Chapter 16: The Konoha Crush Begins
The arena was in chaos. Smoke filled the air, and the sound of battle echoed through the stadium. People slumped unconscious in their seats, victims of Kabuto's Genjutsu. Among the confusion, Sakura Haruno crouched, her hands forming a release seal.
"Release!" she commanded, dispelling the Genjutsu for those in her immediate proximity. Naruto gasped and blinked awake, shaking his head. Beside him, Ino Yamanaka groggily came to, her confusion quickly replaced by alarm as the sounds of screaming and clashing weapons reached her ears.
"Sakura?" Naruto said, his voice hoarse. "What's going on?"
"There's an attack," Sakura explained, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. "The village is being invaded."
Before more questions could be asked, a figure appeared in a blur of motion.
"Yūgao-sensei!" Sakura exclaimed, recognizing the purple-haired kunoichi who had been training her in Kenjutsu.
Yūgao Uzuki nodded, her expression sharp and focused. "Sakura, come with me. We'll find Kakashi." Her gaze shifted to Naruto and Ino. "You two, help evacuate the civilians. These people need to get to safety."
Naruto stood, his fists clenched. "But—"
"No arguments," Yūgao said firmly. "You're the best equipped to facilitate an evacuation, Uzumak-san. We're counting on you." With that, she and Sakura disappeared into the smoke, leaving Naruto and Ino to face the chaos.
Naruto turned to Ino, who was brushing soot from her clothes. They hadn't interacted much since their academy days, and even then, she'd always been more focused on Sasuke. He expected her to brush him off, as usual, but instead, Ino's gaze was determined.
"This isn't the time to stand around," she said. "We have to move."
Naruto nodded. "Right. Let's get these people out of here."
He formed his signature cross-seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In a massive puff of smoke, dozens of Narutos appeared, each immediately springing into action. The clones swarmed the panicked crowd, guiding civilians toward the exits, carrying injured villagers, and forming barriers to block stray attacks.
Ino blinked, stunned by the sheer efficiency of Naruto's clones. She had always dismissed him as loud, obnoxious, and clumsy, but now... now he looked like a leader. The fact that he still had sufficient chakra reserves to casually conjure a Shadow Cloen rescue squad, after having only just finished his battle with the Hyuga prodigy, baffled her.
"Come on!" one of the clones called to her. "We've got work to do!"
Ino snapped out of her thoughts and joined the effort, using her sensory abilities to detect hidden enemies and guide civilians away from danger. As they worked together, she found herself glancing at Naruto more often than she expected.
An elderly man stumbled, his leg injured from a stray kunai. Ino knelt beside him, helping him to his feet. "We've got you. Just lean on me."
A Naruto clone appeared beside her, picking the man up with ease. "I'll take it from here. You keep moving!"
Ino watched as the clone dashed off, carrying the man toward safety. She looked around and saw Naruto everywhere—his clones forming a wall to protect a group of children, others calming frightened villagers. It was as if the chaotic energy that had always surrounded Naruto was finally being put to good use.
After what felt like hours but was likely only minutes, the immediate area was cleared. Ino leaned against a wall, catching her breath as the real Naruto approached her.
"Not bad, huh?" he said with a grin, his face smudged with dirt but his eyes still full of determination.
Ino stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Not bad."
Naruto's grin widened. "We're not done yet, though. Come on—let's go find Kakashi-sensei!"
Ino hesitated, then pushed off the wall. "Alright. Lead the way."
As they ran through the smoke-filled streets, Naruto and Ino moved as a team, their differences forgotten in the face of the crisis. The sounds of battle grew louder with each step, and they both knew that this was only the beginning.
Ino glanced at Naruto out of the corner of her eye. For the first time, she wondered if she had underestimated him all these years.
"Hey, Naruto," she said as they leapt over a fallen beam.
"Yeah?"
"Don't get a big head or anything, but... you're not as useless as I thought."
