An ancient ruin lay buried within misty mountain ranges, sealing the mysterious Grell Ore Vein. In ancient times, people had used the power of the Grell Ore Vein to establish vast empires, only to be obliterated by history itself.
Naruto and the others were forced into the ruins under the guidance of the caravan elder. As they approached their destination, the two grew increasingly solemn.
"Sasuke, what should we do? They're constantly holding the caravan members hostage, making it difficult to act."
Sasuke's expression was hesitant. He detested situations like this, possessing great skill yet being constantly restricted. If it were his brother Itachi, how would he handle it?
Sasuke's mind conjured Itachi's image, those bizarre Mangekyo Sharingan eyes staring directly at him, utterly cold.
If it were him, there would be no hesitation; kill them all. After all, he could even poison his own younger brother.
"Sasuke, did you hear me? What should we do!"
Naruto couldn't help but tug at Sasuke. Why did his companion always falter at crucial moments? Was this the time to space out?
"Idiot, do you think I'm not thinking?"
Sasuke whispered, "That fellow Timsy can wield the power of the Grell Stone. Additionally, there are three female knights with strength approaching that of a Jonin, at least elite Chunin level, plus nearly a hundred Black Armored Puppets. And their leader, Hyde, hasn't even made a move yet. I don't believe he's an ordinary person."
"And that mobile fortress. I refuse to believe it doesn't possess any deadly weapons."
Naruto's head swam after Sasuke's lengthy analysis.
"Are we just going to let them succeed like this?"
"Let's wait a bit longer..."
The caravan elder, walking at the forefront, overheard their conversation. He had to admit, these two young ninjas from Konoha were passionate and youthful.
It was precisely because of their youth that they were forced to scout ahead.
The caravan elder sighed. He had encountered many ninjas, most of whom were self-serving, either indifferent or ruthless, which was the normal value system in the ninja world.
Naruto and the others' mission was merely to find the lost ferret. The subsequent events had nothing to do with them. They could have simply packed up and returned to Konoha, without undertaking tasks that threatened their lives.
Alternatively, if they were cold and ruthless ninjas, what concern would the caravan members be to them? Why should the strong restrain themselves for a group of weaklings?
Especially a group of weaklings with whom they had no connection. In the ninja world, ordinary people's lives held little value.
The caravan elder stopped. Everyone had arrived at a high platform.
"Naruto, and the other young Konoha ninja, you can stop here. I know you have a way to leave, so this is where we part."
Naruto immediately became anxious and shouted, "Grandpa, how can we do this? The caravan members are still in their hands. I will definitely save them!"
Sasuke glanced at the caravan elder with a thoughtful look, saying nothing.
"Naruto, thank you. But we have already made preparations. We absolutely cannot let the Grell Ore Vein fall into the hands of those people, even if it costs us our lives."
"Grandpa..."
Naruto clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. He was unwilling. If only he were stronger, possessed more ninjutsu, like Teacher Lin Yu's Wood Style, or the First Hokage's Wood Style, or perhaps Sasuke's... genjutsu?
Naruto's expression flickered, and he immediately looked at Sasuke, who nodded at him.
"Why aren't you moving? Do you want to watch them die?"
Rank, one of the three female knights, held a young boy by the neck, her other hand crackling with electricity. Through the Grell Stone, her ability was to control lightning.
"Damn it!" Naruto shouted angrily.
"We've arrived. The path ahead requires him," the caravan elder said expressionlessly, looking at Hyde and then pointing at Timsy.
Timsy was slightly taken aback. Why him? Did he have any connection to this ruin?
Hyde smiled, "Timsy, the realization of the beautiful dream of an ideal nation depends on you. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, Lord Hyde!"
Timsy walked up to the caravan elder and coldly asked, "What do you need me to do?"
The caravan elder shook his head, his eyes filled with pity and sorrow as he looked at Timsy.
"It's all over now, child."
"What?"
Boom!
The caravan elder triggered some mechanism. The large platform they were on vibrated violently and began to descend at a visible speed.
"Sasuke!"
Whoosh!
As the falling stone platform drew everyone's attention and they disappeared from Hyde and the others' sight, several shuriken, trailed by steel wires, embedded themselves into the stone wall. A figure leaped into the air, capturing everyone's gaze.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
The bizarre three-tomoe Sharingan instantly invaded everyone's minds, plunging Hyde and the three female knights into genjutsu. However, it only lasted three seconds before a green light emanated from them, breaking the illusion.
