The two sides collided once more.
This ti, it was Baki who intercepted Kakashi.
From his perspective, even if the Konoha ninja who had blown away the One-Tail was extraordinarily powerful, the ultimate outco would not change. Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast of the Sand, would inevitably prevail.
All Baki needed to do was stall.
As long as the other Konoha shinobi were kept occupied, Shukaku would crush everything in its path.
The sa was true for Temari, Kankurō, and the remaining Sand shinobi.
With Gaara having fully transford, none of them could approach the battlefield directly. The correct decision was to suppress the Konoha forces and prevent interference.
And so, once again
The battlefield erupted.
Sand and Leaf shinobi clashed violently across the ruined arena, the ground still trembling from Shukaku's earlier rampage.
anwhile
Whoosh!
Two figures landed simultaneously on opposite sides of the broken wall.
Naruto and Genma had arrived, positioning themselves with nma trapped between them.
"Co back, nma… No—brother."
Naruto's voice trembled, but his eyes were firm.
"There has to be a misunderstanding. When this is over, we'll go together to see Grandpa Third and Jiraiya-sensei. They'll explain everything. Please… co back with ."
The emotion in Naruto's voice was raw and unfiltered.
To him, this wasn't just about the village or the mission.
For his entire life, Naruto had been alone.
Even when people began acknowledging him, the emptiness of not having a family had never truly disappeared. Seeing others with parents, siblingssothing so ordinary—had always stirred sothing deep inside his heart.
And now…
Standing before him was his brother.
A brother born of the sa parents.
How could he not hesitate?
How could he not hope?
nma's eyes flickered.
For just a fraction of a second, sothing stirred beneath the crimson glow.
But it vanished.
"You're naïve, Naruto."
His voice was cold, devoid of warmth.
"You still believe this world works that way?"
nma's expression hardened, disappointnt laced within it.
"Once upon a ti, I might've believed that too. But reality crushed that illusion long ago."
His chakra flared violently.
The crimson aura of the Nine-Tails surged outward, forming a tangible cloak around his body. A single tail began to manifest behind him, its pressure alone forcing nearby shinobi to stagger.
The oppressive chakra made even experienced jōnin feel suffocated.
Shiranui Genma's eyes widened.
"Naruto! He's not thinking clearly anymore—he's being consud by the Nine-Tails! We have to restrain him now!"
Genma moved without hesitation.
As a special jōnin, hesitation was a luxury he could not afford.
He leapt forward, sealing his resolve as firmly as his chakra.
nma's presence was too dangerous.
Allowing him to continue would end in catastrophe.
"Enough!"
Genma attacked.
nma's eyes narrowed.
"So that's how it is…"
A faint, almost mocking smile ford.
"Then don't bla ."
Boom!
With a sharp stomp, nma launched himself forward. His movents were fluid, controlled, terrifyingly precise.
He intercepted Genma's kunai with ease
Clang!
The impact rang sharply through the air.
nma twisted his wrist and redirected the force, his counterstrike forcing Genma back several steps.
Genma's eyes widened.
So fast…!
So strong…!
This wasn't the strength of a genin.
This wasn't even normal jōnin level.
This was
"Damn it…"
Before he could react further, nma was already moving again.
His foot slamd into the ground, his body twisting as he surged forward.
At the sa mont
"nma!"
Naruto dashed in, golden chakra flaring as he tried to intercept.
nma turned.
Their eyes t.
He caught Naruto's wrist mid-strike.
The impact echoed like thunder.
Using Naruto's montum, nma spun, hurling him backward
and in the sa motion, sent Genma flying with a brutal kick.
Both were launched across the battlefield, skidding across shattered stone before finally stopping.
Dust filled the air.
Naruto struggled to rise, his chest heaving.
Genma gritted his teeth, shock evident in his expression.
That strength…
That control…
This was no longer the boy they knew.
nma stood still amid the swirling chakra, his gaze cold and unwavering.
"This is the path I chose," he said quietly.
"And I won't turn back."
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