Chapter 54

Naruto and Sasuke's awakening operation was temporarily suspended because the situation in Konoha Village was very tense recently. Sasuke was forced to stay in the police department by Uchiha Fugaku. Every day, he went to the streets with a group of Uchiha to search for the spreaders of rumors. The Anbu on the Hokage's side also began to act in secret, but Naruto was left alone.

"Naruto, I have a letter here that I need you to deliver to the Sand Village." Namikaze Minato left Naruto alone and said.

Naruto was distressed because he didn't want to leave the village at this time, but Namikaze Minato said, "I remember that you are friends with Gaara from Sunagakure. It would be most appropriate for you to go this time."

Namikaze Minato's attitude was a bit tough, but Naruto finally agreed. He decided to go and come back quickly, but he didn't expect that he would be caught up by the Konoha Police Department as soon as he left the village with the letter.

"What do you want?" Naruto wondered why these people were looking for him.

"Uzumaki Naruto, we need you to go back and cooperate with the investigation into the rumors in the village." said a member of the police department.

Naruto: “…”

The visitor saw Naruto's resistance and added, "I hope you won't make it difficult for us or for Hokage-sama."

Hearing the title of Hokage, Naruto was stunned for a moment, and explained to the three members of the Uchiha Police Department in front of him: "I am going to the Sand Village to deliver a letter now."

"We will pass the letter to other Anbu for delivery." The member of the police department said, "Please come back with us for investigation."

"As a member of the police department, Uchiha Sasuke has already been interrogated. As the son of the Hokage, you should also set an example." Another member of the police department followed up.

"Sasuke..." Naruto didn't expect that Sasuke had been caught by the Police Department. He felt that something was wrong, so he did not resist and followed the three members of the Police Department back to Konoha Village.

This time when he returned to Konoha, he was not taken to see the Hokage, but was taken all the way to the Uchiha clan's territory, and to the dungeon within the Uchiha clan's territory.

"Second-generation master, we have brought the person back." After bringing the person back, the members of the police department reported to Uchiha Madara.

Uchiha Madara had Naruto and Sasuke imprisoned in the dungeon together, and said to them, "Sasuke Naruto, you two will stay here for the next ten days."

"Were you deceiving us before?" Naruto was a little bit unbelievable. Before, [Uchiha Madara] had clearly promised them that he could unlock the Infinite Tsukuyomi if he convinced half of the people within a month, but now he actually captured them.

"It wasn't me who agreed to your condition." Uchiha Madara said.

"Aren't you alone?" Sasuke asked suddenly.

Uchiha Madara glanced at Sasuke and said only: "We have the same goal."

Naruto clenched his fists. He looked at the people outside the cell. Suddenly, golden chakra surged out of his body. He had entered Nine-Tails mode, and Sasuke also opened his Sharingan...

"This is Konoha Village. Anyone who dies in the illusion will also die in reality." Uchiha Madara reminded the two.

He was not wandering aimlessly in Konoha Village before, he was observing this world, and after the observation, he found that all the people in the Uchiha clan were illusions. In addition, he did not see any members of the Senju clan in Konoha Village. It is not difficult to guess what this means. In order to achieve the ultimate goal, sacrifices are indeed needed, even those of the Uchiha and Senju clansmen.

At this time, in order to win the game, Uchiha Madara also took advantage of the Uchiha clan members who were created by the Infinite Tsukuni Omi, and who could not be convinced by Sasuke and Naruto. As long as Naruto and Sasuke were locked up in the Uchiha clan's territory, the winner would naturally be decided after the game was over.

"If you want to fight with me, I don't mind sacrificing a few people for the peace of the entire ninja world." Uchiha Madara said again, this time he was referring to other Konoha villagers outside the Uchiha clan's territory.

"Damn it!" Naruto gritted his teeth and stared at Uchiha Madara outside the door, the Nine-Tails Chakra in his body surging unwillingly.

"Calm down, Naruto." Sasuke held Naruto and waited until Uchiha Madara left before saying, "Kakashi and the others are outside."

With their efforts, they had convinced one third of the people. Even without them, as long as Kakashi and Shikamaru continued to act outside, it would not be difficult to awaken half of the people within ten days.

