***
After a little training with his son, as well as the main reason for everything that happened - Sarada, Naruto decided to test his abilities as it should be. Last time Kurama got in the way of a full test of all skills and a test of himself in sparring with a clone, so now he wanted to see it through to the end.
The Hokage left Konoha and swept through forests and mountains at impressive speed, stopping at a rather significant place - the Valley of the End. Although, now, this place was more like a huge crater with a small reservoir. After the battle with Sasuke, the lake in the center of the valley almost completely evaporated, and from the two statues of Madara and Hashirama, only decapitated silhouettes, covered with cracks and chips, remained. Over the years, the grass has grown a little here and the place looked not so abandoned, but still, one could notice traces of the battle of the past, like fragments of stone statues.
Naruto stopped at the edge of the lake, entered Kurama mode and took off. Last time, in the Forest of Death, he was able to test the very foundations of his abilities. It is no longer possible to concentrate the Balls of the Search for Truth, but special elements remained: Magnetism, Lava and Boiling. He wanted to test them first.
One hand seal and three shadow clones appeared instantly, followed by an aura of orange chakra, and then each had a Rasengan in their right hand. Scorching red, hazy and hot, as well as gray, which has collected chunks of soil and dust underneath.
Exchanging glances with his copies, the Hokage ordered:
"You three, attack me, don't hold back.
Even if he had gained all of Naruto's combat experience, he still felt a certain nervousness from facing such dangerous Ninjutsu, perfectly aware of their overwhelming power.
"With the clones, I won't be able to give my best, but I can definitely put my Rasengans to the test and get used to the fight a little. As soon as I receive the Perfect Law, my strength will completely change, it is worth understanding my limits now, so that in the future there will be something to compare with, I think this test will do. As soon as I deal with this, I need to start developing the Jutsu of Control, the capture of villages is the most important step in development! "
This thought flashed through his head as quickly as he broke the distance and took off. Even though they are clones, he was not going to relax!
- Hmm ?!
A clone appeared behind him and growled, attacking the elements of Magnetism with the Rasenshuriken!
Immediately, the blue chakra sparkled on Naruto's hand, forming an identical sphere, he decided to respond with the same technique!
The clone snorted with a sneer and sped up, the Original responding in kind! They were simply not going to give in to each other.
There was a deafening crash as the two technicians collided in an attempt to destroy everything in their path. The shockwave shook the ground, blowing nearby rocks to dust! Even though they were ten meters above the ground, dozens of deep cracks scattered across the rocky surface next to the lake.
- Kha! - Naruto was thrown back by the shockwave! He did not even have time to regroup, as two clones from two sides already rushed to the attack. They chose the perfect moment to strike and were not going to give their creator indulgences.
Naruto was counting on it!
With a hard grin and getting rid of the scraps of his shirt, he stretched out his arms to the side, straight in the direction of the Jutsu of the clones!
"Damn Naruto, he has nothing but rasengans ..." - before he did not really think about all his attacking techniques, but now the drawback became clear - he could not respond to powerful attacks from both sides. It is impossible to create two Supersenshuriken, control did not allow, so I had to act easier ...
With a disgruntled sigh, Naruto closed the seal and abruptly began to grow chakra, in a matter of seconds achieving the complete transformation of the Tailed Beast!
- Kurama!
- Got it! The fox became aware of the situation in an instant and Naruto gained full control of this form, and then stretched out his arms to the sides in an attempt to contain the Jutsu of the clones. At the same moment, the huge claws of the Avatar collided with the Super Sensenshurikens of the elements of Lava and Boil!
The ground under the giant paws immediately shuddered and sank by a meter. Stones were thrown into the air, Kurama growled furiously!
- Graaa!
After a terrible rumble, the Hokage still withstood two attacks at close range. With a formidable grin, the chakra on two of his huge paws immediately trembled, and then, being right in the Avatar's head, he folded the seals, forming three more shadow clones of Kurama. Now he was fully aware of the destructive power before the transformation, and now he wanted to test the full potential of the completed Asura form.
One of the clones gathered enough natural energy in a matter of seconds, and then ...
There was a crash! A terrifying stream of natural energy burst into Kurama's main Avatar, and then the other two immediately merged into one. The sky fluttered with incredible power! The Valley of the End seemed to remember all the incredible powers of Naruto, even the earth heeded his power, and the water in the lake just went mad!
Naruto no longer lost concentration. Deep inside, he was content with strength, but he was not too happy, knowing full well that even with all this, he was not yet equal to his future enemies.
Finally, the final version of Asura's Transformation was reaching full completion!
Six arms, three faces and nine tails! The strongest form required tremendous recharge of the chakra, but even so, its appearance in this world made the very space tremble!
- Not bad! Kurama nodded excitedly.``You really got stronger ...
"Mm," the Hokage didn't argue, he got a little better thanks to the first goal. But this was not enough ...
`` Listen to Kurama, recently ... '' Trying to act convincingly, he paused and then finished:
"I know about Barion Mode.
- What?! - The fox sharply tensed: - You ...
- I know about the consequences of this method. Against Ishiki, you and I will use it.
The sky seemed to darken even more, Naruto's words made even the Nine-Tails flinch ...
He was silent. Everything came to what he secretly feared ...
"What the heck..."
There was no doubt that everything Naruto had said earlier would really happen. He could never have known about this method, which means ...
- Damn ... So it all came to this ... Is this Ishiki really that strong?
"Yes ..." Naruto sighed, "Sasuke and I couldn't do anything, I just know you helped me with it and risked everything." Therefore, I do not want to sit still ... If I remain as weak, you and I will have to risk our lives. You're even worse ...
Trying not to reveal unnecessary details, the Hokage sighed.
- I know how dangerous it is for you, so I need to focus on development. Even if I need to act violently, I will not stop! I won't let you die!
His eyes shone with endless determination to do anything for his friend ...
"Naruto ... you ..."
The Nine-Tails did not answer, he was silent for a long time. For a very long time he had known about the Barion Regime and how dangerous it was for himself. Only in a really critical situation was he ready to tell Naruto about it, on the day when there would be no chance of salvation ... Who could know what he himself would tell him, clearly aware of the consequences.
"This guy ... Damn, what was I thinking ?! Knowing Naruto, now he definitely won't stop ... "- The fox could only grin crookedly, the last days he thought about many things, and now ...
After sighing heavily, he said:
- Let's not talk about it, this is the last thing I want to discuss with you. Better tell me what are you up to? All this clone training, why is it?
Naruto didn't insist, his plan was different, so he replied:
- Just a test ... Very soon I will become even stronger, but there is another method. I will somehow go through to tell you, so while I finish ...