novelhk Chapter 294 Scarlet Scepter
Chapter 294 Scarlet Scepter
The "Six Paths Ruins" in northern Ninja World are perpetually shrouded in blood-red clouds. A massive stone statue at the entrance holds a scepter, its eye sockets gleaming with an eerie glow. Legend has it that this is one of the treasure troves left behind by the Sage of the Six Paths, housing Six Paths Ninja Tools capable of manipulating chakra. However, it is also protected by the "Blood Mist Guardian Beast" and a pupil-based trap set by the Uchiha ancestors. Yin Zhu stood before the statue, his black windbreaker billowing in the strong wind. The Eternal Mangekyo swirled quietly beneath his eyes, and the chakra of his fingertips resonated faintly with the crystals in the statue's eye sockets. "Kirara, an Akatsuki remnant, infiltrated here three days ago. It seems he's also after the Six Paths Ninja Tools."
As they entered the ruins' passage, the ground suddenly shook violently. A giant spider, as big as a tailed beast, burst forth from the darkness—the "Blood Mist Guardian Beast," its body covered in black armor that absorbed chakra. The tips of its eight legs glowed crimson, evidently fresh from battle; the Akatsuki's red cloud markings still lingered on its armor. Black silk emanated from the beast's mouthparts and entangled Yin Zhu. Wherever the silk passed, it dyed the air a dark purple, clearly carrying a deadly poison.
"Let's finish you off first." Yin Zhu's Eternal Mangekyo suddenly lit up, and the power of "Genjutsu? Kotoamatsukami" pierced through the darkness, attempting to control the guardian beast's movements. However, the guardian beast's brain, transformed by the Six Paths of Chakra, broke free from the illusion, and the spider silk attacked again. Yin Zhu activated Flying Thunder God, teleporting to the top of the stone statue. His chakra concentrated into a fist, smashing into the red crystal in the statue's eye socket. He discovered that the crystal's vibrations were the same source as the guardian beast's chakra, and perhaps this was the key to defeating it.
The moment the crystal was struck, countless Uchiha clan crests appeared on the walls of the ruins passage. A red glow spread along the walls and poured into Yinzhu's body. The guardian beast let out a shrill roar, and the chakra in its black armor instantly became disordered, clearly suppressed by the power of the clan crest. Yinzhu seized the opportunity, concentrating his fire chakra in his palm to the extreme: "Fire Style? Great Fire Extinguishment!" A sea of orange flames surged like magma, and the guardian beast's black armor melted in the flames, revealing the flesh underneath. Finally, it collapsed to the ground, twitching, completely dead.
Crossing the passage, they came upon a circular altar. A scarlet scepter hovered in its center. Its shaft was entwined with chains of Six Paths chakra, and its crown inlaid with a red gem that resonated strongly with Yinzhu's kaleidoscope. It was clearly the legendary Six Paths Ninja Tool, the "Scarlet Scepter." But just as Yinzhu reached for it, Kirara's voice suddenly echoed from the shadows: "Uchiha brat, you're quicker than I expected."
Kirara walked out from the shadows, holding a short sword with black lines in his hand. The chakra fluctuations on the blade were similar to the black armor of the guardian beast: "This scepter can control chakra of all attributes. As long as I get it, I can rebuild the Akatsuki organization and rule the ninja world!" He raised his hand and swung out several black chakra blades, shooting towards Yinzhu. Wherever the chakra blades passed, ripples appeared in the space. It was obviously an attack that integrated the power of the Six Paths.
Yinzhu dodged the chakra blade, his Eternal Mangekyo spinning rapidly, capturing Kirara's movements. "Akatsuki's ambitions should have been shattered years ago." He unleashed "Genjutsu: Space-Time Rift," and his crimson eyes tore a rift in space around Kirara. The force of space and time within the rift instantly shattered Kirara's chakra blade. Kirara's expression changed, and he plunged his short blade into the ground. Black chakra spread along the ground, forming a vast black net that enveloped Yinzhu. "Six Paths: Black Net Seal!"
The sealing power contained within the black net instantly stagnated Yinzhu's chakra. He could sense that the net was crafted from the chakra of a guardian beast, specifically designed to counter Uchiha eye techniques. Just as the net was about to reach Yinzhu, the scarlet scepter at the center of the altar suddenly erupted in red light. This light spread along Yinzhu's chakra, forming a red barrier in front of him, blocking the net's attack.
"How is that possible? How could the scepter recognize you as its master?" Kirara's voice was filled with disbelief. He had expended immense chakra to defeat the guardian beast in order to obtain the scepter, but he had never expected the scepter to choose Yinzhu. A smile played on Yinzhu's lips. He could sense that the will of the Uchiha ancestors was imbued within the scepter, and his Eternal Mangekyō was the key to activating it. "Because, only those who truly understand protection are worthy of possessing it."
Yin Zhu raised his hand and grasped the scarlet staff. A crimson glow spread from the staff to his arm, completely merging with his Mangekyō chakra. He could clearly feel the chakra properties within his body becoming more active, even able to manipulate the six chakras around him at will. "Wuru, your ambition ends here." He swung the staff, and the red chakra condensed into a giant blade of light, slashing towards Wu Luo. Wherever the blade passed, the black net instantly shattered, tearing space apart.
Wu Luo tried to teleport away, but found that the space around him was locked by the scepter's chakra, making it impossible to move. The light blade finally landed on Wu Luo, and he screamed, his body dissipating in a red light, leaving only the short sword with black stripes, which fell on the altar.
Yin Zhu gripped the scarlet scepter, feeling the Six Paths chakra surge through his body. The Eternal Mangekyo and the gem atop the scepter illuminated simultaneously. He could sense that the scepter contained not only the power to manipulate chakra, but also fragments of memories left by the Uchiha ancestors—recording the history of the Six Paths Sage and the Uchiha ancestors, who had jointly protected the ninja world, and the true purpose of the scarlet scepter: not to rule the ninja world, but to protect its peace.
As they left the ruins, the blood-red clouds gradually dissipated, and sunlight once again shone upon the earth. Yin Zhu, clutching the crimson scepter, stood before the stone statue at the entrance, knowing full well that this scepter was not only a powerful Six Paths tool, but also a heavy responsibility. In the future, he would use this scepter to continue protecting Otoguni Village and Konoha, fighting against all forces that threatened peace in the ninja world, ensuring that the will of the Six Paths Sage and the Uchiha ancestors would be passed down forever within the ninja world.
In the distant forest, a pair of eyes peered through the leaves, gazing at the crimson scepter in Yin Zhu's hand. Greed and ruthlessness flashed in their eyes—clearly, many more coveted the Six Paths Ninja Tool. A new storm surrounding the crimson scepter was quietly brewing in the ninja world. But Yin Zhu remained undaunted. He gripped the scepter tightly, turned, and walked toward the Sound Village. The crimson light left a long afterimage behind him, like a protective light, illuminating the path ahead.