The bandits regrouped, their weapons glinting in the pale moonlight. Though fear was evident in their eyes, desperation outweighed their hesitation. They needed to eliminate the shinobi before them—or so they thought.

Naruto, standing at the center of the fray, cracked his neck, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. His chakra pulsed around him like a living entity, thick and oppressive. He could hear Sasuke shifting behind him, likely readying himself for the next attack. Kakashi had his Sharingan exposed, his single visible eye flickering between their enemies.

But Naruto didn't wait for orders or backup. He didn't even consider it. These bandits had no right to challenge him.

Before Kakashi could issue a command, Naruto moved.

To Sasuke, Sakura, and the others, it was as if Naruto had disappeared entirely. One moment he was standing still, and the next, a boom of displaced air echoed through the clearing, sending leaves spiraling.

The first bandit didn't even see it coming. Naruto appeared in front of him, his hand a blur as it tore through the man's chest like paper. Blood sprayed out in a crimson arc as the bandit crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Screams erupted.

The remaining attackers hesitated, their bravado cracking as Naruto turned his glowing gaze on them. His pale skin began to darken, turning an inky black as his Boros transformation activated. The golden veins across his body pulsed with raw energy.

"What... what the hell is he?" one of the bandits stammered, his voice trembling.

Naruto didn't answer. He didn't need to.

The second bandit lunged at him with a blade, but Naruto was already behind him before the attack could connect. A swift, brutal kick shattered the man's ribs, sending him flying into a tree with a sickening crack.

Sasuke's Sharingan tracked Naruto's movements, but even with his heightened perception, he struggled to keep up. He's faster than Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke thought, his hands trembling.

"Stop this, Naruto!" Kakashi's voice rang out, but Naruto didn't so much as flinch.

Another blur of motion, and two more bandits fell, their throats slashed cleanly. Their blood pooled on the ground as Naruto stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving slightly.

"Why... why are you killing them?" Sakura's voice was barely a whisper, her hands clutched tightly to her kunai. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the horror before her.

"They're weak," Naruto said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. "They attacked us. They deserve this."

The remaining bandits attempted to flee, but Naruto's speed was merciless. He cut them down one by one, their screams echoing through the forest. It was as if he was a force of nature—unstoppable, unyielding, and utterly indifferent to their pleas for mercy.

When the last body hit the ground, silence fell over the clearing. Blood stained the earth, and the metallic tang of it hung heavy in the air. Naruto stood amidst the carnage, his transformation fading as his pale flesh returned to normal. His glowing eyes dimmed, but his cold, detached expression remained.

Sasuke was the first to speak. "You didn't have to kill them all."

Naruto turned his gaze on Sasuke, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And leave them to come after us again? Or harm someone else? No. They were trash. Weak. I did what had to be done."

Sasuke's jaw tightened, anger flickering across his face. "There's a line, Naruto! We're not supposed to—"

"Enough," Kakashi interrupted, stepping forward. His voice was calm but laced with an edge. "Naruto, killing was unnecessary. We're shinobi, but we're not butchers. You went too far."

Naruto stared at Kakashi for a moment, unblinking. Then he shrugged. "They attacked us. I ended it. You wanted the mission to succeed, didn't you?"

Kakashi's gaze hardened, but he said nothing.

Tazuna, who had been cowering behind a tree during the battle, stepped forward cautiously, his face pale. "You... you're a monster," he whispered, his voice trembling.

Naruto turned to him, his expression unchanged. "If being a monster means protecting what matters, then fine. Think whatever you want."

Tazuna flinched, but Naruto had already turned away, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "We're done here. Let's move."

As they resumed their journey, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. Sasuke kept stealing glances at Naruto, a mixture of anger and fear in his eyes. Sakura stayed close to Kakashi, her face pale as she struggled to process what she'd seen. Even Kakashi seemed more withdrawn than usual, his mind clearly racing as he watched the young Genin leading the group.

Naruto, however, was unbothered. The blood on his hands didn't weigh on him. If anything, it felt right.

Deep inside, Boros's voice echoed in his mind, filled with approval. Good. This is what it means to dominate. To eliminate weakness. You're finally beginning to understand, Naruto.

Kurama said nothing. His silence was deafening, but Naruto knew the truth: the fox feared him now.

For Naruto, this was just another step on his path to ultimate power. And if his team couldn't handle that...

Well, that wasn't his problem.