In the stone chamber of the Valley of Hell's forbidden area, Raikage A opened his eyes. His body and hands were bound by chains, his chakra drained, leaving him utterly powerless.

He found himself in the shadow of a monstrous creature.

Before him stood a five-meter-tall black gorilla, covered in black rods, baring its fangs, with large Rinnegan eyes staring at the man before it.

Undoubtedly, this gorilla was one of Naruto's Animal Path summons.

"Yo... you're awake."

The speaker was a parrot perched on the gorilla's shoulder, about a meter long, also adorned with black rods and Rinnegan eyes.

"!?!" Raikage, bewildered, heard the parrot say, "Don't be surprised, these are my summons, 'Mighty Kong' and 'Parrot.'"

Raikage asked, "Your summons can speak for you!?"

The parrot replied, "Speaking is Parrot's ability. As for Mighty Kong, in terms of brute strength, it might surpass you..."

Raikage roared, "Are you saying I can't even beat this gorilla!!!!"

The parrot said, "I didn't say that, don't overinterpret..."

"..." Raikage was furious. Looking at his bandaged shoulder, he demanded, "Why didn't you kill me!!"

The parrot replied, "Unless someone blocks my path or touches my reverse scale, I generally don't take lives..."

Raikage angrily asked, "So you're saying I'm no threat to you!?"

The parrot sighed, "If you want to understand it that way... I can't help it."

Raikage shouted, "I get it, you're deliberately trying to humiliate me. A warrior can be killed but not humiliated. Just kill me already!!!"

The parrot said, "I'm very busy. There's a wall behind you, you can crash into it yourself..."

...

On the training platform in the forbidden area.

Naruto, clad in his purple lightning cloak, was vigorously striking the 'Heavenly Thunder Stake.' With each punch and kick, lightning bolts descended, tempering his body.

As mentioned before, the Heavenly Thunder Stake is one of the training treasures of the Valley of Hell's forbidden area. It can withstand any attack and summon a corresponding lightning bolt based on the force it endures!

Crackle!

As Naruto struck, he looked at the black wooden stake with curiosity.

"Amazing, it's just a piece of wood, yet it absorbs all my attacks. This is definitely not ordinary wood. Could it be a product of Wood Release?"

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Thud!

Naruto's fist paused on the stake, and he opened his hand to touch it, lost in thought...

"The Valley of Hell is a masterpiece left by a disciple of the Sage of Six Paths."

"Everything here, including the ever-changing climate, the self-repairing land, and this wooden stake, are the works of that disciple."

"The first two abilities are likely related to Yin-Yang Release, and this wooden stake made with Wood Release is extraordinary, probably a combination of 'Wood Release' and 'Yin-Yang Release'...!"

"Speaking of which, a disciple of the Sage of Six Paths with the abilities of 'Senjutsu,' 'Wood Release,' and 'Yin-Yang Release,' could it be..."

Naruto suddenly thought of a possibility.

"Could the disciple who created the Valley of Hell be 'Asura'!?"

Asura was the younger son of the Sage of Six Paths!

Naruto is the reincarnation of Asura!

"If that's true..."

Naruto looked around the valley, feeling a newfound sense of kinship with the Valley of Hell!

In the stone chamber, through shared vision, Naruto saw the despondent Raikage and decided to tease him through Parrot, "Raikage, the Valley of Hell is my home. You're not allowed to train here anymore..."

"..." Raikage remained silent.

So Naruto, through Parrot, continued to tease, "How about this, Raikage, I'll allow you to train here if the Hidden Cloud provides 100 million ryo annually for the Rain Village's development~!"

"..." Raikage remained silent, only the chains clinking.

After a while, Naruto finished his phase of training, draped a towel over his shoulder, and entered the stone chamber.

He took out a bento prepared by Konan and gave a portion to Raikage, "Eat up..."

Snap!

Naruto broke his chopsticks and began eating with relish.

After finishing, he looked at Raikage and asked, "Why aren't you eating?"

Raikage, eyes wide with anger, replied, "Untie me first!!!"

Naruto scratched his head, "Uh... sorry, I didn't mean to."

...

After the meal, Naruto returned to the training platform in the forbidden area.

"Alright... time to start high-intensity training!"

He created multiple shadow clones and began rigorous training in the harsh environment...!

"..." In the stone chamber, Raikage listened to the thunderous sounds outside, unsure of what to think.

...

Late at night, Naruto returned from training.

Raikage said, "Hmph, if you have the guts, train without using Lightning Release for protection. I could do that three years ago!"

Naruto didn't argue, "Don't compare me to a muscle-bound brute, but I can try your method..."

"Hmph, overestimating yourself!" Raikage knew that without twenty years of taijutsu training, doing so was suicidal.

Naruto actually tried it.

But with the assistance of the Rinnegan's Preta Path, he directly endured some of the lightning, and what he couldn't endure, he absorbed with the Preta Path's ability.

Thus, his training progressed more smoothly, and before he knew it... he had developed a refined physique, not bulky like the Raikage, but compact and powerful.

Crackle!

A few days later, Naruto's Kotoamatsukami ability recovered.

He approached Raikage and asked, "A... I had reasons for attacking the Hidden Cloud before. Will you make peace with me?"

Raikage replied, "Uzumaki Naruto, I acknowledge your strength, but in my Yotsuki A's ninja way, there's no retreat! Unless you kill me today, I'll come for you in the future!"

"As expected, you're still the same. I admire your spirit, so..."

Naruto smiled faintly and reached for his mask, revealing his right Sharingan eye.

Boom!

At that moment, the shadow clone he left in the Rain Village dispelled!

Naruto paused and put his mask back on.

"Well, war can make ninjas stronger. One day, this strength will be directed at the 'real enemy.' I look forward to seeing you grow stronger, A..."

Swish!

Naruto disappeared in the light of the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving A puzzled and confused.

Rain Village, tower.

Konan said coolly, "We just received intelligence that Akatsuki is preparing to launch a full-scale attack on Konoha..."

Naruto replied solemnly, "Yes, I know. That's why I returned."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Outside the tower, thunder roared, and rain poured down... The biggest battle since Naruto's return was about to erupt!