Swish! Swish! Swish! The young ninja from Kumogakure dashed forward with his short blade, splitting into three figures that encircled Naruto from the front, back, and left.
The Crescent Moon Slash of the Cloud Style bore similarities to the Leaf Style's Dance of the Crescent Moon, both utilizing clones to launch attacks!
The key difference, however, lay in their nature: the Leaf Style clones were solid, while the Cloud Style clones were illusions, with the real body hidden among them, making it far more deceptive!
Yet no matter the style, to Naruto, none of it mattered anymore.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Naruto chose the simplest and most direct countermeasure!
Whoosh!
Two of the illusions crossed past Naruto from the front and back, while the real body on the left was violently repelled by the force, sent flying off the explosive clay bird and losing grip of his short blade, which fell out of his hand!
Screech!!
The summoning bird from earlier swooped around in the sky and caught the young ninja.
His entire body ached as if his bones were shattered. The boy looked utterly shocked. "What was that just now…?"
Naruto turned to him, his voice cold and indifferent. "Do you want to try again?"
"Don't underestimate me!"
The boy, full of youthful vigor, raised his hands to form seals. But Naruto moved faster, reaching out with his hand from a distance.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Whoosh!
The boy's feet left the back of the summoning bird as he was pulled toward Naruto!
"What is…!?" Though alarmed, the boy managed to finish his hand seals.
Crackle! Lightning gathered in his hands, forming into a sphere that he hurled toward Naruto, using the pull of the gravitational force.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Ball Technique!"
"Oh? A condensed Lightning Release that can be thrown…"
Naruto maintained Banshō Ten'in with his left hand while raising his right hand.
"Preta Path!"
From her scattered paper form, Konan reassembled half her body, closely observing Naruto. "Using the Deva Path's abilities while simultaneously activating the Preta Path… Naruto's mastery of his left eye has reached another level!"
Whoosh! Naruto absorbed the lightning ball with his right hand and grabbed the boy's throat with his left.
Though subdued, the boy refused to give up. He stealthily formed a seal with two fingers.
Screech!
The summoning bird let out a sharp cry and charged at Naruto.
Naruto remained calm and composed.
"Preta Path!"
Gurgle! The boy's chakra was drained completely through Naruto's left hand in an instant!
Poof! Without chakra to sustain it, the summoning bird vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Naruto said, "You're quite agile and resourceful. More importantly, you're young. I'd say you're already at the level of a jōnin, aren't you? What's your name?"
The boy replied, "Kumogakure… Buroi!!!"
Naruto thought to himself, "Buroi… If given time to grow, he might become the next Kakashi Hatake of the ninja world…"
"Heh…" Buroi's arms went limp, a look of despair crossing his face.
This scent… Naruto sniffed the air, his gaze sharpening.
Swish! He tore off Buroi's ninja vest, along with hundreds of explosive tags hidden underneath, and flung them away!
Boom!!!
The explosion lit up the night sky. Buroi's face turned pale—his trump card for a suicidal counterattack had been completely seen through!
Naruto stared at him and asked, "Do you really want to die that badly?"
Buroi closed his eyes. "Kill me."
"Fine, I'll grant you your wish."
Naruto glanced downward and hurled Buroi forcefully.
"Master Dodai… I acted on my own again. I'm so useless… I never even got to confess to Samui. But maybe that's for the best. Liking someone fifteen years older than me? That's probably weird, right? If she rejected me, I'd just be a laughingstock…"
As he fell, Buroi bid farewell to this world.
Thud!!!
A heavy impact left the ground sunken, but he didn't die!
"Ugh… It hurts…!? But why am I still alive??"
It was then he realized he had landed on freshly tilled, soft soil.
"Could it be…!?" He looked up in shock at the massive shadow passing overhead.
Behind his mask, Naruto's Rinnegan gazed downward as he murmured, "Don't be in such a rush to die, young man. The time for you to shine hasn't truly arrived yet…"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The battle for Kumogakure had raged on for an hour!
The Raikage was still locked in combat with the Hellhound, but he had grown wiser. He realized that using cutting techniques only multiplied the Hellhound's numbers!
"Heavy Pressure Strike!"
Boom!!!
He struck a Hellhound with his elbow, sending it flying!