"Um," Naruto laughed, his grin never fading. "Thanks, I guess? Let's go save our sensei!"
The village was still in chaos, but Kakashi's focus was razor-sharp as he addressed the group of young shinobi in front of him. Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, Shino, and Ino stood at attention, their faces a mix of determination and unease. Beside Kakashi, the small but fierce nin-dog Pakkun sniffed the air.
"Listen carefully," Kakashi said, his voice low but commanding. "Sasuke has gone after Gaara, and things are escalating quickly. Gaara is dangerous—more dangerous than most of you realize. Your mission is to catch up to Sasuke and provide support, but be prepared for significant resistance. Pakkun will lead the way."
Pakkun nodded. "I've already got their scent. Let's move."
The group set off at a sprint, leaping through the treetops as the sounds of battle faded behind them. Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, not from exertion but from worry. Hang in there, Sasuke. We're coming.
The frenzy of the invasion filled the air with shouts, explosions, and the clashing of steel. Smoke billowed through the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village as shinobi fought to defend their home from the invading Sand and Sound forces. Amid the fray, two legendary Jōnin stood back-to-back, their presence radiating confidence as they faced down the notorious Sound Four.
Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan spun lazily in his left eye as he sized up the quartet, his demeanor calm yet focused. "Guy, how about we make this a little more interesting?" he said, his tone nonchalant despite the tension of the situation.
Guy's grin widened, his teeth gleaming in the dim light of the battlefield. "Of course, Kakashi! How about this: whoever defeats more enemies gets treated to dango later!"
Kakashi gave a slight shrug. "Fine by me. Just try not to slow me down."
The Sound Four didn't wait for banter. Jirobo lunged forward first, his massive frame barreling toward them like a freight train. "You talk too much!" he bellowed, swinging a colossal fist aimed at Guy.
Guy's grin never wavered. With a burst of speed, he ducked under the strike and delivered a bone-crunching uppercut to Jirobo's chin. The giant staggered backward, his eyes wide with shock as Guy pressed his advantage. A flurry of strikes followed—fast, precise, and devastating. Within seconds, Jirobo was lying on his back, groaning in pain.
"That's one for me, Kakashi!" Guy called out cheerfully, giving a thumbs-up as he leapt back into action.
Meanwhile, Kidomaru hung back, his six arms weaving intricate patterns as he launched a barrage of golden silk projectiles at Kakashi. The shimmering threads zipped through the air with deadly accuracy, but Kakashi didn't flinch. He raised his right hand, chakra crackling to life as the unmistakable sound of chirping birds filled the battlefield.
"Lightning Blade," Kakashi muttered, his voice low but resolute.
In a single fluid motion, Kakashi charged forward, his Lightning Blade slicing through Kidomaru's webbing like paper. The light of the jutsu illuminated his focused expression as he closed the distance, driving the attack straight through Kidomaru's shoulder. The spider-like shinobi gasped in shock before collapsing to the ground.
"That's one for me too," Kakashi said casually, glancing over at Guy.
Guy, meanwhile, had turned his attention to Sakon and Ukon, who had split as if through binary fission into two bodies and moved with uncanny coordination. The brothers charged at him, their combined attacks forcing Guy to stay on the defensive. Guy's strikes landed, but the brothers' unique physiology allowed them to heal almost instantly, their mocking laughter ringing in his ears.
Suddenly, a haunting melody filled the air. Tayuya, perched on a nearby rooftop, had begun playing her flute, her Genjutsu weaving its way into Guy's mind. His movements faltered as he fell to one knee, sweat dripping down his face as the illusion took hold.
"Tch, amateur, always was susceptible to Genjutsu" Kakashi muttered, his Sharingan glowing as he turned to Tayuya. In an instant, he cast a Genjutsu of his own to compel her to look at him, his gaze locked onto her and she summarily dispelled her illusion.
"Thanks, Kakashi! I owe you one!" Guy snapped back to his feet, shaking his head clear.
