Ino said stubbornly, "No! Didn't you see the way that girl looked at Morkel?"
"Those purple eyes were as gentle as water! Full of love! She was reluctant to reject but willing to welcome!"
"Yes, she is my competitor!"
Shikamaru frowned. "We were several hundred meters away from Morkel, and I couldn't even see her face clearly. How could you even see her eyes?"
"You guys, you ignorant men, will never understand," Ino huffed, breathing heavily. "You don't understand how sincere a woman can be when she falls in love with a man."
"You don't understand why she makes a wish in every dream, just hoping to see him one more time..."
Asuma sighed in frustration. "That's enough! Now is not the time for you to be in a relationship, is it?!"
"Besides, Kurenai was tricked by Morkel and now has to practice illusions every day! She's my future wife! She doesn't even have time to date me! Am I complaining?!"
Everyone fell silent. It seemed Asuma was indeed in a bad situation.
---
At the entrance of the ancestral hall, Morkel and his group continued to move deeper inside. Passing through the narrow, dim corridor, they reached the main hall. The heat inside was stifling, likely due to its location near a volcano. Sweat formed on their foreheads as they moved forward. Beneath the hall, Morkel could see lava flowing through cracks in the rocks—a sight both terrifying and fascinating.
Naruto pointed at the long-haired man sitting on a stone platform. "That's the ghost?"
The man smirked. "Nice to meet you again, Shion. Do you remember? Years ago, when I gained the power of the ghosts and was about to unify the continent, your mother Maitreya destroyed everything..."
Shion clenched her fists. "Mother was right! Ghosts should not exist in this world!"
Huang Quan chuckled. "Really? Then why don't you try to seal me?"
"Of course."
Sharing a glance with Morkel and Naruto, Shion stepped toward the stone platform. Immediately, terracotta warriors attacked her.
"Damn..."
A spear shot toward her. Shion instinctively covered her head, bracing for impact.
But before it could reach her, wooden pillars shot up from the ground, blocking the attack!
"Ding! Ding!"
Every strike from the warriors was stopped by Morkel's Wood Style!
Shion turned, meeting Morkel's steady gaze. His red hair and confident eyes made her feel safe.
"Just go forward. I'll protect you from behind," Morkel assured her.
Her heart trembled slightly. Biting her lip, she nodded. "Okay."
On the opposite side, Huang Quan narrowed his eyes.
First, Shion, as a shrine maiden, had no defensive skills at all. Unlike her mother, Miroku, who was adept at sealing and combat, Shion was completely vulnerable.
Second, Morkel—a red-haired boy—was using Wood Style!
"A young genius from Konoha?" Huang Quan muttered. "Perfect. You'll be my first sacrifice to Lord Wanguo!"
Under Morkel's protection, Shion reached the stone platform. Up close, she noticed the hideous sutures on Huang Quan's chest.
"He sealed the soul of the monster inside himself..." she whispered, then began chanting an ancient spell.
Her body levitated, hair fluttering. A barrier of light surrounded her, separating her from Huang Quan.
"Release, release, seal..."
Sweat dripped down Shion's face as she focused.
Naruto watched with concern. "It must be difficult. Look at her, she's sweating."
Morkel remained silent, studying the barrier. Something wasn't right.
The seal had been active for a while, yet the monster's power wasn't diminishing.
Huang Quan smirked. "You don't understand, do you? This isn't a seal—it's a fusion. Just like your mother, Maitreya, who still lives within me. You can't harm me, and I can't harm you."
Before Shion could react, Huang Quan flashed toward her.
She hastily formed seals but realized too late—he wasn't attacking her. Instead, a purple-black spirit emerged from his chest and latched onto the sealing stone tablet!
"Swish!!"
"Thank you for untying my shackles. Next, I will reclaim my body and conquer this continent!"
The monster vanished.
Shion collapsed, her voice trembling. "I failed..."
As a shrine maiden, she bore the burden of sealing demons, yet she had helped the enemy escape. For years, people had sacrificed their lives for her mission. Now, she felt unworthy of their faith.
Naruto asked, "Did the seal work?"
Morkel shook his head. "Look at her face—it's obvious it failed."
Walking toward her, he pressed his hand against the barrier. Shion warned, "Once the barrier is activated, it won't disappear unless one of us is consumed."
Morkel thought for a moment, then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire ancestral hall shook as dark tentacles erupted from the ground!
"The ghost has reclaimed his body!" Shion gasped.
As the monstrous form emerged, Shion prepared to merge with it—just like her mother had—to seal it away.
Tentacles lashed toward Morkel and Naruto.
Naruto shouted, "Morkel, any ideas?!"
Morkel didn't respond. He was deep in thought.
Meanwhile, the demon's face appeared behind Shion.
A soft glow emanated from the small bell around her neck.
The monster growled, "As long as this bell exists, I can't consume you."
Morkel's eyes snapped open. "Shion, the bell! It's sealing your power!"
With one palm, he shattered the barrier!
"Morkel!"
Shion stumbled forward, falling into his chest. Morkel steadied her and removed the bell.
Pure white light radiated from Shion's body. Strange runes appeared on her face, her hair turning golden. She looked divine.
"I will merge with the monster and seal it away..." she murmured.
Morkel remained silent. Why did she have to sacrifice herself?
He raised his left hand, intricate seals covering it. "Shion, give me your Chakra."
Trusting him, she placed her hand in his.
Morkel used her sealing Chakra, forming a complex array of seals.
A powerful suction force erupted from his palm, pulling the demon's massive body into his grasp!
"?!"
Shion and Naruto watched in shock.
Shion's heart pounded. He was unbelievably strong.
Holding firm, Morkel sealed the monster completely.
Purple-black tattoos glowed on his hand. Raising it, he commanded the undead army outside—ordering them to halt.
---
At the Fire Country's border, Konoha Shinobi were locked in a brutal battle against the undead. Suddenly, the enemies stopped moving.
Tsunade lifted the tent's curtain. "They stopped! That means... Morkel succeeded!"
On the battlefield, Konoha ninjas chanted his name.
Meanwhile, rumors spread.
"Did you hear? Morkel wasn't on a mission—he was forced to leave by the higher-ups!"
"What?! He saved us, and they still exiled him?!"
"I heard Tsunade was involved..."
---
At the shrine, Kakashi and his team arrived.
Morkel waved. "Yo, Kakashi-sensei, Asuma, Ino, Shikamaru..."
Ino smiled, then noticed Shion holding Morkel's arm.
Their eyes locked, sparks flying.
Shikamaru sighed. "Women are so troublesome."
Ziyuan smirked. "Morkel, let's go."
"Take your hands off him!" Ino snapped.
"Why? He doesn't mind. Why should you?"
Ino fumed, but before she could argue, she felt two soft objects pressing against Morkel's arm...
Trouble was brewing.