Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Wrath of the Black Dragon

Battle Begins

"So, this is how it's going to be?" Jiraiya asked, his tone even but laced with sorrow. He slid into a fighting stance, his eyes steady.

"Yes," Naruto muttered, a small grin curving his lips. "This is how it should be." His voice carried over the rising winds-unchallenged, unshaken. He stood up from his spot and took off his mask and his eyes glowed blood crimson with his red hair flowing slightly because of wind as a shadow was cast over his entire being with blood red aura surrounding him giving him a menacing chilling look. "Be prepared to be destroyed." he whispered in a bone chilling voice that sent an instant horrifying wave of pure dread down all of their spines. He then sprang into action forming hand seals.

"Wind Style (🍃): Devastating Tornado!" He roared as a monstrous cyclone erupted, splitting the landscape in two. Trees snapped like twigs, the earth shattered, and the Konoha retrieval team was scattered like leaves in a tempest. Wind howled with chakra-infused savagery, a storm crafted by the hands of a master.

Kakashi landed first, skidding across the shattered earth. One arm shielded his face as the wind bit into his skin. His Sharingan spun wildly, struggling to locate Naruto in the chaos, "This jutsu... it's far beyond what he showed before," he thought grimly, "This isn't just strength-it's terrifying mastery."

Jiraiya staggered into a crouch, blood trickling from his lip. He looked toward Naruto, heart aching, "Minato... your son has become a force the world can no longer ignore. But the loneliness that drives him... it breaks me. I am sorry that I failed to protect him."

Yamato slammed his palms into the dirt, summoning thick wooden barriers that barely held, "This isn't uncontrolled rage. He's refined his fury into precision. Naruto's no longer learning-he's dominating."

Anko, eyes narrowed against the gale, crouched low, her voice barely audible, "This kid... he's not just dangerous-he's evolved. Deadly and Precise. He's not chasing dreams anymore. He is the one creating the storm."

Yugao, gripping her blade like an anchor, fought the wind with grit, and thought, "His strength... it's terrifying."

Asuma, behind his trench knives, whispered, "Naruto... you've surpassed all of us. You're not fighting to prove something anymore. You're just proving what you've become."

Might Guy stood slowly, stunned into silence for once. Then he whispered, "To carry such power with such conviction... Naruto, your youth burns brighter than ever, but it's no longer wild-it's a roaring flame with purpose."

Rock Lee, battered but steady, eyes blazing with awe, "He is a warrior shaped by pain and perseverance. Naruto... you have become a legend in our time."

Neji, rising with difficulty, Byakugan flaring, felt the chakra waves resonate through his bones, "I knew that Naruto would become strong. But I didn't expect him to become this strong so soon. This level of power is beyond anything I expected."

Tenten, holding a shattered scroll, shook her head in disbelief looking at her defense scroll which is torn to pieces, and thought, "I trained to master weapons... but I don't think even a thousand tools could stop him now."

Sasuke, his Sharingan locked on Naruto, stood unfazed. But inside, his chest burned with conflict, "This power... it's not born of hatred. It's purpose. Naruto... you've surpassed every expectation. Including mine."

Sakura, trembling as she pushed herself up, stared at Naruto, her heart aching, "You were always chasing us... but we were blind. You weren't just trying to be seen-you were trying to survive." Tears welled in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Naruto. We should've stood beside you-not behind. I'm sorry for how I treated you."

Sai, wide-eyed, took a mental note of the sheer control Naruto had over his environment, "His chakra flow... technique efficiency... this isn't a missing-nin. This is someone who redefined the shinobi standards."

Ino, hands to her head, couldn't stop trembling after feeling the shockwave from attack, "How... how did we never see this in him? All this time, he was growing stronger... and we never noticed."

Shikamaru, jaw clenched, studied the destruction with cool calculation, "He's beyond tactics now. Naruto's fighting on a level where even planning feels pointless." But deep inside, a sting of regret twisted in his chest. "He was one of us... and we let him go alone."

Chōji, his usual softness gone, stared ahead, stunned after recovering, "Naruto... you were always strong. But this? This is something else entirely. I wish we had told you sooner."

Shino, his insects struggling against the storm, watched with hidden emotion, "His evolution isn't just power-it's clarity. Purpose. His very chakra is alive with it."

Kiba, still recovering from Naruto's words earlier, sat silent, eyes wide, "He wasn't exaggerating... This isn't bitterness. This is anger shaped by truth. He's become unstoppable."

And then Hinata, breathless, bruised, yet unwavering, rose slowly. Her hands trembled, but not from fear. Her eyes, wide and filled with tears, locked onto Naruto's form standing in the eye of the storm, "Naruto-kun... you've suffered so much. You've carried more than anyone should. But even now, in all this power, I still see you. I see your heart. You're still the boy who never gave up... and I believe in you."

Kurama, watching everything unfold through Naruto's eyes, let out a low whistle at the raw display of power. "Now that's what I call an impressive attack!!," he muttered, a hint of admiration in his voice. Even though he knew this was all part of Naruto's carefully laid plan, Kurama could feel the intensity of his host's emotions. They weren't faked. They were very real the pain, anger and most of all Naruto's barely contained fury. Naruto was truly channeling every ounce of his fury, pain, and conviction into the battle and it was terrifyingly real.

Naruto didn't respond to Kurama's comment, his expression unreadable as his eyes swept over the scattered Konoha group, still reeling from the aftermath of his attack. His lips curled into a faint, almost predatory smile. "You know," he began, his voice calm yet laced with a chilling edge, "it's a little unfair for all of you that you are going to fight me. As you simply cannot defeat me. So let's make it fair for you all. I can kill you all by myself. But that would be humiliating for you all. So, let's even the odds for all of you, shall we?"

Without another word, Naruto simply summoned, and in an instant, 10 shadow clones materialized around him, each exuding the same cold determination. He pointed toward the group, his tone commanding and sharp, "Engage all of them. But leave Jiraiya to me." His gaze locked onto the Toad Sage, his voice dropping into a dangerous growl, "He and I have a long-overdue conversation to finish." He finished ordering and signaled for the clones to go ahead.

The clones charged forward like a storm unleashed, leaving Naruto standing motionless, his eyes never leaving Jiraiya's.

As each clone engaged each member of the Konoha team, the real Naruto stayed behind looking at jiraiya who was also looking at him, before both of them charged forward and clashed.

Clone No.1 vs Kakashi

The Naruto clone and Kakashi were locked in a fierce hand-to-hand exchange, their blows blurring as they dodged and countered each other with precision. The clone feinted left, then launched a high kick aimed at Kakashi's head. Kakashi raised his forearm just in time, blocking the strike, and countered with a sharp jab aimed at the clone's chest. The punch connected lightly but sent the clone skidding back from sheer force.

Landing gracefully, the clone steadied itself and smirked, "Finally taking this seriously, Hatake?" he taunted, his voice carrying an edge of amusement.

Kakashi's lone Sharingan glinted as he fixed the clone with an unwavering gaze, "I'm always serious," he replied evenly, "Though I was hoping that the attack would've taken care of you."

The clone chuckled darkly, brushing dust from his sleeves, "Underestimating me because I'm a clone? That's a mistake.This fight's just getting started." Without warning, the clone blurred through a series of hand signs at incredible speed, "Lightning Style (⚡): Lightning Bullet!" he roared, sending a crackling sphere of lightning hurtling toward Kakashi.

Kakashi reacted instantly, "Earth Style (⛰️): Mud Wall! (🧱)" he countered, slamming his hands to the ground. A towering earthen barrier erupted before him, absorbing the brunt of the attack but crumbling under its sheer power.

The debris hadn't even settled when Kakashi darted forward, lightning arcing from his hand, "Lightning Blade (⚡)!" he shouted, thrusting the electrified blade toward the clone.

The clone smirked, countering with his own jutsu,"Wind Blade(🍃)!"He swung his blade, meeting Kakashi's attack head-on. Sparks and wind currents exploded outward, their clash sending shockwaves rippling through the area.

Both fighters pressed their attacks relentlessly, exchanging blows faster than most could follow. The sheer intensity of their strikes churned the air, and the ground beneath them cracked under the pressure.

Kakashi suddenly forced the clone to retreat with a heavy kick, his hands weaving through seals as the clone vaulted backward, "Fire Style (🔥): Great Fire Canon Jutsu!" A roaring inferno surged toward the clone, its heat distorting the air.

"Water Style (🌊): Water Bullet Jutsu!" the clone thought, spewing forth a dense orb of water. The two elements collided in a hiss of steam, momentarily obscuring the battlefield.

As the mist cleared, the clone charged forward, twin kunai in hand, each glowing with wind-enhanced chakra.

Kakashi met him mid-charge, his own kunai sparking with lightning chakra. Their blades clashed in a shower of sparks, the energy radiating from their weapons carving deep scars into the surrounding terrain.

The clone managed to graze Kakashi's left shoulder with a precise strike, the wind chakra tearing through his Jonin Vest and leaving a crimson gash with the blood dripping outside. Kakashi grunted, ignoring the pain, and retaliated with a powerful kick to the clone's midsection. The clone crossed his arms to block, but the force of the impact hurled him backward.

Skidding to a halt, the clone barely raised his arms in time to deflect Kakashi's lightning enhanced punch. Countering swiftly, the clone delivered a wind-enhanced kick to Kakashi's abdomen, sending the Jonin skidding backward.

"Done already?" the clone sneered, flipping his kunai and settling back into a fighting stance.

Kakashi straightened, brushing dirt from his vest as his Sharingan gleamed, "Not even close." With a burst of speed, he closed the distance once more.

Clone No.2 vs Asuma

Asuma and Naruto's Clone No. 2 clashed in a fierce exchange of blows, each strike reverberating with raw power. Asuma wielded his trench knives, their edges crackling with wind chakra, while the clone expertly countered using a pair of knuckle blades infused with his own wind-enhanced energy. The battlefield crackled with tension as the two fighters moved with precision, their strikes creating shockwaves that rattled the air.

Clone No. 2 pressed forward, exploiting an opening to send a powerful kick into Asuma's chest, throwing the seasoned Jōnin off balance. The force sent Asuma hurtling backward, his body colliding with a tree. He grunted in pain, sliding to one knee, but his eyes remained locked on his adversary, sharp and resolute.

