Zander
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Chapter 106 – Descent Beneath the Throne
🕑 Added 2025-07-11 08:26:54 +0000 UTCChapter 106 – Descent Beneath the Throne
The heat of the desert city hung in the air, dry and thick as dust kicked up under Hajime's heavy boots. The streets of Rōran were mostly silent, but the silence didn’t bring peace. It brought tension. Something felt wrong, twisted beneath the surface. Hajime could sense it.
He led the group across the sun-baked plaza, his bolter in hand and massive frame casting a long shadow behind him. Despite wearing armor taller and heavier than any shinobi, he moved with surprising speed and balance. Naruto, walking behind him, kept glancing up in awe.
"Still can’t believe you can move like that," Naruto muttered.
Hajime didn’t answer, only raised his bolter and fired.
A burst of bright psychic-charged rounds flew through the air and tore apart a puppet that had been hiding behind a broken wall. Metal and wires scattered across the stones. The sound of movement stirred ahead. More were coming.
Minato raised a hand, signaling his team. "Stay sharp. We’re getting close."
Shibi Aburame, Chōza Akimichi, and Kōshi Sarutobi flanked the group, covering the sides. Puppets began to pour out of alleyways, some running on all fours, others crawling on walls or dropping from rooftops. Their eyes glowed red with artificial chakra.
Hajime didn’t hesitate. He raised his chainsword, the weapon's long blade humming to life as he fed it chakra. With a burst of lightning chakra, the chain roared to a spin, sparking and crackling. When one puppet leapt toward him, Hajime caught it mid-air and sliced through it with a single upward strike. Sparks exploded as the puppet broke in half, crashing into the wall.
Naruto and Minato worked together, combining Rasengan and kunai strikes, pushing back the ones that slipped past Hajime. Chōza grew in size, slamming multiple attackers into the ground, while Shibi released clouds of insects to chew through wires and bindings.
"They're endless!" Naruto shouted.
"They're guarding something," Hajime said calmly, blasting two more with his bolter. "Something important."
Finally, the path to the central tower cleared.
The queen's palace stood tall, ancient, and strangely well-kept despite the ruined city around it. The doors were shut, but Hajime didn’t wait. He stepped forward and pushed them open, the heavy wood creaking loudly as the group entered.
Inside, the palace was quiet, lit by fading sunlight streaming through tall windows. Stained glass panels showed images of Rōran’s past kings and queens. At the end of the hall stood a young woman, wearing a royal robe and a small crown of gold.
"Who are you?!" she called out. "Why are you attacking my city?"
"We're not your enemy," Naruto stepped forward, raising his hands. "We're here to stop the one who is."
The woman paused. Her expression changed, showing uncertainty. "I am Queen Sara. This is my city. My guards said there was a battle... Are you part of the fight against the intruders?"
Naruto nodded. "Your minister... he’s not who you think he is. His name is Mukade. He’s a missing-nin using puppet armies to take control."
Sara blinked. She stepped back slightly, her eyes wide. "No... that's not possible. Minister Anrokuzan has been loyal to Rōran for years. He couldn’t..."
Hajime stepped forward. His voice was low but clear. "He is using the Dragon Vein. You can feel it, can't you? The chakra beneath your feet. It's unstable. It's being drained."
Sara looked down, then up at him. She still seemed unsure, torn between trust and doubt. "Even if that were true... I need to see proof. I can't make decisions based on fear alone."
Hajime sighed. He glanced at Naruto, then suddenly placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder and lightly pushed him toward her.
"Stay with her. Explain things if you have to. But we don’t have time. I’m going after Mukade."
"Wait, hold on!" Naruto said, stumbling a step but catching himself. "You can’t just go alone!"
"I won’t be alone," Hajime replied, nodding toward Minato and his team. "They’ll come."
Minato gave a silent nod, stepping up beside Hajime. "If Mukade is beneath the palace, then we need to act now."
Kōshi and Chōza moved to follow. Shibi remained by the door for now, watching Sara carefully.
Sara looked at Naruto. Her voice was softer now. "Is it true? About the minister? About all this?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. It is. And Hajime... if anyone can stop this, it’s him."
Sara still seemed stunned, but she stepped aside, allowing them passage. Hajime walked toward the back of the throne room, reaching a sealed slab carved into the floor. He crouched and placed both hands on the edge.
With a heavy pull, the stone lifted slightly, and he shoved it aside. The dark stairway below breathed out cold air tinged with energy.
"Let’s go," he said.
The team followed as Hajime dropped down into the shadows beneath the palace. As they moved, the sound of gears echoed in the depths. Puppets weren’t just waiting above.
They were waiting below too.
And Mukade was somewhere in the heart of it all.
