While the chaotic scene unfolded within the stadium, the disguised Orochimaru seized his opportunity. With a swift, almost supernatural movement, he grabbed Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, and jumped away, disappearing from the view of the other Kage. Simultaneously, his Sound Four ninja, waiting for their cue, erected a powerful barrier, a dark, ominous square that encompassed the Hokage and Orochimaru, trapping them within its confines. The other Kage, witnessing this treachery, were powerless to intervene, the barrier preventing any outside access.
"So," Hiruzen said calmly, his voice betraying no hint of surprise or fear, "you planned on invading the village this entire time?"
"Kukuku," Orochimaru chuckled, his voice laced with malice. "Oh, Sensei, how naive you are. Did you really think I would simply attend these exams as a spectator?"
"Sensei?" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "I see… so that's how it is. You've been playing us all along, Orochimaru." He now understood the full extent of the deception. Orochimaru had assassinated the Fourth Kazekage and disguised himself as the leader of the Sand Village, manipulating them into a strategic alliance that was nothing more than a prelude to this devastating attack. The Sand Village, their leader now dead, was being manipulated like puppets in Orochimaru's grand scheme.
Chaos erupted throughout the village. Fights broke out on every street, ninja clashing, jutsu illuminating sky. Giant snakes, summoned by Orochimaru, had breached the village walls, slithering through the streets, terrorizing the populace.
Naruto, witnessing the widespread devastation and the panic in the eyes of the villagers, felt a surge of adrenaline and determination course through him. He channeled a great amount of chakra, the energy swirling around his body in a vibrant, crackling light purple aura, cracking the ground beneath his feet and kicking up dust. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he yelled, and in a huge puff of smoke, a thousand clones appeared, each one radiating a high Jonin-level chakra presence. The ninja surrounding him, both friend and foe, were awestruck by the sheer number of clones and the power they exuded.
"Go!" Naruto commanded, his voice ringing with authority. "Protect and evacuate the civilians! Get them to safety!" The clones, responding instantly, vanished in a flurry of movement, each one dispersing to carry out their assigned orders.
Turning to his fellow genin, Naruto took charge. "Sakura, head to the hospital! Your medical prowess will be a major help in treating the injured. Ino, head to the academy. I hate to say it, but you aren't ready for a battle of this magnitude. Everyone else, find your Jonin sensei and ask for further orders!" Naruto's leadership was decisive and immediate, taking control of the chaotic situation.
Kakashi, watching Naruto take charge, felt a surge of pride. *He's a natural-born leader* he thought.
"Naruto, Go after Sasuki and Gaara," Kakashi instructed. "They are heading through the forest.
Naruto, his expression determined, disappeared in a burst of speed, leaving a swirling vortex of dust behind him. "Let's go, Guy!" Kakashi called to his teammate, and the two Jonin left to engage the invaders.
Hundreds of Naruto clones, working in perfect synchronization, took the unconscious civilians from the arena stands and carried them to the safety of the academy. Once all the civilians had arrived, all but one of the clones dispersed to help in other areas of the village. The remaining clone performed a series of hand signs. "Uzumaki Style: Absorbing Dome Barrier!" he yelled. A large, dome-shaped barrier materialized, an Uzumaki-style barrier designed to strengthen itself by absorbing chakra from any jutsu or attack that came into contact with it. The clone remained outside the barrier, acting as a vigilant guardian, ready to engage any enemy that approached. The students and academy teachers, witnessing this incredible display of power and selfless protection, were awestruck and immensely grateful to Naruto for ensuring their safety. The students knew they would be talking about this for years to come.
Throughout the village, various Naruto clones were performing heroic deeds. Some escorted injured villagers to the hospital, ensuring they received prompt medical attention. Others took non-injured villagers to their homes, erecting smaller protective barriers around their houses to shield them from harm. One clone, witnessing a civilian woman about to be killed by a Sound ninja, reacted instantly. He conjured a chakra chain from his hand, piercing the ninja through the back, killing him instantly. He then grabbed the terrified woman, his voice gentle despite the chaos around them, and asked her for directions to her home, escorting her to safety.
Another Naruto clone, encountering a giant snake wreaking havoc, engaged it in combat. The clone went through a rapid series of hand signs. "Lightning Style: Multiple Lightning Strikes!" he yelled. Multiple bolts of lightning descended from the sky, striking the snake with devastating force, blasting it into pieces.