Kakashi, Shikamaru and others who stayed outside did not give up their action after discovering that Naruto and Sasuke were imprisoned, but they soon discovered something unusual. Although they awakened more people, some of those who had been awakened before were pulled back into the illusion.

The Infinite Tsukuyomi is activated through the Divine Tree, and those who are hit by it will be wrapped into a cocoon by the vines of the Divine Tree, and their chakra will be slowly absorbed by the Divine Tree. The illusion world where all people's consciousness is located is essentially constructed by chakra, and chakra will correct the damage to the illusion world. For example, the Valley of the End that was destroyed in the previous battle between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha has now been repaired. Those who try to escape from the illusion are also considered damaged in the judgment of the Divine Tree, so the Divine Tree will constantly correct the cognition of these people and let them immerse themselves in the illusion world again.

Among all people, Naruto and Sasuke are the most special. They both possess the chakra inherited from the Sage of Six Paths and are the protagonists with good fortune. Not only are they immune to illusion control, they can also influence the people around them and prevent them from being repaired by the will of the sacred tree.

Nara Shikamaru didn't know the truth, he could only speculate based on the current situation: "This situation has never happened before. It only happened after Naruto and Sasuke were imprisoned. If you think about it carefully, they were also the first ones who were not affected by illusions in the beginning."

"So, my conclusion is that in order to achieve the goal, we must rescue these two people first." Nara Shikamaru finally concluded.

However, it is not easy to rescue the two people, because Uchiha Madara personally guarded the Uchiha clan's territory, guarding Naruto and Sasuke. Fortunately, they are not without people on their side. Senju Hashirama, who once helped them to awaken the villagers of Konoha, is on their side, and Senju Hashirama happens to be the one who can restrain Uchiha Madara.

...

Naruto and Sasuke have been locked up in the dungeon for five days. Although they trust their companions outside, they are still nervous while waiting.

Naruto walked around the cell, mumbling, "I wonder how everyone is doing. Have I managed to wake up half of them?"

"I still haven't been home for five days. I wonder if they will be worried..."

"Sasuke, aren't you worried?"

"There's no point in worrying." Sasuke said, "If the plan goes well, there should be news in the next two days."

According to his calculations, without him and Naruto, the progress would not be affected much. Moreover, although they were imprisoned here, Uchiha Madara was also restrained here. Without Uchiha Madara's interference, it would be a good thing for Kakashi, Shikamaru and others who stayed outside. If the plan went smoothly, then by now there should be almost half of them...

If something unexpected happened and they didn't get any news within two days, then he and Naruto would have to break out even if they had to use force...

Sasuke had already made a plan in his mind, so he was not anxious.

"Bugs." The spinning Naruto suddenly stopped and looked at the bugs that crawled out from somewhere in the dungeon.

Sasuke also came to check. The insects gathered together and then dispersed, forming a regular pattern of words - The situation has changed, we will act to rescue you at night.

...

At night, four dark red light beams suddenly lit up at the four corners of the Uchiha clan's territory. The light beams connected in pairs and surrounded the entire Uchiha clan's territory. Uchiha Madara noticed something was wrong and came out to check the situation, but was stopped by Senju Hashirama.

"Madara, let those two kids out." said Hashirama Senju.

"I said I won't give up victory in the game." Uchiha Madara replied, and at the same time opened his Sharingan and attacked Senju Hashirama.

Senju Hashirama dodged, fought back, and shouted: "Banbanban, please show mercy..."

In order to prevent the fight from affecting the Konoha villagers outside, Senju Hashirama created four Wood Release clones before coming in, and had the Wood Release clones set up a simple Four Red Yang Formation around the Uchiha clan's territory, so at this time Hashirama's chakra was only one-fifth of the usual.

Uchiha Madara obviously realized Senju Hashirama's purpose, so he attacked without mercy, and the two fought fiercely in the Uchiha clan's territory.

Outside the clan territory, Hashirama's Wood Release clone opened a gap for the five-man team led by Kakashi and Might Guy and let them in. The purpose was naturally to rescue Naruto and Sasuke.

