Naruto's shout echoed through the cavern.
A violet-red Rasengan formed in his right hand and slammed straight into one of the black serpents.
The impact detonated with a thunderous crack.
Black mist and violent light swallowed the glow of the magma below. When the chaos cleared, Naruto was already charging forward, straight toward Mōryō's core.
He ignored the countless shadowy tendrils around him. The red chakra cloaking his body lashed out like living tails, tearing into the black fog on its own.
"Don't—don't come any closer!" Mōryō screamed.
For the first time, fear crept into its voice.
The power erupting from Naruto was stronger than its own. Worse, it felt darker, more violent. The irony was almost cruel. Who was really the one meant to end the world here?
Naruto didn't answer.
Another Rasengan formed in his hand, larger this time. Wider. Denser.
"So strong…" Shion whispered, clinging to him. Despite the violent shaking, she felt something she never had before. Safety.
"Big Ball Rasengan!"
The path ahead was torn open by Kurama's chakra. Naruto drove the technique straight into Mōryō's body.
The monster screamed.
Naruto leapt back with Shion in his arms, watching closely. Mōryō was writhing in agony, but its form wasn't fading.
Naruto frowned. Even that wasn't enough?
His mind raced. Rasenshuriken would work, but he still couldn't throw it properly. Jiraiya had warned him about the backlash. And wasting time here wasn't an option.
Tōma.
Gaara.
Both waiting.
Naruto took a breath and split into two shadow clones. Massive chakra gathered in his hands.
"You can't kill me!" Mōryō laughed hoarsely. "Your power hurts, but it's not fatal!"
Shion watched the incomplete Rasenshuriken struggle to stabilize. Then she understood.
She smiled softly.
Mimicking the clones, she reached out and placed her hand against the swirling chakra, not shaping it, but feeding it.
Her power flowed in.
The Rasenshuriken, once tinged red by Kurama's chakra, turned pure white. It shone with a quiet, cleansing brilliance.
Naruto's eyes widened. Something was missing before. Something essential.
"You saved me there, Shion!" he grinned.
"I'm glad I could help," she replied, smiling back.
Mōryō panicked. It tried to flee, but its massive form had nowhere to go.
"Together," Naruto said.
Shion nodded.
"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
The technique flew.
Space itself seemed to tear as the spinning blade cut through the cavern. Mōryō barely had time to scream before it was struck head-on.
Light erupted like a miniature sun.
The black mist evaporated completely.
When the glow faded, the sealing chamber was empty.
Mōryō was gone.
Naruto gently set Shion down. She hesitated, still clinging to him, as if afraid the moment would break if she let go.
"…It's really over," she whispered.
Naruto smiled. "Yeah."
They left together.
Moments later, the magma below surged violently. The dormant volcano, shaken by the battle, finally erupted, spewing molten fire skyward for the first time in ages.
Far away, Orochimaru watched, tongue flicking across his lips.
"So that's it? The legendary Mōryō couldn't even handle the Nine-Tails brat," he sneered. "Still nowhere near Fujimoto Tōma."
If Tōma had been there, this would've ended before it even started.
"Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto asked, adjusting his glasses. "Shall we head to Sunagakure and confirm Tōma's fate?"
"No need," Orochimaru replied lazily. "If he's dead, the Akatsuki will turn on me. If he's alive…" He chuckled. "Then Konoha owes us quite the favor."
Kabuto paused. "…You're hoping he survives."
Orochimaru only laughed and walked away.
"You're saying Orochimaru warned you that Tōma was in danger?" Kakashi asked, eyes widening.
"Yes!" Naruto replied urgently. "Is he really in trouble?"
Kakashi hesitated, then explained everything. Gaara's capture. Konoha's lack of manpower. Tōma being sent to Sunagakure alone.
"…So yeah," Kakashi admitted quietly. "There's a real chance this was all planned."
Naruto's eyes burned red.
"But Tōma has Flying Thunder God," Kakashi added quickly. "If he wants to escape, almost no one can stop him."
"…Unless the enemy prepared for it," Naruto shot back.
Kakashi fell silent.
"We have to go," Naruto said firmly. "For Tōma. And for Gaara."
"Wait," Shion said suddenly.
She took a breath. "Mōryō isn't truly gone. As long as darkness exists in human hearts, something like it could return. I need to pass my power to the next shrine maiden. Naruto… will you lend me your strength again in the future?"
Naruto didn't hesitate. He gave her his familiar grin and a thumbs-up.
"Anytime you need help, just say the word!"
Those who knew him well sighed at once. He definitely hadn't caught the deeper meaning.
The Hokage's office shook with a crash.
"Orochimaru said that?!" Tsunade roared, slamming her desk.
"Yes, Granny Tsunade!" Naruto shouted back. "Send us to Sunagakure!"
Tsunade's expression darkened. She understood immediately. The timing was too perfect. Someone inside Konoha was feeding information.
She inhaled deeply, forcing her anger down.
"Team Seven and Team Guy," she ordered. "Depart for Sunagakure immediately. Your objective: locate Fujimoto Tōma and rescue Gaara."
"Yes!"
"Wait," Ino said, stepping forward, eyes steady. "I'm going too."
Tsunade met her gaze and sighed. "Ino joins Team Seven under Kakashi."
"Yes!"
"Move out," Tsunade commanded.
The storm had ended.
Another had just begun.
...
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