A Naruto clone, seeing a group of daimyo being targeted by enemy ninja, acted swiftly. "Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" he exclaimed, summoning a towering wall of water that protected the daimyo from the incoming attacks. The clone then created several more clones, and together they carried the daimyo to the safety of the academy. "Don't worry," the clone reassured them, "I'll take you somewhere safe."
"Thank you for saving us, young Uzumaki," one of the daimyo said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We are in your debt."
With all the civilians now protected, the Naruto clones switched to the offensive, actively engaging the invading forces. One clone, confronted by three Sand ninja and two Sound ninja, used his bloodline ability to create a two-bladed chakra scythe. The clone twirled the weapon with deadly grace, decapitating one ninja with a single sweep. He then used the body of the scythe to block a sword strike from behind, the impact jarring. Naruto twisted the scythe, then slashed at his attacker's leg, severing it at the knee. The ninja screamed in agony and fell to his back. Naruto swung his scythe downwards, stabbing the fallen ninja through the heart. A Sand ninja attacked Naruto with a Wind Style jutsu. Naruto shifted his scythe into a shield to block the powerful blast of wind. He then disappeared in a burst of speed, reappearing behind the remaining three ninja. He now held a chakra bow notched with three arrows made of lightning chakra. He fired all three arrows simultaneously, each one piercing the ninjas' heads, killing them instantly. His task completed, the clone vanished, moving on to another area of the village to assist in the defense.
On the opposite side of the village, another clone witnessed more giant snakes being summoned. The clone created a chakra spear laced with a powerful explosion seal. He jumped into the air and threw the spear, which lodged itself in the eye of one of the snakes. The clone then channeled his chakra, activating the seal. The spear exploded, killing the snake and sending gory pieces flying. The clone then created angel-like wings of chakra, allowing him to fly through the sky, providing air support to the grounded ninja. He rained down arrows of chakra, taking out multiple enemy forces.
One clone, armed with four extra chakra arms, used them to rip ninjas apart with brutal efficiency. Two of the extra hands went through a series of hand signs while he fought, unleashing multiple wind blades that sliced enemies to pieces. Sensing an attack from behind, one of the chakra arms extended, grabbed a ninja's head, and squeezed it like a grape, crushing it instantly. Naruto then placed a seal on the body and threw it into a group of enemies. The seal unleashed an explosion of wind blades, shredding the group apart.
Another clone was seen demolishing ninja with a huge chakra war hammer. The clone swung the hammer with devastating force, smashing a ninja's head into pulp.
In another part of the village, a clone surrounded by chakra armor was smashing through enemy ranks like a juggernaut. The enemies tried to hit him with jutsu, but the chakra armor simply absorbed the blows, leaving the clone unscathed. The clone rushed a ninja, grabbed him by the throat, and then choke-slammed him into the ground, breaking his spine. The clone then created a chakra battle axe and sliced another ninja in half at the waist. Suddenly, the clone found himself surrounded on all sides. He channeled wind chakra through his axe and spun in a 360-degree arc, chopping all who surrounded him in half.
Near the village walls, a clone dual-wielded chakra katanas, one channeled with lightning chakra and the other with wind chakra. The clone twirled the wind-enhanced katana and unleashed a crescent-shaped wind blade, decapitating an enemy ninja. The clone then pointed his lightning-infused katana at a group of enemy ninja rushing towards the village and unleashed a volley of lightning bolts, frying the charging group. The clone then smirked and charged forward ready to take on anymore enemies.
Unknown to the Naruto clones engaged in battle, various civilians watched the unfolding events from the windows of their protected homes, their faces a mixture of awe and fear. Naruto's actions had left a heavy impression on them. Seeing him single-handedly take down enemy after enemy, protecting the village and its inhabitants, was both inspiring and terrifying. The sheer power he wielded, the scale of his efforts, was something they would never forget.
A Naruto clone stood guard outside the hospital, a silent sentinel protecting the injured within. Suddenly, a group of enemy ninja charged towards the building, weapons drawn, intent on breaching its defenses. They unleashed a barrage of elemental jutsu – fire, water, earth – directed at the hospital, but a shimmering barrier, erected by the clone, absorbed the attacks, neutralizing their threat. The barrier pulsed, strengthening itself with the absorbed chakra, ready for any further assault.