"What exactly is this Grell Stone?"
Sasuke was shocked. How did they escape his Sharingan genjutsu without a third party disrupting their chakra flow?
But it was enough.
"Sasuke, well done!"
Taking advantage of Sasuke's genjutsu to stall the enemy, Naruto used the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu to rescue the caravan members held hostage and led them towards the exit.
"Damn it! They dared to trick us!"
Rank, with her fiery temper, had her hands crackling with electricity and was about to chase towards the exit when she heard Hyde's urgent voice, "Forget those despicable servants, go after Timsy!"
"You're not getting away. Your ugly face truly disgusts me," Naruto landed in front of Hyde, his face full of revulsion.
"Annoying brat."
Hyde raised his arm, a green light flashed, and an invisible force instantly sent Naruto flying dozens of meters, crashing into the rocks.
Hyde's face showed excitement. "The Grell Stone is truly powerful. It can send enemies flying without even touching them."
"Camilla, Rank, don't waste any more time."
Hyde waved his hand, and a group of Black Armored Puppets surrounded Naruto and Sasuke, while he, along with the three female knights, flew into the descending stairs, pursuing Timsy.
Meanwhile, in the underground palace of the ruins, the caravan elder attempted to persuade Timsy, but the latter refused to believe him.
"Impossible. Lord Hyde is my savior, and he has always been striving to build an ideal nation."
The caravan elder said bitterly, "Child, the Grell Book he holds is the best proof. This book has always been in the hands of the royal descendants on the other side of the continent, and you are the last royal descendant. We are actually relatives of the same lineage."
Timsy's eyes were conflicted. He couldn't believe it. If all this were true, then the one who destroyed his home and killed his parents would be the Lord Hyde he had always served?
"How can I prove I am a royal descendant?"
The caravan elder pointed to the complex array of patterns carved on the ground and said lightly, "The formations carved here are the passage to activate the Grell Ore Vein. Only those with the royal bloodline of the empire can activate it. Whether you are one, you'll know if you try."
The caravan elder had prepared himself for death. What was carved on the ground was not a passage, but a contingency left by the empire for its descendants: the Void of Time and Space.
By using ancient summoning techniques to call forth the Void of Time and Space, it would absorb the entire Grell Ore Vein, preventing this power from falling into evil hands.
Timsy looked at the complex patterns on the ground, his face gradually contorting. If he was not of royal blood, he would not be able to open the passage and help Lord Hyde obtain the Grell Ore Vein.
But if he could open the passage, then everything the caravan elder said was true, and Hyde was his enemy, the enemy who had annihilated his clan.
What should he do?
Rumble!
The door of the stone chamber was blasted open, and Hyde, with the three female knights, descended.
"My good child, Timsy, have you found the entrance to the Grell Ore Vein?"
Timsy's face was pale. He pointed to the patterns below and hesitated, "He said, with my blood, the entrance can be opened. Lord Hyde, am I a descendant of that empire's royalty?"
Timsy looked at Hyde with genuine sincerity, desperately hoping for an answer other than the truth.
Hyde walked to Timsy's side with a smile, extended his right hand, and stroked his head, whispering, "I see. Timsy, you've done well. Now you can finally rest."
"Lord Hyde, I..."
Chiff!
Timsy's pupils widened. The Grell Stone embedded in his chest was dug out by Hyde, and his blood stained the knight's armor.
"Another glorious sacrifice. What a tragic child, to have served your clan's destroyer for so many years." Hyde's face wore an expression of benevolence, but his smile could no longer be suppressed. At this point, Timsy's purpose was served.
Timsy's eyes became vacant as he collapsed on the ground. Although he wasn't dead yet, he was no different from a dead man.
Just as Hyde was about to use his blood to open the entrance to the Grell Ore Vein, a strange cry echoed from above.
"Ah!!! Rasengan!"
"Damn brat, you're seeking death!"
The three female knights were about to intercept Naruto when a piercing bird cry, accompanied by blue-white electricity, appeared above their heads.
"Chidori!"
Crackling...
The violent collision caused the stone chamber to buckle under the pressure. Stones from above fell, revealing a glimpse of blue crystal.
"Oh? It seems we don't need to find an entrance. The Grell Ore Vein is directly above this chamber. Heaven is helping me!"
Hyde used the Grell Stone embedded in his hand to continuously absorb energy from the vein. The three female knights also benefited, their injuries healing, and an endless supply of power flowed into their bodies.
"It's over, the vein is leaking, and we're doomed!"