"You, the star that has been concealing your brilliance and nurturing yourself for so long, it's time to shine. Go, Natsuhi." Ryoha gave Natsuhi a reassuring look. What he wanted from her was loyalty, not to turn her into his puppet, questioning everything she did. What she wanted was to be a great mother, just like in the original story – a noble Natsuhi, a woman he could trust.
He never treated Natsuhi as a subordinate or an outsider. Ryoha had always been good to her. He provided guidance in ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu, giving his insights without holding back. It was because Ryoha admired Natsuhi.
"I understand," Natsuhi looked into Ryoha's mysterious black eyes and her lips curved into a captivating smile. A radiance of motherhood and tolerance slowly emanated from her, making Ryoha's heart flutter even when surrounded by beauties like Bulma, Tsunade, Hinata, and the others. Yes, this was the Natsuhi he desired.
The Natsuhi before him was just like the one he had seen in his previous life, back when he was still in front of a computer. She had the demeanor of a strong warrior, unyielding, brave, and determined. She cared for children, showing compassion and protection. She would fight to the death and even leave behind her final technique for the sake of her children.
"Why do I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?" Naruto, who had fought against Natsuhi years ago, but back then she wore a mask. Now her attire had changed to a modern, fashionable outfit that didn't hinder her movements during battles. The combination made Natsuhi appear incredibly elegant, mature, and generous. That's why Naruto couldn't remember.
"Hoshigakure." Natsuhi smiled faintly. Were all the rookies so formidable now? This Naruto might not be as strong as Haku and the others beside her, but he was still quite exceptional.
"So, you're the one from back then..." Naruto furrowed his brows, raised a finger, and appeared lost in thought. It took him a good half a minute to recall. It seemed that unless it was something urgent, his brain couldn't function properly.
"You're not my opponent anymore, so there's no need to fight!" Naruto said with a hint of pride. Unfortunately, he was interrupted before he could finish his sentence, as a purple tail swept him away.
"You're still talking about the past. Can we start now?" Natsuhi wasn't angry. Truth be told, Ryoha had never seen her angry over these years. Instead, she often wore a smile that exuded a maternal aura, making people feel like they were in their mother's embrace.
"Ouch, that hurt. Sneak attack, huh? Then I won't hold back either. Watch my Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto immediately unleashed his signature ninjutsu. Although he was no longer a Jinchuriki, he had been influenced by the Nine Tails' chakra for many years due to his previous status. Additionally, being from the Uzumaki clan, his constitution and chakra were already different from ordinary people. With the combination of these factors, summoning Shadow Clones was still something he excelled at.
"Mysterious Peacock Method: Peacock Feather Transformation!" Natsuhi couldn't perform hand seals with one hand, but it wasn't a problem. She had been training her speed in forming hand seals all along. With Ryoha's assistance, she had access to equipment and potions that aided in improving her speed. Thus, after two years of arduous practice, she could now perform five hand seals in a second.
Behind her, purple chakra appeared, resembling flames and the unfolding of a peacock's feathers. These purple chakra manifestations transformed into venomous snakes and beasts, immediately shattering all the approaching Shadow Clones. Naruto, who gained experience from his clones, quickly formulated a new attack plan.
Using the Body Flicker Jutsu, he instantly appeared behind Natsuhi. Because of their previous battle, Naruto knew that her close combat skills were not as strong, and it seemed like she only knew one ninjutsu. Therefore, he believed that close combat was the most effective way to deal with her. However, this was just Naruto's assumption based on his own self-perception.
Back then, Naruto believed that he could defeat Natsuhi with sheer power and speed in close combat. Now, after systematic training and the rigorous training on the Mount Myoboku, his taijutsu had greatly improved. He had confidence in defeating Natsuhi with his Taijutsu. Unfortunately, fantasies are beautiful, but reality is harsh. It's not just Naruto who can progress; Natsuhi can also make progress.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Naruto was surprised when Natsuhi turned slightly and effortlessly blocked his fist, then countered with a whip kick. However, Naruto managed to evade by flipping away. Natsuhi, however, relentlessly pursued him, and the two engaged in a fierce exchange of taijutsu.
"It seems that the woman's taijutsu is quite strong, contrary to what Naruto said," said Kakashi, puzzled.
"It's simple. Naruto's assessment of her is still stuck in the past few years. On the other hand, there's no denying that Naruto's strength has surpassed mine during these years. But that doesn't mean others won't progress. So, that woman must have made significant progress as well. Didn't you notice traces of Konoha's Strong Fist in her taijutsu? It's just modified to suit her better," explained Shikamaru.
Kakashi, as a rival to Might Guy, couldn't have weak taijutsu skills. Just by seeing him engaging in taijutsu with Kage-level opponents, it was evident. If his taijutsu were weak, he wouldn't be able to activate the Eight Gates. Although he had only opened one or two of the gates.
"Isn't that dangerous?" Tenten expressed her concern. While it was true that Naruto wasn't the one who killed Kakuzu and Hidan in the end, to some extent, if Naruto hadn't shown up, they would already be dead. What revenge could they talk about? Adding to their years of friendship, she didn't want anything to happen to Naruto.
"Don't worry. Naruto hasn't shown his true strength so far. Do you really think Naruto has been idle these past few years? Maybe Ryoha's words has overshadowed all of Naruto's brilliance, but in reality, he has become very strong in these two years. Plus, his Sage mode training at Mount Myōboku, I can't even gauge how strong Naruto is now." Kakashi reassured.
"However, it's still necessary to be prepared for anything. From the surface, it seems that Ryoha only came for Hidan and Kakuzu, and Natsuhi is just looking for someone to spar with. But we can't rule out any variables. If Ryoha makes a move, I'll do everything in my power to stop him. At that time, you all just focus on escaping," Kakashi declared with a determined gaze. His only role as their teacher was to ensure the safety of these future talents of Konoha.