Chapter 259: Konoha Crush Plan
After a full day of training in the Summoning Technique, Naruto had already made remarkable progress.
Under Jiraiya's guidance, he succeeded in summoning Gamabunta from Mount Myōboku.
The problem was that he had yet to establish a proper summoning contract.
For now, there was nothing more they could do.
Jiraiya ended the day's training and told Naruto they would continue tomorrow.
By the time Naruto returned to Konoha, night had already settled over the village.
The usually busy streets had grown quiet.
Only dim yellow lamps illuminated the intersections, casting long shadows across the empty roads.
Naruto walked alone.
Then Asuramaru spoke.
"Interesting."
Naruto slowed.
"What is it?"
"The ANBU assigned to protect you have all been drawn away."
Naruto's expression changed.
Asuramaru extended his Perception farther through the surrounding streets.
"It seems someone has finally lost patience."
Naruto stopped beneath one of the streetlights.
"You think someone is planning to attack me?"
"Most likely."
Naruto looked around.
The road remained empty.
"Someone from the village?"
Asuramaru sounded unconcerned.
"Who knows?"
He paused.
"But whoever they are, the people that old man stationed around you intercepted them before they got close."
Naruto relaxed slightly.
He waited where he was for a short while.
No one appeared.
Asuramaru continued observing the area.
"They're gone."
Naruto nodded.
"Then I'll go home."
He resumed walking.
What Naruto did not know was that the ANBU protecting him had already recorded the entire incident.
Later that night, their report reached the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi read it in silence.
According to the ANBU, the attackers had been disguised in Sunagakure clothing.
Hiruzen did not believe that for a second.
The timing was too convenient.
The methods used to draw away Naruto's guards were too familiar.
And there was one person in Konoha who had recently demanded access to Naruto and been firmly refused.
Danzō.
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
He had no proof.
Without evidence, accusing one of Konoha's elders would create a political disaster.
So he made no public move.
Instead, he issued a much simpler order.
Increase Naruto's protection.
One month passed.
Naruto spent nearly every day training under Jiraiya.
And with each passing day, Jiraiya became more bewildered.
Naruto's talent was already absurd.
Flying Thunder God.
Rasengan.
Exceptional chakra control.
Fast learning speed.
But there was one thing Jiraiya found even harder to understand.
Naruto could freely draw upon a portion of the Nine Tails chakra.
There was no obvious struggle.
No violent backlash.
No sign that Kurama was actively trying to interfere.
Jiraiya had spent years studying Jinchūriki and tailed beasts.
This was not normal.
Why would the Nine Tails cooperate with Naruto?
Even partially?
Jiraiya could not understand it.
Eventually, he brought the question to Hiruzen.
The answer he received only strengthened a suspicion that had been growing in his mind.
Naruto might truly be the person Jiraiya had been searching for all these years.
The Child of Prophecy.
Before long, the day of the third stage arrived.
The final portion of the Chūnin Exams was held in a large arena on the outskirts of Konoha.
The circular structure resembled an ancient gladiatorial stadium, with tiered stands surrounding the battlefield below.
Nobles.
Merchants.
Wealthy clients.
Officials.
Shinobi from various villages.
The stands were packed.
These people had not come merely for entertainment.
The performance of each hidden village's Genin would influence reputations, contracts, and future mission assignments.
The exams proceeded smoothly.
One match followed another.
For Naruto, however, there was little suspense.
At his current level, the opponents in front of him could barely be considered threats.
After winning his own match, Naruto returned to the spectator stands and calmly watched the remaining fights.
Eventually, Sasuke entered the arena against Gaara.
The battle immediately drew everyone's attention.
Then Sasuke managed to injure him.
Gaara stared at his own blood.
Something changed.
Before the situation could develop further, white feathers began drifting through the arena.
Naruto noticed them immediately.
Feathers descended from above like snow.
Then a heavy wave of drowsiness swept across the stands.
People began collapsing.
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
Genjutsu.
His hands formed a seal.
"Release!"
The illusion shattered around him.
And the entire arena changed.
Hidden Sand and Hidden Sound Shinobi attacked almost simultaneously.
Weapons were drawn.
Explosions rang out.
Konoha Shinobi responded at once.
Within seconds, what had been a Chūnin Exam became a battlefield.
Screams filled the stands.
Shinobi leapt between rooftops and walls.
Kunai and shuriken flashed through the air.
Naruto's eyes swept across the chaos.
Then his attention shifted upward.
In the viewing area reserved for the village leaders, the Fourth Kazekage had already moved.
A kunai pressed against Hiruzen Sarutobi's neck.
At the same moment, four Shinobi dropped into position around them.
North.
South.
East.
West.
Their hands formed seals in perfect coordination.
"Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!"
Purple flames erupted.
A rectangular barrier rose around the roof.
The battlefield outside was completely cut off.
Hiruzen stood inside with the Kazekage.
His expression hardened.
"Kazekage."
His voice was calm, but anger filled his eyes.
"You betray Konoha during the Chūnin Exams."
"Are you trying to start a war?"
The man behind him laughed softly.