The clone, his eyes narrowed, swiftly created a Fūma Shuriken from his chakra, channeling wind chakra into the weapon, causing it to spin at an incredible speed, transforming it into a whirling, razor-sharp saw. He threw the shuriken, and because it was formed from his own chakra, he could control its trajectory remotely, guiding it through the air with precise movements. The shuriken, now a whirling disc of destruction, sliced through the attacking ninja with sickening ease, cutting through flesh and bone as if they were butter. He guided the shuriken between a tightly packed group of invaders before detonating the wind chakra, causing the shuriken to explode into wind-laced shrapnel, shredding those in close proximity.
Throughout the village, other Naruto clones were assisting their fellow Konoha ninja, working in perfect coordination to push back the invading forces. They were a force to be reckoned with, their combined strength and strategic coordination overwhelming the enemy.
The real Naruto, meanwhile, was pursuing Sasuki and Gaara, his movements swift and determined. Suddenly, he was forced to dodge a volley of senbon needles, which, upon closer inspection, appeared to be made of crystal.
"Who the hell are you?" Naruto asked, annoyance evident in his voice. Being delayed in his pursuit of Sasuki was frustrating him.
"Call me Guren," the mysterious ninja replied, her voice cold and confident. "I was ordered to capture you, Uzumaki. I've heard much about you. Don't disappoint me." She then created crystal blades on her arms, the sharp edges glinting menacingly in the moonlight, and charged towards Naruto.
Naruto, reacting quickly, used his bloodline ability to create three sharp claws on each of his fists. He used his claws to block Guren's slashing attacks, the clash of crystal and chakra ringing through the air. He then spun, attempting to slash her midsection with his claws, but Guren jumped back, avoiding the strike.
Naruto went through a series of hand signs. "Wind Style: Super Great Breakthrough!" he yelled, unleashing a powerful gust of wind, a veritable hurricane aimed at Guren.
Guren, anticipating the attack, quickly created a crystal wall to block the devastating wind jutsu. Using this as a distraction, Naruto capitalized on the moment of her focus, appearing behind her and throwing a powerful left hook. "Ahh!" Naruto grunted in pain as it felt like he had punched something extremely solid. His knuckles were bleeding, the crystal armor proving to be a formidable defense. He jumped back, shaking his fist, the pain still throbbing. "Damn it," he muttered. "It seems she has some kind of crystal armor. If I guess correctly, it's a bloodline, and it uses earth as one of its base elements. So, I guess I'll try lightning."
With this thought in mind, Naruto went through another set of hand signs. "Lightning Style: Exploding Grenade!" A ball of crackling lightning appeared in his hand before he threw it towards Guren.
Guren dodged the lightning ball, and it slammed into the crystal wall behind her, exploding in a shower of sparks and energy. The lightning explosion demolished the wall, sending crystal pieces flying in every direction.
Guren's eyes widened. "So," she said, impressed, "he figured out that earth was a part of my bloodline. Clever brat."
Naruto, his eyes narrowed, channeled lightning chakra through his chakra claws and charged towards Guren once more. Seeing this, Guren tried to maintain her distance, but Naruto performed a quick Lightning Style Body Flicker, teleporting behind her in a flash of light. He slashed her back with his lightning-infused claws, the electricity searing through her crystal armor, leaving three shallow gashes.
"Ahh!" Guren cried out in pain, the lightning disrupting her chakra flow.
"Damn," Guren thought, realizing the limitations of close-quarters combat against him. "I have to rely on long-ranged attacks."
Guren completed her hand signs. "Crystal Style: Crystal Dragon Jutsu!" she yelled. From the ground, a huge crystal dragon emerged, its form shimmering and menacing. The dragon attacked Naruto, who jumped and flipped, dodging its crystal claws and snapping jaws.
Naruto quickly created four Lightning Style: Exploding Clones. The clones jumped into the dragon's mouth as it lunged to devour them. "Kai!" Naruto yelled, and a huge explosion of lightning erupted from within the dragon, destroying it from the inside out. Debris of crystal was sent flying in every direction.
