Naruto x Holy Grail War [2]

“A priest?”

Nagato’s eyes snapped open, his expression darkening as he glared furiously at the seemingly ordinary priest standing before him.

He prided himself as a god. And yet, standing before him now was an insect daring to call himself a priest.

Did that make him the son of this so-called priest?

The absurdity of the thought sent a surge of anger through Nagato. But when he attempted to unleash his jutsu, his expression twisted.

His power—sealed.

The realization hit him like a thunderclap. The chakra that once bent to his will was now shackled by an invisible force.

Unfazed by Nagato’s hostile glare, the priest calmly continued, “The Holy Grail War is a battle fought between seven Masters and their seven Servants—a total of fourteen participants. The ultimate goal is to obtain the Holy Grail.”

His voice was steady, yet the weight of his words hung heavily in the air.

“The Holy Grail is said to be an omnipotent wish-granting device. Whether it’s reviving the dead, becoming the strongest in the world, or uniting all nations under a single banner—any desire can be fulfilled by the Grail.”

For a moment, silence reigned. The priest’s declaration left everyone breathless.

A wish-granting machine that could bring the dead back to life… or grant absolute power?

Beneath the loose folds of his cloak, Itachi Uchiha clenched his fists tightly.

The priest pressed on, his voice unyielding.

“Only one pair—Master and Servant—will emerge victorious. The other six pairs must fall. The Grail requires the spiritual essence of six defeated Servants to activate its power and grant the winner’s wish.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seven Masters.

“The markings on the backs of your hands—those three crimson strokes—are Command Seals. They grant you absolute authority over your Servant, forcing compliance with your commands.”

The priest’s tone darkened.

“This war must remain hidden from the public eye. Large-scale destruction will draw the combined wrath of other Masters and their Servants. Such recklessness will lead to swift and merciless elimination.”

He turned, gesturing toward the cathedral’s towering doors.

“Scattered throughout this city are relics—items tied to the spirits of heroes long past. These artifacts are the keys to summoning Servants. You must locate your relic within the next twenty-four hours and use it to call forth your champion.”

“Fail to do so…”

The priest’s eyes narrowed.

“Then you’ll be forced to rely on luck and summon randomly. And in this war, fortune is rarely kind.”

He stepped back into the shadows, his voice echoing through the vast chamber.

“The church serves as sanctuary for any Master who loses eligibility to participate in the Holy Grail War. It will grant protection until the war’s conclusion.”

His gaze returned to the seven Masters.

“Any further questions?”

The room fell deathly silent.

For the seven Masters—each pulled from their world without warning—everything was too sudden, too surreal.

Dragged into an unfamiliar city. Marked by strange seals. Forced into a war to the death against twelve unknown adversaries.

….

“Does a world like this… really exist?”

Nagato stood frozen, his Rinnegan eyes reflecting the bustling cityscape before him.

Sleek cars zipped down paved roads, their lights flashing in an orderly rhythm. Towering skyscrapers reached toward the heavens, their glass facades gleaming under the sunlight. In the distance, groups of girls in bright, fashionable skirts strolled arm-in-arm, their faces lit with carefree smiles.

It was a world of peace—devoid of war, untouched by fear.

Wasn’t this the very future he had fought for?

Yet, as he gazed at the surreal scene, the same vision sent shockwaves rippling across the shinobi world.

The massive screens hovering above each village displayed Nagato’s perspective in vivid detail. Every corner of this unfamiliar city was laid bare for all to see.

Golden rays of morning light filtered through gaps between the buildings, draping a nearby park in a soft glow. Glass windows reflected the sun’s brilliance, painting shimmering streaks of gold across the landscape.

It was a world unlike anything the shinobi had ever known.

For those who had lived through the fires of war, the vision felt almost dreamlike.

Could such a paradise truly exist?

….

The scene shifted abruptly.

The view panned to the outskirts of the city—a desolate forest now engulfed in chaos.

Lightning roared as bolts rained down from the heavens. Steam billowed into the air, and torrents of water surged skyward, forming towering waves that defied nature itself.

BOOM!

Thunder crashed as lightning clashed against the tidal wave, sending ripples of electricity surging outward.

CRACKLE—

In an instant, the forest floor transformed into a sea of electricity.

At the center of the storm stood Ay, the Fourth Raikage. His muscular frame trembled with raw power as he clenched a scrap of crimson cloth in his fist. His piercing gaze remained locked on the figure before him—a man whose body had been cleaved cleanly in two.

Yet, as the halves fell apart, they dissolved into water and scattered.

“Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage…”

Ay’s voice rumbled with disdain.

“To think one of the Masters would be him.”

“Yes!”

Thunderous cheers erupted from the Hidden Cloud Village as its people witnessed their Raikage’s overwhelming display of strength.

Their pride swelled.

The Third Raikage had once stood alone against ten thousand shinobi, fighting to his last breath. And now, the Fourth Raikage had demonstrated the same might—defeating the Fourth Mizukage in an instant.

Surely, this proved the undeniable strength of the Raikage’s lineage!

But far from celebration, the Hidden Mist Village was steeped in gloom.

Their leader had been forcibly dragged into the Holy Grail War—only to fall at the very start.

The loss wasn’t just humiliating. It was dangerous.

Yagura was not only the Mizukage but also the jinchūriki of the Three-Tails.

If his defeat led to the loss of the Three-Tails, it would deal an irreversible blow to the Mist Village’s power and status.

Would this be the moment they fell from the ranks of the Five Great Shinobi Nations?

Mei Terumi bit her thumb in frustration, her sharp nails pressing into her skin. Her emerald eyes never left the colossal screen hanging above the village.