The clone grinned smugly, the expression almost mocking, "What's the matter, Sarutobi? That's all you got? I expected more from one of the legendary Twelve Guardian Ninjas."

Asuma wiped blood from his lip, his expression hardening, "Far from it." Rising to his feet, he shifted into a stance, his left hand forming a half-ram seal while his right hand extended downward, palm parallel to the ground. His voice carried a calm, deadly edge, "I was just warming up."

Behind him, a spectral figure of a thousand arms materialized, towering with divine menace, "Raigo: Thousand Hand Strike!" he roared, the massive construct launching a relentless barrage of strikes at the clone.

The clone's eyes narrowed as the onslaught began. The sheer speed and unpredictability of the strikes forced him into evasive maneuvers, darting and weaving, each dodge closer than the last. Finally, cornered by the barrage, he extended his arms, "Wind Style (🍃): Wind Sphere!"

A massive sphere of turbulent wind exploded outward from the clone, deflecting the strikes and expanding toward Asuma. The Jōnin barely managed to leap aside as the sphere barreled past him, tearing through the trees with such ferocity that the entire area was uprooted.

Before Asuma could catch his breath, the clone blurred into view in front of him. A devastating punch slammed into his gut, driving the air from his lungs and blood from his mouth. The impact hurled Asuma backward, crashing him through a tree with enough force to shatter it to splinter.

Dust clouded the battlefield, and the clone advanced cautiously, his senses attuned to the slightest movement. He reached the spot where Asuma had fallen but found nothing but destroyed earth.

A voice was heard from the haze, "Fire Style (🔥): Ash Pile Burning!"

In an instant, the area was engulfed in thick, smoldering ash. The clone's reflexes kicked in, but there was no time to react before Asuma ignited the technique. The ash detonated in a blinding inferno, shaking the ground and sending shockwaves in all directions.

Asuma stepped back, his breaths labored as the pain from his earlier injuries throbbed dully. He winced, clutching his side, "That should've done it," he muttered under his breath, his voice grim but hopeful.

But as the smoke cleared, his hope wavered. Standing amidst the scorched earth, the clone emerged, battered and burned but far from defeated. His smirk returned, defiant as ever, "Close one, Sarutobi. You almost had me there." His voice dropped, laced with menace, "But now, it'smy turn. Let's see you dodge this!"

The clone formed a quick seal, "Wind Style (🍃): Arrow Blade Formation!" And dozens of razor-sharp wind blades materialized, slicing through the air with deadly precision towards Asuma.

Asuma's body moved on instinct, evading the barrage, though several blades struck true, leaving cuts across his arms and legs. Blood seeped through his clothes, but the wounds, while painful, were non-lethal. With quick hand seals, he slammed his hands into the ground, "Earth Style (⛰️): Earth Dome!"

A sturdy dome of earth rose around him, shielding him from the relentless assault. Inside, Asuma took rapid, shallow breaths, his mind racing, 'I can't drag this out much longer... These clones are far stronger than I anticipated. One mistake, and it's over.'

Outside, the clone relentlessly attacked the dome, each strike causing cracks to spread across its surface. Finally, with a deafening crash, the dome crumbled.

The clone stepped forward, sensing no sign of his opponent. His gaze scanned the debris cautiously. His instincts flared, and he spun just in time to block a strike from behind as Asuma emerged from the dust with his trench knives aimed for a decisive blow.

"Not bad, Sarutobi," the clone said, pushing him back with a counterstrike. His grin widened, feral and unrelenting, "But you're running out of tricks."

Clone No.3 vs Guy

Might Guy and Naruto's Clone No.3 were locked in a furious exchange of blows, each showcasing the pinnacle of their taijutsu mastery. Guy relied on his Strong Fist Style, while the clone unleashed the devastating techniques of the Dragon Fist Style, a skill Naruto had honed under the mythical Dragons of the Dragon Realm. Every clash between them sent tremors rippling through the battlefield, the sheer intensity of their strikes shaking the ground and uprooting nearby trees.

Guy, his movements a blur of precision and power, activated the Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain. A surge of chakra radiated from him as he roared, "Gate of Pain: Open!" His body ignited with energy, and he launched his signature spinning kick.

"Strong Fist: Leaf Hurricane!" he shouted, the air around his leg cutting through the atmosphere like a blade.

The clone reacted with equal ferocity, channeling lightning chakra into his right leg, "Dragon Fist: Thunderclap Dragon Kick (⚡🐉)!" he cried, meeting Guy's attack head-on with a high-speed counter.

The two strikes collided with an earth-shattering force, releasing shockwaves and a violent ring of compressed air that leveled the terrain around them. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, while the surrounding trees were torn from their roots. Both combatants were thrown backward, skidding across the devastated landscape before coming to a stop.

Guy, breathing heavily, allowed himself a moment to recover from the residual numbness of the clone's lightning-infused attack, "I must commend you, Naruto!" he said, his voice brimming with respect and admiration, "Your power of youth burns brighter than ever before!"

Clone No.3 smirked but didn't take the bait. He knew Guy's tactics well enough to recognize Jonin was buying time to recover. Still, Naruto-through his clones-held no ill will toward Might Guy. Unlike most of Konoha's shinobi, Guy was one of the few individuals Naruto genuinely respected.

"Thanks for the compliment, Guy-sensei," the clone replied, his tone both confident and measured, "But don't think this is over just yet."

Without wasting a moment, the clone raised his leg and slammed it into the ground with devastating force, "Dragon Fist: Earth-Shaking Dragon Stomp (⛰️🐉)!" The ground quaked violently as dragon and earth chakra merged, creating a massive tremor that destabilized Guy's footing and split the landscape. Taking advantage of the moment, the clone dashed forward at blinding speed.

"Dragon Fist: Blazing Dragon Palm(🔥🐉)!" he shouted, channeling fire chakra into his strike. His palm collided with Guy, creating a fiery explosion that hurled the Jonin backward.

Guy twisted mid-air, landing in a controlled backflip, though his chest stung from the near-hit. Looking down, he noted his Jonin vest was scorched and nearly destroyed. That was close, he thought grimly, 'Had I been even a second slower, the consequences would have been far worse.'

Realizing the stakes, Guy clenched his fists and activated more gates, "Fifth Gate of Limit: Open! Sixth Gate of View: Open!" A surge of raw energy coursed through his body as his power increased exponentially.

He rushed forward with terrifying speed, appearing in front of the clone before the latter could react. The clone barely managed to cross his forearms in defense.

"Strong Fist: Evening Elephant(🐘)!" Guy bellowed, delivering a five rapid barrage of air-pressure punches. Though the clone dodged a few, the sheer volume and force of the strikes overwhelmed him, sending him flying backward and crashing into the shattered ground.

The clone groaned as he landed on one knee, his body visibly trembling, 'Had I not dodged those punches and if we clones weren't reinforced by Kurama's chakra-I'd have been dispelled by now' , he thought, steeling himself. But retreat was not an option. With determination in his eyes, the clone shot forward, meeting Guy head-on.

Guy, decided to finish the fight, and activated the 'Seventh Gate: Gate of Wonder.' His aura flared, his body surrounded by a blue-green glow that made the air shimmer.

"Strong Fist: Daytime Tiger(🐅)!" he yelled, thrusting his fist forward and unleashing a massive white tiger spirit that roared toward the clone.

The clone, knowing this would be the final clash, gathered all his remaining chakra in his fist, "Dragon Fist: Heavenly Dragon Ascension(🐉)!" he roared, summoning an enormous, fiery dragon spirit.

The two colossal forces collided in a blinding explosion, obliterating everything within the vicinity. The shockwave flattened the landscape, leaving a massive crater in its wake.

When the dust settled, the clone was gone, dispelled by the sheer force of the clash. Guy, on the other hand, was hurled backward, his body hitting the ground with a thud. His vision blurred as exhaustion overtook him, his body succumbing to the strain of the Seventh Gate.

(A/N: Though he will wake up in a few moments. Guy isn't the one to go down that easily. He will be resting for a little while.)

Clone No.4 vs Yamato

Yamato, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up with Naruto's Clone. The relentless onslaught of attacks had pushed him entirely onto the defensive, leaving him with no room to counter. Each strike came faster than the last, forcing Yamato to rely solely on evasion and quick blocks. He grit his teeth, his mind racing for a strategy to turn the tide.

"I can't keep this up much longer," Yamato thought, his breath coming in quick, shallow bursts, "His movements are too precise, too relentless. It's almost like I'm fighting Naruto himself, but this... this is sharper, more calculated."

Summoning every ounce of his strength, Yamato created a brief opening, forcing the Clone back with a surge of chakra. Wasting no time, he weaved hand signs and slammed his hands on the ground, "Wood Style (🪵): Giant Forest Jutsu!"

A vast expanse of towering trees erupted around them, their thick branches forming an almost impenetrable canopy. Yamato melded into the shadows of his creation, his presence vanishing among the endless trunks.

Clone No.4 came to a halt, his eyes scanning the dense forest now surrounding him. His sharp gaze betrayed no frustration, only calm observation, 'So, this is the guy who survived the implantation of Hashirama Cells by Orochimaru and Danzo that the boss read about from the files,' he mused, his thoughts calm and methodical. 'From what Boss's memories tell me, he can use Mokuton, but he can't truly tap into its full potential. Interesting.'

A flicker of danger snapped him out of his musings. Without hesitation, the Clone leapt backward just as a massive fireball tore through the space he had been standing in, igniting the air with an intense heat. He landed gracefully and turned toward his attacker.

Yamato stood atop a high tree branch to the Clone's left, his expression steely. He wasted no time, quickly forming another set of hand signs, "Wood Style (🪵): Smothering Binding Jutsu!" Thick roots erupted from the ground beneath the Clone's feet, snaking around his limbs and torso with alarming speed. One coiled tightly around his neck, squeezing as if to crush the life out of him which it would have if it had been a real person.

Yamato allowed himself a moment of relief, though he kept his guard up, "Got him," he thought, "I need to end this now before-"

"Impressive jutsu you've got there," the Clone said, his voice calm despite the situation. His eyes gleamed red as his lips curled into a smirk. "But this isn't enough to restrain me."

Before Yamato could react, the Clone growled, "Yin Release (☯️♦️): Ultra Bloody Impact!"

A crimson dome of energy burst forth, pulsating with violent force before exploding outward in a devastating shockwave. The impact obliterated the forest in an instant. Yamato barely had time to brace himself before he was hurled backward, crashing through several trees like a ragdoll.