Suddenly, crystal shuriken surrounded Naruto, launching themselves at him from all sides. Naruto quickly surrounded himself in a chakra barrier laced with lightning, the crackling energy shielding him from the projectiles. The shuriken shattered on impact with the barrier. Then, chakra chains laced with lightning erupted from the ground around Guren, ensnaring her. The chains wrapped around her body, constricting her movements, and her crystal armor shattered under the pressure.
Seeing this, Naruto stopped the lightning flow, using the chains simply to absorb her chakra until she was rendered unconscious.
"Damn it," Guren muttered, defeated. "I can't believe it. I didn't land a single blow… Heh… this kid is something else." She then went unconscious.
Naruto placed a sleeping seal on her body, ensuring she would remain unconscious, before continuing his pursuit of Sasuki and Gaara, his mind focused on his next objective.
As Naruto was locked in his fierce battle against Guren, Sasuki had finally caught up to Gaara. The sight that greeted her was enough to make her blood run cold. Gaara was in the midst of a terrifying transformation. Half of his body was now covered in sand, the texture shifting and swirling, clinging to his flesh. His left side had morphed into a grotesque, giant arm made entirely of sand, a monstrous appendage that pulsed with raw power. Sasuki, witnessing this grotesque transformation, was visibly shaken, a flicker of fear crossing her usually stoic expression. She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves, and unsealed her chokuto, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the forest. She channeled lightning chakra through the blade, enhancing its sharpness and cutting power, preparing to face the transformed Gaara.
Sasuki charged at Gaara, her movements swift and precise, aiming a powerful slash at his monstrous sand arm. Her blade connected, slicing through the sand, but before she could press her attack, she was suddenly and violently struck by a massive sand tail that lashed out from Gaara's transformed body. The force of the blow sent her flying through the air, crashing into a tree with considerable force.
Gaara, his movements now more erratic and powerful, charged towards Sasuki, his sand arm swinging wildly. Sasuki, despite the pain from the sand tail attack, managed to dodge his clumsy but powerful assault. Gaara, his power amplified by his partial transformation, smashed through five trees effortlessly, the wood splintering and shattering under the brute force of his sand arm.
Sasuki, intimidated by Gaara's raw strength and the sheer destructive power he now possessed, briefly hid behind a tree, trying to regain her composure and formulate a new strategy. She knew her usual tactics might not be enough against this transformed version of Gaara. She took another deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, then revealed herself once more, her Sharingan eyes glowing with renewed determination.
Gaara, sensing her presence, flung himself at her, his sand arm reaching out like a grasping claw. Sasuki, anticipating his move, quickly performed a series of hand signs. "Fire Style: Fire Missiles Jutsu!" she yelled, unleashing a barrage of concentrated fire attacks at Gaara. The fire missiles slammed into Gaara, but his sand, acting as a natural defense, absorbed the brunt of the flames, mitigating the damage. Gaara, his momentum unbroken, continued his relentless advance.
"Damn it," Sasuki cursed under her breath. "Fire style isn't working. It has to be lightning style!" She jumped over Gaara's clumsy charge, creating distance between them. Before Gaara could recover, she activated her Chidori, the lightning crackling around her hand, a visible aura of raw power. She then charged towards Gaara, her movements now infused with lightning speed. Sasuki, with a precise strike, sliced through Gaara's entire sand-covered half, the Chidori searing through the sand and into his flesh.
Gaara screamed in pain, the sound raw and visceral, as he fell to the ground, his partial transformation disrupted. Sasuki, however, was visibly struggling. The curse mark on her neck, the mark Orochimaru had placed upon her, was now spreading across her skin in a dark, intricate pattern. Because she was channeling chakra, pushing her body to its limits, the seal was becoming less effective at containing its power, and the curse mark was slowly taking over. Sasuki was frozen in pain, her body trembling, the curse mark causing her immense agony. She fell forward, clutching her neck, trying to suppress the encroaching darkness.
Seeing Sasuki incapacitated, Gaara, despite his own injuries, went for the kill, his sand arm reaching out to crush her. But before the sand could reach her, a blur of motion appeared, and Gaara received a chakra-enhanced kick to the face from Naruto. The force of the kick sent Gaara crashing through two trees, the impact shaking the very ground.
Naruto, his expression grim, created a clone to take the unconscious Sasuki away to reseal her curse mark. He then turned his attention back to Gaara, his gaze hardening.
"So," Gaara rasped, his voice filled with a manic energy, "you finally arrived, Uzumaki. You can make me feel alive!" He yelled and charged at Naruto, his movements erratic and unpredictable.