"Isn't the answer obvious by now?"
Elsewhere in the arena, Baki of Sunagakure landed near Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō.
His expression immediately darkened.
"What are you three doing?"
"The operation has already begun."
Gaara was kneeling on the ground.
One hand clutched his head.
His breathing was ragged.
Temari hurried to his side.
"Gaara's injuries are worse than expected."
She looked worried.
"He also used too much chakra during the match."
"If he transforms now, there's a chance he'll lose control completely."
Kankurō looked toward Baki.
"What do we do?"
"Do we continue without him?"
Baki's face became grim.
The plan had already begun.
There was no turning back.
But Gaara was more than a participant.
He was Sunagakure's greatest weapon.
They could not afford to lose him.
Baki made his decision.
"Take Gaara out of here."
Temari looked at him.
"Treat his injuries."
"Once his chakra recovers, continue the mission immediately."
Temari and Kankurō nodded.
They supported Gaara and withdrew from the arena.
Baki remained behind to delay anyone who attempted to pursue them.
Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the disguised Kazekage watched the situation from above.
A disappointed smile appeared.
"I had hoped Shukaku would cause a little chaos."
His tone carried mock regret.
"Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
The voice.
The mannerisms.
The confidence.
He finally understood.
"Your goal is to destroy Konoha."
His expression became severe.
"And Uchiha Sasuke."
The disguised Kazekage said nothing.
Hiruzen continued.
"So that's why you came back."
His voice hardened.
"I do not remember teaching you to turn your power against your own village."
The Kazekage laughed.
Then his disguise began to disappear.
The false face came away.
Pale skin.
Long black hair.
Golden snake like eyes.
Orochimaru.
His smile widened.
"You finally understand."
Hiruzen stared at his former student.
The affection that had once existed in his eyes disappeared.
"You dared attack Konoha."
His chakra began to rise.
"This time, Orochimaru…"
"I will kill you with my own hands."
Orochimaru laughed.
"Then come and try."
Elsewhere, Naruto had already noticed Gaara's retreat.
He analyzed the battlefield for only a moment before making his choice.
Then he pursued.
Temari and Kankurō had no idea they were being followed.
They moved quickly through the forest beyond the arena, carrying Gaara deeper away from Konoha.
Eventually, they reached a secluded area.
Temari immediately took out medicine.
She approached Gaara.
"Hold still."
Gaara slapped her hand away.
"Get away from me."
Temari froze.
"Gaara"
"Do not interfere."
His voice was filled with barely restrained violence.
Then he turned.
Naruto was already standing on a tree branch behind them.
Temari's expression changed.
Kankurō immediately became alert.
Gaara, however, smiled.
It was not a pleasant smile.
One hand remained pressed against his forehead.
His skin had begun to crack.
Fine fractures spread across his face like porcelain breaking apart.
His pale green eyes burned with killing intent.
"Uchiha Sasuke…"
Gaara's voice trembled.
"I want to kill him more than you."
Then his gaze locked onto Naruto.
"But you're strong too."
His smile widened.
"If I kill you…"
His breathing became heavier.
"Maybe I'll finally feel alive."
Temari stepped forward anxiously.
"Gaara!"
She knew that expression.
She knew what was coming.
"Do not forget the battle plan."
Gaara did not hear her.
Or perhaps he simply no longer cared.
Sand spread across his body.
His skin began peeling away beneath a growing layer of hardened sand.
One arm expanded.
Then half his torso.
His fingers warped into enormous claws.
A thick yellowish hide covered part of his body.
The shape was unmistakable.
The partial form of Shukaku.
Temari's face went pale.
She immediately backed away.
Trying to restrain Gaara in this state was more likely to get her killed than calm him down.
Inside Naruto, Asuramaru's eyes lit up.
Finally.
He had been waiting for this opportunity.
Kurama had long since become a terrible source of emotion points.
After more than a decade of being beaten, threatened, killed in mental battles, restored, and beaten again, the Nine Tails simply did not react as strongly anymore.
But Shukaku?
Completely untouched.
Untapped.
Fresh.
Asuramaru looked at Gaara differently now.
That was not the One Tail.
That was a walking pile of emotion points.
His mood immediately improved.
"Naruto."
Naruto kept his attention on Gaara.
"What is it?"
"I'm interested in the tailed beast inside him."
Naruto's expression became strange.
Asuramaru continued.
"You only need to touch Gaara once."
"After that, leave the tailed beast to me."
Naruto did not yet understand what Asuramaru intended.
But someone else did.
Far within Naruto's sealed space, Kurama had been watching everything.
The moment he heard Asuramaru's words, the Nine Tails' miserable expression changed completely.
His ears perked up.
His eyes brightened.
For the first time in a very long while, Kurama looked genuinely excited.
Shukaku.
Kurama almost wanted to laugh.
After all the torment he had endured over the years, another tailed beast was finally about to experience the same nightmare.
His enormous jaws slowly spread into a vicious grin.
There was only one thought in his mind.
Shukaku.
Brother.
Now it's your turn.
....
[[email protected]/FanficLord03].