropriate.

Asuramaru ignored all of them.

He picked up one piece of barbecue.

Looked at it.

Then took a bite.

....

[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]

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