Boom—!
The explosion echoed across the battlefield like a thunderclap.
A strike descended with the speed and ferocity of lightning itself—fast, sharp, and deadly.
But just as the blow was about to land—
Clang!!!
A flash of light intercepted it.
Steel collided with chakra, sending sparks flying in all directions.
Naruto had arrived.
Naruto Steps In
With both hands gripping the Kusanagi Sword, Naruto stood firmly between Yakushi Kabuto and his target.
"Stop!"
His voice rang out, firm and unwavering.
Even though he didn't know Tsunade or Shizune personally, Naruto could instinctively tell the difference between good and evil.
Tsunade and Shizune… they were people worth protecting.
But Orochimaru and Kabuto?
They were enemies.
Clash of Techniques
Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel sliced through the air with deadly precision—but Naruto met it head-on.
A burst of wind chakra surged from his blade.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"
The invisible cutting force collided with Kabuto's chakra blade, halting its advance.
Kabuto's expression darkened.
"Uzumaki Naruto… do you have a death wish?"
Behind Naruto, Shizune stared in shock.
"Naruto?!"
Her voice trembled.
"You… cough… you need to run!"
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she struggled to stay conscious.
"You're not his opponent!"
Naruto's Resolve
But Naruto didn't move.
Not even a step.
"I'm not going to stand by and watch someone get killed!"
His voice was loud, clear, and filled with conviction.
Shizune froze.
Tsunade, who was locked in combat against the reanimated Hokage, also caught sight of him from the corner of her eye.
"That child…"
Even the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, paused slightly, his gaze drawn toward Naruto.
Kabuto's Killing Intent
Kabuto sneered coldly.
"I don't care if you're Orochimaru-sama's 'interesting prey'."
"But if you get in my way…"
"I'll kill you too."
Naruto grinned.
The expression was reckless—but full of confidence.
He raised his voice, imitating a certain shameless mentor.
"If you can do it… then try!"
Kabuto's patience snapped.
"You brat—if you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"
Overwhelming Strength
Buzz—!
Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel vibrated violently, emitting a sharp, cutting hum.
In an instant, he struck.
Naruto barely had time to react.
The Kusanagi Sword was knocked aside, and before he could recover—
Boom!
Kabuto's kick landed squarely on his body.
Naruto was sent flying.
He skidded across the ground, stumbling backward several steps before barely managing to regain his footing.
Pain surged through his chest.
"Damn it…"
"This guy is strong…"
A Battle of Exhaustion
Kabuto's strength was no joke.
Even Orochimaru had once compared him to Kakashi Hatake.
And though Kabuto had just fought Shizune—consuming chakra and sustaining injuries—he was still terrifyingly powerful.
Naruto, on the other hand, wasn't in perfect condition either.
He had already fought Tsunade.
His chakra reserves were dangerously low.
If Kabuto still had even sixty percent of his strength…
Naruto was probably down to forty—at best.
A Desperate Warning
"Run, Naruto!"
Shizune shouted again, her voice hoarse with desperation.
But Naruto remained where he stood.
He clenched his fists.
Forced his breathing to steady.
Then spoke—slowly, firmly.
"If I run away here…"
"…then how can I ever become Hokage of Konoha?"
The Weight of a Dream
The moment those words left his mouth—
Everything changed.
Shizune's eyes widened.
Tsunade froze.
"Naruto…"
For the first time, she truly saw him—not as a reckless brat, but as someone carrying a dream as heavy as her own past.
Kabuto's Mockery
Kabuto burst into laughter.
"You idiot!"
"If you die here, you won't become Hokage—you'll just become a corpse!"
His killing intent surged.
"I'll send you to your grave!"
He charged forward again, chakra blade gleaming.
Naruto's Gamble
Naruto exhaled slowly.
His expression became calm.
Focused.
"I don't have much chakra left…"
"…so I'll end this in one move."
He bit his finger.
Blood flowed.