The world spun as Yamato hit the ground hard, pain flaring through his body. He coughed, feeling blood, and grimaced as his hand moved to his ribs, 'Three cracked ribs,' he noted grimly, feeling the sharp edges grind against his touch. A glance at his left shoulder revealed a jagged piece of wood lodged deep into the muscle.

'Damn it,' he thought, groaning as he forced himself to his feet and leaned back against a tree nearby. Every movement sent fresh waves of pain coursing through him, but he knew he couldn't stop. With gritted teeth, Yamato ripped the wood from his shoulder and focused his chakra, triggering his regenerative ability. The bleeding slowed and all injuries began to heal, though the dull ache remained.

From the smoke and destruction, Naruto's Clone emerged, his clothes singed but otherwise unharmed. His calm, unyielding gaze locked onto Yamato like a predator to prey.

'This clone alone has caused so much damage... How much power does Naruto truly hold?' Yamato was alarmed, his thoughts racing. Regardless, he couldn't afford to falter now. The others were likely in just as much trouble or worse-he had to end this and assist them.

Steadying his breathing, Yamato readied himself for the next round, 'I can't lose here.'

Clone No.5 vs Yugao

Yugao Uzuki and Clone No. 5 were locked in a fierce duel beneath the flickering shadows of the forest canopy. Blades clashed in a blur of steel and sparks, each strike echoing like a thunderclap across the clearing. The clone fought with overwhelming strength and brutal precision, his movements unrelenting. Yugao, however, danced with controlled grace-elegant, razor-sharp, honed through countless missions as an ANBU.

Each exchange was a test of timing and tenacity. Yugao's katana, moved like a silver ribbon in the dusk, intercepting the clone's every blow with inch-perfect parries. Her breath came steady, but her arms trembled slightly from the sheer force behind his strikes.

'His strength is unreal... every swing feels like it could splinter my blade,' she thought, teeth clenched behind her mask, 'But his form-his stance-it's different. Refined. He's not just swinging blindly. He's skilled.'

The clone's crimson-edged blade suddenly crackled with energy, "Fire Style (🔥): Ember Fang Style - Scorching Spiral Slash" With a fierce yell, he slashed outward in a wide arc, flames bursting from his blade like a flaming tide.

Yugao's eyes narrowed as she leapt backward, flipping through hand signs in mid-air, "Water Style (🌊): Aqua Veil Barricade!" A wall of swirling water rose between them, the fire crashing into it and erupting into steam. Using the momentary screen, Yugao vanished in a blur of speed-her kenjutsu amplified by chakra control through her feet.

She reappeared behind him, slicing upward with a graceful motion-Crescent Moon Blade Technique. The clone spun mid-swing and blocked her strike just in time, sparks raining around them as their blades locked once more.

"Not bad," he muttered, his voice low and amused, "But you're dancing too carefully, Uzuki. You can't cut me down with hesitation."

Yugao didn't respond. Her focus sharpened, 'He's baiting me. Trying to break my rhythm. I won't fall for it.'

She tightened her grip, chakra coursing into her blade. Her sword shimmered faintly-imbued with wind chakra now, its edge sharper than ever, "Wind Style (🍃): Whisper Fang Technique!"

With a swift step-in, she unleashed a flurry of slashes, each stroke leaving behind thin blades of air pressure aimed for his vital points. The clone dodged, but a thin cut appeared on his cheek-a first, He paused, eyes narrowing. "You've got a bite."

His own chakra surged, flames dancing once more along his weapon, only this time interwoven with lightning, 'Blazing Tempest Style (🔥&⚡): Infernal Surge Fang!' He swung forward, unleashing a fire-lightning hybrid arc that split the ground between them.

Yugao rolled to the side, barely avoiding the searing attack, her breath growing heavier. The speed, the raw chakra output-this clone wasn't just mimicking someone. He was evolving, 'He's testing my limits... forcing me to expend chakra while conserving his own. Damn it, he's analyzing everything.'

The clone advanced again. Their blades clashed once, twice, again. Each time is more intense. Yugao met every attack with deliberate deflection, flowing into ripostes that only narrowly missed their mark. She refused to be overwhelmed.

With another deft hand sign mid-combat, she invoked Shadow Step Mirage, a high-level ANBU kenjutsu technique that created flickering afterimages. The clone's next slash cut through nothing-an illusion.

Yugao appeared at his side, blade whistling in a downward stroke.

*CLANG!*

The clone parried, but staggered slightly this time, "So... you're finally done dancing?"

Yugao's violet eyes burned behind her mask, "I've been waiting for the rhythm to shift."

They both stood, panting, blades lowered but not relaxed. For a breathless moment, the air between them crackled with tension.

'He's more powerful-stronger than most I've ever faced,' she thought, sweat trickling down her cheek. 'But even strength has limits. Everyone has an opening.'

The clone's smirk faded, replaced by something sharper-respect, maybe, "You're different from the others. Let's see how far you can push me."

Flames licked his blade again, this time forming twin serpent-like trails as he adopted a two-stage stance, 'Fire Style(🔥): Twin Ember Dragons'

Yugao took a breath and raised her sword to eye-level, her chakra steadying as the lightning gathered once more along her blade's edge.

Both Shinobi's moved. Their blades met with a crash that shook the trees. This wasn't a fight of brute force anymore. It was a storm of discipline, technique, and survival instinct-two blades, two wills, clashing with every ounce of skill and soul they had. And neither was backing down.

Clone No.6 vs Anko

The forest echoed with the sound of steel against steel as Anko and Clone No.6 clashed in a whirlwind of motion. Their weapons were blurs in the sunlight-Anko's kunai cutting through the air with sharp, calculated precision, while the Clone's blade moved like a guillotine, swift and unrelenting.

Sparks erupted with every collision, lighting their faces with brief flashes of fire. Neither fighter gave an inch.

'He's faster than I thought,' Anko noted grimly, blocking a savage downward slash with both hands, 'And stronger. This isn't a normal Shadow Clone. It's... Smarter and Denser.'

Without warning, the Clone shifted his weight and caught her wrist mid-swing in a crushing grip. Before Anko could twist free, he yanked her forward and rammed a brutal elbow into her abdomen.

"Gah!" The breath exploded from her lungs as blood and spit flew from her lips, pain radiating through her core. With the same ruthless precision, he flung her like a ragdoll toward a nearby tree.

But Anko wasn't done yet. Mid-flight, she twisted her body with the grace of a serpent, flipping backward and slamming both feet onto the tree trunk. She stuck there, crouched like a predator, gasping but alive. Her sandals clung to the bark using chakra as she wiped blood from her lip.

'Monstrous strength... but I've fought monsters before.' She flicked her wrist, revealing a scroll coiled like a snake. With a snap, she unsealed it mid-air, releasing a series of glimmering runes, "Summoning: Shadow Fang Serpents!"

From the ink burst a swarm of shadow-formed snakes-black, ethereal vipers with jagged, needle-like fangs. They shot toward the Clone with terrifying speed, weaving through the trees and the air like hunting missiles.

Clone No.6 didn't hesitate. He clapped his hands, "Wind Style (🍃): Escaping Wind Shield!" A powerful gale erupted around him in a spiraling barrier, slicing through the serpents. Shadows howled and dispersed into black smoke, hissing in agony.

Anko's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, 'Wind Style? That's Naruto's nature... but the control... this clone is too advanced.'

Before she could steady herself, the Clone lunged forward again, sword aimed for her throat. Anko ducked and slammed a kunai upward, scraping against the blade as it missed by inches. She somersaulted backward and skidded across the ground.

Her fingers danced through a series of hand signs faster than the eye could follow, "Snake Dragon Art: Breath of the Wicked God!"

Her mouth opened wide-far wider than humanly possible-and from her throat burst a massive serpent made of writhing chakra and smoke, its fanged maw roaring as it surged toward the Clone like a divine punishment.

Clone No.6's eyes narrowed. He leapt back, forming his own seals. "Lightning Style(⚡): Thunder Spear!"

From his palm erupted a thin, glowing javelin of lightning, so focused it hummed like a tuning fork. With a grunt, he hurled it directly into the serpent's core.

The thunder-spear pierced through the snake, detonating it in a flash of light and smoke that lit up the forest.

Anko shielded her eyes, heart racing.

When the light faded, Clone No.6 was standing firm, blade pointed at her. Not a scratch on him. "Are you done or -?" He trailed off looking at Anko.

Anko spat blood on the ground before standing up on her feet with an effort, "No Way In Hell! You Clone Bastard!" She replied with a grin.

Clone No.7 vs Shikamaru, Ino & Chouji

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio was struggling. Naruto's clone was relentlessly pressing the attack, a blur of motion as he hurled kunai and shuriken with terrifying speed and precision. Each projectile whistled through the air like a viper, forcing them to constantly dodge, deflect, and reposition. There was barely a second to breathe-let alone to plan a counter.

Shikamaru's sharp eyes followed the clone's patterns, searching for an opening. He quickly formed a hand signal, and Chōji, reading him perfectly, gave a firm nod.

"Ino, cover us!" Shikamaru barked.

"On it!" Ino replied and sent a barrage of chakra infused kunai's at the clone who dodged them with ease.

Chōji surged forward, his body expanding rapidly, "Partial Multi-Size Technique!" His arm swelled like a battering ram, slamming down towards the clone, forcing him to leap back.

Shikamaru moved with calculated precision, forming his signature hand seal, "Shadow Possession Jutsu!" The shadow slithered along the battlefield, snaking toward its target.

But Naruto's clone anticipated it. "Heh," he chuckled a little, twisting mid-air to hurl three kunai at the Nara, who rolled aside just in time.

Ino closed her eyes for a heartbeat, steadying her breathing, "Mind Disturbance Technique!" she called out.

The clone threw a shuriken to disrupt her concentration, but Shikamaru intercepted it mid-air using a shadow tendril, "Now, Ino!"

Ino's chakra surged-but the clone vanished and appeared behind her. Before she could react, a palm slammed into her back, launching her forward with staggering force. She skidded across the ground, but recovered quickly, coughing as blood dripping from her mouth before steadying herself.

Naruto's Clone then formed hand seals at the rapid pace, "Fire Style (🔥): Phoenix Flame Barrage!!" And launched a volley of phoenix shaped flames in their directions forcing the trio apart to dodge the jutsu.