"Just don't let her catch you again," Kakashi replied, stepping forward to engage Tayuya directly.
The Sound Four, realizing they were outmatched, activated the full power of their Curse Mark, their bodies transforming into monstrous second forms. Jirobo's bulk doubled, his skin turning an ashen gray; Kidomaru's spider-like features became grotesque and pronounced—though his left arm still hung uselessly to his side; Sakon and Ukon shared a body once more and it sprouted sharp, jagged protrusions; and Tayuya's hair grew wild as horns jutted from her skull.
"Let's see how you handle this!" Sakon growled, his voice distorted and guttural.
The battle intensified. Kakashi and Guy moved in perfect harmony, their years of experience as comrades evident in every motion. Kakashi darted through the battlefield, his Sharingan predicting every attack as he countered with precision. Lightning Blade flared to life again, cutting through Jirobo's defense as he collapsed for the second and final time.
Guy unleashed his might, opening the First Gate. "Gate of Opening!" he roared, his aura flaring as his speed and power multiplied. He closed the distance with Sakon and Ukon in an instant, delivering a spinning kick that sent both brothers flying into a nearby wall, unconscious.
Tayuya, desperate, summoned her Doki—three towering, ghostly creatures that charged at the Jōnin with terrifying ferocity. But Kakashi and Guy worked together seamlessly. Kakashi intercepted the Doki with a pair of kunai infused with lightning chakra that he plunged into the base of two of their skulls, disrupting their connection to Tayuya. Guy followed up with a powerful Leaf Whirlwind, shattering the last Doki into harmless smoke.
Before Tayuya could react, Kakashi appeared behind her, a kunai pressed against her neck. "This is over," he said calmly.
Guy simultaneously burst through Kidomaru's injury-limited defense and delivered a punishing flying roundhouse kick that removed the spider-like man from the fight.
The last of the Sound Four fell, and the battlefield grew quiet for a moment. Kakashi sheathed his kunai and turned to Guy, who was stretching and flexing his muscles.
"So, what's the score?" Guy asked with a grin.
Kakashi considered for a moment. "You got Kidomaru and Sakon and Ukon. I got Jirobo and Tayuya. Looks like it's a tie."
Guy's grin faltered for a moment before he clapped Kakashi on the back. "A tie? Fine! Then we'll both treat each other to dango after this mess is cleaned up!"
Kakashi sighed but smiled beneath his mask. "Fine, Guy. But you're paying if you order too much."
The two Jōnin turned and headed back into the fray, ready to take on whatever challenges the invasion threw at them next. Their teamwork had once again proven why they were among Konoha's finest.
As they raced through the forest, Pakkun suddenly growled, his hackles raised. "Incoming!"
The group skidded to a halt as two figures emerged from the shadows ahead: Temari and Kankurō. Temari's fan was already fully unfurled, her expression grim, while Kankurō stood with his puppet Karasu at the ready.
"This is as far as you go," Temari said, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. "We won't let you interfere with Gaara."
Naruto clenched his fists, stepping forward. "Out of the way! We don't have time for this!"
Kankurō smirked. "You'll have to go through us first."
Shikamaru sighed, his hands in his pockets. "Troublesome... but I guess we don't have a choice."
Shino adjusted his sunglasses, his beetles already buzzing faintly around him. "Naruto, Sakura, go. We'll handle this."
Ino stepped forward, her hands forming a seal. "Yeah, get going! Sasuke needs you more than we do."
Naruto hesitated for a moment, but Sakura grabbed his arm. "Come on, Naruto. They've got this."
With a reluctant nod, Naruto turned and followed Sakura and Pakkun as they continued the chase, leaving the Sand siblings behind to face their Konoha teammates.
Naruto and Sakura arrived at a nearby clearing just in time to see Sasuke collapse to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth. He clutched his arm, the circuitous Curse Mark spreading across his body like a dark web. Gaara, in his semi-transformed state, loomed over him, his grotesque features a mix of human and beast.
