The Hokage didn't spare anyone. Just his presence seemed to make the entire world obey...
All the bodyguards except Shizune were on their knees, drenched in cold sweat, unable to fight their instinctive fear of this oppressive pressure. Even their heads were lowered... Their situation was even worse than that of the defeated Kage. Because of their puny strength, facing a monster that surpassed all limits was disastrous for one's will and morale...
The table, chairs, and floor were covered in large cracks, but for some reason nothing had collapsed yet. Even the windows, after the cobwebs of splinters had spread across them, were still not shattered, as if they were being held together by something...
Pressure covered people selectively, once stronger than others, and someone completely bypassed.
The atmosphere was suffocating, and the only loud sound that clearly filled everyone's mind was an insane heart rate!
Even the ragged breathing and faint growl couldn't compare to that deafening rumble. The pressure was soundless and even seemed to absorb all sounds, causing a frightening pulsing noise to dominate everything. It was a manifestation of the purest sound of fear, which hid the Hokage's true intention.
He was grinning, enjoying the "nice" atmosphere to the fullest. For him, such "silence" sounded better than any music...
"Fine..."
Intense and puzzled looks were directed at only one person...
Naruto had used his true power in earnest, causing space to shake with its terrifying power! He displayed an overbearing and unbridled demeanor that was completely out of character in Naruto's past!
At this meeting, he immediately put everyone in their place! He didn't negotiate or try to suppress them verbally, but simply used pure force to clearly assert his supreme position!
Everyone had to sit, and the weakest ones had to kneel! Only those who are smart enough to admit their weakness in the face of its power will get the right to straighten their backs!
But, even Shizune ... after a moment, after being satisfied with the scene of people kneeling before her Master, she suddenly knelt down in front of him, and put her head to the floor, loudly expressing her loyalty:
"Master! Your place, me...
She invited him to sit down, and then he finally reacted, stopped grinning impudently, looked around at everyone present with an authoritative look, and then nodded, noticing in their eyes exactly the emotions that he had originally planned to see.
— good...
The Hokage gave a curt nod, and as if to confirm that everything was going according to plan, he once again looked at everyone from top to bottom, causing them to lower their fearful gazes. And then-he snorted smugly, and then sat down in his rightful place in the center, letting Shizune get up first.
Naruto turned to her and smiled approvingly:
"You're doing great. Keep quiet for now, my "old friends" and I have a lot to discuss... Naruto once again cast a cold glance at all the Kage present, then sneered insidiously:
— You don't mind, do you?"
Still drenched in cold sweat, the Kage slowly regained consciousness. Everyone except Kurotsuchi. Practically, like Shizune, she only experienced a small part of"his greeting". That's why, without waiting for her response, Naruto turned to the tense kunoichi:
"Kurotsuchi.".. How's Oonoki?" I've heard that he's traveling...
"Ah ... um... she frowned, but quickly regained her composure and straightened up. She was annoyed by his insolence, his careless manner, and his complete lack of explanation about what had just happened... Watching his expression, she didn't dare voice her displeasure first, so she answered a little cautiously:
"Grandpa's fine, him... He really started traveling around the country.
Kurotsuchi's voice was still tinged with excitement, worry, and hidden trepidation due to the recent "test".
Naruto smiled indifferently:
"So that's it...
Of course, he anticipated her "thoughts", but deliberately ignored it, continuing this" non-stressed " conversation:
"Maybe I should visit Hidden Stone sometime, too.".. What do you say?
"Eh?"
Kurotsuchi flinched in surprise, and clutching the hem of her dress, she stared straight into his eyes. She couldn't understand what his words meant. Is this a threat? Or... Was he serious? How can anyone behave so frivolously after this "attack"?
"What's he up to?"
Kurotsuchi suspected that there was some hidden meaning behind his words. The mere presence of this person caused an eerie feeling, so that everything said was not perceived as simple words.
"Calm down! I need to calm down... He's clearly not going to attack... If I wanted to, I wouldn't even know how I'd be killed! Damn it... Such power... Who is he anyway?!"
Although he looked exactly like Naruto, but everything else... Kurotsuchi immediately rejected the idea that this was a "normal" Hokage. It is not clear what happened to him or how, but more important — his terrifying power!
What could be more important in this world? In addition, this man had power over the strongest Shinobi group in the world. With all this, judging by his actions — he could easily have done something terrible!
As the leader of Hidden Stone, Kurotsuchi had to think before she acted and, at the moment, as the ruler of the "neighboring group", the territory closest to this dangerous person, she did not dare to act foolishly and rashly.
Kurotsuchi glared at everyone present, and quickly realized that even though they didn't look particularly good, they still had their strength, just like her. That's just it... The only reason they didn't act was because they were holding her back.
"No wonder..."
Judging by their pale faces and intense gazes, they were all trying to hide their fear, but since they shared it, it was obvious that they all understood each other's feelings. Even Gaara, who considered Naruto a close friend, had an unsightly expression on her face right now. He wasn't a fool... The actions of his "friend" were not "friendly"at all...