"Troublesome..." Shikamaru growled, "We'll have to box him in."

"Already on it!" Chōji roared, his body now rotating violently as he launched into Spiked Human Bullet Tank, tearing up the ground and charging toward one of the clones.

Shikamaru took the opportunity, his shadow creeping and twisting around obstacles as he focused on the original. "Shadow Possession Jutsu... Got you."

But Shikamaru wasn't done. He exhaled and formed more seals, layering on top of the shadow bind, "Shadow Sewing Jutsu!"

Shadow tendrils shot out like spears toward the restrained clone, who countered by forming his own seals rapidly, "Wind Style (🍃): Gale Fang Barrage!" A torrent of compressed air blades burst forth, slicing through the shadow tendrils and exploding into the terrain around them.

The clone halted mid-step, locked in place. "Heh... Not bad, Shikamaru," the clone said with a smirk, "You've definitely gotten sharper."

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio were only able to dodge some of the air blade but some injured them as small cuts appeared on their bodies.

The clone then looked at all three and said, "Honestly, Shikamaru, Chouji... I'm impressed. You've both grown. Smarter. Stronger. I am very happy for both of you."

His eyes then shifted to Ino, voice taking on a mocking tone, "And you, Ino. Finally decided to stop playing flower princess and act like a kunoichi?"

Ino wiped the blood off her lip, glaring at him, "I don't need your approval, clone or not." the clone was pissing her off at this point and she wasn't in the mood to talk.

The clone snorted, and replied, "Good. Because I'm not offering it. It is a waste to give it to someone like you." But then, unexpectedly, his tone softened, "Still... I hold no hatred towards you. Shikamaru, Chouji-stand down. Even you, Ino. I don't want to hurt you. I'm telling you this because at one point we were friends."

(A/N: He is telling it to Shikamaru and Chouji. As for Ino he doesn't care about her.)

Shikamaru looked at the clone, and answered, "Then you should know that we wouldn't leave you behind after all we learned it from Naruto himself."

Chouji nodded in agreement, "Yes, we will not leave, Naruto. He is our friend."

Ino remained silent but nodded in agreement with her teammates, after all, she knew that Naruto was only talking about shikamaru and chouji.

The clone sighed, and looked at them and said, "So be it." And the battle resumed between them.

Shikamaru instantly formed a series of hand seals, "Shadow Spider Web Jutsu!!" Dark tendrils erupted from his shadow, weaving together into a vast, intricate web. The shadowy strands shot forward, wrapping around the clone and binding him in place like a spider ensnaring its prey.

The clone smirked, "Clever... but you'll need more than that." Without warning, sparks crackled around his body, "Lightning Style (⚡): Final Discharge!!" A surge of lightning exploded outward in a dome-shaped burst, ripping through the web of shadows and scorching the ground beneath, leaving a shallow crater.

The electricity slammed into Shikamaru before he could react. His eyes widened-then went dark as he collapsed to the ground, unconscious from the sheer force of the attack.

Before the clone could react, Ino appeared on his left side in a blur, "Water Style (🌊): Rising Torrent!" A powerful stream of water surged upward, crashing into the clone with enough force to send him flying backward.

Just as the clone tried to regain his balance mid-air, his instincts flared-he looked up, eyes widening. Chōji, now in full Butterfly Mode, was descending from above with his massive chakra-enhanced fist, 'Akamichi Secret Technique: Giant Slam Impact!!' he thought, slamming the clone with such overwhelming force that it shattered the ground beneath and reduced several nearby trees to splinter. The clone disappeared instantly, vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Chōji dropped to one knee, breathing heavily, clearly exhausted from the immense chakra output.

Ino rushed to his side, "Chōji! Are you okay?"

He gave her a tired nod, "Yeah... I'm alright. Just drained-chakra exhaustion mostly. Don't worry about me. Go check on Shika."

Ino glanced toward the unconscious Nara and gave a small smile, "He's fine. Just knocked out. He'll wake up soon but might be a little disoriented."

Chōji sighed in relief, his shoulders loosening. His best friend was safe. That's all that mattered.

Clone No.8 vs Shino, Kiba & Hinata

The situation for Team 8 was far from ideal. All three Kiba, Shino, and Hinata were locked in a fierce battle against one of Naruto's clones and they were getting beaten very badly. Well kiba especially as if the clone was enjoyed beating the dog boy.

Kiba growled, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek. He was frustrated because of the clone's relentless attack especially on him. Akamaru stood beside him, panting, both of them showing signs of wearing down.

"What's Matter kiba? Can't even fight a shadow clone properly. I remember that from the information I got you were pretty confident that you could take the boss on your own, when you were coming here, yet look at you standing almost ready to collapse, like a fu**ing little bitch." Clone No.8 mocked with a sinister smirk as he effortlessly dodged Kiba's charge. "You say that you could fight the boss but look at you, you are struggling to even keep up with me a clone. Even after 5 years have passed since we last met. It looks like your bark is still louder than your bite."

"Shut up!" Kiba snarled angrily, as his rage at being mocked by a clone was too much and veins appeared on his entire face and leaped forward with Akamaru, "Fang Over Fang (🍃): Gale Spiral Variant!" Both man and beast spun wildly, their chakra enhanced with wind nature, creating slicing gales with every rotation.

But Clone No.8 slammed both hands onto the ground, his chakra surging, "Earth Style (⛰️): Rock Uplift Barricade!" A thick wall of jagged rock shot up in their path, halting their spiral midair and sending them crashing hard into the ground.

Before Clone No.8 could move again, swarms of kikaichū surrounded him from all sides.

"Now," Shino's calm voice echoed, his coat flaring as more insects spilled from within. "Paralyzing Binding Formation."

The insects clustered in a complex hexagonal shape, their chakra linked in a web that clamped down on the clone's movement. Clone No.8 grunted, struggling briefly as the bugs began draining his chakra.

But his eyes flashed with amusement, "Nice trick, Shino," he said, "But it is not enough."

He surged with chakra and spun in a wild motion, "Wind Style (🍃): Violent Typhoon Pulse!"

A shockwave of compressed wind exploded from him, scattering the insects and sending shino flying back with tremendous force. Before he sensed someone appearing behind him.

Hinata appeared in a blur behind the clone, "Gentle Step: Falling Crescent Dance!" Her new taijutsu form was different-more fluid, more unpredictable. She spun midair and struck Clone No.8's chakra points from above, her palms glowing faintly with a blue-white hue. It wasn't just the Gentle Fist-this was something refined, evolved. Several of the strikes landed.

Clone No.8 staggered slightly, his arm going numb, but he smirked again. "That hurt, You have gotten strong, Hinata" he admitted, twisting around and catching her wrist with his good arm. "Yet it is still not enough."

Hinata twisted with elegant agility, flipping and driving her knee into his side before backstepping quickly. Shino regrouped beside her, his kikaichū circling protectively. Kiba limped back into position, bloodied but determined, as Akamaru growled low.

Shino took the lead again, speaking calmly, "He's skilled, adaptive, and aggressive. We need to coordinate our attacks. Kiba follow my lead. Hinata, support us from the rear and conserve chakra."

The clone grinned, stretching his neck side to side, "So serious, Shino. Try to think more freely than seriously." He blurred forward-fast, forming hand seals, "Lightning Style (⚡): Arc Razor Dash!" His body surged with crackling electricity as he dashed between them, his fingertips slicing the air. A sharp arc of lightning trailed behind each movement like a whip.

Shino barely managed to shield himself with a swarm of kikaichū, absorbing the brunt of the energy. Kiba lunged in with a snarl, chakra coating his limbs, "Beast Human Clone: Crimson Pounce Barrage!" He and Akamaru multiplied mid-air-four chakra clones and charged at the shadow clone with feral precision.

But Clone No.8 was already weaving hand signs, "Fire Style (🔥): Scorching Spiral Bloom!" A blazing spiral erupted around him like a flaming lotus, the heat melting Kiba's chakra constructs instantly. The real Kiba barely dodged back, smoke curling off his singed arm guard.

"That's all you got, doggy?" the clone mocked, "You were pretty confident that you would beat Naruto and Yet you can't even beat me and I am his clone meaning weaker than him, remember? Are your delusions now broken or do you want me to break them and your ass even more, you puny little b**ch."

Kiba wiped blood from his lip, fury in his eyes at the comment, "Shut up!"

Shino joined in again, "Time to change the battlefield." He slammed his palm to the ground, "Secret Technique: Hive Field Suppression." Thousands of chakra-absorbing insects erupted from underground, forming a web around the clone and coating the terrain in suppressive aura.

But the clone's expression shifted to serious, "You think this terrain favors you?" he muttered, "Then allow me to reshape it."

He then joined both hands together and used, "Wood Style (🪵): Thousand Thorn Bloom!" From the cracked earth beneath him, a ring of wooden stalks shot up like blooming roses-each tipped with hardened thorns that gleamed with a mix of earth and wind chakra. The wood twisted unnaturally, responding to his chakra like living blades. The vines tore through the insect web, flinging bugs aside. One wrapped around Shino's arm and slammed him into a tree. Another coiled toward Kiba, but Akamaru leapt forward, biting it midair and dragging Kiba out of harm's way.

Hinata's eyes narrowed, as she dodged the vines coming her way and said, "That jutsu... It's not like anything Yamato-senpai used. Did Naruto create it himself?"

Clone No.8 looked at her directly now, "You are right. The boss created it himself." Before his expression turned completely serious, "I am done playing around Hinata. Now it's only you and me-choose how you want to fight and I will comply." He finished softly.

The world seemed to narrow around them. Both dropped into their stances.

Hinata was unlike her old form-her arms loose, movements light, her feet shifting like water flowing over rocks, "Falling Crescent Style: Final Crescent Arc!" A form she developed herself-an evolution of the Hyūga style, centered around flow, grace, and sudden bursts of explosive force. She launched an attack which formed a crescent 🌙.

The clone smirked, mimicking a stance that was uniquely Naruto's-Dragon Fist Form, inspired by the teachings from the Dragon Realm. Then they clashed.

Hinata's palm struck forward like a flash-Clone No.8 tilted just enough, countering with a spinning heel aimed at her shoulder. She ducked and pivoted, sweeping at his ankles. He jumped over, twisting midair and slamming a knee down. She sidestepped and landed a hit-two chakra points closed.