"Stay down," Gaara growled, his voice warped and inhuman. "You're weak. You've always been weak."
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, rushing to his fallen teammate.
Sakura knelt beside Sasuke, her hands braced against an open wound as she tried to stabilize him. "He's hurt badly," she said, her voice trembling. "Naruto, be careful!"
Naruto stood, his eyes narrowing as he faced Gaara. "Alright, sandman! You've gone too far. Let's see how you handle me!"
Gaara snarled, lunging forward with a wave of sand. Naruto formed a dozen clones, each rushing to intercept the attack. The clones swarmed Gaara, their strikes coordinated and relentless, but Gaara's sand shielded him effortlessly.
"You can't defeat me!" Gaara roared, his sand spiraling outward in a violent burst that destroyed all of Naruto's clones.
The air was heavy with tension, dust, and malice. The towering form of Gaara, half-transformed into Shukaku, loomed over Naruto. His grotesque sand-arm twitched with each movement, its claws dripping with malice as it dragged Naruto closer to his inevitable doom. Naruto struggled in vain, his body pinned against the ground, cuffed and bound by tendrils of sand that squeezed tighter with every passing second.
"Is this all, Naruto Uzumaki?" Gaara's voice was a distorted growl, the melding of his own and Shukaku's. His eyes, crazed and devoid of humanity, glared down at the boy before him. "You're just like me—alone. Weak. No one can save you now!"
Naruto snarled, gritting his teeth as he fought against the crushing grip of the sand. "I'm not weak!" he shouted, his voice hoarse from the effort. "And I'm not alone! You don't know anything about me!"
But Gaara's claw tightened, the sand grinding painfully against Naruto's ribs. He could feel his chakra draining, his body nearing its limits.
"Get away from him!"
A voice cut through the chaos like a blade, and Gaara turned just in time to see Sakura Haruno sprinting toward them, her emerald eyes blazing with determination. In her hands was a gleaming wakizashi, its polished steel reflecting the light of the waning sun.
"Sakura, no! Get out of here!" Naruto yelled, panic flashing across his face.
But Sakura didn't stop. She leapt forward, her hands gripping the hilt of the short blade tightly. Memories of Yugao-sensei's training surged through her mind—lessons about precision, courage, and timing. With a single, well-aimed slash, she severed the cord of sand that connected Naruto to Gaara's monstrous arm.
The tension in the sand holding Naruto vanished instantly, and he fell to the ground with a gasp. But Gaara's reaction was swift and brutal. A roar of rage erupted from his throat as he turned his monstrous claw toward Sakura.
"You dare—!"
Before she could react, Gaara's massive hand lashed out, striking her like a battering ram. The impact sent her flying backward, her body careening toward the forest floor below.
"Sakura!" Naruto's voice cracked with desperation.
Without hesitation, Naruto summoned a shadow clone. The clone didn't need instructions—it spun Naruto by his ankle and launched him with all its strength, sending him hurtling toward Sakura at a speed that quickly eclipsed hers.
The wind rushed past his face as Naruto extended his arms, pushing himself to move faster. He caught up to Sakura just before she would've collided with the forest floor. His hands gripped her shoulders tightly, and he twisted his body mid-air, angling them both safely toward the ground. At the last second he created a Shadow Clone, without even the use of a hand-seal. He didn't have time to reflect on that fact though. They landed with a crash, Naruto taking the brunt of the impact as they tumbled into the dirt.
"Naruto... You saved me," Sakura managed through bated breath. She gasped for air, her chest heaving as she looked up at him, wide-eyed.
Naruto grinned despite the bruises forming on his face. "You saved me first, Sakura-chan. I wasn't about to let you fall after that."
Sakura's lips trembled for a moment before she smiled, a rare moment of genuine affection towards him lighting up her face. "Thanks, Naruto."