Naruto, unflinching, created a huge chakra war hammer, the weapon shimmering with raw power. He swung the hammer with a mighty roar, knocking Gaara aside, sending him crashing into the surrounding trees.
Gaara, despite the powerful blow, recovered quickly and charged at Naruto once more, his sand swirling around him. Naruto, his limbs now covered in solid chakra, enhancing his strength and durability, also charged forward. He dodged Gaara's sand limb, then delivered a powerful uppercut, sending Gaara soaring upwards. A clone suddenly appeared above Gaara, delivering a lightning-enhanced drop kick that sent Gaara crashing back down towards the original Naruto. Naruto grabbed Gaara's arm mid-air and slammed him into the ground with bone-jarring force, creating a huge crater. He then jumped back up into the trees, observing Gaara, waiting to see what he would do next.
"hahahaHAHAHA," Gaara yelled, his voice echoing through the forest, laced with madness. "Interesting… interesting UZUMAKI! SHOW ME MORE!"
Temari, watching the battle from a distance, was stunned. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The Uzumaki was tossing a transformed Gaara around like a ragdoll. *So this is your true power, Uzumaki… you're a freak* she thought, her mind reeling. She knew he was hiding his power, but she never expected this level of dominance. *The Uzumaki clan… they were a clan of beasts* she mused, a shiver running down her spine.
Gaara, rising from the crater, had undergone another transformation. His entire upper body was now completely taken over by the sand, leaving only his legs visible. His upper body now resembled a grotesque Tanuki, a monstrous form radiating raw power and instability.
"Sand Shuriken!" Gaara yelled, launching a volley of sand shuriken at Naruto.
Seeing the projectiles hurtling towards him, Naruto created two swords out of pure chakra, the blades shimmering with energy. He swiftly sliced through all the incoming shuriken, the chakra blades cutting through the sand with ease. *What the hell?* Temari thought, her eyes wide. *He can create weapons out of pure chakra? You would need incredibly dense chakra to do this. Is it a bloodline?*
After slicing through the shuriken, Naruto created four chakra chains from his back, the chains snaking out and wrapping around Gaara, nullifying his chakra flow. Gaara felt his sand transformation begin to unravel. "No, it's not over yet!" he yelled, channeling even more demonic chakra, overwhelming Naruto's nullifying chains.
Naruto, sensing the surge of power, retracted his chains. "Looks like I'm not skilled enough yet to restrain a Jinchuriki," he thought. "Well, I guess I have to do it the hard way." He then created a huge chakra sword, similar to Zabuza's, the blade pulsing with energy. He channeled lightning chakra through the sword, enhancing its cutting power, and charged at Gaara with incredible speed. Naruto reached Gaara and, with considerable effort, sliced off one of his sand arms. "Huh," he analyzed, "that wasn't as smooth as I expected. I guess it's because of the amount of demonic chakra running through him."
"It's a good time to test out what I've been secretly working on," Naruto thought, a glint of determination in his eyes. He performed a series of unfamiliar hand signs. "Ice Style: Freezing Mist!" Suddenly, an icy mist enveloped the area around Gaara, the temperature plummeting rapidly. Gaara watched in horror as his sand form began to freeze, his sand arms becoming encased in ice.
Naruto quickly performed more hand signs. "Lightning Style: Electric Grenade!" He threw a ball of crackling lightning that slammed into Gaara's frozen arm, shattering the ice and sending shards flying. "Ahhhhhh!" Gaara screamed in pain.
Naruto rushed him, his movements swift and precise, and slammed his palm into Gaara's chest, placing a chakra suppression seal on his sand body. Again, Gaara's sand transformation began to crumble.
"What?" Temari gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "He can use Ice Style? Just what the hell is this kid?" She couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Naruto had surpassed all her expectations. She began to feel a genuine fear of his power.
"No, no, no!" Gaara yelled, his voice filled with desperation. "I will not accept defeat!" He then exploded in a giant pillar of sand, throwing Naruto back.
Looking up, Naruto was awestruck. He saw a giant entity towering over the forest, its form vaguely humanoid, with glowing yellow eyes. It had one tail, larger than its entire body, lashing back and forth. "So," Naruto said, his voice filled with awe, "that's the One-Tailed Shukaku?" *Well* he thought, *the only way to fight this is to summon.* Naruto quickly performed a series of hand seals.
