Naruto had no intention of interacting with the Cloud Village for the time being. However, it was clear that the Cloud Village thought differently.
"So many people? It seems their target is you," Karin observed calmly. "The Cloud Village is much bolder than the Mist Village."
The Mist Village was cautious, not daring to make enemies, but the Cloud Village was coming on strong! Yet she wasn't afraid, not even feeling the slightest ripple in her heart. After all, it was just one of the Five Great Nations.
Even though the Cloud Village had become the strongest village on the continent after Konoha's decline, compared to the beings Naruto had encountered and fought before—such as the Sage of Six Paths, the Shinigami, and the thousand-year-old toad—she couldn't help but feel a subtle sense of, "Ah, ordinary people are surprisingly brave."
"It's just as well that they've come to us," Naruto said with a smile, shaking his head. He had assumed that something like the "Falls of Truth" would be well-known. But after searching for so long, there had been no trace of it. They hadn't even met anyone who had heard of the place.
The Cloud Village coming to them of their own accord was actually good news.
"Which one of you will stay with Karin?" Naruto asked, looking at the two foxes on his shoulder.
"Is the Eight-Tails here too?" The Yang Nine-Tails was eager. "Then let me go. That guy is still tough to beat."
Its eyes swept over, stopping on the red sword, its intentions clear. It wanted to test the skills it had learned from the Soul Society on the Eight-Tails.
The Yin Nine-Tails said nothing, simply leaping onto Karin's head, expressing its decision through action.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Karin said, clenching her fist.
Naruto nodded, then moved forward in a flash, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
The Cloud team advanced.
"We're already very close to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki," said C, one of the leading Jonin, in a cautious tone. "According to the intelligence from the Land of Fire... The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's sensory range could be as much as forty to fifty kilometers. In other words, we've already entered his sensory range, and he could appear before us at any moment. Stay alert."
Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, a woman with tea-colored braids, was slightly surprised by this. "Fifty kilometers? Is such an exaggerated range really possible?"
The distance seemed too unbelievable. Even the Byakugan, renowned for its observational abilities, could only cover one or two kilometers, far less than this.
C was about to respond when a gentle voice sounded above them, "The Cloud Village's ability to gather intelligence is not to be underestimated, to have found out so much. But if that's the case... why would you still seek me out?"
The group of ninjas immediately halted, forming a defensive formation before looking up again. A blond-haired boy stood in the sky, looking down on them from above. Behind him, the mountain range stretched out, with its highest peak right beneath his feet. They were at the foot of the mountain, looking up.
C's expression changed dramatically. When? He had been maintaining sensory perception all along. No... His sensory perception was completely ineffective! He realized that in his perception, the sky above was empty, with no chakra flow or physical presence. Only with his eyes could he see a person. It was as if... he was in another dimension. Was this the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, a truly powerful ninja?
"The Cloud's goal is me, right?" Naruto asked softly. "What do you want?" It sounded like a question, but there wasn't a trace of doubt in his tone.
C remained silent. Beside him, the other leader of the team, a ninja named Dodai, spoke up. "Uzumaki-sama, we hope you will join the Cloud Village."
Naruto turned to look at him. The one-eyed man's breath caught for a moment. Just that simple glance made his heart race with fear. What a terrifying presence! "The relationship between you and Konoha isn't good, so allow me to speculate boldly. Is it because of your status as a Jinchūriki, Uzumaki-sama? If that's the case, then please consider the Cloud Village. In other villages, Jinchūriki are treated as 'tools,' but that's not the case in the Cloud Village. We regard Jinchūriki as heroes."
Dodai glanced over at the tea-colored braids.
Yugito spoke up. "I can vouch for that. Although when I was younger, the village was ignorant, and many unpleasant things happened, thanks to B and the Raikage's efforts, there has been a significant change."
She paused briefly, glancing at the small fox on Naruto's shoulder with a meaningful expression. "As fellow Jinchūriki, have you heard of the term 'perfect Jinchūriki'?"
"When we Jinchūriki use the power of our Tailed Beasts..."
"The Tailed Beasts also absorb our own chakra."
"If the Tailed Beast transformation lasts too long, one might lose their sanity, or even their life."
"But if one can achieve a spiritual connection with the Tailed Beast, then when using the Tailed Beast's chakra, our own chakra won't be drained by the beast."
"I've only ever heard of one Jinchūriki who could reach this level."
"That would be Killer B-sama, the Jinchūriki of the Cloud Village."