He staggered slightly, grinning, "Sharp."

She came again, faster now, her body flowing like wind wrapped around steel. Her eyes tracked every movement, anticipating his strikes-but the clone was unpredictable. He fought like Naruto, but was more calculated.

Palm met fist. Chakra flared. They locked eyes for a moment, both panting.

Clone No.8 grinned again, "You've grown, Hinata. Way more than I expected."

"Same could be said about You, Naruto-kun," she said softly, sliding back into stance. She rushed in with blinding speeds. He met her mid-way and they both clashed fiercely.

A final, elegant exchange-her palm met his chest; his fist grazed her ribs. The clone flickered-chakra rupturing. The hit was decisive. He staggered back, smiling faintly.

"Well played," he said, before exploding into smoke.

Hinata exhaled softly. Shino and Kiba limped back over, battered but conscious.

"She won," Shino observed calmly and smiled.

"No way," Kiba grinned weakly and winced due his injuries, "She actually kicked his ass..." before he fell on his back completely exhausted and unconscious due to the beating he got from Naruto's clone.

(A/N: *scoff* As if Naruto is allowing you to defeat him after inflicting injuries on all of them)

Hinata just stood there, heart pounding-not in fear, but in pride. Before she went to tend to her teammates injuries. She also looked around and saw others fighting but all of them were injured and some needed immediate treatment.

She also used her byakugan and saw that Kakashi, Asuma and Guy-Sensei's fight is over but they are still injured and unconscious in Guy-sensei's case who is beginning to wake up.

Both Yugao-san & Anko-san were still fighting and looking at them they were holding on. While Ino, Shikamaru (after being woken up) and Chouji also finished their fight and tended to their injuries. She also saw that now only team 7, 9 and Jiraiya were fighting.

She immediately informed this to shino. Who told her to go and check on others. She agreed before checking and doing first-aid healing & check-up on Shino and Kiba.

Clone No. 9 vs Neji, Rock Lee and Tenten

The tension in the air was electric-literally. Clone No. 9 of Naruto stood at the center of the rocky clearing, his expression calm but eyes sharp like a blade poised to strike. Facing him stood some of the people he actually considered good people: Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten. The wind howled around them, a subtle prelude to the chaos about to unfold.

Neji activated his Byakugan instantly, veins bulging near his eyes, "Be careful he is not an ordinary shadow clone," Neji muttered, sensing the dense chakra buildup swirling inside the clone.

Rock Lee took a stance beside him, his green jumpsuit already marked with sweat from earlier sparring, "Let's test our strength, Neji! This clone... I can feel his resolve!"

Tenten exhaled and pulled out twin scrolls, unraveling them mid-air, "You two go. I'll support from a distance."

With a sharp grunt, Rock Lee vanished, kicking off the ground with pure speed-no chakra enhancements, just raw taijutsu. Neji followed closely behind in a flanking arc.

Clone No. 9 didn't move, instead making a single hand seal, "Water Style (🌊): Cascade Veil!". A wall of spiraling water burst up from the ground, blocking Lee's kick just in time, the liquid absorbing the kinetic force but exploding into mist from the impact.

Lee rebounded off the wet surface, spinning in the air, "Leaf Cyclone!" His leg came down like a hammer, but the clone pivoted low and countered with a sweeping kick that sent a splash of water flying as he dodged Neji's precision strike from the side.

'Such power and speed!' the clone thought in alarm, surprised by lee's power. 'He is already this powerful physically. Just how powerful will he be when he uses the eight inner gates!'

Clone No. 9 ducked under the second strike and planted both palms on the wet ground, "Lightning Style (⚡): Raiden Pulse Net". From his hands, a web of lightning rippled out through the damp terrain. The electric current crackled and lashed out toward Neji and Lee-Neji immediately backflipped away using Gentle Step footwork, but Lee had no choice but to use chakra to leap straight into the air.

"His techniques are merging water and lightning!" Neji noted with a rare edge in his tone, "Don't let him control the field."

From a nearby tree, hearing neji's signal Tenten immediately spread her scrolls into the air, "Release: Twin Elemental Armory!" Dozens of kunai infused with wind and fire chakra launched from her scrolls like a swarm of deadly wasps.

The clone's eyes narrowed, "Water Style (🌊): Serpent Torrent!" He slammed his palm together, and a giant water serpent erupted from thin air, weaving through the air and smashing into the wave of projectiles. Steam hissed as fire met water, and wind-enhanced kunai were deflected by the serpent's twisting body.

Tenten followed up, weaving hand seals quickly, "Earth Style (⛰️): Tremor Nails!" Spikes of earth surged from the ground toward the clone's feet-but he had already leapt into the air.

That's when Lee met him mid-air, green blur intercepting his rise, "Leaf Rising Wind!" The roundhouse kick connected with the clone's guard, sending him flying sideways. Clone No. 9 flipped through the air and landed harshly against a boulder, cracking it but still upright.

"He's not going down easy," Tenten muttered, seeing the get back up seemingly with no damage at all.

The clone suddenly clapped his hands together, "Water & Lightning Style (🌊&⚡): Storm Ring Binding!" Dark clouds spiraled over the clearing-summoned unnaturally fast. From above, a ring of water vapor formed, then condensed and locked into a shimmering electric halo. Thunder crackled-then the bolts rained down.

"Scatter!" Neji shouted, grabbing Tenten and vaulting her away just in time and Lee jumped away just in time before the entire landscape was soaked and scorched. Neji then let Tenten stand on her own and Lee also came near them but their eyes never left the clone who was doing the same.

The battlefield was quiet now, the wind brushing past broken stones and scorched earth. Tenten stood at a distance, already prepping backup seals. Rock Lee cracked his knuckles beside her, but the clone raised a hand.

"No," Clone No. 9 said, his voice firm but respectful. His body was bruised, steam still rising from soaked clothes due to performing that jutsu, "Let me face Neji first. I want to see how powerful and good Neji has become."

Neji stepped forward, dusting off his sleeved arms, "And I want to see just what you have learned during your time away, Naruto. It's better to be something worth all of this." he said gesturing the destruction around them and also implying the other destruction caused by other fights. Neji was sure that when the fight was over the entire area would look like a warzone. But there was also something else in Neji's voice-a genuine desire to test and understand. That was enough.

Clone replied with a smile, "It is more than worth it Neji." Thinking about every thing he has accomplished and built after being banished, & especially about his daughters and wives. Before he got serious and his eyes hardened and the smile vanished from his face.

Clone No. 9 rolled his neck and exhaled, his expression sharpening, "No Ninjutsu, Kenjutsu and any other crap. Just taijutsu."

Neji narrowed his pale Byakugan eyes, stepping forward calmly, "Good. Because I've developed something for this." He took his stance-low, grounded, palms outward, but different from the traditional Gentle Fist. His footwork was lighter, less fixed. His chakra was silent.

Clone No. 9 mirrored with his own stance-"Blue Fang Fist"-a hybrid taijutsu he developed from observing various shinobi, beasts, and even the natural elements. It flowed like wind but struck like lightning.

"Let's see whose taijutsu is better." Neji murmured.

They clashed in a blur of motion. Neji slid in first with a sudden palm strike aimed at the rib-Clone No. 9 parried with his forearm and twisted, swinging a sharp elbow to Neji's temple. Neji ducked and spun inside the strike, aiming a knee to the clone's gut-

But the clone deflected it with a rotating drop block-an unusual motion, almost like a flowing river folding upon itself.

Neji thought about Naruto's taijutsu style, 'His taijutsu is unpredictable... not wild. It's deliberate. The angles are too refined to be random. He's watching my rotation speed and shifting like he's water in a cup..'

Neji struck again, palm aimed straight at the clone's heart. The clone bent backwards unnaturally, landing on one hand and launching a sweeping kick with both feet-

Clone No. 9 thought about Neji's New fighting style, 'He reads motion like a sensor. There's no waste in his attacks. But he's modified Gentle Fist-his strikes are more about redirection now, not just chakra point destruction & Most importantly it's Deadlier...'

Their feet met midair *thwack!* and they both flew back from the force and sent shock waves around the entire area.

Neji landed on his feet and straightened up and his byakugan eyes remained focused, "You call that style...?"

"Blue Fang Fist (🌀🐺)," the clone said, raising his fists, "It Flows like water & Bites like lightning. Yours is about Graceful yet Relenting right? What's it called?"

Neji allowed a small nod, "You are Correct about the assessment and Yours is about Controlled Unpredictability. Mine is called 'Moonflow Fist (🌙💫)' "

He blurred forward again, hands moving faster now, "Moonflow Fist (🌙💫): Piercing Moonflow!" Unlike the circular motion of Eight Trigrams, Neji darted forward with a flowing barrage of linear strikes, each targeting multiple pressure points in swift, curved lines like a crescent moon slicing through darkness.

Clone No. 9 absorbed the first wave, spinning in response. He pivoted on one leg, redirecting Neji's arm and countering with a whipping backhand elbow that missed Neji's jaw by a hair, "Blue Fang Fist (🌀🐺): Split Sky Snap!" A rapid three-strike combo-shoulder jab, spinning chop, and a heel kick.

Neji ducked under the heel and leapt back, panting slightly, and thought, 'He's built this style to adapt mid-battle. It isn't fixed like the Gentle Fist or Strong Fist-it breathes and breaks rhythm deliberately. He doesn't block-he flows, he strikes where there's hesitation...'

Clone No. 9 also panting and thought, 'Neji's new style sacrifices rotation for direct velocity... he's fast. Too fast for clean counters. If I don't create space or trap his footwork, I'll get overwhelmed.'

They both dashed forward and collided again, this time exchanging a flurry of blows that echoed through the clearing.

Meanwhile, Tenten and Lee were observing the battle from a distance, and talking about Naruto's and Neji's taijutsu styles. "Amazing!" Tenten said in awe watching the battle, "I never thought I would see a Taijutsu fight like this! It's like watching a battle between Taijutsu Masters who have reached the highest levels of Taijutsu beside Guy-sensei."

