"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
This time, the real clones numbered dozens, almost filling the entire arena. Naruto's figures were everywhere.
Since quality can't solve the problem, then solve it with quantity!
This has always been his belief: if you can't beat them, overwhelm them with numbers!
"What a massive amount of chakra."
Asuma Sarutobi said with slight surprise, "Many Jonin can't even create this many shadow clones all at once."
"Don't forget, he inherited the Uzumaki clan's body constitution."
Kurenai Yuhi understood this, but still showed a look of envy, "I wish I had this much chakra someday."
While the two Jonin talked, the situation on the battlefield grew increasingly serious.
Naruto, trying to win by sheer numbers, didn't gain any advantage.
Instead, Gaara's single move wiped out most of the clones directly.
"Continuous Sandstorm Shigure!"
Gaara finally changed his technique, seemingly annoyed by the disturbance.
He slowly opened his palm.
The scattered sand suddenly transformed into countless round pellets, like a roaring machine gun, shooting sharp whistles through the air.
The dense pellets assaulted like a heavy rainstorm!
In an instant, most of the shadow clones were destroyed, and white smoke from the explosions filled the arena.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The constant sounds of clones exploding struck at Naruto's nerves.
Remember, when a shadow clone dies, the pain it feels is transmitted back to the original.
"Weaklings should have the awareness of weakness."
Gaara sneered coldly, then manipulated a massive amount of sand, turning it into a roaring tidal wave that pressed down on Naruto.
"This move is dangerous!"
Sasuke, watching from the stands, shouted in shock, "Get out of the way, Naruto!"
But her warning came too late.
Naruto tried hard to escape the sea of sand but was still caught by his ankle.
Soon, the sand spread over his entire right leg.
"Damn it! Let go of me!"
Naruto struggled frantically, but the sand was like sticky taffy — once it clung, it wouldn't come off.
"Then I'll make up for your ignorance with just one leg."
Gaara's eyes were fierce, and his five fingers suddenly closed together.
"Sand Coffin!"
"Naruto!"
Crack!
A harsh, chilling sound of bones breaking echoed through the entire arena, followed by Naruto's agonizing scream.
Bright, glaring red blood seeped out from the sand.
"Now, do you understand?"
Gaara coldly stared at Naruto, who was writhing in pain, his face showing an expression of cruel satisfaction.
"There's an unbridgeable gap between you and me. The opponents I'm interested in have never been you, but Uchiha Sasuke!"
Naruto endured the sharp pain, biting his teeth tightly to stop himself from crying out.
But Gaara's mocking voice stabbed into his heart like a knife, and an unnamed fire of hatred burned deep inside him.
It was as if a voice whispered: Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!
Gekkō Hayate's pupils suddenly shrank, his heart feeling squeezed as he sensed the strange atmosphere growing heavier.
Naruto's blue eyes slowly changed without him noticing, becoming vertical slits like a wild beast's — blood-red and ferocious.
"No good!"
Gekkō Hayate's face changed drastically, as if he realized something.
"This is... the Nine-Tails chakra? Is the seal about to break?!"
At that moment, inside Naruto's inner world—
In a dark prison, a beast with nine tails appeared, its vertical pupils filled with violent crimson rage. It seemed to whisper seductively:
"Yes, that's right. Hate! Kill! Destroy!"
Strange red chakra kept seeping out from the prison cell, slowly spreading to the outside.
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in the dark, damp space full of sewage pipes.
"Who are you?"
The Nine-Tails stared at the short figure it had never seen before.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Lu Mingze."
A cute boy, neatly dressed in a suit and bow tie, walked up to the prison door and smiled at the terrifying beast inside.
"You brat, I'm not interested in playing with you. Get lost!"
The Nine-Tails growled lazily like a wild beast.
"If you don't leave, I won't mind eating you!"
But then, in the next moment—
The boy's smiling face changed as his pupils suddenly turned bright golden, blazing like molten lava flowing within!
An indescribable terrifying pressure, as if the supreme ruler of the world, wrapped in a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, surged toward the Nine-Tails!
Buzz!
The dark, damp space began to shake violently!
The Nine-Tails' pupils suddenly contracted. It felt as if it was seeing a black dragon, its wings draped with countless corpses. Its very existence was like the embodiment of death itself.
Under its will, a raging energy constantly flowed and brewed, a power vast and overwhelming like a planet.
For the first time in its life, the Nine-Tails truly felt what death really was.
"Shh."
Lu Mingze raised a finger and pressed it to his lips, smiling gently. "Don't interfere with Naruto's battle, understand?"
The Nine-Tails was stunned for a long moment, feeling a deep shiver inside. Swallowing nervously, it nodded blankly. "Y-yes, I understand."
"Good. Very obedient."
Lu Mingze stroked the creature's fur, a meaningful smile spreading across his face.
Outside, without the Nine-Tails' aid, Naruto immediately collapsed unconscious.
Hayate Gekko let out a sudden breath of relief as he looked at the fallen Naruto, then raised his hand toward Gaara.
"Sand Village, Gaara, win!"
*******
Support me on my patreon and read upto 20 early chapters.
https://www.patreon.com/c/Unique_Writer