Back in Konoha, Sasuke paced restlessly outside the Hokage's office. The news of Naruto's reckless nature had been spreading among the villagers, and a knot of unease tightened in his stomach. "Where is he?" he muttered, glancing at Kakashi, who was engaged in a conversation with Asuma.
"Do you think he's really going to take on the Exploding Corps by himself?" Sasuke asked, frustration clear in his voice.
Kakashi looked at him, his single visible eye narrowing. "Knowing Naruto, he might have already rushed in without thinking it through. We should check on him."
"I'm going after him!" Sasuke declared, turning on his heel. He couldn't shake the feeling that Naruto was doing something incredibly stupid. "If he gets himself killed, I'll never forgive him."
As he sprinted away, the gravity of the situation weighed on him. Naruto's impulsiveness could lead them all into disaster, and he wasn't going to let that happen.
---
Boom!
Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the ground beneath Sasuke's feet, sending him stumbling back. The shockwave rippled through the village, and the unmistakable sound of destruction echoed in the distance.
"What was that?!" Sasuke exclaimed, his heart racing. He quickly regained his composure, his Sharingan flaring to life as he scanned the horizon. The plume of smoke rising from the forest confirmed his worst fears.
"It's coming from the direction of the Exploding Corps!" he yelled, his voice filled with urgency. "Naruto!"
Kakashi and Asuma exchanged worried glances before springing into action, following Sasuke as he rushed toward the source of the explosion.
---
Meanwhile, Naruto continued his onslaught, the raw power of Kurama coursing through him. His heart raced as he felt invincible, but as he dispatched the last of the Exploding Corps members before him, he felt a sudden rush of energy leave him.
"Why are they running?" he wondered, panting heavily. "This is my moment! I'll show everyone!" But even as he charged forward, a gnawing sensation began to creep into his mind—a sense of emptiness. Was this really what he wanted?
In his mind, Kurama's laughter echoed, but it now felt twisted. Embrace the power! You're strong enough to crush them all!
"Yeah, but…" Naruto hesitated, glancing at the destruction around him. "This isn't what I wanted! I'm not just a monster!"
---
Just as the last of the Exploding Corps fled, Sasuke and the others arrived at the battlefield, their eyes widening at the sight of the devastation.
"What the hell happened here?" Asuma gasped, taking in the chaos.
Sasuke clenched his fists, his gaze locking onto Naruto, who stood at the center of the wreckage, breathing heavily. "Naruto! Are you insane?" Sasuke shouted, his voice sharp with anger and concern. "You can't do this alone! You've gone too far!"
Naruto turned to face him, a mixture of adrenaline and uncertainty flooding his senses. "Sasuke! I… I took them down! I can—"
But before he could finish, another tremor shook the ground, and a figure emerged from the shadows behind him.
---
"Impressive," the leader of the Exploding Corps sneered, dusting himself off as he stood up, his eyes glinting with malice. "But you've only made it easier for us. The kid's rampage only proves how foolish he is!"
Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he realized the danger was far from over. "What?! You're still here?!"
"Indeed," the leader grinned, revealing a handful of explosive clay in his palm. "And now you'll pay for your arrogance!"
Before anyone could react, the leader hurled the clay toward Naruto, triggering a series of massive explosions that lit up the sky.
---
The blasts erupted around Naruto, sending him sprawling. "No! I won't let you hurt my friends!" he shouted, struggling to get back on his feet. The chaos around him blurred his focus as Kurama's chakra surged, pushing him back to his feet with newfound strength.
You need to control your rage! Don't let them have the upper hand! Kurama growled, his voice reverberating in Naruto's mind.
Fueled by anger and a desire to protect, Naruto clenched his fists, ready to unleash another barrage of power. "You think you can take me down? I'll show you what real strength is!"
---
As the battle raged on, Sasuke and Kakashi quickly assessed the situation. "We need to get Naruto under control!" Kakashi urged, preparing to jump in.
"But how?" Sasuke said, glancing back at Naruto, who was already charging at the enemy with reckless abandon. "He's out of control!"
"We can't let him fight alone! If he continues like this, he'll only make things worse!" Asuma added, clenching his fists in frustration.
"We have to stop the leader before he can do more damage!" Sasuke shouted, determination filling his eyes.
With their minds set, the trio charged forward, ready to support their friend and face the chaos head-on. As the fight intensified, the stakes rose higher than ever.