Once Fujimoto Tōma committed to the path, he couldn't help himself. He began absorbing natural energy again.
This time, it was controlled. He could stop whenever he wanted.
After a while, he opened his eyes and fell silent.
The violent, overwhelming transformation from the first time didn't repeat itself. But that also meant the change was painfully slow. At this pace, fully reshaping his body would take an absurdly long time.
Tōma let out a quiet breath.
So that first "accident" hadn't been a disaster after all.
Only then did another thought occur to him.
He hadn't eaten in a long time.
Yet… he didn't feel particularly hungry.
Not fasting. Just a muted hunger.
He quickly understood why. Chakra normally required converting physical energy, which was why shinobi ate like monsters. Natural energy didn't draw from the body at all. Less strain meant slower hunger.
Standing up, Tōma decided to eat first. Body modification could wait.
He found himself strangely excited.
What would his body become once the transformation was complete?
Seven days after his last meal, Tōma finally ate again. He wasn't starving, but his body clearly remembered. Everything tasted absurdly good.
Afterward, he informed Fujimoto Sana and Yamanaka Ino, then headed straight for the Land of Rice Fields to rendezvous with Sunagakure's forces.
The group sent to receive him consisted of four familiar faces.
Jōnin Maki.
And the three former Chūnin Exam participants.
Gaara.
Kankurō.
Temari.
Given Sunagakure's current condition, an elite jōnin plus the Kazekage's children was already a show of considerable respect.
"Took you long enough," Temari said dryly. "If you were any later, the final battle might've already been over."
"I ran into an issue," Tōma replied evenly. "You're already ready for the decisive fight?"
Kankurō snorted. "Of course. We're Sunagakure. Being cautious doesn't mean dragging our feet. If this dragged on too long, every other faction would start circling."
"Nice work," Tōma said with a smile. "Then I'll take the lead."
He hadn't come all this way to sit back. If Konoha was going to show its strength, he needed to be visible.
Maki nodded without hesitation. "Then we'll leave the opening to you. Please be careful."
"He's strong," Gaara said suddenly, eyes fixed on Tōma. "Stronger than before."
The others froze.
Gaara wasn't prone to exaggeration. If he said that, it meant something.
Tōma turned back to Maki. "Before I act, tell me your deployment and what you know about the enemy. I don't want to disrupt your plan."
Maki explained quickly. Most attrition tactics had already been used. Orochimaru himself was absent, which both angered and relieved Sunagakure.
The most troublesome enemies were four operatives with abnormal physical transformations. Everyone else was well below the standard of the Five Great Villages.
In short, this would be a head-on finish.
"Good," Tōma said. "One more thing. When I move, pull your people back."
Maki didn't understand why, but he agreed.
In the future, this would become very familiar to him.
The final engagement began.
Several hundred combatants faced each other. Not a war, but far from a skirmish.
The Sound side looked grim. Their soldiers moved stiffly, eyes empty. Many had clearly been altered by unstable methods. Even if they survived, their lives wouldn't last long.
Orochimaru had already abandoned this place.
But Sunagakure needed a decisive victory.
And Tōma had no intention of sharing the spotlight.
A voice from the Sound side sneered. "What's this? Konoha sent just one man? Look behind you. Sunagakure already backed off. That's pathetic."
"Or," Tōma said calmly, biting his thumb, "maybe I told them to step back so they wouldn't get in the way."
He slammed his hand onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
White smoke erupted, swallowing the battlefield.
When it cleared, a massive figure dominated the center.
A giant toad.
Gamabunta.
Shock rippled through both armies.
"That toad…" Gaara murmured. "…Uzumaki Naruto."
Memories resurfaced.
Gamabunta looked down. "Oi—Jiraiya—wait. Huh? It's you, kid."
Tōma stood on his head calmly. "I'll need your help."
Gamabunta grunted. He remembered the warnings. From the old woman. From the old man. From the Great Sage himself.
When this human called, he listened.
"Fine," Gamabunta said. "Let's get this over with."
Panic spread through the Sound ranks.
"Run?"
"Run where?"
"Orochimaru-sama would kill us if we deserted!"
They argued.
Tōma didn't wait.
Gamabunta leapt.
The ground shook as the giant toad soared into the air, blotting out the sun.
Tōma and his shadow clone stood firm atop its head.
Hand seals snapped into place.
"Ninjutsu: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"