"What did you say!?" Naruto's attitude infuriated the Raikage, causing lightning to crackle around him.

—Heavy Boulder Slam!

He charged directly at Naruto's face!

"So fast!" Naruto marveled, preparing to counter.

But suddenly... sand intercepted the Raikage's path.

It was Gaara's doing.

"Hmm?" The Raikage turned angrily. "Kazekage, you better have a good explanation!!"

The Raikage's guards, Darui and C, prepared to act!

Gaara's guards, Temari and Kankurō, also readied their weapons, the Giant Folding Fan and puppets, respectively.

In the tense atmosphere, Gaara slowly stood up. "He's my friend. May I ask him a question first?"

The Raikage coldly replied, "Hmph, you better be quick, or I'll deal with you too!"

"Gaara..." Naruto looked at Gaara with a complex expression. He hadn't told Orochimaru his roundabout reasons, not just because of Danzō's Kotoamatsukami, but also because of the bonds he once had in this room.

A lonely boy in the desert, burdened with the same fate, who learned to love others...

"Hu." Gaara took a deep breath, calming himself. Seeing Naruto again, he could hardly believe his eyes, but he trusted Naruto, believing he had a compelling reason for his actions.

Gaara stared at Naruto. "Naruto, I have only one question. Are those two samurai still alive?"

Mifune, the samurai leader, tightened his grip on his sword, deeply concerned for his subordinates' safety.

Naruto's gaze was steady. "Of course, I wouldn't harm innocent people..."

Gaara's tense expression softened into a smile. "Good, I've asked my question. You can do what you need to do. I trust you have your reasons..."

"Thank you..."

Naruto clenched his fist, overwhelmed with gratitude beyond words.

The Raikage scoffed, "Kazekage, are you joking? Such childish words from a ninja!!"

Gaara firmly replied, "Childish or not, if you attack Naruto again, you'll face me. I'll stand by him!"

The Raikage roared, "Fine, I'll kill you first, then the Nine-Tails!!"

"These young people are unbearable..."

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Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, floated into the air, his old eyes sharp: In the current ninja world, only the Nine-Tails hasn't been captured by Akatsuki. Eliminating the jinchūriki here would thwart Akatsuki's plans and weaken Konoha. Young man, blame yourself for your ambiguous stance, giving me a reason to deal with you openly...

Sizzle!

In an instant, a transparent white cube appeared between Ōnoki's palms, aimed at Naruto below.

—Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!

Gaara shouted anxiously, "Naruto, watch out!!!"

"Too late... no one survives my Dust Release!"

Whoosh!

The Dust Release beam, capable of disintegrating everything into molecules, shot down.

But Naruto calmly raised his left hand, and the Dust Release beam vanished...

Ōnoki was stunned. "What!?"

Akatsuchi was shocked. "He neutralized the Tsuchikage's Dust Release, how did he do it!?"

Kurotsuchi's eyes sparkled. "Amazing...!"

Naruto looked up, murmuring, "The Tsuchikage's Dust Release is as troublesome as ever..."

The only one who hadn't moved, Mei Terumī, the Mizukage, observed with keen eyes: Uzumaki Naruto, his actions and motives are unclear, so I'll leave him be for now. But Orochimaru, a former Akatsuki member, cannot be allowed to escape.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Mei formed hand seals, her fiery red lips parting to release a corrosive liquid towards Orochimaru.

—Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!!

Whoosh!!

The corrosive liquid splashed down, the ground sizzling and smoking... revealing dozens of protective gray snakes dissolving off Orochimaru, exposing his tattered clothes.

Orochimaru sighed, "The Lava Release kekkei genkai is truly troublesome..."

Mei's eyes turned cold. "Chōjūrō!"

"Yes! Even if he's one of the legendary Sannin... I'll do my best!!"

Chōjūrō, though timid in speech, gripped his sword firmly. With a surge of chakra, Hiramekarei grew enormous, and he swung it with all his might!

—Hiramekarei Unleashing!!!

Boom!

"Ugh..."

Orochimaru was struck solidly, crashing through the wall into the corridor.

Tap, tap, tap!

Mei quickly pursued.

When Orochimaru got up, he found the collapsed wall sealed by Mei's Lava Release, turning the area into a sealed chamber!

Mei's eyes were fierce. "Orochimaru, it's said you conduct dangerous experiments and have ties with Akatsuki. Your existence is a threat to the ninja world. Eliminating this threat is my duty as a Kage!"

She formed hand seals, and scorching acidic mist spewed from her mouth.

—Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!

Whoosh!

As the acidic mist thickened, the air in the chamber became hazy.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Orochimaru's skin began to show signs of melting.

His slit pupils gleamed. "Lava Release and Boil Release, two kekkei genkai. Though you're young, you surpass the potential of the previous Mizukage, Yagura. Interested in becoming my test subject?"

Mei retorted, "Don't joke around, just dissolve here..."

"I'm not joking..."

Whoosh!

Orochimaru's neck suddenly extended towards Mei in a bizarre manner.

"Hmm!?" Mei was startled, retreating quickly, but the confined space limited her movement... Orochimaru's neck coiled around her torso several times, his fangs sinking into her neck!

Whoosh!!

Orochimaru's neck retracted... "Ugh." Mei collapsed weakly. "This is a binding curse mark, but the acidic mist is at its maximum concentration. Your body will dissolve!"

"Not necessarily..."

The heavily injured Orochimaru smiled seductively, then opened his mouth, expelling a new, unscathed body, rising from the viscous pool.

Mei's eyes trembled. "How is this possible..."

"To kill me, your technique's strength isn't enough. Among the current Five Kage, only the Tsuchikage's Dust Release can truly threaten my life..."

Whoosh! Naruto suddenly appeared in the chamber, placing a hand on Orochimaru's shoulder. "We have business to attend to, Orochimaru..."

Whoosh!

He teleported away with Orochimaru.

"The Flying Thunder God Technique... I marked Danzō earlier..." Mei's eyes focused, her weakness preventing precise chakra control, causing the Lava Release sealing the wall to dissolve.

"Not good, the acidic mist is leaking into the conference room. I must adjust the concentration..."

The clash at the Five Kage Summit temporarily paused.

Naruto... is about to face Danzō!