In the dim hideout within the Land of Fire, lit only by flickering candlelight, ink-drawn mice with intricate lines scurried about, exploring their surroundings.
This was **Super Beast Imitating Drawing**, a technique combining chakra with unmatched artistic skill, unique to Sai.
In the nearby thicket, Sai maintained his hand signs as he spoke to Anko Mitarashi, who was investigating Kabuto’s whereabouts with him. “Yes, this is one of Orochimaru’s former hideouts.”
Anko, with her hands in her pockets, remarked, “Looks like Kabuto is making use of his old haunts...”
Snap!
Suddenly, there was a disturbance in the tree behind them.
Swish! Sai drew his sword, but Anko stopped him. “Wait, they’re allies.”
Appearing before them was a three-person team from the Konoha reconnaissance unit: Tokuma Hyuga, Muta Aburame, and Awaro. They were a jonin, a special jonin, and a chunin, respectively.
Muta, clad in the Aburame clan’s signature light-colored coat and black sunglasses, with an insect jar on his back, stepped forward. “Captain Mitarashi, I bring instructions from the village!”
“The mission has changed. We are to temporarily abandon the search for Kabuto and prioritize finding Naruto Uzumaki’s whereabouts. We are here to assist you!”
“Naruto Uzumaki…” Anko was surprised. “Did Yamato’s urgent return to the village on our way here have something to do with this?”
Muta replied, “Konoha was attacked by the Akatsuki. The village suffered severe damage, with many casualties. Lady Tsunade is in a coma…”
“What?”
“As a result, Lord Danzo has been appointed as the Sixth Hokage…”
Upon hearing this, Sai’s pupils contracted sharply.
Anko said, “I still find it hard to believe… What’s going on with Naruto?”
“We’ll brief you in detail later, Captain.” At this moment, Tokuma Hyuga stepped forward, casting a glance at the sensitive presence of Sai.
There were things that shouldn’t be said in front of Sai, a member of Root…
“Let’s move out!”
Sai leaped through the trees toward Konoha: Lord Danzo has become Hokage, and Naruto has left the village. I have a very bad feeling about this…
With the mission changed, Anko’s team began searching for Naruto.
Anko soon learned the cause and effect.
“There’s no way Naruto would betray Konoha. I wouldn’t believe it even if you beat me.”
She vaguely recalled Naruto’s straightforward personality during the chunin exams and had kept an eye on his growth…
Muta said, “None of us want to believe it, but only by finding Naruto can we clear things up and prevent him from being used and framed by Danzo. There’s already some bad talk going around in the village…”
“Huh!?” At this time, Tokuma Hyuga, who was conducting a full scan with his Byakugan, shouted, “At 12 o’clock, I see Naruto approaching us!”
“What!?” Anko landed on a branch. “That’s too convenient. Everyone, stay alert!”
The group remained still, holding kunai and keeping a vigilant watch.
A kilometer away, Naruto, in the midst of his rush, released Sage Mode. “We’ve been discovered…”
Facing his fellow villagers for the first time since returning, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.
When he regained his senses, he was already in front of Anko’s team.
“Phew…” Naruto took a deep breath and calmly greeted them, “Yo, Miss Anko, long time no see.”
The four members of Anko’s team scrutinized Naruto and the woman behind him, Konan.
Muta frowned. “That woman, that attire, it’s the Akatsuki!”
Anko, hands still in her pockets, approached. “Naruto, you left without a word, and now you’re mingling with an Akatsuki member. You’ve got some explaining to do.”
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Naruto said, “There’s nothing to explain, just as you see…”
“Oh?” Anko’s hand clenched tightly in her pocket, and a vein popped on her forehead. “You really do mean what you say, charging ahead like that!”
Naruto adjusted the headband on his forehead, the one left by Sasuke during their battle in the Valley of the End. “Yes, that’s my ninja way!”
Anko, incredulous, laughed in exasperation. “Still goofing around at a time like this, you infuriating guy!”
Behind Naruto, Konan said coolly, “Seems like I’m not very welcome here.”
Naruto chuckled. “Ah, after all, quite a few Konoha ninjas lost their lives to the Akatsuki even before Nagato. Miss Konan,”
Konan asked, “Are you going to face them alone?”
Naruto replied, “I haven’t fought properly in decades. My reflexes have dulled quite a bit. Facing four jonin-level opponents is just right to help me regain my combat instincts…”
“Be careful then…”
Konan retreated from the battle circle.
Anko analyzed meticulously: The Akatsuki member doesn’t intend to fight, which is an unexpected delight. But Naruto defeated the enemy who destroyed the village. His current strength might even surpass Master Orochimaru…
Even if we have the numbers, we might not be able to overpower Naruto in terms of sheer strength.
But fortunately, Naruto’s information is transparent and public. We can devise tactics against him.
Naruto is skilled at using shadow clones for feints. His signature attack is the Rasengan, and he has also mastered Master Jiraiya’s Sage Mode.
