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Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: For the Village, You Have No Choice!

Temari had a figure that embodied the charm of a mature woman.

The sensation Naruto felt when he touched her was completely different from what he had experienced with Xiyan. Xiyan had been soft and delicate, while Temari's body was firm and full of strength—an equally alluring contrast.

"Great! I'm looking forward to your performance in the future, Temari," Naruto said with a grin.

Before Temari could respond, Naruto's figure had already vanished from in front of her.

Right now, he had more important things to do. Matters of romance could wait—Konoha needed him.

Temari stood there dazed, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. She hadn't expected Naruto to be so bold. The close contact they had shared just moments ago had sent her heart racing and her thoughts spiraling. Surprisingly, she hadn't felt repulsed by anything he did.

Fortunately, Kankuro showed up right in time, giving her a nudge and bringing her back to her senses.

---

Elsewhere in Konoha, the streets were in shambles. Giant snakes summoned by Orochimaru still writhed in the aftermath of battle, but Jiraiya had managed to eliminate the last of them.

As the dust settled, a golden flash of light appeared in front of him.

"...Naruto!"

Uzumaki Naruto stood tall, smiling as he approached. Jiraiya observed him closely. Although Naruto was just a teenager, his aura had grown far beyond his years. Even Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, who had just fought to protect Morino Ibiki and countless civilians, had to acknowledge the growth in this boy.

"Jiraiya, I came to tell you about the Third Hokage's situation," Naruto said seriously.

"The Third... old man?" Jiraiya turned his gaze toward the distance, to the highest spectator stand of the Chūnin Exam arena.

Inside the Four Purple Flame Formation, Sarutobi Hiruzen—the Third Hokage—was locked in a desperate battle, besieged by Orochimaru and the reanimated First and Second Hokages. The situation looked grim.

Jiraiya sighed heavily. "The old man has finally… gotten old."

He still respected Sarutobi Hiruzen, even if he disagreed with some of his decisions. After all, Hiruzen had once been his teacher, a man he had admired during his youth. But even heroes eventually age. Time showed no mercy.

"Orochimaru... that bastard!" he growled.

Even though he held mixed feelings about Sarutobi, Jiraiya was still a firm believer in the Will of Fire. He placed the village's well-being above everything else—even personal grudges.

Naruto took a deep breath and said, "Jiraiya, I might be able to help rescue the Third Hokage."

"You? Naruto?" Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, scanning the young shinobi.

Naruto's face was confident, determined, and eerily reminiscent of Minato, his late father. His talent was undeniable, and in many ways, he had already surpassed his father. But could he really take on Orochimaru?

Jiraiya remained skeptical. Could a kid—even a prodigy like Naruto—really change the tide of such a deadly battle?

But before Jiraiya could voice his doubts, he noticed something in Naruto's eyes—a spark of cunning, of wisdom that went far beyond his age.

"You… you're here to ask for the Nine Tails' key, aren't you?"

Naruto smiled harmlessly. "You're smart. I won't deny it."

"This is the only way to save the Third Hokage—and the village."

His voice dropped an octave, firm and chilling in its clarity.

"Jiraiya… you don't want to become a sinner of Konoha, do you?"

Jiraiya's heart sank. Naruto wasn't begging—he was negotiating. No, demanding.

He fell silent. The Naruto from the training grounds on the back hills had vanished. The boy in front of him was someone else entirely—strategic, ruthless, and resolute. It made Jiraiya uneasy.

"I was thinking of heading there myself," Jiraiya muttered.

But before he could finish, Naruto raised his arm and pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

Behind him, a colossal figure loomed—a massive tailed beast with sand swirling around it.

"One-Tailed Shukaku…!"

Jiraiya's body tensed. He understood immediately. If no one stopped Shukaku now, even saving the Third Hokage would be meaningless—Konoha would be destroyed in the rampage.

"I see. So you're forcing me to stay and handle this while you go?"

Naruto didn't answer with words. Instead, a spiraling sphere formed in his palm, crackling with blue lightning arcs.

"Lightning Style: Spiral Shuriken!"

In an instant, Naruto's Rasengan, fused with lightning chakra, glowed with terrifying power. Using the red chakra claw formed from the Nine Tails' energy, he hurled the Rasenshuriken straight at Shukaku.

BOOM!

The attack struck Shukaku squarely, and blue lightning surged across its enormous body. The beast trembled, paralyzed under the electrical shockwave, its movements stilled momentarily.

Jiraiya's jaw dropped. "W-What kind of Rasengan is this…? He combined it with lightning? He doesn't just have wind nature… but lightning too?"

He was stunned. This wasn't just some impressive jutsu—it was mastery of multiple chakra natures. A rare gift even among the elite.

"How about now?" Naruto asked, extending his right hand. "Do you believe me?"

"I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing it to save the Third Hokage. Everything I do is for Konoha!"

Jiraiya hesitated. Naruto's words echoed with truth—and power. The village did need this strength. The only question was whether he could trust it.

As someone who had inherited the Will of Fire, Jiraiya had always placed the village first. No matter how he looked at it, giving Naruto the seal key now was a calculated risk with a high reward. The alternative could mean the destruction of everything they fought to protect.

In the Kage Dimension, where the leaders of the ninja world were watching this play out—

Fourth Raikage: "That Naruto actually has Jiraiya in the palm of his hand!"

Ohnoki: "To think, a legendary Sannin being manipulated by a brat…"

Uchiha Madara: "Heh, I like this kid. Much more reliable than that Uchiha punk."

Terumi Mei: "So? Will Jiraiya really hand over the Nine Tails' key?"

Senju Tobirama: "As the boy said... for the village, Jiraiya has no choice."

Ohnoki: "But if that brat really controls the Nine Tails… the entire ninja world could plunge into chaos!"

Uzumaki Kushina: "Better chaos than being ruled by scum like you!"

Ohnoki: "Don't throw accusations around, woman! Iwagakure had nothing to do with the fall of the Uzumaki clan."

Kushina: "Then tell me, who did?"

Fourth Raikage: "Ahem. Let's not dwell on the past. Look—Jiraiya really took out the key!"

Terumi Mei: "Raikage-sama, your bias is showing."

Fourth Raikage: "Hmph. We act for the good of our village. The Land of Lightning is the strongest now!"

Shimura Danzō: "Yes, the strongest at being shameless."

Orochimaru: "Tsk tsk. The Land of Lightning? If it weren't for Hiruzen-sensei's wisdom, you wouldn't even be on the map."

---

Back on the battlefield, Jiraiya finally made his decision. He summoned Gamato, the giant toad holding the sealing scroll.

Naruto stepped forward and etched a hand seal onto the scroll, unlocking the final barrier on the Nine Tails' chakra.

As the seal lifted, an overwhelming flood of chakra surged into Naruto's body. He clenched his fists, feeling power like never before. The energy of the Nine Tails coursed through him—furious, pure, unrelenting.

With this strength, he could destroy Konoha in an instant if he wished.

Jiraiya's voice came softly. "Naruto… what you promised me…"

"Don't worry," Naruto said with a faint smile, turning his back to him. "I'll keep my word."

And then, in the blink of an eye, Uzumaki Naruto vanished, leaving only a whirlwind of dust behind.

---

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