Chapter 45: Identity ExposedThe Raikage was about to lose his temper, but on second thought, having just gained the upper hand, there was no need to ruin the bigger picture for an insignificant Konoha.So, he let out a cold snort to suppress his anger, his sharp gaze sweeping toward the Konoha Ninjawho had spoken."Konoha wants them? Fine.""But I want nothing else but Konoha's ultimate forbidden technique... the complete formula for the Eight Gates Released Formation."As soon as those words were spoken, a commotion instantly broke out on Konoha's side.Sandaime Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed slightly; the Eight Gates was a treasure of Konoha and not easily shared, let alone the complete formula.Beside him, his fellow travelers Homura Mitokadoand Utatane Koharu furrowed their brows even more, advising him in low voices:"Mr. Naruto, this is a matter of great importance. The Eight Gates is a Konoha secret; how can it be traded so casually? Please consider another offer."Naruto raised an eyebrow and shook his head with feigned regret:"Oh dear, it seems Konoha is unwilling? That's understandable, after all, it's your trump card. In that case, these hundred crystal cores...""Wait!"Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, his eyes burning as he stared at Naruto, then looked at the Advisor beside him and said solemnly:"Although the Eight Gates technique is a secret, if it can be exchanged for so many Mystic Realm Crystal Cores...""It is worth the trade! On behalf of Konoha, I accept your terms!"The Raikage's face darkened instantly. He hadn't expected Konoha to actually dare to offer the Eight Gates; the situation he thought he had secured suddenly became uncertain again.Just as A was about to speak, he saw Naruto clap his palms together, and unexpectedly, another hundred crystal cores flew straight toward the Konoha camp."There's more?"Seeing this, the Raikage said no more.The exotic beasts from the first two layers of the mystic realm combined barely exceeded a hundred.But the number of crystal cores Naruto had just casually produced was enough to show that there were at least two hundred exotic beasts on the fourth layer.His eyes narrowed slightly, looking fervently toward the depths leading to the fifth layer behind the wall."Presumably, there will only be more exotic beasts on the fifth layer."But as soon as this thought surfaced, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his heart.His side was exhausting themselves to open a passage, yet it wasn't even as fast as Narutocasually slicing with a lightsaber.If this continued, they wouldn't even get a sip of soup and would be left with nothing but the dust behind him.As a standout member of the Raikage clan, he was always sought after by everyone outside; when had he ever experienced such a disparity?The clansmen beside him also sensed his mood, gripping their weapons tightly, their faces full of frustration.Yet they dared not say a word; after all, Naruto's strength was right before them, and they didn't even have the courage to approach him.The Raikage took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety and envy in his heart, and unconsciously quickened his pace, wanting to be the first to head toward the wall facing the fifth layer.But he had only taken two steps when he saw Naruto's figure blur, already standing in front of him.The lightsaber at Naruto's fingertips had not yet dissipated, its blade flowing with a gentle yet formidable glow. He glanced at the complex expression on A's face behind him and said in a flat tone:"The aura on the fifth layer is more chaotic. The strength of the exotic beasts is likely several times greater than that of the fourth layer; rushing in blindly makes it easy to get surrounded."To the Raikage's ears, these words sounded like deliberate boasting. He pursed his lips into a straight line and said stiffly:"Don't trouble yourself, Brother Naruto. If you're afraid, I'll just go in with you."With that, he strode forward, insisting on walking side-by-side with Naruto.Naruto's heart tightened.The stone wall had long since mutated under the infiltration of spiritual energy over the years; even with his Observation Haki activated...he could only vaguely detect a few complex auras flowing behind the wall, unable to see everything as clearly as he had on the previous layers.The fifth layer was likely on a completely different level than the fourth.As the thought settled, he discreetly extended his Five-Colored Thin Sword, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, he carved a smooth doorway into the stone wall.As soon as the gap appeared, Fourth Raikage Ashowed no courtesy and smashed a heavy elbow strike directly against the stone surface!Boom!In an instant, an unexpected surge of spiritual energy, like an unsealed