"No way he's planning to fight Gaara in this form!" Temari observed, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Finishing his hand seals, Naruto yelled, "Summoning Jutsu!" In a giant puff of smoke, a giant aqua toad with two massive swords appeared.
Temari was speechless. Again, the Uzumaki had managed to surprise her.
Sasuki, in the distance, could see the two giant figures facing off. "Naruto… what the hell is going on over there?" she muttered.
The clone guarding her responded calmly, "Don't worry, boss has everything under control."
Gaara began to chuckle, a low, menacing sound. "Yes, Uzumaki… yes! I never expected to receive such stimulation! I've never felt so alive!"
The giant toad, Gamahiro, addressed his summoner. "Naruto," he said, his voice booming, "I see you are in quite the predicament. Why are you fighting a Tailed Beast?"
"Well," Naruto explained quickly, "long story short, during the Chunin Exams we were attacked by both the Sand and Sound villages. Gaara here was their main player. I have to take him down so he doesn't reach the village."
"I see," the toad replied. "So do you have a plan?"
"I do," Naruto confirmed, explaining his strategy to Gamahiro.
The toad was impressed. "I see," he said. "That might work. Well, let's do this." The toad drew his two massive swords. Naruto then had two clones stand on the hilts of the swords. Both the clones channeled a huge amount of lightning chakra into the swords, covering the blades in crackling energy, increasing their sharpness exponentially.
Gamahiro then charged, swinging the swords with incredible force, slicing off both of Shukaku's arms before jumping behind the giant sand Tanuki and slicing off its massive tail. Gamahiro then jumped away, performing a series of hand signs. "Toad Art: Toad Oil Bomb!" The toad unleashed a torrent of flammable oil from his mouth, drenching Shukaku. Naruto, reacting instantly, used a spark of lightning to ignite the oil, engulfing the sand monster in flames. "Ahhhhhh!" Shukaku screamed in pain.
When the smoke cleared, the sand monster was now glowing red, like lava. Both Naruto and Gamahiro performed more hand signs. "Water Style: Water Gun Jutsu!" Gamahiro unleashed a powerful stream of water. "Wind Style: Wind Canon Jutsu!" Naruto unleashed a blast of wind simultaneously. The wind jutsu greatly enhanced the power of the water, creating a devastating combination attack. The combined jutsu slammed into the superheated Tanuki, creating a massive, widespread storm-like effect. Temari was flung away by the strong winds, her fan ripped from her grasp. Sasuki, though further away, had her hair and clothes ruffled by the sheer force of the shockwave. "What the hell kind of battle am I watching?" she muttered, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had never seen anything remotely close to this level of power.
The superheated sand Tanuki was rapidly cooled by the combined water and wind attacks, revealing a giant, glass-like version of the monster, its form now brittle and vulnerable.
"Now, let's shatter him!" Naruto yelled.
Gamahiro swung one of his massive swords, shattering the entire glass Tanuki into countless pieces. Naruto saw Gaara falling and caught him, landing softly on the forest floor.
Gamahiro, having worked alongside Naruto, knew he was the perfect choice for a summoner. This was their very first battle together, yet they had been able to work in perfect synchronization. He smiled. "I've never seen a kid with this much potential," he said to himself. "I can't wait to see what he accomplishes. It was a pleasure fighting alongside him, but it's time for me to go." The toad then poofed away in a cloud of smoke.
While Naruto was engaged in his epic battle against Shukaku, his clones continued their tireless work throughout the ravaged village. They were a constant presence, a symbol of hope and resilience for the beleaguered residents and the visiting dignitaries caught in the unexpected conflict. Most of the invading forces within the village had been neutralized, thanks to the clones' coordinated efforts and individual prowess. However, a fresh wave of enemy ninja was massing outside the village walls, poised to launch another assault.
Inside the barrier, the situation was dire. Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, was locked in a fierce struggle against Orochimaru and the two reanimated Hokage, Hashirama and Tobirama Senju. The visiting Kage, from the other nations, could only watch helplessly, unable to penetrate the powerful barrier surrounding the battle. They had ordered their own genin to assist in repelling the invasion, hoping that some form of alliance or at least a neutral agreement could emerge from this shared crisis. The Kage watched the battle with growing anxiety, desperately searching for any way to get inside the barrier and aid Hiruzen.
