The desert wind howled across the dunes, carrying the scent of blood and clay.
Kankurō's footsteps pounded against the sand as he closed in on the Akatsuki pair. Gaara's limp body swayed from the grip of Deidara's clay bird. Every muscle in Kankurō's body screamed at him to move faster.
"GAARA!" he shouted, his voice raw.
Sasori, the man in the black cloak patterned with red clouds, stopped walking and turned just enough for the moonlight to catch his face. The shadows didn't hide the faint, cruel smile on his lips.
"I thought you might come," Sasori said, his voice flat.
Without another word, Kankurō leapt into action, summoning his puppets in a flash of chakra threads. The sound of wooden joints creaking filled the air. Sasori responded in kind, releasing the hidden weapons from the puppet he carried on his back.
The desert became a deadly dance of steel blades, poisoned needles, and whirling joints. But it was no contest.
Kankurō's attacks were sharp, but Sasori's were surgical—each move precise, each strike backed by decades of experience. Kankurō could barely keep up. A single poisoned senbon found its mark, grazing his arm. His vision blurred almost instantly.
"Tch…" Kankurō staggered, his puppets dropping lifelessly into the sand as he collapsed.
When Maki and a squad of Suna shinobi finally arrived, the Akatsuki were already silhouettes on the horizon, vanishing into the desert with their prize. The Kazekage was gone, and the village's morale crumbled.
Panic took root in Sunagakure that night.
Far away, in the quiet heart of Konoha, the training grounds echoed with the sound of clashing shinobi.
The moon hung high above, its pale glow breaking through the canopy. Lantern light glimmered faintly on the leaves as the forest whispered in the night wind.
Kakashi Hatake crouched behind a thick oak, his breath ragged. Hours of constant movement and counterattacks had pushed him near his limit.
"Haa… haa…" He exhaled slowly, adjusting his grip on the bells at his hip. "Naruto… that guy hasn't shown the slightest sign of tiring."
His single visible eye narrowed. What a monster. This chakra pool… he really can fight however long he wants.
A short distance away, Tsunade and Jiraiya watched from the sidelines.
Tsunade's keen gaze studied Naruto's movements. "He's still holding back," she murmured. "There's no way he's used his full power yet."
Jiraiya folded his arms. "You're right. And just so you know, he's mastered Sage Mode—perfect form."
Tsunade's eyes widened. "Perfect Sage Mode? Like my grandfather's?" She exhaled sharply. "So he's already grown this far… Kakashi's not winning this."
On the field, Sakura panted heavily, sweat beading on her forehead. She glanced at Naruto, who stood tall, breathing evenly, as if they hadn't been moving at high speed for hours.
"How… how do you still have so much energy?" she asked, catching her breath. Then she smirked. "Kakashi-sensei's close to his limit. If we push now, we can take the bells."
Naruto didn't answer right away. His gaze lingered on Kakashi's hiding spot, his mind turning. If I keep going like this, it'll take too long. Even with Sakura's help, getting those bells from Hatake at this level isn't easy. His title as the Copy Ninja wasn't just for show.
Maybe… Sage Mode? That would end it fast.
Then an idea struck him—a plan from the original "script" of his old life. A trick that had worked before. He motioned for Sakura to come closer, whispering the idea.
Sakura's eyes went wide. "Wait… you're seriously going to try that?"
He grinned. "Let's decide as we go."
It was a gamble. If it failed, Sage Mode would end things.
Minutes ticked by. Five long, silent minutes.
Kakashi frowned from behind his cover. What are they waiting for? He stayed tense, using the lull to recover just a little more stamina.
Then, without warning, Naruto and Sakura leapt from the treetops—straight toward him.
"I knew it." Kakashi braced, forming seals. But the moment Naruto shouted something, his hands faltered in surprise.
Sakura lunged, hand snapping toward the bells—
Bang!
A puff of smoke erupted. The Kakashi they struck vanished in a swirl—only a shadow clone.
"What?!" Sakura stared in disbelief. "It was a clone?!"
Naruto froze mid-move. That… didn't happen last time. Why?
Kakashi landed on a nearby branch, both eyes in their classic dead-fish expression. "That was close. If I hadn't saved a shadow clone earlier, you might've pulled it off. Didn't expect you to use that trick, Naruto. Pretty low."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "How'd you prepare a shadow clone? You've got barely any chakra left."
"That's the thing," Kakashi said evenly. "You're the one I'm watching out for. You haven't shown a hint of exhaustion—means I have to guard against everything."
So that's it, Naruto thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. I've been too calm. He got suspicious.
The smile vanished from his face.
"In that case… I won't hold back anymore," he said quietly.
Sakura stiffened. There was something different in his tone—an edge, a weight.
Kakashi's gaze sharpened. "So you were hiding your real strength."
Naruto clasped his hands together, closing his eyes. The forest seemed to shift. A faint hum filled the air as the natural energy in the surroundings began to flow toward him.
Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "He's gathering senjutsu chakra."
Tsunade could feel it too—an enormous, pure force converging on the boy. Her breath caught. "This… this is perfect, Sage Mode."
In less than ten seconds, Naruto opened his eyes. Dark orange pigmentation framed them, and his irises were ringed with gold. The power radiating from him pressed against the very air.
The ground seemed to steady beneath his feet.
The real fight was about to begin.
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