This was absolutely not something an ordinary ninja—no, not even a typical jōnin—could possess.A presence so intense, it felt as though it had physically struck the body.
Kankurō gritted his teeth and flicked his fingers. "Don't get cocky, brat!"
Two puppets launched forward, one from the front and one from behind—Dashing, ascending, radiating murderous intent.
Naruto's expression remained calm as he unsheathed his blade.
Just a single flash of steel.
The two puppets clattered to the ground.
Kankurō stared at his own hands—barely visible threads shimmered in the air.
The chakra threads had been severed.
But he had no time to focus on that now—an overwhelming pressure crashed down on him, forcing him to one knee, back hunched, head bowed.
What was this?
Just… pure killing intent?
He couldn't even stand in front of it?
And it wasn't just him.
Clang—Temari's giant fan, just lifted, dropped to the ground with a thud. She leaned on it just to stay upright.
The Sunagakure jōnin stared in disbelief.
Taking a deep breath, he summoned his chakra to resist the crushing force—To withstand the suffocating pressure radiating from the blond youth before them.
So then—That earlier aura… had still been a sheathed blade.And now it had truly been unsheathed?
"I only drew my sword," Naruto said, holding it horizontally, "and you already can't stand?"
The Sunagakure jōnin clenched his teeth, raising his hands with difficulty and pushing Kankurō and Temari away. "You two step back. He's not someone you can face."
"Only if Gaara uses the Feigned Sleep Technique and borrows that thing's power, can we even think of countering him..."
As he spoke, several Konoha shinobi arrived.
Leading them was Genma Shiranui.
Their landing was a little messy—they hadn't expected the oppressive pressure in Naruto's vicinity to make even chakra hard to circulate.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he said, but then paused, unsure what to say.
He had intended to tell Naruto to withdraw—But now…This guy was clearly stronger than him.
"Leave this to me," Naruto said with a smile as he looked back. "Go help the others."
"Understood," Genma nodded and signaled the others.
They slowly retreated from the area of pressure.
"Oh, right," Naruto added, "the one who cast the genjutsu earlier was a Konoha ninja named Yakushi Kabuto."
"Be careful."
"He's around jōnin level."
Genma wasn't surprised by the name Yakushi Kabuto.A genin who had withdrawn at every critical exam for seven years was already under suspicion.But hearing he had jōnin-level strength made him pause.
He nodded. "Got it."
"Be careful, Naruto."
He stepped back—but his eyes didn't leave the blond figure.That back filled his vision completely.
Twelve years had passed—And that figure stood before him again.
Maki's forehead was drenched in sweat.
"Your arms look heavy—can you still use jutsu?" Naruto looked back at him.
"Step down."
Maki lifted his arms, forcing a smile, trying to sound tough: "What are you talking about? My arms aren't heavy at all."
"My chakra's flowing just fine."
"It's just… your aura's a little scary."
He formed hand seals and summoned chakra. The wind began swirling at his fingertips, forming a violent current.
In a flash, he moved—Blades gleaming toward Naruto.
His speed was even faster than Zabuza's.
But the jutsu that once allowed him to take down special jōnin like Gekkō Hayate—was ineffective against Naruto.
Wind and blade clashed.
Lightning sparked.
After several exchanges, Maki suddenly froze, lowering his gaze.
That deep red blade—Somehow had bypassed him and stabbed into his chest.
His chakra faltered, the wind blade in his hand dispersing.
He turned his head.
The sand sphere surged. Chakra fluctuations spiked.
It brought him some comfort.
Sure enough… against someone this strong,he had been overmatched.
He hadn't bought quite enough time—But the Feigned Sleep Technique had completed. That thing would emerge safely.His mission was done.
Naruto didn't even look at the emerging One-Tail.
He had sensed something more important.
He abruptly looked up toward the watchtower where Orochimaru's chakra had first erupted—The rooftop was now sealed in a translucent purple barrier.Inside were Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru, along with two unfamiliar chakra presences.
But those two weren't the key.
It was the way they appeared—
He felt something different from chakra.It was something more like… a soul.
A spirit?
A soul?
A new kind of chakra, brought forth by new souls.
He stared at that direction in disbelief.
He didn't see wrong.
He had been in Konoha for so long—Even in the Forest of Death, with all the people dying, he had never seen a soul leave a body.
But just now—Though only a brief flash—He had felt it.
No mistake—That was the power of a soul.
From the sand sphere—
Two massive tanuki paws tore through, accompanied by wild, triumphant laughter:"Hahaha! I'm finally out!"
"Damn humans, sealing me for so long!"
It released its power.
Its shadow grew taller, expanding rapidly, covering the entire stadium.
The tan-colored beast bared its teeth.
Ninjas who hadn't yet escaped the arena looked up in terror, screaming.
Even those mid-battle couldn't help but stare.
Naruto's attention was pulled back.
So this… was the true form of a Tailed Beast?
He had to deal with this one first.
Sheathing his sword, he clapped his hands together.
Time to test what he had just learned.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Dozens of golden chains burst from his back, whipping through the air and wrapping around the giant tanuki.
Shukaku looked down at the chains binding its body.
That familiar scent—
"Adamantine Sealing Chains?!" it shrieked, struggling.
Its massive body made the chains creak and strain, but the more it thrashed,the tighter the golden chains held.
Boom!
They slammed it heavily into the ground.
Its head dragged against the earth.
Shukaku glared hatefully at Naruto. "A golden-haired Uzumaki?!"
"You little brat, how do you have such massive chakra?!"
Naruto clapped his hands and formed shadow clones.
"I was going to let Kurama say hi to you," he said,"But sorry—no time for that. I have more important things to witness."
"So please, go back."
The shadow clones all formed seals.
"Tail-Sealing Technique!"
Sealing marks spread from their palms, blanketing Shukaku's massive body.
It twisted and roared, its sand-like chakra flowing back into Gaara.
"Damn Uzumaki brat!"
It had only just emerged—its body not yet fully formed—Barely breathed in some fresh air—And now, unprepared, it faced a natural counter to its power… utterly helpless.
A newly awakened Gaara blinked in confusion.
Temari and Kankurō, who hadn't retreated, watched the scene in horror.
The terrifying "Shukaku"—
Instead of ravaging Konoha as planned—was resealed in the blink of an eye?
What technique was that?!
(End of Chapter)