The surrounding Earth Release users from Kumogakure rushed in to assist.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
Rumble!!!
Thick layers of earth encased the Hellhound, temporarily restraining its movements.
Howl!
Thirty-six Hellhounds still surrounded the Raikage!
"Damn it! Ugh!!!" The Raikage roared in frustration, his chakra reserves starting to dwindle.
"Raikage-sama, please hold on a little longer! The sealing team is on their way!"
The Raikage shouted, "Where's Dodai?! If he were here, his techniques would make this much easier!!!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Elsewhere, a giant rhino rampaged, smashing through buildings like they were made of paper. Dozens of Kumogakure ninja wrapped thick chains around the rhino's body and legs, pulling with all their might.
"Ugh!!!"
But they were sent flying instead!
A calm and steady man appeared ahead.
"Lava Release: Demonic Pool!"
Gurgle! The ground beneath the rhino turned into a viscous liquid resembling molten rubber, trapping its legs and immobilizing it!
The nearby Kumogakure ninja breathed a sigh of relief. "Dodai-sama! Thank goodness you're here. We'll take care of it now!"
Dodai said, "No need. Leave this to me. Go support the other battle zones!"
"Understood! Please be careful!"
After the others left, Dodai looked into the rhino's eyes.
"All these summoned beasts have those troublesome eyes. But how could there be so many of them? They must be projections originating from the summoner…"
He paused, then said, "You're watching, aren't you?"
The summoned rhino gave no response.
Dodai continued, "The summoned beasts deliberately avoid attacking non-combatants, such as genin and civilians. I don't believe they possess such discernment. So, it must be you controlling them. This control must rely on shared vision. Therefore, I deduce that you and the summoned beasts share sight!"
"Having encountered you once before, I know you're highly purposeful. You wouldn't want to escalate this conflict unnecessarily. So, let's talk. Perhaps I can give you what you want."
On the back of the explosive clay bird…
"As expected of Uncle Dodai. His keen analytical skills rival those of Shikaku…"
Naruto sighed, standing up slowly. He turned to Konan and said, "I'll be back shortly."
Clang!
A Flying Raijin kunai landed in front of Dodai. Swish! Naruto appeared alongside it. "Dodai-san, your analysis is correct. If the Raikage were half as wise as you, this situation wouldn't have escalated to this point."
Dodai replied, "Though I despise your actions, I was against this conflict from the start. As a Kumogakure ninja, I must follow the Raikage's orders."
Naruto asked, "And now?"
"Your strength far exceeded my expectations. To prevent further casualties, take this."
Dodai pulled out a scroll from his robe.
Naruto's eyes narrowed behind his mask, but he made no immediate move.
Dodai said, "Rest assured, this is the scroll of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. I haven't tampered with it. I'm not foolish enough to invite criticism or bring greater disaster upon the village."
Naruto extended his hand, using gravitational force to pull the scroll toward him.
"Sigh…" Dodai exhaled deeply. "Honestly, I don't know if this is the right decision. Who knows what will become of such a technique in your hands…"
After verifying the scroll's authenticity, Naruto stored it away. He looked at Dodai and said, "Dodai, time will prove that your decision was the right one."
Dodai asked, "Is it over now?"
Naruto asked back, "Dodai, would you consider working for me?"
Dodai was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. "Don't joke around. I'm a Kumogakure ninja. I will never betray my allegiance!"
"Is that so? What a pity." Naruto showed a hint of regret but didn't press further. "But it doesn't matter. As long as you're alive, your wisdom will eventually serve this ninja world. That's enough."
Swish!
Leaving behind those thought-provoking words, Naruto disappeared.
Dodai's eyes filled with doubt. "Serve the ninja world? What is his goal? He's truly an enigma…"
Swish!
Naruto returned to the back of the explosive clay bird.
Konan asked, "Did you get it?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes. It's time to head back."
He placed a hand on Konan's shoulder and used the Flying Raijin to return to Amegakure.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
The summoned beasts across Kumogakure vanished in puffs of white smoke.
"Hahaha! I've finally defeated these damn dogs!!!"
The Raikage let out a triumphant roar. The lightning around him dissipated as he collapsed onto the shattered ground, sweat dripping from his bronzed skin into the earth.
That night, Kumogakure remained sleepless.