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Naruto's expression turned thoughtful as he replied, "That questionā¦ is rather complicated. I don't think I have the patience to explain it to you."
"Tch! How strange," he added with irritation, noticing the shark made of water surging toward him. "A sneak attack?"
Kisame had silently prepared a Water Style jutsu. The water shark rushed at Naruto, teeth bared, aiming to tear through him.
Naruto effortlessly avoided the attack by shifting to the side mid-air. The shark, however, continued its trajectory and crashed into a nearby building. The structure shattered instantly, collapsing into a heap of rubble.
Naruto's expression darkened as he muttered, "Damn it. I liked that hot springā¦"
For Naruto, life in Sunagakure had been peaceful recently. No one treated him as an outcast. He wasn't constantly under scrutiny, and there were kind peopleābeautiful, evenāwho genuinely cared for him. This tranquility was rare, and he had grown fond of it.
Determined to minimize further damage to the village, Naruto didn't retaliate. Instead, he turned and flew in the direction Rasa had gone without saying another word.
Kisame, however, mistook Naruto's actions for fear. He laughed mockingly and called out, "Uzumaki Naruto! Didn't you defeat Shukaku? Is this cowardice your response?"
The taunt failed to affect Naruto. After awakening his true memories, his emotions had become more measured. He didn't let insignificant things unsettle him anymore.
Observing the interaction, Uchiha Itachi narrowed his eyes. It was clear to him that Naruto wasn't retreating out of fear but rather to prevent further damage to Sunagakure. This revelation solidified Itachi's growing suspicion: Naruto had indeed betrayed Konoha and allied himself with Sunagakure.
The evidence was overwhelming. Naruto had helped reinforce the seal on Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchūriki. He had also revitalized Sunagakure's barren lands with his Wood Style. These acts weren't just displays of power; they were commitments to the village's welfare.
But what cemented Itachi's belief was Naruto's pride. Someone as capable and confident as Naruto would never endure Kisame's provocation unless he had a reason. Clearly, Naruto now considered Sunagakure his home and was willing to defend itāeven at his own expense.
Itachi's resolve hardened. If Konoha lost Naruto, it would be disastrous. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was crucial to the village's stability. Itachi couldn't let that happen.
"It seems we need to get serious," he murmured.
---
Naruto followed the trail left by Rasa and brought Kisame and Itachi to a jungle outside Sunagakureāa forest he had created during his Wood Style training.
Above, Rasa was locked in combat with Deidara, both exchanging powerful attacks in mid-air. Meanwhile, Scorpion had taken Gaara and was fleeing rapidly.
Naruto spotted Scorpion retreating with Gaara. Without hesitation, he said, "Kurama, lend me your strength."
The Nine-Tails responded instantly, flooding Naruto with its chakra. His body glowed with a brilliant golden hue as he entered Tailed Beast Mode.
To amplify his speed further, Naruto activated two additional techniques: Lightning Style Armor and Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique. Golden light mixed with electric blue energy enveloped his form, making him look like a mythical figure.
With these abilities combinedāand his mastery of the Flying Thunder God TechniqueāNaruto's speed reached an unimaginable level.
Scorpion, sensing danger, glanced behind him and froze. A golden blur streaked toward him at a speed that defied comprehension. The roaring sound of the air being torn apart reached his ears just as Naruto closed the distance.
In an instant, Naruto shattered Scorpion's puppet armor with a devastating blow. The puppet fragments scattered like splinters, revealing Scorpion's real body inside. At the same time, Naruto rescued Gaara, holding him securely in one arm.
Floating mid-air, Naruto looked down at Scorpion with a calm but intimidating gaze. "Leaving already?" he asked. "You've come all this way. Why not stay a little longer?"
Before Scorpion could react, Wood Style tendrils emerged from the ground and ensnared him, immobilizing him completely.
Panicking, Scorpion extended a black flamethrower pipe from his wrist and unleashed a torrent of flames to burn away the wood. However, his relief was short-lived. Several massive Myojin Gates materialized in the air and slammed down around him. The sealing power of the gates suppressed his movements and chakra. He was utterly trapped.
With Scorpion neutralized, Naruto turned his attention to Rasa's battle with Deidara.
---
Rasa was struggling. His mastery of Gold Dust was impressive, and its density and weight far exceeded ordinary sand. However, Deidara's aerial mobility and explosive clay techniques put Rasa at a severe disadvantage.
Deidara's clay creations were agile and destructive. Combined with his taunting personality, they pushed Rasa to his limits. Yet, Rasa wasn't just contending with Deidara. Kisame and Itachi loomed in the distance, posing an even greater threat.
Naruto quickly assessed the situation. He placed a Flying Thunder God marker at his current location, then teleported Gaara back to Sunagakure in an instant. He reappeared on the battlefield less than a second later, ready to engage.
Deidara noticed Naruto's return and prepared for an attack. But Naruto's speed caught him completely off guard. A golden blur shot toward him, and before Deidara could react, Naruto struck him with immense force.
The impact was devastating. Deidara's clay bird disintegrated, and he plummeted from the sky. A gaping wound in his chest left him gasping in pain.
"What just happened?!" Deidara exclaimed, clutching his injury. "That speedā¦ it's insane!"
Above him, Naruto raised a hand, forming a colossal sphere of compressed Wind Style chakraāthe Rasenshuriken.
Deidara's eyes widened in terror. "If that hits meā¦ there's no way I'll survive!"
Desperate, Deidara considered his options. He could call out to Kisame or Itachi for help, but his pride wouldn't allow it. Even in the face of death, he refused to rely on othersāespecially Itachi, whom he loathed.
Grimacing, Deidara made his decision. He shouted toward Scorpion, "Master Scorpion! Watch closely! Thisā¦ this is true art!"
He tore off his Akatsuki robe, revealing his chest cavity. His expression was manic as he prepared to detonate himself. "Art is an explosion! Yeah!"
---
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he realized Deidara's intent. He couldn't allow the explosion to endanger the nearby village or the forest. Summoning all his speed, Naruto teleported back to his Flying Thunder God marker and reappeared beside Deidara.
Before the self-destruction could trigger, Naruto slammed the Rasenshuriken into Deidara's chest. The powerful technique neutralized Deidara's chakra and rendered him unconscious, preventing the explosion.
Naruto sighed in relief. "That was close."
Meanwhile, Rasa watched in awe as Naruto effortlessly neutralized the threats that had pushed him to his limits. The Kazekage couldn't help but feel gratefulāand a little intimidatedāby Naruto's power.
With the immediate danger resolved, Naruto approached Rasa. "I'll handle the rest," he said confidently.
Rasa nodded, acknowledging Naruto's strength. "Thank you, Naruto."
---
As the dust settled, Kisame and Itachi observed from a distance. Kisame's grin widened. "Well, that was interesting. The kid's stronger than I thought."
Itachi remained silent, his expression unreadable. He knew the situation had become more complicated. Naruto's allegiance to Sunagakure wasn't just a theory anymoreāit was a reality.
---
Back in Sunagakure, Gaara regained consciousness and found himself in the village's medical facility. He learned that Naruto had saved him and defeated the Akatsuki members pursuing them.
Gaara's expression softened. "Narutoā¦ thank you."
Naruto, however, brushed off the gratitude. "Don't mention it. We're allies, aren't we?"
For Naruto, protecting Sunagakure wasn't just about loyaltyāit was about finding a place where he truly belonged. And for the first time in his life, he felt at home.
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