Mukade, towering and twisted with power, roared in fury. The Dragon Veins no longer fed him, and without their support, his once-glowing body began to dim. He staggered back, the hole Haji had pierced through him still unhealed, his chakra sputtering like a dying fla.
"This isn't over! I am still--" (ps. can't find the longer dash, on tablet.)
BOOM!
A psychic bolt from Haji's outstretched free palm blasted Mukade in the chest, silencing him mid-sentence. The creature stumbled, falling to one knee again, coughing dark chakra mist.
Minato reappeared beside Haji in a flash. "The seal held. He's cut off from the Dragon Veins completely."
Haji nodded. "Then it's ti to end it." And put back his halberd behind his back.
Mukade let out one last desperate roar, and with a heaving motion, drew chakra from deep within himself. His body bloated again, growing unstable, his veins pulsing with erratic energy.
"He's going to self-destruct," Kōshi shouted. "We need to get out of here!"
Haji didn't flinch. His voice was cold and calm, echoing from within the helt. "No. I'm ending this here."
He stepped forward as the others retreated, and pick up his halberd from his back.
Mukade's body lit with cracks of burning light, veins expanding like molten rivers beneath his skin. "I'll take this entire palace down with ! You can't stop this!"
"Watch ."
Haji hurled his halberd forward with trendous force. As it spun, blue psychic energy wrapped around it in a spiral. The weapon pierced Mukade's chest, embedding deep and locking him in place.
Haji raised both hands, psychic energy forming a shimring field around the halberd and the monster.
"Containnt Field: Seal."
A do of psychic light ford instantly, locking Mukade inside. His energy flared wildly, but the do held, absorbing the eruption.
Inside, Mukade's body exploded in a violent burst of corrupted chakra. But none of it escaped the do.
When the light faded, all that remained was ash.
The halberd clattered to the ground.
Haji stepped forward, picked it up, and stood silently over the remains.
The underground chamber trembled.
Chōza pointed to the ceiling. "This place is falling apart!"
Minato nodded. "Everyone, move! Back to the surface!"
The group raced through the collapsing tunnels. Haji stayed at the rear, shielding them from falling debris with his psychic barriers.
Finally, they burst through the hidden passage back into the palace. Naruto and Queen Sara stood waiting, both wide-eyed.
"You're all okay!" Naruto exclaid.
Queen Sara's face was pale. "What happened down there? I could feel the earth shaking."
Haji's voice, still distorted through his helt, answered simply. "The source of the corruption is gone. The Dragon Veins are safe."
Naruto stepped closer. "You did it... that was aweso!"
Minato smiled faintly. "It was a team effort."
Sara looked around the palace, now quiet and still. "Thank you... all of you. Rōran is free again."
Minato turned to Haji and Naruto. "Looks like your ti here is almost up."
Naruto looked surprised. "Huh?"
Minato stepped forward with a kind, knowing expression. "I don't know what the future holds for you, but I'm glad I got to fight beside you, Naruto. You reminded what we fight for."
Naruto blinked. "You... really think so?"
Minato placed a hand on his shoulder. "I feel like I've known you for a long ti. I'm glad I t you."
Haji gave Minato a respectful nod. "Thank you for your trust."
Minato returned the gesture. "Take care of him."
Shibi, Chōza, and Kōshi offered simple farewells, their expressions warm but composed. None of them asked questions, perhaps they understood more than they let on.
Haji turned to Naruto. "It's ti. Let's return."
Naruto nodded. "You'll get us back, right?"
"Of course. I sensed the temporal anchor before. I can reverse it."
Sara stepped forward. "Will I ever see you again?"
Naruto looked torn. "I don't know… but I'm glad I t you."
Haji placed one hand on Naruto's shoulder and began focusing. Energy from the Dragon Veins around them began swirling upward in thin streams of light.
"Hold still."
The light consud them.
With a flash, Haji and Naruto vanished.
Back in the ruins of Rōran, in the present tiline, Sakura and Yamato stood vigil beside the glowing slab.
Suddenly, the air shimred.
A burst of white light flared, and Haji appeared, armor gleaming.
Beside him, Naruto stumbled forward, blinking.
"We're back! That was... Whoa, I have a headache."
Sakura ran forward. "Naruto!"
Naruto grinned. "Told you I'd co back."
Haji looked up at the sky, sensing the world around him.
Nothing changed, now he was sure it was a parallel world.
Mission complete.
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