Lee nodded in agreement not taking his eyes off the battle, even though he can only see fast blurs, he can make out their movements in his mind, "You are absolutely right, Tenten. From what I have observed, Neji's style is based on absolute precision without any wasted movement. It's a fighting style which specifically developed to fight unpredictable and non-chakra based opponents. Since Gentle fist lacks adaptability. That's why Neji created that style." He paused for some time and started observing the fight once more, and continued, "But unlike Neji, Naruto's fighting style is more about controlled unpredictability. From what I have seen and observed so far, it's a style that is likely capable of adapting to any form of close combat. It is about striking fast, flowing faster. and clashing only when it's advantageous."

Tenten listened to lee's explanation before looking more closely at the battle and said, "So, it is a battle between precision adaptability vs controlled unpredictability."

Neji's palms blurred with incredible speed-aiming for collarbone, abdomen, temple.

The clone blocked with his forearms, danced around the strikes, and ducked low, "Blue Fang Fist (🌀🐺): Rising Spiral Fang!" A rising uppercut imbued with spin, designed to bypass straight-line guards. It grazed Neji's jaw, causing him to stumble half a step.

But Neji didn't falter. He twisted midair, hand out, "Moonflow Fist (🌙💫): Moonflow Reversal!" He grabbed the clone's wrist and flipped over his shoulder, slamming him down into the mud below. The clone coughed, but smirked even as he lay there feeling the pain. If he hadn't had Kurama's large amount of chakra then he wouldn't have lasted this long.

Neji stood over him, breathing heavily, but his tone was calm, "That's one of the most fluid taijutsu forms I've ever faced," he admitted.

The clone grinned, "You've transformed Gentle Fist into something terrifying. Almost... poetic." before throwing Neji off to the side and jumped back up.

Neji reacted in time and balanced himself in time, pulling himself up, "Your form... it would take down most. I respect it."

The clone nodded, wiping his forehead, "And I respect yours."

Then, a sudden whoosh cut the moment. Both turned just in time to see, that Rock Lee had removed his weights. The ground cracked under Lee's weights with a seismic boom, "Neji... please step aside." Lee said, voice low and a fire lit up in his eyes after watching both the taijutsu battle between both Neji and Naruto's Clone.

Neji then went to where Tenten was and stood there with some difficulty due the injuries and bruises and cracked bones he suffered from the fight. Tenten immediately started tending to Neji's wounds.

The clone grinned again, despite his pain, muttering, "Now it's just us."

"It's been a long time since I removed my weights. I hope it will be a good battle." Lee whispered, his voice filled with pure, fiery conviction.

The Clone just gave a smirk, "About that I am very sure."

Lee took a deep breath, "Sixth Gate: Gate of View! OPEN!" The air warped around lee, green energy bursting like a storm, his muscles bulging and trembling from the sheer strain of chakra pouring through his body. The ground beneath his feet cracked in a spiderweb pattern. Before he vanished and reappeared in front of the clone.

The clone only had time to brace before *BAM* A brutal fist sank in his gut, launching him back like a missile. He tore through several trees and stone alike, bounced off the dirt, and came to a grinding stop face down , coughing. Before he looked up to see Lee stood in the same place unmoving.

The clone stood slowly, body groaning in protest. He wiped the dirt from his clothes and narrowed his eyes, 'He is Fast. I didn't even see that attack.'

Lee then vanished again, *WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!* and launched three strikes in rapid succession one to the rib, a spinning back kick and an elbow towards the neck.

But the clone blocked all three of them, "Blue Fang Fist (🌀🐺): Cascade Counter!" he bent with strike's rhythm, using lee's own momentum to rotate past the third hit and landed a heel kick to Lee's chest with enough force to send him flying backwards crashing through several trees.

Lee stopped himself by performing a backflip to land back safely but the blood flowed down from the side of his head. But his eyes remained focused on the clone and thought in surprise, 'He adapted that fast? He's reading my rhythm the same way he readed Neji's.'

But the clone wasn't done and weaved hand seals, "Lightning Style (⚡): Static Fang Burst!" electricity sparked across his body and launched outward like a net of chakra threads at Lee.

But Lee wasn't deterred, instead he dashed through it, "Leaf Thunder Hammer!" he wrapped his fists in the friction of his own momentum, dispersing the electricity with pure kinetic energy as he punched through the net.

Clone's eyes widened and that was the time lee needed as he knocked the clone back again, flipping through the air, But the clone righted himself mid-flight and slammed his hands together, "Water Style (🌊): Spiral Torrent Kick!" water spiraled around his leg like a cyclone as he dive-kicked down from above.

Lee looked up and grinned, "Leaf Reflection Drop!" he reversed the momentum of the spiral, grabbed the clone's leg mid-spin and twisted into a brutal slamming the clone spine-first into the ground below with enough force to crack it.

The clone was stunned due to the brutal impact and coughing but smiled after a few moments, "That was brutal of you, Lee." He said before rolling to the side, avoiding a stomp from lee that cracked the ground.

Lee breathing heavily said, "It's a fight and everything goes. Especially when both of us are giving it our best."

The clone just laughed at that and flipped back to his feet. He feinted a punch, ducked low, and threw a palm toward Lee's knee-but it was just a ruse, "Blue Fang First (🌀🐺): Ghost Fang Feint!" A second strike came from the other hand, hidden in the motion.

It connected to Lee's solar plexus with enough force to make him cough up spit and blood as he was sent flying backwards that he crashed through rocks and trees alike reducing all of them to mere chunks and splinters. Before he landed on the ground with thud. Lee momentarily lost consciousness but he forced himself out of it. As he staggered back up to his feet.

He held back a sharp wince as he entire body screamed for him to stop, he thought, 'Shit! I can't keep doing this. But I have one last move to perform.' he took a deep breath, "Yosh!! Seventh Gate: Gate of Wonder! OPEN!!"

Lee charged, foot breaking the ground beneath. His eyes were sharp-no hesitation, "Hidden Lotus: Triple Lotus Bloom!" He unleashed a triple-sequence attack-two palms smashed to the chest and a rising knee to the chin, finishing in a spiraling axe kick.

The clone blocked the first two, took the knee, and gritted his teeth, "Blue Fang Fist (🌀🐺): Storm Vein Pulse!" He infused his body with a sudden burst of lightning, not for offense but for acceleration. His body blinked sideways out of Lee's axe kick path at the last second, twisting and launching a rising uppercut right under Lee's chin with a loud *CRACK!* As both of their hits connected with the Devestating force that leveled the entire terrain to the point that both Neji and Tenten had to jump several distances away to not get blown away from the force of the attack.

Lee soared upward slightly but spun mid-air and landed in a crouch. Blood ran from his lip. As the seventh gates energy faded away. He wiped it, nodding at the clone in respect, "You got me." before he fell on his knees and slumped as fatigue from using the seventh gate overtook him.

The clone on his knee, chest heaving, his hands trembling from the constant chakra usage, "You got me first." before he poofed out of existence.

Neji and Tenten rushed to Lee's side the instant he collapsed, their movements swift and instinctive. Tenten dropped to her knees, already checking for visible wounds, while Neji crouched beside her, his eyes scanning Lee's battered frame with quiet urgency.

"Lee," Tenten called softly, her voice tight as she pressed a hand to his shoulder, searching for a response.

Neji's gaze narrowed. "His bones have small cracks and his muscles are very strained. We need to stabilize him now."

Neither of them were trained medics, but they'd seen enough battles to know the basics. Tenten tore open a scroll and unsealed a field kit, her fingers working fast as she applied pressure to a bleeding wound. Neji steadied Lee's head and kept his breathing steady, focusing on keeping him conscious.

Clone No. 10 vs Sasuke, Sakura, and Sai

The wind howled across the field as the dust settled. Clone No. 10 stood confidently at the center, his cloak fluttering with each gust of wind. A cold smile appeared on his lips as he locked eyes with the three shinobi before him.

"Ready for round two?" the clone asked coldly.

Sasuke didn't answer. His Sharingan flared crimson, three tomoe spinning as he vanished in a blur-barely a whisper against the wind, *CLANG!* Steel screamed as Sasuke's chokutō, now crackling, 'Lightning Style(⚡): Raikiri Edge' collided with the clone's sword. Sparks erupted as the shockwave cracked the ground beneath them. The clone's expression flickered-just for a moment-as he realized Sasuke's speed had increased dramatically.

But the clone didn't falter. He countered instantly, drawing a sleek katana forged of chakra, its edge glowing faintly blue. With a twist, he broke the clash and leapt back, spinning mid-air.

"Let's see how far you've come since our last fight, Uchiha," he sneered.

Sasuke raised his blade, electricity sparking across its length, "You'll see."

From his side, the clone suddenly drew a second blade-The Sword of the Wind God(🗡️🍃)-its edge a howling gust of compressed wind. Chakra flared violently from the weapon as he swung, unleashing, 'Wind Style(🍃): Crescent Gale Slash' a curved blade of slicing wind that roared toward Sasuke.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and answered with, 'Lightning Style(⚡): Piercing Arc Blade' , slashing down a wave of crackling electricity that met the wind head-on. The two elemental forces collided mid-air with a deafening boom, kicking up a dust storm that blinded the battlefield. Sasuke was sent backwards due to the force. The clone then sensed someone coming from behind and looked back.

From behind, Sai moved quickly, leaping onto his ink bird and flying high above the fray. His hands moved in a blur as he drew a new series of seals, "Ink Style(✒️): Binding Serpent Mass!" From his scroll, several inky serpents slithered out, growing rapidly as they struck down toward the clone like vipers.

But the clone only smirked and raised his hands forward, 'Crimson Wrath Bind!(⛓️⭕)' Scarlet chakra chains shot forward, snaking out at terrifying speed. They shattered the ink snakes mid-air and lashed out toward Sai. One wrapped around Sai's waist and hurled him to the ground with brutal force.

Sakura shouted, "Sai!" But she had no time to grieve-two chains surged toward her as well. She clenched her fists, chakra surging through her arms. With a sharp cry, she ducked under the first and smashed the ground beneath with Chakra-Infused Taijutsu: Breaking Palm, shattering it and forcing the clone to jump away releasing Sai.

Then she launched herself at the clone with renewed fury, "Cherry Blossom Impact Barrage!" Her fists came down like meteorites, each blow exploding the ground around the clone, forcing him to retreat. But just as she closed the gap, one of the red chains caught her ankle mid-strike and whipped her into a nearby boulder with bone-rattling force.

The clone laughed coldly, "You've got strength,Trash. But strength doesn't mean anything without instinct. You're not Tsunade and you'll never be." but just as he finished he blocked a direct strike to his neck from Sasuke.

