Although Naruto's tactics were undeniably crude, they weren't entirely wrong. With the sheer amount of chakra he possessed even without being the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki in this life Naruto's Uzumaki lineage ensured he had chakra reserves surpassing 99.99% of the shinobi world. With that kind of stamina, a head-on chakra contest should have been his advantage.
However…
He chose the worst possible opponent for an attrition battle.
Even an Uzumaki's monstrous stamina could not compare to a tailed beast.
Even legendary shinobi like Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara monsters who could overwhelm all nine Tailed Beasts at oncestill couldn't match the raw volume of chakra possessed by a Bijū. The Nine-Tails alone held more chakra than both of them combined. And Shukaku, though the weakest of the nine, was still a fragment of the Ten-Tails.
Against Gaara's One-Tail chakra…
Naruto's strategy was fundamentally flawed.
If this truly came down to a battle of attrition, the one who would fall first would be Naruto, not Gaara.
But Gaara wasn't thinking logically anymore.
In his mind, there was only one way to fight:
Destroy the enemy with overwhelming force.
Naruto's relentless waves of shadow clones had already ignited Gaara's bloodlust to its peak.
"Sand Shower!"
Shadow clones swarmed endlessly
one wave destroyed, another immediately rushing forward.
Gaara's patience finally shattered.
"Sand Tsunami!"
Gaara slammed his hands together, murderous intent pouring out of him.
A roar of sand surged upward, kicking dust into the air.
Kankurō, Temari, and their escort Maki felt their hearts clench.
In mere seconds
A massive sand sphere formed around Gaara.
Naruto's clones charged, but spikes erupted from the sphere's surface, shredding them instantly.
The spectators erupted:
"What is that!?"
"He wrapped himself completely!"
"Isn't that blocking his sight!?"
"But the defense… Naruto can't break it!"
"Is this his Absolute Defense!?"
Tens of thousands stared in awe.
Up in the stands, Maki's face twisted.
"Gaara…! He wasn't supposed to transform yet. It's too early!"
The Konoha Crush Plan was timed to the second.
Gaara was meant to transform into Shukaku only after the coordinated attack began.
If Gaara lost control prematurely
Everything could fall apart.
Maki could only pray the Sand–Sound forces outside were ready.
In another corner, Yakushi Kabuto, disguised as an ANBU, subtly tightened his muscles. He was clearly preparing to move.
On the contestants' balcony…
Menma narrowed his eyes.
Temari and Kankurō were anxious
he could sense their chakra flaring erratically.
So the transformation is starting…
With Menma's enhanced perception, he easily detected Maki and Kabuto's positions.
This was the beginning
the spark that would ignite the fall of Konoha.
Gaara begins his transformation.
Maki and Kabuto trigger the attack.
Orochimaru strikes at the Third Hokage.
A perfect chain reaction.
A cold murderous glint flickered beneath Menma's calm exterior.
"Go on… Let this village experience true pain."
Back in the arena…
Naruto stared bitterly at the enormous sand sphere.
He had thrown everything he had at it.
But Gaara's shield,
his Absolute Defense was impossible to crack.
"Damn it, what do I do with this thing!?"
Scratching the back of his head, Naruto frowned.
Even he understood that Gaara wouldn't seal himself inside unless he was preparing something dangerous.
He couldn't just wait.
"Guess I'll have to use this now… Even though I wanted to save it to surprise Menma and Sasuke."
A shadow clone darted to Naruto's side.
Naruto extended his hand.
The clone placed its palms over his.
An all-too-familiar technique began to form.
Menma's eyes widened.
Rasengan…!?
A surge of chakra spiraled violently in Naruto's palm
a condensed sphere of pure rotational force.
Menma instantly understood:
Gaara's sand shield could not withstand this.
Even Chidori had pierced it in the original timeline.
Rasengan would break through easily.
For a moment, Menma truly believed the events of this life were aligning with the original story.
Maybe…
just maybe…
he could abandon the Konoha Collapse Plan.
But then
"Genjutsu: Temple of Nirvana!"
A blizzard of white feathers drifted down from the sky
Right into Menma's eyes.
Kabuto had begun.
The plan had started.
Everything was about to fall apart.