Naruto stood and extended a hand to help her up. "We're not done yet. Gaara's still up there, and I've got a feeling he's not gonna make this easy."
Sakura took his hand and stood, brushing herself off. Her grip on the wakizashi tightened, and she nodded. "Then let's finish this—together."
Naruto gave her a thumbs-up, his grin widening. "Right! I'll take the lead. You back me up, Sakura."
The two turned back toward the battlefield, the monstrous figure of Gaara awaiting them. Though the odds seemed insurmountable, their determination burned brighter than ever. Together, they would prove that strength wasn't just about power—it was about protecting those who mattered.
Sakura gasped as a tendril of sand shot toward her. Before she could react, Naruto leapt in front of her, blocking the attack with another wave of clones turned martyrs.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with fury. Realizing he needed to step up his game, Naruto formed a seal and summoned more clones—hundreds of them. The clearing was suddenly filled with Narutos, their numbers stretching into the tree trunks and limbs in columns and rows of orange-clad clones.
Pakkun blinked, his voice tinged with awe. "That's... a lot of clones."
"New record!" Naruto shouted and grinned despite the circumstance. Sakura had always admired that quality in him, even as she found it utterly alien.
The clones surged forward, attacking Gaara from all sides. Gaara roared in frustration, struggling to fend off the relentless assault. For a moment, it seemed like Naruto had the upper hand.
But then, Gaara's laughter filled the air—low and menacing at first, then escalating into a maniacal cackle. His body convulsed as the sand around him began to spiral and expand.
"You think you can beat me with numbers?" Gaara bellowed. "You don't understand! I am Shukaku!"
The ground shook violently as Gaara's body was engulfed in a massive cloud of sand. When the dust settled, a monstrous figure stood in his place: the fully transformed One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku.
"I'M LOOSE!" the monster roared, its voice echoing through the forest like thunder.
Naruto and Sakura stared in horror as the enormous creature towered over them, its malevolent energy washing over the clearing like a tidal wave.
Pakkun growled, his fur standing on end. "This just got a whole lot worse."
Naruto clenched his fists, his resolve unshaken. "We're not done yet. Come on, Sakura. Let's take this thing down!"
He clenched his fists as he stared up at Shukaku, the monstrous One-Tailed Beast towering over the forest clearing. Its malevolent energy churned the air, and its wild laughter sent shivers down his spine.
But Naruto refused to back down. I can't let this thing destroy everything. I have to stop it—no matter what.
He bit his thumb, drawing blood, and slammed his hand to the ground. He compelled his chakra to surge with an earnestness that surprised him. For the first time, he wasn't worried about whether or not he'd manage to summon a toad or a tadpole. His blue eyes reflected a solemn and sincere self-certainty. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive plume of smoke erupted, and when it cleared, Gamabunta, the Toad Summon Boss, stood in the clearing, towering nearly as high as Shukaku. The giant toad blinked down at Naruto, irritation flickering across his features.
"You again?" Gamabunta grumbled. "What do you want this time, brat?"
Naruto pointed at Shukaku, his determination unwavering. "That thing! You said you wanted a fight, right. Shukaku wants to destroy Konoha. We've got to take it down!"
Gamabunta sighed heavily, unsheathing his massive dagger. "Twice you've summoned me, boy. Twice you've ended up dragging me into trouble. Fine, but you owe me double."
The battle was cataclysmic. Gamabunta leapt into the air, slashing at Shukaku with his dagger while Naruto held on for dear life. Shukaku roared, sending waves of sand crashing toward them, but Gamabunta dodged with surprising agility for his size.
"Hold on, kid!" Gamabunta growled, landing a strike that cut deep into Shukaku's sandy hide.
Naruto gritted his teeth as he clung to Gamabunta's head. "We need to stop him from rampaging! How do we do that?"