Sasuke and the clone clashed again, their blades flashing faster than the eye could follow. Wind and lightning clashed repeatedly, lighting up the battlefield. Sasuke activated a new technique, 'Lightning Style(⚡): Serpent Fang Dance' , where his blade split into three lightning whips mid-swing, striking from multiple angles.

But the clone countered, 'Wind Style(🍃): Storm Guard Shell' a cyclone barrier that deflected two strikes and caught the third with his bare hand, wind-chakra spiraling around his palm like a vortex.

Sakura recovered from the impact then, rose and went to check on Sai to see if he was okay while Sasuke was keeping the clone busy.

When she reached Sai's position. She saw that he was getting up with great effort and helped sit up. She asked, "Will you be able to fight, Sai?"

Sai nodded his head and replied, "Yeah just give me a minute." Still recovering, Sai rose shakily to his feet and unfurled a new scroll, "This'll do it..."

"Ink Style(✒️): Celestial Beast Formation!" From the page surged a massive inky Kirin, crackling with lightning as it descended upon the clone. And impacted the clone directly causing a massive explosion to go off. The clone was able to teleport just in time to avoid the attack, and thought, 'Had that attack connected

The battlefield trembled beneath their feet, the air thick with chakra pressure. Dust and debris floated weightlessly as time seemed too slow for a heartbeat.

Sasuke's blade hummed with lightning, and his eyes burned brighter than ever. With a cold breath, he lifted his chokutō and muttered, "You forced this." A surge of chakra exploded from him.

A shimmering ribcage of pure violet energy burst forth, wrapping around Sasuke in a shell of ethereal armor. It grew rapidly-limbs forming, a helm shaping like a wrathful god of war, "Complete Armor Susanoo."

The colossal warrior loomed over the battlefield, its bow forming in one hand, a massive blade of crackling lightning in the other. Sasuke stood in the center, encased in the middle of his own chakra titan, eyes unblinking.

But this time, it was different. His chakra spiraled, sharper-darker. Lightning and shadow danced in tandem, "Kirin(🌩️&🌑): Final Eclipse Judgment." Above them, the sky split apart.

Black clouds thundered violently as a celestial Kirin-massive, cloaked in violet-black lightning-descended from the heavens. It roared with divine wrath, its eyes glowing with the same malice as Sasuke's.

The clone's expression twisted from arrogance into something rarely seen-concern. But then... he smiled.

"So that's how far you've come, Sasuke," he said quietly, then closed his eyes. His body trembled as he tapped deeper into the Nine-Tails' power.

The red cloak of Kurama's chakra morphed and thickened, wrapping around him like armor a crimson cloak appeared around his entire body.

"Let's see how you like this!" the clone roared, forming a Rasengan-but it wasn't normal.

It was massive. A sphere of compressed red and black wind chakra with embers dancing around it like a dying sun, "Tailed Beast Rasengan: Cataclysm Spiral!"

Sasuke's Susanoo shot the Kirin. The beast of thunder and Shadow screamed as it plummeted, fangs bared, seeking destruction.

At the same time, the clone leapt into the air, the Cataclysm Spiral above his palm, red chains coiled around it to contain its unstable power. The explosion tore the clouds apart

A blinding white shockwave expanded outward, flattening trees, shattering rocks, and deafening even Sai who had retreated far back to avoid the blast but couldn't. Sakura shielded herself behind broken earth, chakra flooding her limbs to brace against the detonation. As a giant mushroom cloud rose above touching the sky itself.

Silence followed. Then from the fading smoke a figure emerged which was Sasuke though he was injured and blood was flowing down his eyes due to the strain. The clone on the other hand had poofed out

of existence due to the explosion.

Both Sakura and Sai immediately rushed towards Sasuke who was on one knee and Sakura immediately started healing him while Sai was keeping watch around the area ready for anything.

Original Naruto Uzumaki vs Jiraiya The Toad Sage

Both of them were trading blows, relentless and unyielding, each strike heavier than the last. But just as they were about to clash again, they both suddenly halted-frozen mid-motion.

A thunderous explosion erupted in the sky. A brilliant flash followed by a deafening roar split the air as a massive cloud of dust and flame spiraled upward, forming a colossal mushroom cloud. The shockwave hit them a heartbeat later. Neither had time to react.

They were hurled backwards with such overwhelming force that they tumbled helplessly through the air, like ragdolls caught in a tempest. And they weren't the only ones.

The violent collision between Sasuke and Clone No.10's jutsu unleashed a storm of destruction so intense that everyone within a 400-meter radius felt its fury. Fighters were flung like leaves in a gale. Some who were still mid-battle used the chaos to gain the upper hand, exploiting the disarray to finish off Naruto's clones.

But Naruto remained unfazed. He had anticipated something like this might happen.

Twisting in mid-air, he flipped gracefully and landed on his feet amidst the carnage. Around him, trees were either completely uprooted or split in half, their splintered trunks bearing witness to the sheer force of the blast. Dust clouded the air, but he stood firm.

A flood of memories surged into his mind-the final thoughts and experiences of every clone that had just dispelled. His eyes narrowed behind his dragon-shaped mask.

Inside his head, Kurama let out a low whistle, impressed. "Now that is what I call a bloody good battle!" the beast laughed, voice booming in Naruto's consciousness, "Hahaha! Brat, those clones of yours didn't hold back for even a second. You better not disappoint after the performance they just gave."

Naruto smirked beneath the mask, "Don't worry," he replied coolly, "They did their part with precision and effort. Now it's my turn. I'd be a disgrace if I underperformed after what they pulled off. Besides, most of the others will be busy tending to their wounds and recovering. That gives us plenty of time to deal with this bastard properly."

Just then, a heavy thud echoed nearby.

Jiraiya landed a few meters away, breathing hard. His eyes widened as he took in the devastation-the scorched earth, the shattered trees, the pulsing silence left in the wake of destruction. His clothes were torn in several places, and fresh blood dripped from a cut on his cheek and another on his hand-wounds Naruto himself had inflicted earlier.

They weren't life-threatening. But they hurt. And they reminded Jiraiya of something far more unsettling.

He stared at Naruto, saying nothing for a long moment, 'If the clones were capable of this...' the thought circled his mind like a vulture, 'Then what the hell is the original capable of?'

'He's not just the boy. That I remembered or taught,' Jiraiya thought grimly, 'He's something else. Something... That I helped in shaping.' A part of him was very proud of Naruto's power and just what he has achieved.

However, there was also regret in one part that Naruto became what he is today through his experiences and challenges he faced alone. Jiraiya never thought things would spiral this badly out of control that it drove away his godson.

The son of his prized student Minato. He remembered the time when his student Minato and his wife Kushina asked him to be Naruto's godfather and he was surprised but also very happy. But he utterly failed in fulfilling his promise.

"Is this really what you want, Naruto?" Jiraiya asked, his voice low, "All this fighting? All this power-just to hurt the people who were once your comrades, Some of whom were your friends?"

Naruto didn't move. The silence hung between them like a blade, until Jiraiya stepped forward, tone heavier now, strained with guilt.

"Is this what your father would've wanted?" he asked quietly. "What would your mother have said if-"

He didn't finish. A sharp, suffocating pressure cut him off.

Naruto's eyes flared behind the mask-glowing crimson, inhuman. The sheer killing intent that erupted from him hit like a tidal wave, a pressure so dense the very air rippled and groaned around them.

"I don't care what Minato Namikaze would've wanted!" Naruto snapped, his voice twisted with fury. "I don't give a damn about that bastard!"

Jiraiya froze.

Naruto stepped forward, the ground beneath his feet cracking with each step. "As for my mother?" His voice dropped, rough with sorrow. "She would've wanted me to live a normal life. A peaceful one. She would've wanted people like you to protect me. To raise me." He paused. His voice trembled-not with weakness, but restrained rage. "And you all failed. Especially you, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya said nothing. Because there was nothing to say.

Every word Naruto spoke stabbed with the sharp, bitter edge of truth.

"My so-called father, Minato Namikaze..." Naruto sneered at the name. "Even he would've wanted me to grow up loved. Protected. Raised by people he trusted. By you, Jiraiya. But if my parents saw what this village did to me..." he looked up slowly, eyes like molten fire behind the mask, "they'd have destroyed it themselves."

His chakra surged violently, a crimson storm spiraling outward, tearing into the earth and sky. Trees bent away from him. The wind howled like a wild beast.

"You were a coward," he hissed. "They trusted you-and you vanished. You didn't even come check on me once. Not until the Chunin Exams. Don't you dare give me that 'spy network' excuse. You could've come. Even for an hour."

His fists clenched tight enough to bleed.

"I would've forgiven you... if you had just shown up-just once!" he shouted. "But you didn't. You had the audacity to return like nothing happened. Like you hadn't abandoned your godson for thirteen years!"

Jiraiya's expression darkened, eyes filled with a pain he had no defense for.

"And when you did come back, you didn't even have the decency to apologize! You looked me in the eye like you hadn't let me rot alone in that damn apartment! You-Jiraiya the Gallant-don't get to question my choices! Not anymore! You lost that right a long time ago!"

The earth split beneath Naruto's feet. His chakra pressure reached a breaking point, the very landscape shaking-stones levitating, trees creaking under invisible weight. The air had turned red with rage.

Jiraiya took a slow breath, then raised his hands, not in surrender, but in preparation. There was no room for more words now.

"I am sorry for everything, Naruto. But I am doing this to protect you. That's why you will be coming with us." His voice was steady again. Sad, but resolute.

Naruto scoffed, chakra clawing at his skin like a second being, "Try, old man."

In a flash, the ground exploded beneath them.

Naruto shot forward, his fist cloaked in a spiraling red-black chakra, the force behind it enough to shatter stone. Jiraiya met him mid-air, summoning a Rasengan at the last second, slamming it forward with a shout. The two orbs of destruction collided, sending out a shockwave that blew apart the terrain in a mile-wide radius.

The sky thundered. Cracks raced along the cliffside.

Naruto flipped back mid-air, landing in a crouch, his expression unreadable beneath the mask.

Jiraiya skidded back, hands bleeding, his breath ragged. But both of them were far from done.

Jiraiya's fingers moved with muscle memory etched into bone-years of battle condensed into a silent, seamless string of seals: horse, snake, tiger, ram. The world seemed to hold its breath as the temperature rose around him.

