"There's actually such a powerful space-time technique—and created by a five-year-old?"
"Is Uchiha really this terrifying now?"
Uzumaki Luming and the others couldn't hide their amazement as they stared at Ren Takashi. But their shock didn't last long. Luming quickly turned serious and nodded to Mito.
"Understood! I'll get it done right away."
He immediately issued orders to the dozen or so Uzumaki still standing guard. They split into five groups: four to intercept the escaping clansmen who had used the underground tunnels, and one to gather materials—scrolls, sealing inheritance, valuables—from across the palace.
"Father, now that we don't need direct reinforcement here, should we go back and teleport our people home first?" Ren Takashi asked Nobuhiko.
If the ninja villages discovered the Uzumaki had fled, they might retaliate by attacking the Uchiha and Senju reinforcements.
"Right. Let's be safe," Nobuhiko agreed.
He glanced at Mito, who gave a brief nod. "Go. We'll finish things here."
Ren Takashi immediately activated the Flying Thunder God and warped them away.
They stopped midway to retrieve Uchiha Feng's team and then joined Tsunade's group.
"Wait, we're not needed anymore?" Tsunade blinked.
They had prepared for battle but found the war was already over.
"That's a relief," she admitted. "Let's bring them back quickly."
Ren Takashi nodded and created a new teleportation array. With practiced ease, he guided everyone through the Chakra infusion process.
Buzz!
A flash of light—and they were back at Uchiha's tenth training field.
"So fast?! Master Ren Takashi, you're incredible!"
Uchiha Feng and the others, still breathless from the experience, couldn't help their admiration. The awe in the surrounding elites' eyes confirmed it—Ren Takashi had earned his place as the future of the clan.
Ren Takashi turned to Tsunade. "Sensei, we'll teleport the Uzumaki people next. Please manage things here."
Tsunade gave a confident nod. "Leave it to me."
Ren Takashi and Nobuhiko vanished again, returning to the barrier square.
About thirty minutes later, the groups sent to retrieve the escaping Uzumaki returned. Supplies had been gathered. A massive teleportation array had already been drawn in the square.
"All present. All packed," Luming confirmed.
"Did you leave behind sealing techniques for misdirection?"
"Yes," Luming replied, though his heart ached.
Mito nodded. "Then let's begin."
She believed leaving the Whirlpool behind was a blessing in disguise. The future lay with Konoha—and with Ren Takashi.
But one issue remained.
"We can't abandon the barrier core," Luming said. "If we leave, the palace barrier will collapse immediately."
"What? Is the chakra reserve depleted already?" Mito asked.
Luming nodded. "Yes. We've been stretching it thin."
She turned to Ren Takashi. "Can you include the core in the teleportation?"
"Not directly. The techniques would clash," Ren Takashi said. "But we can overlap it. You'll feed Chakra into the array, and the moment before teleportation, you sever the barrier."
"Too risky. What if the teleportation fails?"
"Then let's split it. Send a large group first. The barrier keepers stay."
Everyone agreed.
Mito and Nobuhiko volunteered to remain with Ren Takashi.
Thousands of Uzumaki entered the circle. Ren Takashi directed them to inject one percent of their Chakra.
Buzz! They vanished.
Seconds later, Ren Takashi reappeared.
He moved to the barrier core and carefully constructed a new teleportation array, sweat beading on his forehead. Every seal had to be perfect.
More than ten minutes later, pale but composed, he called, "Grandma Mito, Father. It's ready."
They joined him. Ren Takashi turned to the elders.
"On my count, terminate the barrier and inject your Chakra. Ready? 1... 2... 3!"
The barrier's core went silent. Chakra surged into the array.
Buzz!
They vanished in light—just as the palace barrier shattered behind them.
Laughter and shouts erupted from the enemy ninja.
"Finally! The barrier's down!"
"Wait... doesn't something feel off?"
Then came the realization: the palace was empty.
The Third Raikage, Mizukage, and Tsuchikage stormed in, only to find nothing. Their sensors confirmed it: the palace held no life.
"Impossible! They were here!"
"Did they escape through tunnels?! Find them!"
Ninjas fanned out, tearing apart the palace.
In the end, all they found were a few low-tier sealing scrolls—some defective, others incomplete.
Fury simmered in the hearts of the Kage.
The Uzumaki had escaped.
And they had been outplayed by a child.