Chapter 206: The Uninvited Guest
The sky over Konoha was a shroud of smoke and embers. This day was a catastrophe, a tragedy eclipsing even the Nine-Tails' attack of years past.
They had underestimated Uchiha Ren. They had underestimated the demon fox's power. And they had utterly failed to comprehend the devastation their combination would unleash.
Nearly every ninja remaining in the village had gathered to make a stand. The result was a bloodbath. The Fifth Hokage was spent, collapsed and aged. Those still standing were battered, their chakra reserves dry, their spirits broken. Their most powerful attacks had glanced harmlessly off the beast's new, impossible armor. A collective despair began to seep into their hearts. Is this the end? Is the village truly going to fall?
"Kakashi-senpai, are you alright?" Yamato arrived at Kakashi's side, his voice heavy.
"I'm fine. Just... chakra exhaustion," Kakashi rasped, shaking his head. His visible eye was fixed on the Nine-Tails and the figure on its head. "But the situation is dire. We have to find a way to stop him. Damn it... If Guy were here, with his Eight Gates and my Kamui, we might have a chance..."
"Damn it... Why did Ren become like this?" Naruto's voice was a pained growl, cutting off Kakashi's tactical musings. "I have to ask him! I have to know why!" Driven by a stubborn, burning need for answers, he acted before anyone could stop him, charging alone toward the calamity.
Ren, having observed the results of his Rasenshuriken with cold satisfaction, was speaking to himself. "Can't even withstand this? It seems Konoha has truly rotted from within. The Uchiha, the White Fang, the Sannin... you've buried every great shinobi who ever served you. Now, your military might can't even compare to Kumogakure's. Hmph..."
His monologue was interrupted by the sight of a single, orange-clad figure rushing toward him. A predatory smile touched Ren's lips. "Naruto? Coming here alone? How bold. Let's see what you have for me."
Naruto, his mind clouded by emotion, didn't break stride. As he neared the Nine-Tails, his hands flew through seals and he slammed a palm onto the ground.
"*Summoning Jutsu!*"
BOOM!
A massive puff of smoke cleared to reveal a gigantic toad, nearly as large as the armored Nine-Tails itself. It wore a short-sleeved jacket, a massive tanto was strapped to its waist, and a smoking pipe dangled from its mouth—Gamabunta.
"Wha—?" The toad boss stared, his pipe nearly dropping. The nine swaying tails and the malevolent chakra were unmistakable. "This guy is... the Nine-Tails?!"
"Hey! Naruto! Explain what's going on! And where are we?!"
"Boss! This is Konoha! Ren is controlling the Nine-Tails and attacking the village! I have to stop him! I need your help!"
"Are you insane?! Fight the Nine-Tails?! I know its power better than you! The Fourth Hokage gave his life to seal it! With him, maybe. With you? No chance! We're leaving!"
"No! I won't retreat! I'll never let anyone hurt this village! Not even if it's my friend! I won't forgive him!"
"Tch! Troublesome brat!"
Ren had heard enough. Naruto's signature "Talk no Jutsu" was a waste of time. "Hey! Are you two quite finished?" he called down, his voice dripping with impatience. "Naruto, did you come here to stop me or to chat?"
The words snapped Naruto back to the moment. "Ren! Why?! Why are you doing this? Why attack the village? You're from Konoha, too!"
"Hmph! From Konoha? Perhaps once. But after Konoha drove my clan to extinction, that tie was severed. I am an avenger now. I will destroy this village that brought nothing but misery to the Uchiha! Is there something wrong with that?!"
"What are you talking about? The Uchiha were killed by Itachi! Why blame the village?! I'll never forgive anyone who hurts Konoha!"
"You won't forgive? Because I'm hurting your precious village? Well, for me, Uchiha Ren, whose parents were slaughtered, whose clan was erased by Konoha... do you expect me to forgive? You're an idiot who started with nothing. You can't possibly understand the pain of losing everything!"
He glared down at the boy. "Enough talk! If you hate me, if you want to stop me... then show me what you can do!"
As Naruto opened his mouth to retort, Ren acted. With a thought, the Nine-Tails roared and raised a massive, armored paw, bringing it down in a cataclysmic swipe aimed at Gamabunta.
Tch!
The toad boss was ready. In a flash, he drew the massive tanto from his waist, crossing it above his head to block the descending paw. The impact was tremendous, the force numbing his arms, but he gritted his teeth and held.
"Hmph!" Ren didn't wait. His form vanished from the Nine-Tails' head and reappeared directly in front of Gamabunta's stomach. He drove a fist forward, chakra-enhanced power slamming into the toad's gut.
"GUH!" Gamabunta let out a pained bellow, the sheer force of the blow sending his colossal body skidding backward.
Ren prepared to press the attack, to end this farce, when a voice—a familiar, desperate voice—cut through the chaos from a distance. It was a voice that made him freeze mid-motion, an unconscious, bitter smile twisting his features.
"*REN!*"
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