behemoth, gushed out violently through the gap.The density was almost tangible, and the suffocating sensation that hit them caused both of their expressions to change.This... was far more powerful than the first four layers combined.Now that the passage was open, Naruto did not hesitate. He took a step forward and entered the passage side-by-side with Raikage A.As soon as their feet stepped into the passage gap, before they could even see the scene inside the fifth layer, a violent, bloodthirsty wind suddenly swept toward them.Accompanied by a deafening beast roar, a giant claw covered in black bristles and as large as a boulder swung out from the thick mist without warning.Its speed was so fast it broke the sound barrier, tearing the air with a piercing sonic boom.The turn of events was far too sudden. Naruto and Raikage A had no time to dodge as the giant claw, carrying a destructive force, slammed heavily into them.Bang!A dull explosion erupted, and the two figures were sent flying like broken kites, hurtling back out of the passage.They crashed into the hard stone wall behind them, which instantly fractured into countless web-like cracks as rubble crumbled down.Everyone in the fourth-layer passage watched as the two figures were blasted back, looking at each other in shock.Raikage A's face changed drastically, and lightning surged around him as he instinctively activated his secret technique, Lightning Release: Lightning Style Armor.Dazzling blue-white lightning instantly enveloped his body, forming a dense protective barrier that forcibly dispelled most of the massive force.Even so, he felt a sweet taste in his throat, and a trace of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. He skidded across the ground, carving deep furrows before steadying himself, his eyes filled with horror:"Such power! The exotic beasts on this fifth layer are actually this terrifying!"On the other side, at the moment Naruto was hit by the massive force, he subconsciously channeled the Chakra in his body, and the Law of Heaven and Earth secret technique instantly activated.Golden light erupted around him, and a solid, ancient-patterned Black Armor materialized out of thin air, firmly covering his body.The armor radiated a vast and majestic aura; it was incredibly heavy and easily blocked all of the violent striking force.Naruto was merely embedded into the wall. He jumped out, shook himself off, and stood steadily, completely unharmed.And at the moment that Black Armor's aura leaked out, Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils shrank violently, his aged face instantly covered in shock.He was all too familiar with this aura!Back when Danzo's entire Root organization was annihilated by a mysterious powerhouse, what remained at the scene was precisely this vast, uniquely oppressive aura.Deep and overbearing, the aura was still deeply etched in his memory; he could never mistake it!Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up abruptly, his gaze fixed on Naruto, his heart churning with stormy waves:"It's you? The mysterious person who killed Danzoback then... it was actually him!"His mind was in turmoil. The matter with Danzohad been full of doubts, and he had searched for a long time without ever finding a trace of that mysterious powerhouse.He had thought the other party had long since left Konoha's territory, but he never expected that at this moment, because of this sliver of leaked aura, his identity would be completely exposed.And it was actually the youth before him? Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't believe it in a million years.Raikage A looked at the motionless Black Armoraround Naruto, his eyes full of disbelief.He knew well the power of that strike just now; even he had suffered minor injuries while using his Lightning Style Armor, yet Naruto was unharmed solely by this armor that appeared out of thin air.Naruto slowly raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the mist ahead to lock onto the massive figure of the exotic beast hidden within.The aura of the Black Armor around him became restrained, and his eyes were calm, as if that fatal strike just now was nothing more than a trivial matter.But he did not realize that his activation of the secret technique in that instant had completely exposed his hidden identity to Hiruzen Sarutobi.Naruto had deliberately hidden some of the aura of his original Black Thin Sword so Hiruzen Sarutobiwouldn't notice, but his subconscious defense just now had completely exposed him.Naruto looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said somewhat awkwardly:"I'm the type who does good deeds without leaving a name... uh... you don't need to thank me."Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face twitched."Holy crap? You call that human speech!"