His hands moved rapidly through a series of seals before slamming onto the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
The Arrival of a Giant
Boom—!!!
A deafening explosion followed.
A massive cloud of white smoke engulfed the battlefield.
And then—
Something enormous descended from the sky.
Crash!
The ground trembled violently.
It was as if a mountain had fallen from the heavens.
Kabuto's eyes widened in shock.
He immediately retreated, barely escaping being crushed.
The Great Toad Appears
As the smoke cleared, a colossal figure emerged.
A massive body.
A pipe clenched between its lips, exhaling thick clouds of smoke.
Sharp, intelligent eyes.
There was no doubt—
It was the great toad of Mount Myōboku.
Gamabunta.
Shock Across the Battlefield
Kabuto's face twisted.
"Gamabunta?!"
Even Orochimaru's expression changed.
"That brat… he can already summon him?"
Naruto stood atop Gamabunta's head, arms crossed, looking down with confidence.
"Chief Gamabunta!"
"Your subordinate is in trouble—please help me!"
Gamabunta's Presence
Gamabunta glanced around, clearly puzzled.
"What's going on here?"
"Jiraiya… Tsunade… Orochimaru…"
"The Legendary Sannin are all gathered?"
"And why are the First and Second Hokage here?"
Naruto quickly explained.
"This is all because of Orochimaru and Kabuto!"
Gamabunta snorted.
"I knew that snake wouldn't be up to anything good."
He shifted his gaze downward toward Kabuto.
"So… you're Orochimaru's subordinate?"
"The one trying to kill my subordinate?"
Kabuto Under Pressure
Kabuto's expression darkened.
But he refused to show fear.
"So what if I am?"
Gamabunta grinned.
His massive hand moved to the hilt of his short blade.
"It seems I've been away from the ninja world too long…"
"Even kids like you have forgotten my reputation."
A Boss Steps In
"Since Naruto is my subordinate…"
"…as his boss, I won't ignore his troubles."
He drew his blade.
"I'll show you—"
"What true justice looks like!"
The Battle Turns
The moment Gamabunta was summoned—
Everything changed.
Kabuto, who had been overwhelming Naruto moments ago, now felt cold sweat run down his back.
Facing a creature on the same level as Manda…
This was no longer a fair fight.
A Devastating Strike
Slash—!
Gamabunta swung his massive blade.
The air split apart.
The ground trembled.
It was less like an attack—and more like a natural disaster.
Kabuto barely dodged in time, leaping away at the last second.
But even so—
The shockwave alone sent him flying backward.
Overwhelming Power
"Damn it…"
"As expected of Gamabunta…"
Kabuto gritted his teeth.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
Worse—
Despite his enormous size, Gamabunta was incredibly agile.
His movements were swift, precise, and relentless.
Relentless Assault
Another flash of steel.
A second strike descended instantly.
Kabuto reacted quickly, pushing off the ground to evade sideways.
Even though the blade didn't hit him directly—
The wind pressure alone nearly knocked the breath out of him.
A Desperate Counterattack
Kabuto's expression hardened.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A massive torrent of water burst from his mouth, surging forward like a raging waterfall.
The scale was enormous.
Even for a jōnin, this level of chakra output was impressive.
Gamabunta's Dominance
But Gamabunta only smirked.
"Is that all?"
He inhaled deeply—
Then unleashed his own technique.
"Water Release: Frog Oil Bullet!"
Crushing Superiority
The result was immediate.
A tidal wave erupted—far larger, far stronger than Kabuto's attack.
It completely overwhelmed the incoming water, surging forward with unstoppable force.
The battlefield trembled under its might.
Kabuto's attack…
Was utterly crushed.
End of the Clash
Standing atop Gamabunta's head, Naruto looked down at his enemy.
Despite his exhaustion…
Despite his injuries…
His eyes still burned with determination.
Because he knew—
This was more than just a fight.
This was a step toward his dream.
Toward becoming Hokage.
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