Yugito's gaze shifted to a man standing nearby, wearing sunglasses and with dark skin.
He gave a curt nod, his expression cold.
"Although I'm not yet a perfect Jinchūriki," she continued, "my communication with the Two-Tails has been quite smooth. Perhaps in a few years, I too will be able to reconcile with it and become a perfect Jinchūriki."
"For us Jinchūriki, a village that can produce two perfect Jinchūriki is a great home."
Naruto smiled and shook his head slightly. "Aren't you underestimating me a bit?"
"I've already reconciled with the Nine-Tails."
The Nine-Tails on his shoulder tilted its head and gave a barely noticeable nod.
"And..."
Naruto stepped forward, walking on air, positioning himself higher. "I've already broken free from my cage."
"But you, still trapped, want to pull me back in."
"Such a thing..."
"Is not beautiful at all."
Dodai frowned, still respectful in his demeanor. "Would Uzumaki-sama really not reconsider?"
"If I keep saying no, will you take action against me?" Naruto's gaze swept over the crowd, starting from Dodai.
"I'm sorry, but it has to be this way." Dodai raised his hand. "Form the formation!"
"Mission: Capture the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"Uzumaki-sama, you still have one last chance to reconsider."
"Even in front of our Raikage's elite forces, despite being the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki..."
Naruto interrupted him with a slight smile. "You're quite confident, aren't you?"
"Is it because of your numbers?"
"But..."
"No matter how many ants there are, how can they possibly move an elephant?"
Ants?
Dodai couldn't help but furrow his brow.
This kid's confidence was astounding!
His team was made up of dozens of Jonin—shinobi strong enough to sway the outcome of a war. Their combined strength could easily overwhelm any village, except for the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Dodai didn't doubt Naruto's power.
But to compare himself to an elephant and them to ants? Was that...
Before he could even finish the thought, a sudden, overwhelming pressure descended upon them.
Creaaak—
He could hear the very air straining under the weight.
His body froze, his chakra flow stalling, and the atmosphere grew suffocatingly heavy.
It felt as if a mountain had settled on top of him.
He managed to glance sideways.
The two other Jinchūriki wore serious expressions but were holding up better, still able to stand upright.
C was in a similar situation to him, slightly hunched over, his face twisted with effort.
But...
At least they could still stand, however difficult it was.
The other Jonin, along with the Chūnin accompanying them, were in a dire state, completely pinned to the ground by this immense force, unable to move a muscle, entirely at the mercy of their surroundings.
"It's not genjutsu," C ground out through clenched teeth. "I don't know what this ability is."
"But it must be what the intel mentioned—a powerful presence that paralyzes those who aren't strong enough."
Inside, C was deeply unsettled.
The words in the intel seemed woefully insufficient.
Though it had been detailed, when he first read it, he thought it was an exaggeration.
But standing here now, facing the reality...
The description only captured a fraction of the true power before them.
Dodai tightened his fist.
Ants?
He realized that his earlier thoughts were far too optimistic.
Naruto's words hadn't been exaggerated in the least.
If anything, they were understated.
Ants might not be able to harm an elephant, but at least they could still move.
In Naruto's presence, his team couldn't even lift their heads to meet his gaze.
"I'll team up with B to restrain him!" Yugito said, raising her hands to form seals. "You guys quickly find a way to break this technique."
Killer B drew his sword, lightning chakra surging violently.
On Naruto's shoulder, the Nine-Tails grinned, "Naruto, you deal with the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki."
"I'll take care of the Eight-Tails!"
It leaped off Naruto's shoulder, biting down on the "Nine-Tails" sword, and then lunged at Killer B.
It arced through the air.
Its form expanded as it leaped, growing larger by the moment, until it filled the sky, casting a vast shadow.
Those still able to raise their heads to look at the battlefield were all shocked.
The Nine-Tails?
But isn't the Jinchūriki still standing there?
Did the Nine-Tails break free?
"B, be careful!" The Eight-Tails warned him in his inner world. "That Nine-Tails... I don't know how it broke free."
"Even without the Jinchūriki's help, its power is still formidable!"
Killer B nodded.
A massive octopus tentacle whipped out from behind him, slamming fiercely toward the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails raised its claw, gripping the red sword.
The sword also grew immensely in size with its body.
It slashed down ferociously.
Naruto watched them.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Now is not the time to worry about the Tailed Beasts." Yugito's sharp voice rang out as she completed her hand seals.
Several blue flames shot from her mouth.
They were faint blue flames, vaguely shaped like mice.
~~~
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