The massive force descended like a natural disaster.
Gamabunta's Water Release: Giant Bullet (Teppoudama) crushed Yakushi Kabuto's Great Waterfall Technique without the slightest resistance. The overwhelming torrent surged forward with unstoppable momentum, swallowing everything in its path.
With such a wide-area attack, there was no room to evade.
Kabuto's pupils shrank.
Before he could react, the enormous wave slammed directly into him.
Boom!
His body was hurled away like a fragile boat caught in a violent storm. He tumbled uncontrollably, battered by the relentless force of the water, unable to stabilize himself at all.
Atop Gamabunta's massive head, Naruto watched the scene unfold, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Awesome! That was incredible!"
"As expected of Boss Gamabunta!"
When the attack subsided, the battlefield was unrecognizable.
The ground had been completely washed over. Trees lay broken and scattered in all directions, some uprooted, others snapped in half. What was once dense forest had turned into a flooded ruin, dotted with pools of water and debris.
Kabuto's body was violently smashed against a fallen tree, the impact forcing a mouthful of blood out of him.
Yet—
A faint, cold smile curved across his lips.
"You think… you can kill me like this?"
His voice was hoarse but filled with mockery.
"How naive, Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto's expression shifted. Something felt wrong.
Then he saw it.
The countless wounds covering Kabuto's body… were healing.
Rapidly.
"What the—?!"
Even Gamabunta narrowed his eyes in surprise.
"That… looks like Tsunade's medical ninjutsu."
Kabuto chuckled weakly.
"This is my personal secret technique… Yin Healing Wound Destruction."
"I began the recovery process before your attack even landed."
"It's impossible… for you to kill me."
Although his tone remained confident, Kabuto's heart was anything but calm.
This technique required precise prediction—anticipating the enemy's attack, calculating the extent of the damage, and initiating healing in advance.
But Gamabunta's attack… had been far beyond calculation.
The sheer scale and impact had exceeded his expectations completely.
His entire body screamed in pain. Though the wounds were closing, the chakra consumption was enormous. Maintaining the technique now was already pushing him to his limits.
Naruto clenched his fists tightly.
"Damn it… this guy's a real pain!"
Gamabunta snorted.
"Hmph. Just like Orochimaru's lackey—slippery as a snake."
Kabuto didn't wait.
Despite his injuries, he forced his hands into seals, his movements swift and precise.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
The water left behind by Gamabunta's attack became his advantage.
A massive water dragon rose from the flooded terrain, roaring as it surged forward.
Its target—
Gamabunta's eyes.
A cruel and calculated move.
Boom!
The water dragon crashed forward with ferocious force, baring its fangs as it struck.
Gamabunta let out a low roar, instinctively closing his eyes as the attack connected.
For a brief moment, his vision was obscured.
His massive blade swung wildly, but without clear sight, he couldn't land an effective blow.
Kabuto seized the opportunity.
He leapt upward, landing directly on Gamabunta's enormous body, and sprinted upward with astonishing speed.
His goal was clear—
Naruto.
"As long as I kill you… everything ends!"
"Do you really think summoning a giant toad can save you, Naruto?!"
Kabuto's voice was sharp as he lunged forward, chakra scalpel forming in his hand.
The blade of chakra shimmered with deadly precision.
Fast. Accurate. Lethal.
In that instant, Naruto felt a familiar pressure.
It was the same suffocating presence he had felt from Kakashi.
This was the oppressive aura of an elite jonin.
But—
Naruto didn't retreat.
Not even a step.
"I've already defeated Zabuza Momochi!"
"Why would I run from you?!"
His voice rang with unwavering determination.
In one swift motion, Naruto drew the Kusanagi Sword.
The blade hummed as an immense amount of chakra poured into it.
Wind nature chakra surged violently, transforming the sword.
It grew longer.
Heavier.
Sharper.
The air around it twisted as cutting winds gathered.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"
A massive blade of wind formed along the Kusanagi, radiating destructive power.
Kabuto's chakra scalpel met it head-on.
Clang!
The two attacks collided at close range.
For the first time—
Kabuto felt it.
His strength… was being suppressed.
"What…?!"
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"How is this possible?!"
"Am I… being overpowered by this brat?!"
His face turned pale.
Naruto roared, pouring even more chakra into his attack.
The wind blade intensified, pressing down like a falling mountain.
"Ahhhh—!"
Boom!
Kabuto's chakra scalpel was blown away.
His body was sent flying backward.
Rage filled his expression.
This shouldn't be happening.
There were reasons—excuses, even.
He had already fought Shizune earlier, expending a large amount of chakra and sustaining injuries.
Then came Gamabunta's overwhelming attacks, which had inflicted even more damage.
And Naruto—
This so-called brat wasn't ordinary.
He was Konoha's most unpredictable ninja, favored by Jiraiya… and even acknowledged by Orochimaru.
But even so—
Kabuto couldn't accept this.
A jonin of his level… being suppressed by a mere genin?
"Damn you!"
"I'll kill you!"
By now, Gamabunta had regained his vision.
But Naruto and Kabuto were fighting directly on top of his head.
If he attacked recklessly, he might hurt Naruto.
For the first time, his massive size became a disadvantage.
Kabuto activated his chakra scalpel once more and charged forward.
Naruto dodged swiftly, then formed hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
More than a dozen shadow clones appeared instantly.
Kabuto's expression changed.
"He can still create this many clones?!"
"What terrifying chakra reserves…!"
The clones rushed forward, each wielding a Kusanagi sword infused with wind chakra.
But Kabuto moved like a phantom.
He evaded effortlessly, counterattacking in rapid succession.
One by one, the clones were destroyed, dissolving into white smoke.
"Hmph. Creating clones at a time like this is nothing but a waste of chakra!"
"You think numbers can defeat me?!"
Naruto smirked.
"You're the one who doesn't get it."
The real Naruto stepped forward, swinging his blade.
A massive wind slash tore through the air toward Kabuto.
Kabuto dodged easily, preparing to counterattack—
Then—
"Huh?!"
His body froze.
"Why… can't I move?!"
Panic surged through him.
Looking down, he saw it.
A sealing formula had appeared beneath his feet.
"This is—!"
"One-String Light Formation?!"
His heart dropped.
Even though it was a basic sealing technique, timing and placement made it deadly.
He could break it—
But not instantly.
And that moment…
Was all Naruto needed.
"Take this!"
Naruto's wind blade descended like a beam of light.
Kabuto roared, releasing all his remaining chakra.
With brute force, he shattered the sealing technique.
At the last possible second, he rolled across the ground, barely dodging the fatal strike.
Boom!
The attack carved deep into the battlefield.
But Kabuto paid the price.
Breaking the seal so violently consumed a huge amount of chakra—and worsened his injuries.
"Damn you… you brat…"
Blood spilled from his mouth again.
His face grew paler, his breathing heavier.
Yet—
He still stood.
Relying on Yin Healing Wound Destruction, Kabuto forced his body to continue fighting, pushing himself beyond normal limits.
Even Orochimaru had once praised this terrifying resilience.
Naruto frowned.
"This guy… just won't go down."
The battle wasn't over yet.
And both of them knew—
The next exchange could decide everything.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)