Suddenly, a Naruto clone landed on the rooftop where the Kage were gathered. "What's going on?" the clone asked, his voice calm and collected despite the chaos raging around them.
The Raikage, his face grim, quickly explained the situation. We can't get in. None of us are knowledgeable enough about barriers to break through."
The clone nodded. Without a word, he unleashed his chakra chains, the glowing tendrils snaking out and touching the barrier. He began to absorb the chakra that constituted the barrier, disrupting its structure l. The barrier shimmered, its energy dissipating, and then faded completely. The Kage, seizing the opportunity, rushed through the now-open space before the barrier could be re-erected.
"What the hell?" a six-armed ninja exclaimed, surprised by the sudden appearance of the Kage.
Tayuya, her voice shrill, shouted, "Who the fuck is that guy?"
The Kage, ignoring the taunts, immediately engaged the two reanimated Hokage, leaving Orochimaru to Hiruzen. The Naruto clone, his chakra depleted, poofed away in a cloud of smoke.
"Are you kidding me?" a two-headed ninja with white hair shouted in disbelief. "That was just a clone?"
The original Naruto, meanwhile, was carrying the unconscious Sasuki towards the hospital, his movements swift and gentle. Tsunade, the legendary Sannin, was in charge of the medical efforts, coordinating the treatment of the injured. After delivering Sasuki to the hospital, Naruto disappeared in a body flicker, leaving no trace.
Naruto reappeared near Gaara, who was still recovering from his brutal battle. He left another clone to speak with the troubled Jinchuriki. The clone, his voice understanding, explained that he understood how Gaara felt, as they were both Jinchuriki, burdened with the power of a Tailed Beast.
Gaara, his voice weak, asked, "How… how are you so strong?"
Naruto's clone explained that his power came from his will to protect those he cared about.
"But… I have no one precious to me to protect," Gaara said, his voice filled with a profound loneliness.
Naruto's clone shook his head. "Of course you do," he countered. "Despite how you treated them, your brother and sister stuck by you. They still worry about you. You can start with them."
Just then, Temari jumped in front of Gaara, her stance protective, ready to defend him despite the overwhelming power Naruto had displayed. She knew she stood no chance against him, but her loyalty to her brother was unwavering.
"See, Gaara?" Naruto's clone said, gesturing towards Temari. "She's still willing to protect you." Naruto then turned and walked away, leaving Gaara to contemplate his words.
Temari, watching Naruto leave, grabbed Gaara and quickly jumped away, escaping the scene. She was soon joined by Kankuro.
"I saw that huge battle with the Shukaku and a toad," Kankuro said, his voice filled with awe. "Who was that?"
"It was Naruto Uzumaki," Temari replied, her voice still trembling slightly. "He completely dominated Gaara. I've never seen such power before. It was… terrifying."
Kankuro was stunned. Someone younger than them had managed to defeat Gaara? What the hell was going on? Uzumaki was even more dangerous than he had thought. He knew they had to be careful, more careful than ever before.
With Hiruzen, the battle raged fiercely. Before the clone disappeared, however, it placed a one-time-use teleportation seal on the rooftop. The real Naruto, his movements a blur of red, then appeared in a flash, seemingly out of thin air. The sudden arrival of Naruto brought the ongoing battles to a halt. Everyone present, friend and foe alike, stared at him, their expressions a mixture of shock and awe. He had just executed one of the most dangerous and complex jutsu in the world, a feat thought impossible for someone his age.
"Brat," the Raikage boomed, his voice filled with disbelief, "you know the Fourth Hokage's jutsu?"
Naruto shook his head. "No," he replied, "that was just a one-time-use seal. I created my own version of his jutsu. I'm about to show you."
"Impressive, Naruto," Mei purred, her smile seductive. "You're quite the prodigy."
"Umm, thanks," Naruto replied nervously, slightly flustered by her attention. He placed a seal on the ground, then swiftly performed a series of hand signs. "Uzumaki Style: Flying Thunder God Barrier!" A translucent dome then appeared, encompassing the entire rooftop, trapping everyone within its boundaries.
Orochimaru, his interest piqued, watched with narrowed eyes. "Interesting," he murmured. "I wonder how this works."