"You'll need to wake the host," Gamabunta explained. "That Gaara kid is in there somewhere. There, on the head! Knock him out, and this thing will disappear."
Naruto nodded, his mind racing. "Alright, but we need to get close enough. Can you pin him down?"
"Not in this form," Gamabunta replied. Then, with a gleam in his eye, he added, "But if we transform..."
Naruto blinked. "Transform?"
"Hold on tight, brat!" Gamabunta said, forming a seal. "You'll need to supply the chakra!"
Naruto focused all his energy as Gamabunta and he executed the Joint Transformation Technique. In an instant, Gamabunta's form shifted, morphing into the fearsome visage of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Naruto thought he heard a dark laughter echo in his mind.
Shukaku roared in defiance as the transformed Gamabunta charged, slamming into the One-Tail with enough force to shake the ground. The two colossal beasts grappled, their roars echoing across the forest.
As Gamabunta pinned Shukaku down with fang and claw, Naruto leapt from his back, lurching for Gaara, who was visible atop the monster's head. Gaara's face twisted in a slumberous rage as he remained asleep atop Shukaku. An autonomous tendril of sand snaked toward Naruto. Naruto dodged, closing the gap in a blur of motion. He reached Gaara and slammed a fist into his face, forcing the Sand ninja out of his trance.
Gaara's eyes widened as the sand around them began to crumble. Shukaku let out a deafening roar before its form collapsed, leaving Gaara and Naruto lying on the ground amidst the wreckage.
Naruto crawled over to Gaara, panting heavily. The boy's eyes were filled with confusion and fear as he stared at Naruto, his body trembling.
"Why?" Gaara rasped. "Why would you fight so hard... for them? Why would you invalidate my existence, Naruto Uzumaki? You cannot end me!"
Naruto sat back, his chest heaving. "I'm fighting for them because although most of them would rather pretend I don't exist, I've found some that truly care about me. Because I know what it's like... to be alone. To feel like nobody cares about you. To think that the only way to matter is to make people notice you, even if they're afraid of you."
Gaara's eyes widened slightly, his breathing uneven.
"But that's not true," Naruto continued, his voice soft but firm. "You don't have to be alone. There are people who will care about you if you let them. You just... you just have to let them in."
Gaara stared at Naruto, his mind reeling. No one had ever spoken to him like this before. No one had ever tried to understand him. "What do you know of my pain, Uzumaki?"
Naruto smiled softly and for a brief moment closed his eyes; they snapped open with a feral urgency and Gaara recoiled as he saw blood red eyes with slitted pupils. A terrible and vaguely familiar aura permeated the area. The power dissipated as quickly as it had blanketed the forest, and Naruto's eyes were blue once more.
Temari and Kankurō appeared moments later, their faces pale with worry as they rushed to Gaara's side. They'd surely felt the Nine-Tails' power. Naruto wondered about that. He hadn't consciously summoned the power. Stupid dramatic fox.
"Gaara!" Temari cried, kneeling beside him.
Gaara looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "Why... are you here?"
"Because you're our brother," Kankurō said firmly, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "We're not leaving you behind."
Tears welled in Temari's eyes as she helped Gaara to his feet. "Let's go. It's over. You don't have to die. I don't want you to..."
Naruto watched them go, a faint smile on his face despite his exhaustion. "Take care of him," he said quietly.
Temari glanced back at him, nodding gratefully before disappearing into the forest with her brothers.
The forest was quiet now, the chaos of the battle fading into the distance. Naruto collapsed onto the ground, staring up at the sky. He was battered, bruised, and utterly spent, but a sense of peace and resolution settled over him.
Sakura arrived moments later, kneeling beside him. "Naruto! Are you okay?"
He gave her a tired grin. "We won, didn't we?"
Sakura nodded, tears pricking her eyes. "Yeah. We did."
As the sounds of the village began to return, signaling the end of the invasion, Naruto closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the world lift from his shoulders. For now, they were alive. And that was enough.