This is no ordinary ninja, not even the usual Jonin could possess such a presence.


    So intense, it felt like a tangible sh striking his body.


    Kankuro gritted his teeth, fingers twitching, "Stop boasting, kid!"


    Two puppets moved, one attacking from the front and the other from behind.


    They leaped, ascended, brimming with killing intent.


    Naruto''s expression remained calm as he unsheathed his de.


    With a single sh of the de.


    The two puppets ttered to the ground.


    Kankuro stared at his hands, barely perceptible threads drifting.The chakra strings... had been severed.


    But he couldn''t concern himself with that now, as a tremendous pressure bore down on him, forcing him to the ground, half-kneeling, head bowed.


    What is this?


    Merely an aura...


    He couldn''t even stand before him?


    And it wasn''t just him.


    Temari''s giant fan, which she had just raised, crashed heavily to the ground, and she had to lean on it to barely stand.


    The Sand Jonin looked on in disbelief.


    Taking a deep breath, chakra surged, resisting the overwhelming pressure.


    Resisting the lethal pressure emanating from the blond youth before them.


    So...


    That previous presence was merely a sheathed de, now it truly reveals its sharpness?


    "I''ve only just drawn my de, and you can''t even stand." Naruto held his de horizontally, looking at them.


    The Sand Jonin gritted his teeth, struggling to extend his hands and push Temari and Kankuro away, "You two, retreat. He is not an opponent you can face."


    "Only when Gaara uses his Feigning Sleep Technique, employing that power, can we contend with him..."


    As he spoke, several Konoha ninjas arrived.


    Shiranui Genma led them.


    Theynded somewhat awkwardly, not expecting a pressure field around Naruto that stalled their chakra flow.


    "Uzumaki Naruto." He spoke, but could only manage to say Naruto''s name, unsure of what else to say.


    His intention was to make Naruto retreat.


    But now...


    This guy was definitely stronger than himself.


    "Leave this to me." Naruto turned, smiling at him, "Go help the others."


    "Understood." Genma nodded, signaling to the others.


    They slowly left the oppressive field.


    "By the way," Naruto added, "the one who cast the genjutsu earlier is a Konoha ninja named Yakushi Kabuto."


    "Be cautious."


    "He has about Jonin level strength."


    Genma wasn''t surprised by the name "Yakushi Kabuto." At a critical moment like this, a Genin who had repeatedly "forfeited" for seven years was too conspicuous, and they had already investigated. However, hearing that Kabuto had Jonin level strength did give him pause.


    He nodded, "Understood."


    "Naruto, be careful."


    Retreating, he didn''t take his eyes off Naruto, his gaze filled with the sight of the blond figure.


    Twelve years had passed.


    Such a figure stood before him once again.


    Baki''s forehead was already soaked with sweat.


    "Your hands are so heavy, can you still perform ninjutsu?" Naruto''s gaze returned to him.


    "Stand down."


    Baki raised his hands, forcing a smile, still being stubborn, "What are you talking about? My hands are not heavy at all."


    "My chakra is flowing smoothly."


    "It''s just that your presence is a bit intimidating..."


    He formed seals to manipte chakra, causing air currents to spin rapidly at his fingertips, generating a strong wind.


    He swiftly moved, brandishing his de at Naruto.


    His speed was even slightly faster than Zabuza.


    But the technique that once allowed him to hunt down the Special Jonin "Hayate Gekkō" had little effect on Naruto.


    Wind des crossed with the de''s edge.


    Lightning shed.


    After several exchanges, Baki''s movements suddenly paused, and he looked down.


    The deep red de had somehow found its way into his chest.


    Chakra dissipated, and the "Wind de" in his hand vanished.


    He turned his head.


    The sand sphere began to boil, and an unusual chakra fluctuated violently.


    This brought Baki a slight sense of relief.


    Indeed, facing such a powerful opponent, his own strength was still somewhat inadequate...


    He couldn''t stall for the desired amount of time.


    However, the "Feign Sleeping Technique" was alreadypleted. As long as that guy coulde out smoothly, his mission would be aplished.


    Naruto did not look at the One-Tail that was about to be released.


    His senses captured something more important.


    He suddenly looked up towards the watchtower where Orochimaru''s chakra had first exploded. The roof was now covered by a translucent purple barrier, enclosing only Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru, along with two... unfamiliar chakras.


    These two chakras were not the point.


    It was the way they appeared.


    He seemed to feel an aura different from "chakra", a wave more akin to the "soul".


    Soul?


    Spirit?


    It was the new "chakra" brought by the new "soul".


    He stared in that direction, incredulous.


    In all his time in Konoha, he had never seen a spirit.


    Even in the Forest of Death, where so many had died, he had not seen spirits floating from their corpses.


    Yet just now, although it was fleeting,


    He sensed it.


    There could be no mistake.


    That was the power of the "soul".


    Inside the sand sphere.


    Two massive tanuki ws tore through the sand sphere, drilling outward, apanied by a wild, triumphantugh: "Hahaha, I''m finally out."


    "Damn humans, sealing me for so long."


    It was releasing its power.


    The shadow rose, growing rapidly, covering the entire arena.


    The tanuki bared its teeth.


    The ninjas who hadn''t managed to evacuate the arena stared at it in terror, screaming sharply.


    Even the ninjas who were inbat couldn''t help but watch.


    Naruto''s attention was drawn back.


    So this is... the true form of a tailed beast?


    He needed to deal with this guy first.


    He sheathed his knife and pped his hands together.


    Time to test the results of his recent training.


    "Adamantine Sealing Chains!"


    Dozens of golden chains surged from his back, flying swiftly, binding the massive tanuki''s body.


    Shukaku looked down at the chains binding him.


    That familiar scent...


    "Adamantine Sealing Chains?" It screeched and twisted.


    Its massive body caused the chains to creak, but the more it struggled, the tighter the golden chains constricted around it.


    With a loud crash—


    The chains mmed it heavily to the ground.


    Its head rubbed against the ground.


    Shukaku''s hateful gaze fixed on Naruto: "A member of the Uzumaki n with golden hair?"


    "How does a kid like you have such massive chakra?"


    Naruto pped his hands, forming shadow clone hand seals.


    "I originally wanted the Nine-Tails to catch up with you."


    "But sorry, there''s no time now. I have more important things to witness."


    "Please go back."


    Several shadow clones simultaneously formed the "Tailed Beast Sealing Technique". Seals spread from their palms, covering Shukaku''s enormous body. It struggled and twisted, the chakra mixed with sand flowing back into Gaara''s body.


    "Damn Uzumaki kid!"


    Shukaku cursed.


    It had juste out, its body not even fully solidified.


    It had only taken a few breaths of fresh air.


    But unprepared, facing such a restraining power... it was helpless.


    The just-awakened Gaara opened his eyes in confusion.


    Temari and Kankuro, who had not left, watched this scene in horror.


    The troublesome "Shukaku".


    After being released, it didn''t get to wreak havoc on Konoha as nned. Instead, in the blink of an eye, it was sealed back again?


    What was...


    That technique?


    ~~~


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