There was chaos outside, and Naruto and Sasuke naturally noticed it. They broke down the door of the dungeon without waiting for the rescuers to arrive. However, they were unable to escape from the dungeon immediately because all the ninjas in the Uchiha clan received orders from Uchiha Madara and came to stop the two from going out.

All the Uchiha clan members were created by illusion, but whenever Naruto saw the Konoha forehead guards they were wearing, he couldn't kill them completely. And when Sasuke faced those red Sharingans, it was as if his hands and feet were restrained. The two of them were trapped in the dungeon for a while...

Just when the two were surrounded by Uchiha ninjas and could not break through, a man wearing ANBU uniform and ANBU mask suddenly joined the battle and helped Naruto and Sasuke fight against the Uchiha ninjas. When Sasuke saw the man, his movements slowed down for a moment, and the man reminded him: "Be careful."

Soon another person wearing ANBU uniform and ANBU mask suddenly appeared next to Naruto. Naruto was startled and almost attacked, but when he saw the golden hair behind the mask, he stopped.

"Focus on the enemy." The newcomer reminded Naruto.

The four of them fought and retreated to the outside of the dungeon. However, when they retreated to the dungeon door, more Uchiha ninjas rushed over. Fortunately, Kakashi, Might Guy, Nara Shikamaru, Hyuga Ningji and Rock Lee came over at this time. They helped to stop a group of Uchiha ninjas. Kakashi said to Naruto and Sasuke: "You go out first."

Although Naruto and Sasuke didn't understand what accident happened outside, they knew that they didn't have much time left, so they immediately rushed out of the barrier. Their actions attracted more Uchiha ninjas to rush forward. The two Anbu members who appeared before followed Naruto and Sasuke to help them resist the pursuing ninjas. The four of them fought and retreated until they were close to the barrier.

Sasuke stopped and looked at the Anbu ninja who had been helping him. The ninja took off the mask on his face. Seeing that Sasuke stopped where he was, he raised his hand and poked Sasuke's forehead and said, "Do what you think is right."

The blond ninja who had been following Naruto also took off his mask. It was Minato Namikaze. Minato Namikaze looked at Naruto with a pleased smile on his face: "Naruto, I am proud to be your father."

Minato Namikaze had doubts when he saw Naruto for the first time. His wife and son were the two people he wanted to protect most in his life, but he found that he had not left the Flying Thunder God Mark on Naruto. The inexplicable sense of incongruity had been confusing him. Later, Naruto pretended to sleep in the room, so he went in to check and found a Flying Thunder God Mark left on Naruto's head. Not long after that, rumors suddenly appeared in the village. When he heard the content of the rumor, he suddenly realized the truth.

If the world is fake, then all his confusion can be solved. It turns out that he is a fictional family member used to trap Naruto.

Minato Namikaze was very proud because Naruto was not trapped by them. Naruto had a strong will. He found his own way and became an excellent ninja.

"Dad..." Naruto looked at Minato Namikaze, his eyes suddenly sour, "I'm also happy to be a family with you and mom..."

"Go." Namikaze Minato said, put the Anbu mask on his face again, turned around and fought off the Uchiha ninja who was chasing him.

"Hurry up, both of you." Hashirama's Wood Release clone outside urged.

Naruto took another look at Minato Namikaze's back, then turned and walked towards the exit of the barrier opened by Hashirama Senju.

Itachi put on his ANBU mask again and helped Sasuke fend off the Uchiha clan members who were chasing him. Before leaving, Sasuke kept watching Itachi fighting. Finally, he couldn't help but speak and said the words that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time: "Brother..."

Itachi's body paused for a moment, and he was nearly hit by an enemy's attack, but he quickly adjusted his posture and dodged. While repelling the enemy, he turned to look at Sasuke, and saw that Sasuke had walked out of the barrier and behind the mask, he smiled with relief.

Senju Hashirama's Wood Release clone re-sealed the barrier. He looked at the two young men and said, "The rest is up to you."

Naruto and Sasuke took one last look at the figures fighting within the barrier, then turned around without hesitation to complete their mission.