Naruto then vanished in another flash of red, reappearing behind Orochimaru before delivering a swift kick to his face, sending the Sannin staggering. Everyone present was taken off guard by Naruto's sudden and unpredictable attack. Naruto disappeared again, reappearing near Tobirama and Hashirama. He placed a seal on each of them – a contract seal designed to disrupt Orochimaru's control over the reanimated Hokage.
"Naruto, how…?" Hiruzen asked, his voice filled with wonder.
"It's a type of barrier I invented," Naruto explained, "basically, it allows me to teleport anywhere within its boundaries. That way, I don't have to constantly mark where I want to go. Cool, right?"
Everyone present was astonished. A twelve-year-old had not only mastered a complex teleportation jutsu but had also created a superior version of Tobirama's legendary Flying Thunder God technique. It was an incredible feat, a testament to his prodigious talent.
Ōnoki, his brow furrowed, was sweating slightly. *I didn't think it was possible to surpass the power of the Flying Thunder God Jutsu* he thought, *but a twelve-year-old proved me wrong. I really have to get on Konoha's good side.*
Mei, her eyes fixed on Naruto, licked her lips. She had a weakness for strong men, and Naruto was certainly proving to be one.
The Raikage, his competitive spirit ignited, thought, *I think I've finally found a rival in speed.*
Hiruzen, his heart swelling with pride, was simply in awe of Naruto's talent.
Orochimaru, recovering from Naruto's attack, stood up, his face a mask of glee. "I might have to take you with me, Naruto," he said, his voice laced with ambition. "Your talents could be very valuable to me."
"Nah," Naruto replied, his tone dismissive. "I don't partner with pedophiles."
Orochimaru's face twitched.
Tobirama, studying Naruto intently, spoke. "Say," he said, "you don't happen to be an Uzumaki, do you? Your chakra is very strong, like theirs."
Naruto nodded. "That I am," he confirmed. "From my mom's side. I'm also part Senju, from my dad's side."
Tobirama was surprised. An Uzumaki and a Senju – a deadly combination.
The foreign Kage were once again taken aback. This child was both Uzumaki *and* Senju. He had the potential to surpass even Hashirama, the First Hokage.
Tobirama spoke again. "Do you happen to be a Namikaze as well?"
Naruto nodded.
"I see," Tobirama said, understanding dawning on his face. "That makes sense now. So you're my great-great-grandson then?"
Naruto nodded again.
"Wow," Hashirama exclaimed, his face breaking into a wide grin. "That means you're my great-great-grandnephew! Amazing! I'm glad the blood is still going strong!"
Naruto lowered his head slightly. "Barely," he said quietly. "Both the Senju and Uzumaki clans are near extinction."
Both the Hokage looked saddened by this revelation.
"Well," Hashirama said, his voice regaining its usual exuberance, "from what I've seen, you have the potential to bring both clans back to glory. You will be greater than both of us, I know it!"
Naruto bowed his head. "I promise not to let you down," he vowed.
Tobirama spoke. "From what we've seen, you will exceed our expectations. Now, it's time for us to return to the pure world. I created this jutsu so I can release it." Tobirama performed a series of hand signs. "Release!" he yelled, and their reanimated bodies began to crumble away, returning to the earth.
Orochimaru gritted his teeth. His plan had failed. "We are leaving," he ordered his remaining ninja. "Let's get out of here!"
Naruto suddenly appeared in front of Orochimaru, placing a seal on his body. It was a Chakra Network Destruction Seal, designed to disrupt and damage an opponent's chakra pathways.
"Ahhhhhh!" Orochimaru screamed in pain, his insides feeling like they were melting. He was then carried away by his remaining ninja.
Tayuya, realizing the futility of further resistance, decided to stay behind. She got on her knees in surrender. Hearing the name Uzumaki had struck a chord with her, reminding her of the clan's fearsome reputation.
Naruto suddenly fell forward, unconscious, before being caught by Hiruzen. He was utterly exhausted. Maintaining a thousand clones, fighting a Tailed Beast, and engaging with Kage-level ninja had taken its toll. Once the adrenaline wore off, his body had shut down. He had given it his all for his village.
"You really are something else, Naruto," Hiruzen said fondly, his voice filled with respect. Naruto had earned the respect of everyone present, especially the Kage. Naruto's name would now be known throughout the entire world.