His voice was low, controlled, but it carried the weight of finality, "Fire Style (🔥): Blazing Abyss Barrage."

From his mouth erupted a dense sphere of fire, no larger than a melon at first. But as it shot skyward, it fractured midair-exploding into dozens of burning orbs that arced downward like falling meteors. They didn't simply burn-they lingered, each impact birthing pools of churning flame that clung to the ground, devouring oxygen and searing everything in reach. It was a technique meant to control the battlefield, to corral the enemy into submission through sheer area denial.

The flames hissed and roared, turning earth into scorched ruin, a hellish landscape blooming outward from Jiraiya's will.

But Naruto didn't flinch. He stepped forward, the blue of his eyes darkened by shadows dancing across his face from the encroaching fire.

He brought his hands together. His chakra shifted-cool, turbulent, sharp. He inhaled deeply, the air around him swirling with sudden moisture, "Water Style (🌊): Rising Flood Requiem!"

From around water came into existence, the cracked and blackened ground trembled-then burst open. A roaring wall of water surged upward in a spiraling column, glowing faintly blue with chakra. It wasn't a wave meant to crush, but to cleanse-targeted, intentional, elegant. The swirling pillar met the descending firebombs in midair, crashing into them with brutal grace. Steam exploded outward in sheets, hissing like a thousand snakes, blanketing the field in a boiling white mist.

Each firebomb fizzled and cracked as it was enveloped, drowning mid flight or extinguished in its own molten cradle.

The mist settled, wrapping the battlefield in a ghostly silence. Through the steam, Naruto's silhouette remained still-eyes focused, breath steady, "That jutsu was old, Jiraiya. I've grown past your shadows. I surpassed you long ago."

Jiraiya lowered his hands slightly, lips pressed into a thin line. He wasn't just looking at a student anymore. He was looking at someone who surpassed him.

The earth was scarred and steaming, trees around the clearing half-charred, half-frozen by elemental collisions. Mist clung to the ground, swirling around the two shinobi like ghosts from their past.

But neither Jiraiya nor Naruto paused.

They surged toward each other again.

Naruto's feet shattered the stone beneath him as he exploded forward, fists clenched tight, his chakra surging wildly, "Explosion Fist (💥): Limit Break Formation!"

His entire arm ignited-not with fire, but with raw concussive force, chakra compressed into volatile bursts that pulsed with every heartbeat. Each punch didn't just swing-it detonated in the air with the power of a focused shockwave.

He came in low, ducking under Jiraiya's guard, and slammed his right fist forward. The shockwave didn't need to land-it blasted out ahead of the strike, a contained bomb of kinetic energy meant to rupture internal organs even with a glancing blow.

But Jiraiya had already read the rhythm. He twisted his body back just enough, letting the shockwave brush past his chest-too close-and used the momentum to pivot.

With a sudden motion, he slapped both hands to the ground, "Earth Style (⛰️): Iron Serpent Bind!"

The earth cracked open at Naruto's feet, and black, iron-like chains of stone erupted from below, snaking upward to entangle his limbs. One wrapped around his right ankle, another his wrist-but before the last could lock around his waist, Naruto twisted midair, chakra flaring violently, "Detonation Pulse(💥🌀💣)!"

A concentrated explosion surged from his core, blowing apart the binding rocks in a violent shockwave of raw chakra. Shards of molten earth scattered like shrapnel.

But as the smoke cleared, Jiraiya was already mid-air above him, his hands moving once more.

There was no smile now.

Only war.

"Fire Style (🔥): Dragon Pyre Requiem!" A massive serpent-shaped dragon of black fire roared into life around him, twisting and coiling through the sky. Unlike normal flame, this burned downward, pulled by chakra and gravity alike. Its maw opened wide as it plummeted straight toward Naruto.

Naruto's eyes narrowed, and the moment slowed. He couldn't dodge.

So he did the one thing Jiraiya hadn't expected.

He dropped his stance, drew his fists to his hips, and waited.

As the flaming dragon descended, Naruto stepped into it, planting his feet deep into the ground. Then-

"Explosion Fist (💥): Reverse Drive!" He struck upward with both fists-not at the dragon, but at the air itself-sending a twin shockwave upward in an expanding sphere. The concussive blast met the descending fire and disrupted its form violently, tearing through the base of the flame serpent with pure pressure.

The remnants of the dragon scattered across the sky like meteor embers.

Both men were breathing hard now. Blood at the corners of Naruto's mouth. Sweat dripping from Jiraiya's chin.

The scorched battlefield still pulsed with heat from the last clash. Steam hissed off shattered stone as Naruto stood amid the rubble, his chest rising and falling with deep, ragged breaths. His fists trembled slightly-not from exhaustion, but from restraint.

Jiraiya was still recovering from the Explosion Fist: Reverse Drive, its double shockwave having shattered the form of his dragon flame jutsu. But the old sage was already weaving new hand seals, intent on retaliating.

Naruto closed his eyes for a brief moment.

The anger, the grief, the purpose-they all surged and burned beneath his skin. But he didn't tap into Kurama.

No. This time, he reached within himself.

A golden glow rippled from his chest outward-warm, steady, and alive. The very essence of Yang Release, the power of creation, of vitality, of life. His chakra became light-thick, golden-orange tendrils spiraled around his arms like a living flame, but it wasn't fire.

It was pure chakra, infused with the force of his will.

He shifted his stance, planting his heel down hard, "Yang Style (☯️ 🔷): Radiant Pulse Hammer!"

He brought both fists to his hips, and the chakra around him surged-concentrating at the tips of his knuckles. Then, in a single forward lunge, he slammed his fist into the air.

Not toward Jiraiya directly-but at the space between them.

The air bent. Then fractured. A concussive, radiant shockwave erupted outward in a dome of glowing golden chakra-bursting with pure life force. Trees that had been burned were suddenly covered in fresh green sprouts. The cracked earth glowed with veins of energy. The technique wasn't meant to destroy.

It was meant to overpower and restore-a paradox of destruction through creation.

Jiraiya barely had time to brace. The wave of golden chakra slammed into him, lifting him off his feet and hurling him across the battlefield. He crashed into the remnants of a boulder, the stone shattering on impact.

But it didn't burn. It didn't maim or anything. It simply rendered his chakra network numb, overwhelming his system with an excess of pure yang energy-like trying to breathe in sunlight. He coughed, chest heaving, limbs twitching.

"W-What... was that...?" he muttered, struggling to rise.

Naruto stood at the center of the crater, the golden glow slowly fading from his fists. His eyes, calm now, locked with Jiraiya's, and replied, "The power to heal... and destroy. That's the path I walk now. Not as the child you trained. But as the man I've chosen to become."

And with that, he turned-his footsteps light, but his presence heavier than ever.

The golden light of Yang Release still shimmered faintly behind him-like the setting sun over the ruins of old bonds and the promise of something new.

Jiraiya was on one knee, his white hair matted with sweat and soot, blood trailing down his right arm where Naruto's shockwave had torn through his defense. His vision was blurred, the weight of age and regret pressing hard against his bones.

Naruto stood a few feet away from him-breathing heavy, knuckles bleeding, eyes glowing faintly from the echo of Kurama's chakra that still simmered beneath his skin. But there was no malice in his gaze.

Only pain. And truth.

He looked down at Jiraiya with a steady expression, voice ragged but firm, "I didn't want this, Ero-sennin. But you-you tried to drag me back to a place that almost broke me without ever trying to understand what I wanted." the raw emotions in his voice made jiraiya's heart clench in sorrow.

Jiraiya lowered his head. He didn't argue. The flames around them crackled in the silence.

Naruto continued, "Konoha took everything from me. My mother's love.. My trust... My choice.. They tried to make me something that I wasn't and Know I am free and have people who love me, care for me. I have everything that konoha could never give me."

Jiraiya looked up, eyes shining with a mixture of sorrow and silent pride. Naruto's fists trembled at his sides, but his voice never wavered.

"I am not the boy who used to played prank on everyone to get attention. I am not the boy who used to be a trouble maker. I am not the boy who was the dead-last. I am not the boy who the village called a demon. I am not the boy who other higher ups in the village wanted as a weapon." Naruto looked at Jiraiya in the eye and said, "I am Naruto Uzumaki. Son of Kushina Uzumaki. The Black Dragon. The jinchuriki of the Nine Tails and I am free." With that he turned around.

But just as he was about to walk away from the battlefield. He senses told him of incoming he looked back and saw the entire retrieval team arriving there with Sakura and Ino immediately went to check on Jiraiya while the others like Kakashi, Guy, Asuma, Yamato, Yugao and others were looking at him ready to fight despite being injured.

Naruto without turning around said, "I don't want to kill any of you. But I will if I have to. Leave me be it will be good for everyone here." as he started walking away he heard hinata's voice behind him.

"Naruto-kun... please... stop."

He paused upon hearing those words and looked back directly at Hinata who had tears in eyes and her eyes speak emotions that made him feel vulnerable.

Her voice carried something unshakeable, "We didn't come to chain you. I came... because I still believe in you. Not the hero. Not the jinchūriki. Not the weapon. I came for You."

Naruto's jaw tightened. He looked away. Kurama stirred faintly inside him, but didn't speak. The silence was his own.

Then she took a step forward, "Come back, Naruto-kun... not for them. For yourself. 'And For me' "

Naruto said nothing. His eyes moved across each face-people who once saw him as a joke, a tool, a burden. Some of them now looked at him with shame. Others, with guilt. A few, with hope.

He closed his eyes. Then exhaled, "...Fine. I will come back. But I have one condition" hearing this everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But Naruto wasn't done, "No one will try and control me or any other things. Otherwise there will be consequences.'

Silence followed. Heavy. Real.

Kakashi nodded slowly, his voice quiet, "Understood."

Neji lowered his Byakugan. Shikamaru let out a long breath, muttering, "Troublesome..." Everyone relaxed their stance and Hinata just smiled through her tears.

The boy they all once knew is long gone and in his place is someone who would face everything on his own terms.

Kurama who saw and heard everything stayed silent. He knew everything had gone according to the plan but Naruto's emotions and words weren't fake they were his feelings that he buried inside but now all of it is coming out.

Some distance away was zetsu looking at the destruction that happened because of the fight and listened to the team and Naruto's talk and immediately went to report this to Madara and Pain.

TO BE CONTINUED ...