"Ah, you've arrived."
Yui Xuanyue's cracked, stone-like face lifted in greeting, his voice calm and unhurried as his gaze settled on the three who approached.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Jiraiya stopped first, sandals grinding against the earth. Shizune pulled up just behind him, expression tense. Naruto, oblivious, kept charging forward—until Jiraiya caught him by the scruff of his collar like a misbehaving pup, yanking him back before he blundered into Xuanyue's reach.
Dangling in the air, Naruto kicked and flailed like laundry on a line. "Hey! Pervy Sage, what's the big idea?!"
Jiraiya's face darkened as he set the boy down. "I've told you—stop slandering the great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku." He flicked a wary glance at Xuanyue and added silently, Especially not in front of someone like him.
Naruto crossed his arms, unconvinced. "But you are a Pervy Sage!"
Jiraiya ignored him. His expression hardened as he addressed Xuanyue directly. "You didn't appear here without reason. State your business."
Xuanyue's eyes drifted from the fuming Naruto to Jiraiya and Shizune. His tone was deceptively casual:
"Simple. Hand over the Spiritualization Technique. My terms haven't changed. Either you give it willingly… or I take it myself. And if it comes to that, things will get unpleasant."
Shizune stiffened. Jiraiya's expression grew grim.
Naruto didn't understand the words, but instinct screamed at him that this man was dangerous. He clenched his fists. "Another creep like Orochimaru, huh? I don't care who you are—I'll stop you!"
He lunged forward, only for Jiraiya's hand to pin him back again. The Toad Sage's voice was low and cautious.
"The Spiritualization Technique is an S-rank secret of Konoha. Teaching it requires the Hokage's seal of approval. If you truly need it, you'll have to wait."
Stalling, Xuanyue thought with mild amusement. He'd heard the same excuse from Tsunade.
He shook his head. "So, no deal. Very well. Tsunade and Orochimaru are already meeting. By now… they should be fighting."
"What?!" Shizune's eyes widened with desperate hope. "Then Lady Tsunade—"
Xuanyue cut her off. "She doesn't realize Orochimaru knows about her hemophobia. Tell me—how long can she last once the blood starts to flow?"
As if on cue, the ground trembled. A distant explosion rolled across the town, followed by a pillar of dust spiraling skyward.
"Why, Tsunade?! You tried to kill me just now!" Orochimaru's voice echoed faintly from afar, sharp with disbelief.
Inside the alley, moments earlier, he had offered his arm for healing—only for Kabuto's kunai to whistle through the air, forcing him back. He'd looked to Tsunade in shock, unable to comprehend her betrayal.
Tears brimmed in her eyes, but her resolve was iron. She remembered the faces of Dan and Nawaki—their lives, their dreams. She couldn't disgrace them now.
"Everything dies, Orochimaru. Even you said so yourself. But dreams… the dream of becoming Hokage will never fade!"
Her fists clenched. Her killing intent flared.
"Come, Orochimaru. I'll end you here!"
A thunderous blast shook the street as she struck. Orochimaru's smile vanished, replaced with cold resolve. "So negotiations have failed. Very well—let's settle this with force."
Back at Xuanyue's position, Jiraiya's jaw tightened. If Tsunade was truly fighting, then they had no time to waste.
"Shizune!"
"Yes!"
The two prepared to strike together, their plan clear: defeat Xuanyue quickly, then rush to Tsunade's aid.
But before they could move, Naruto thrust himself forward, eyes blazing with reckless determination.
"Leave it to me! Watch this!"
He slammed his hands together.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In a storm of smoke, hundreds of Narutos erupted across the street. They raised fists, cheered in unison, and charged like a tidal wave.
"Idiot! Stop—this opponent isn't like the others!" Jiraiya shouted, but it was too late.
The mob surged forward, filling the alley. Any ordinary enemy would have quailed before such overwhelming numbers.
But Yui Xuanyue only sighed, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "So much chakra… wasted on this farce."
He stamped the ground. Cracks spiderwebbed beneath his foot as he shot forward like a cannonball.
Boom—boom—boom!
Clones burst into smoke one after another, scattered by Xuanyue's merciless strikes. A hand chop shattered one. A sweeping kick erased three more. His movements were sharp, precise, ruthless—the clones fell like children before a storm.
Hidden among them, Naruto gritted his teeth, searching for an opening. He formed the seals again, ready to unleash another wave.
But Xuanyue's gaze snapped toward him, piercing straight through the chaos.
"Found you."
In the blink of an eye, he was there.
"So fast—!"
Naruto's eyes widened, but he had no time to react before a brutal kick smashed into his chest, sending him flying.
Boom!
Smoke billowed as every remaining clone vanished at once, leaving only silence—and Naruto sprawled in the dirt, gasping for breath.
To be continued…