"Naruto's gotten ridiculously strong…"
Hidden among the trees, Nara Shikamaru muttered under his breath as he watched the scene unfold. The three Sound Village genin weren't weak. If anything, they were troublesome opponents. Yet Naruto was holding them off alone.
There was clearly an elemental matchup at play, but that didn't change the fact that Naruto himself had become frighteningly capable.
"Yeah," Yamanaka Ino nodded beside him, still sounding a little amazed. "Tōma's always said Naruto is the most unpredictable ninja around."
Inside the cave, Fujimoto Tōma had been monitoring the situation as well. A faint smile crossed his face. Teaching Naruto his modified Gale Palm had been the right call.
The technique was almost tailor-made for him.
Naruto's stamina had always been absurd, even compared to other shinobi. In the original timeline it was already impressive. Now, it was outright monstrous. A sustained, body-wrapping Wind Release that converted stamina into constant pressure suited him perfectly.
Most ninja would worry about chakra drain. Naruto was not "most ninja."
He could already throw around Rasengan like basic attacks. Compared to that, Tōma's version of Gale Palm, even at near B-rank consumption, was nothing more than a mild expense for Naruto.
If Naruto truly mastered maintaining it as a constant state, then at the chūnin level he'd be nearly untouchable. Simple, overwhelming, brutally effective.
As for burst power, he wasn't lacking either. The wind field could always be condensed into a single strike if needed. And crucially, this didn't interfere with his Rasengan at all. Once Jiraiya started training him properly, Naruto's growth would spike again.
Sasuke couldn't replicate this path. Without the Nine-Tails' regeneration and chakra reserves, forcing a similar combat mode would be reckless. Tōma had taught him controlled Lightning Release stimulation, but never pushed him toward a true lightning cloak. Some risks weren't worth gambling on.
"Alright," Tōma said as he finished the final seal. "Let's go out. If we wait any longer, Naruto might really take care of them all by himself."
Sasuke nodded. The pain in his neck was completely gone now. He felt better than he had in hours.
The moment Sasuke stepped out of the cave, Haruno Sakura's eyes lit up. Her relief was obvious. Ahead of them, Naruto and his shadow clones had completely boxed in the Sound trio.
"Yo, Naruto," Sasuke called out with a smirk. "Still not done? Want some help?"
"Huh?!" Naruto exploded. "Like I need it! I'll finish this right now. Grab their scrolls!"
At that moment, the hunched Sound ninja wrapped in bandages, Dosu, raised both hands.
"We surrender," he said quickly, placing their scroll on the ground and backing away. His teammates didn't object.
They were done.
Naruto's chakra reserves were terrifying, his wind field nullified their techniques, and Sasuke had returned unharmed. Fighting any longer was suicide.
Naruto's eyes sparkled as he picked up the scroll, pride written all over his face. Sasuke snorted, but the nod he gave was genuine.
High above, Hyūga Neji and Rock Lee watched silently from the branches, expressions serious.
With the sealing complete, Tōma left a shadow clone at the central tower and headed straight for the Hokage's office. Orochimaru's appearance couldn't wait.
The Third Hokage looked surprised when he saw him.
"Shouldn't you be at the tower right now, Tōma?"
One look at Tōma's expression told him enough. He dismissed the attendants at once.
Tōma reported everything. Orochimaru's appearance in the Forest of Death. His target being Sasuke. Their brief clash.
"…So he's back," the Hokage murmured, seeming to age a little in that instant.
"Shouldn't we halt the Chūnin Exams?" Tōma asked plainly.
"No," the Hokage replied without hesitation. "You know him. If his goal isn't met, he'll act immediately. And we don't yet know how many pieces he's already put in place."
He continued, voice heavy. "The daimyō are already on their way. Canceling the exams now is impossible."
Tōma understood. The Chūnin Exams weren't just a promotion test. They were a display of strength and future potential. Canceling them would shake confidence in Konoha itself.
"Then at least increase your protection," Tōma said seriously. "Orochimaru is dangerous."
The Hokage smiled faintly. "Do you remember Konoha's emergency defense protocol?"
Tōma went quiet.
Of course he remembered.
First phase: eliminate the enemy's strike force.
Second phase: evacuate civilians to shelters.
Third phase: mobilize the entire village to destroy the enemy.
Only now did Tōma truly understand. This wasn't recklessness. It was preparation. Konoha's rapid recovery in the past hadn't been luck. The village had been protected first.
In that moment, Tōma saw the Third Hokage clearly. Flawed, yes. But until the very end, he had chosen to stand between the village and destruction.
"I understand," Tōma said quietly. "Grandfather… please keep the Flying Thunder God kunai I gave you on hand. If things go bad, activate it."
The Hokage's smile softened. "I will. And you should trust me too. I may be old, but I'm not helpless."
"I know," Tōma replied, already turning to leave.
As he vanished, the Hokage stared at an old photograph. Himself, and his three students.
"Orochimaru…"
ANBU appeared beside him.
"Orders, Hokage-sama?"
"Don't alert him yet," the Hokage said after a long sigh. "Secure evacuation routes. Monitor the Sound Village operatives closely. We need to know his next move."
"Yes."
...
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