But judging by the chakra, he doesn’t seem to be in Sage Mode right now. Right, I heard he can use shadow clones to gather Sage energy.
“Tokuma, use your Byakugan to watch the surroundings closely. See if there are any of Naruto’s shadow clones!”
Tokuma said, “Besides that Akatsuki woman, it’s just Naruto’s main body!”
Anko’s eyes narrowed: Oh, he doesn’t intend to enter Sage Mode. Does he think it’s unnecessary? The brat who used to be intimidated by my killing intent has really grown up!
“Formation B!”
Whoosh! Everyone dispersed.
Anko remained stationary, directly in front of Naruto. Tokuma was on the right, Muta on the left, and Awaro circled to the back!
“Naruto… Let’s see if your skills are the real deal!”
Anko’s lips curled into a battle-hungry smile as she bit her thumb and formed the summoning hand signs.
—Summoning Technique!
Boom!
With a puff of white smoke, a giant snake coiled into view!
Naruto exclaimed, “Huge! Just like the snakes in the Forest of Death during the chunin exams. Speaking of which, Miss Anko, you’re still the student of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru!”
Boom!
The giant snake lunged down, and Naruto leaped back to dodge. The tree he was standing on was mercilessly smashed by the snake!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Behind him, Awaro threw several kunai, each with an explosive tag attached.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Naruto casually tossed shuriken, intercepting all the kunai with precision. Boom! The explosive tags detonated mid-air, but Naruto landed safely, unharmed by the blast.
Awaro, tense, remarked, “He intercepted my kunai without even looking. Is he determining the position by sound? His shuriken technique is insanely precise!”
The summoned snake launched another fierce attack from the front!
Naruto’s lips curved slightly upward as he formed hand signs and pressed his hands on the ground.
—Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!
Swoosh!
A sudden swamp appeared, trapping the snake within!
Anko was shocked. “Earth Style? Isn’t Naruto’s chakra nature wind?”
Most people believe Naruto only has wind nature chakra.
In reality, Naruto has six chakra nature transformations: wind, earth, lightning, fire, water, and yang, lacking only yin【from Naruto official databook “Jin no Sho”】.
Among these, Naruto is most proficient in wind, so during the paper test, the wind attribute was highlighted first.
In his past life, after becoming Hokage, Naruto also developed other chakra nature transformations. He’s no longer the Naruto who only knew Shadow Clone and Rasengan, relying on one trick for everything!
Naruto crouched, maintaining the Swamp of the Underworld.
Whoosh! Behind him, Awaro formed hand signs, his chest swelling.
—Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
Roar!
A thin flame extended from his mouth, turning into a fierce fireball, striking Naruto from behind!
Boom!
Amidst the white smoke, a shadow clone of Naruto appeared…
Everyone was astonished. “He could form shadow clone signs under those circumstances!?”
The shadow clone faced Awaro with its back to the main body, quickly forming a series of hand signs.
—Wind Style: Gale Palm!
Boom!
A powerful gust reversed the fireball back!
Awaro was shocked. “Impossible! He suppressed a fire style with wind style!?”
“Argh…!!”
The violent flames and wind uprooted a swath of trees, sending Awaro flying and crashing heavily to the ground!
“Hey, are you okay, old man!” Naruto was startled by the scene. He just wanted to regain his skills, not harm the Konoha ninjas!
However, Awaro, on the ground, held a nearly shattered ninja shield, which had saved him.
“Phew…” Naruto
sighed in relief. “A jonin shouldn’t be downed so easily, right?”
“I… I’m just a chunin…” Awaro muttered before losing consciousness.
Buzzing!
At this moment, Muta opened the insect jar on his back, and thousands of kikaichū insects formed a dark cloud, surrounding Naruto…
The Aburame clan’s jutsu is known for its wide range, leaving no room to escape!
Naruto didn’t dare to be careless. Before being enveloped by the insects, he threw a kunai at Muta.
Muta dodged quickly… the kunai embedded itself in the tree behind him.
Meanwhile, the kikaichū had surrounded Naruto.
Muta stated, “I can feel it… the insects are absorbing his chakra. We have the upper hand now.”
“Great… Let’s combine it with this move to completely immobilize him!”
—Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
From Anko’s sleeves, multiple snakes extended forward, binding Naruto tightly…!
“Give it up, Naruto!”
Swish!!
But suddenly, the insects scattered haphazardly, and the snakes fell to the ground!
Muta was shocked. “How could this be? The target… suddenly vanished!?”
Tokuma shouted, “Muta, behind you!!”
But it was too late. With a swift motion, Naruto’s hand struck Muta’s neck…
“Argh…” The latter fell from the tree, unconscious.
Swish!
Naruto calmly retrieved the kunai he had thrown earlier from the tree, inscribed with strange symbols!
Cold sweat trickled down Anko’s face. “No doubt, that’s the Fourth Hokage’s… Flying Thunder God Technique!”