Chapter 22:Go back!

Sasuke stared at the huge, sharp claws, mere inches from his nose, sweat pouring down his face and his legs trembling uncontrollably.

At that moment, all he could hear was the violent pounding of his own heart in his chest.

Unbeknownst to him, there was still a figure standing behind him.

It was undoubtedly Shinji, who had rushed over in haste.

Amidst the sky filled with smoke and dust, he stood atop the ruins, gazing at the Nine-Tails with cold determination.

With a single glance, he thwarted Nine-Tails' vicious swipe.

Despite being subdued by his Mangekyo Sharingan, Nine-Tails still resisted, roaring furiously, "Damn it!"

The tailed beast's power unleashed a tremendous shockwave in all directions.

Sasuke, caught in the midst of it, was left stunned.

"Hmph!" Shinji snorted disdainfully.

Once again, the Mangekyo Sharingan in his eyes flared with a hypnotic light!

Having initiated his move, there was no room for hesitation; even if he exhausted his ocular powers, he had to swiftly overpower his opponent and seize control of the situation.

Soon after, under the relentless pressure of Shinji's Kaleidoscope Writing Sharingan, Nine-Tails' resistance began to wane, its fierce countenance gradually faltering.

"It's not sufficient. We must awaken Naruto!" Shinji's eyes narrowed, seizing the opportunity to delve deeper, infiltrating Nine-Tails' consciousness through his ocular prowess.

Subduing Nine-Tails would have sufficed, but to save Naruto, it was imperative to swiftly rouse his consciousness so that Naruto, the individual, could reclaim dominion over his spiritual realm.

In the blink of an eye, Shinji's consciousness arrived at a dark subterranean palace.

"How did Naruto's spiritual realm deteriorate to this extent?"

Surveying the surroundings, he barely recognized it as Naruto's spiritual domain.

However, it was vastly different from what he remembered—no pools, no cages; just myriad orange-red chakra tails swirling like foam.

"Could the seal have been compromised?"

Shinji frowned, contemplating deeply.

The Fourth Hokage had sealed Nine-Tails within Naruto, implementing dual safeguards—besides the external seal, both he and Naruto's mother, Uzumaki Kushina, had embedded chakra within Naruto for emergencies.

Yet now, it seemed these safeguards had faltered.

"Could Naruto have lost consciousness entirely?"

The chakra they had entrusted within Naruto's body required Naruto's awareness to relay external information instantaneously.

Had Naruto merely lost his mind, they would have swiftly discerned it and intervened.

However, complete unconsciousness would delay their reaction.

Setting aside his conjectures, Shinji advanced toward the locus pulsating with the strongest tailed-beast chakra.

Sensing Shinji's intrusion, the tailed-beast chakras within Naruto's spiritual realm coalesced, manifesting a colossal nine-tailed head.

It glared malevolently at Shinji. "Those cursed eyes again!"

"Return to your confines!" Shinji wasted no words, delivering a resounding slap to Nine-Tails' visage.

Boom.

The enormous nine-tailed head, composed of chakra, burst like an overinflated balloon!

In the wake of its dissipation, a corroded, rusty door materialized before Shinji.

"So that's why the Fourth Hokage couldn't sense it. The seal remains intact, albeit severely deteriorated."

Shinji recognized the door as Nine-Tails' seal at a glance.

Despite its dilapidated state, the seal itself endured, containing the tailed-beast chakra seeping through its cracks.

Simultaneously, the dispersed tailed-beast chakra reconstituted, coalescing into another immense nine-tailed head.

With bared fangs and claws, it lunged to engulf Shinji in one fell swoop. "No one can thwart me this time! I will raze your village to the ground!"

Undeterred, Shinji advanced. "Once Uchiha's dealt with, you're next!"

As Shinji progressed step by step, the pervasive tailed-beast chakras within Naruto's spiritual realm yielded, reluctantly retreating behind the barrier.

"Accursed Uchiha! I'll tear you apart!" Only Nine-Tails' impotent, enraged voice lingered within the spiritual expanse, now resealed.

Approaching the gate, Shinji beheld Naruto lying amidst severe wounds.

"These injuries are severe—clearly a targeted assault."

Shinji sighed, then knelt beside Naruto and shook him gently.

Instantly, Shinji regained consciousness, opening his eyes.

Though the surroundings remained chaotic, shrouded in smoke and dust, the Nine-Tails no longer exuded its former menace, dissipating like melting ice cream.

Aware that Naruto had awakened, Shinji swiftly departed the scene.

Unbeknownst to Sasuke, who remained transfixed, staring blankly at where Nine-Tails once stood, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Konoha's ninja forces arrived swiftly.

Among them was Kakashi, who had already activated his Sharingan, prepared for a decisive confrontation with Nine-Tails.

Denied participation in Nine-Tails' battle during his youth, he had witnessed the Fourth Hokage's demise firsthand, haunted by regret.

Thus resolved, even at the risk of his life, Kakashi vowed to subdue Nine-Tails.

However, the sight that greeted him left everyone including Kakashi stunned.

The formidable Nine-Tails lay defeated before seven-year-old Sasuke Uchiha!

A behemoth vanquished by a child.

Such a spectacle overwhelmed the arriving Konoha ninjas, obliterating their initial objectives.

It was then that Kakashi noticed the crimson Sharingan in Sasuke's eyes, two tomoe swirling within.

"This child awakened Sharingan? With two tomoe?"

A sense of awe rippled through him.

With Nine-Tails' dissipation, Naruto, the Jinchuriki, emerged gradually.

Medical ninjas rushed to Naruto's side, assessing his injuries.

Afterward, a nod from them assured Kakashi that while severe, Naruto's wounds were not fatal and could be treated.

"Phew." Kakashi exhaled deeply.

"Did this Uchiha boy really subdue Nine-Tails?"

"Look at his eyes!"

"Hey, he awakened Sharingan at seven years old? And it's two tomoe!"

Such murmurs eased the shock among their ranks.

A tailed beast capable of annihilation, defeated by a child—a scenario that left them deeply conflicted.

Meanwhile, Sasuke remained motionless, oblivious to the commotion, still fixated on the spot where Nine-Tails had stood moments ago, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Noticing this, Kakashi glanced at Sasuke's trousers (wet crouch area) and swiftly instructed those nearby, "Quickly, get him a change of pants!"

End of chapter.