From the beginning, Jūzō had never considered Sako a threat.
With heavy steps, he swung his sword toward Naruto.
Such a powerful strike—even Naruto couldn't block it.
He dodged, beginning a precarious dance under Jūzō's relentless attacks.
But Jūzō was no ordinary soldier.
When Naruto finally saw his face, he realized he was facing the greatest threat since arriving in this world.
After all, Momochi Jūzō was a true monster.
His 2.1-meter sword, heavy beyond measure, was wielded with disturbing ease.
After only a few exchanges, Naruto was cornered, brushing up against death with every move.
"Naruto!"
Sako rushed to help—but a second Jūzō appeared, blocking her path.
This Jūzō had a bluish tint, slightly different in shape from the first.
"Get down!"
With a lateral motion, the sword sliced through the air.
In Jūzō's eyes, the blond boy was about to be cut in two.
But the next instant...
Naruto leapt back like a startled bird.
"You..."
Jūzō stared at Naruto, stunned.
His pupils had narrowed into slits, his canines had lengthened, his face almost bestial.
In an instant, he understood.
"Hah... hahaha! I didn't expect... that you were a Jinchūriki..."
That word—Jinchūriki—rang out like a curse.
"Jinchūriki?"
A spark flared in Sasuko's mind. She felt she was touching on something important.
The real Jūzō stopped his assault and stepped back.
Splash... Splash...
The sound of a nearby river echoed through the mist.
Jūzō brought his hands together for a seal.
"Ever since that green spandex idiot wiped out our Seven Swordsmen team... I've distrusted every Konoha ninja."
The revelation that Naruto was a Jinchūriki had triggered a warning in Jūzō's mind.
During the Third Great Ninja War, Might Dai had defeated the Seven Swordsmen.
As a survivor, Jūzō had learned to fear Konoha's hidden strengths.
"Even if you're just a kid..."
He couldn't afford to underestimate Naruto.
After all...
He had seen the power of a Jinchūriki before—Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage.
"Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu!"
With a splash, multiple identical clones emerged from the river.
This left no doubt: Jūzō was from Kirigakure.
Water Clone was a C-rank technique.
Using a water source, one could create multiple clones with minimal chakra cost.
Each clone possessed 10% of the original's abilities.
Not 10% of the strength... but 10% of the skills.
In close combat, these clones were deadly.
"Don't judge me too harshly for being cautious... kids."
Jūzō's voice echoed from within the mist, while his real body remained hidden.
The clones charged toward Naruto like the undead.
Sako: "Jinchūriki... What is that?"
Her whisper reached Jūzō, whose keen hearing pierced through the fog.
"You don't know? Then allow me to enlighten you. That blond boy... your little friend... his true identity is..."
A wicked malice laced his voice.
Sako swallowed hard, her heart tightening.
Jūzō: "A Jinchūriki is..."
As he spoke, Sako slowly began to grasp Naruto's nature.
"A human with a Tailed Beast sealed inside. A creature feared and hated... But make no mistake. He is not the only one. There are eight other monsters like him. Every Jinchūriki had a miserable childhood, whether they accepted their fate or not. The moment they become vessels, they stop being human. They become... monsters. Walking time bombs, capable of unleashing chaos at any moment. Who wouldn't hate them? So... your friend, that blond boy, is none other than the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that ravaged Konoha."
Schlik!
A clone's blade slashed Naruto's shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Naruto staggered back several steps.
Sako: "N-Naruto!"
She ran toward him... then froze.
Jūzō's words, combined with that strange feeling she had always had about Naruto, turned into fear.
On the outside, he looked human...
But inside...
There was the Fox.
The damage caused by the Kyūbi was still fresh in people's memories.
Even if she hadn't experienced the attack as a baby, the stories were enough.
"Cough... cough..."
At that moment, Hayate Gekkō woke up coughing.
Not understanding the situation, he saw Naruto wounded... and Sasuko, frozen.
Hayate: "Hey! Girl, what are you doing? Help him!"
The pain from his stomach wound made his voice hoarse.
No response.
Meanwhile...
Naruto, head lowered, was bleeding heavily.
Through her glasses, Sako could see his expression.
Drip... Drip...
Blood fell to the ground.
Then...
Naruto murmured something.
Naruto: "Kyūbi... Time to pay your rent."
A sudden orange glow burst around him.
A violent wind rose as the Fox's chakra awakened.
A spiraling surge of energy swirled above Naruto, briefly forming the head of a nine-tailed fox.
Jūzō: "Such incredible power..."
He chuckled.
"Your friend... is a true monster!"
Faced with the transformation, Hayate was speechless.
The furious wind partially cleared the mist.
Naruto leapt forward, destroying the clones in an instant.
The battle turned.
Naruto gained the upper hand, tearing through Jūzō's techniques.
At one moment, he turned toward Sasuko. His gaze had an intensity she had never seen.
Naruto: "Don't worry. I'll defeat him... and then... you can go back to your people."
"..."
Those words, that moment...
Sako's heart tightened painfully.
She felt like she couldn't breathe.
"I..."
Naruto had done everything to be her friend.
He had protected her without fail.
Even got hurt for her.
And yet...
She had doubted him, because of the enemy's words.
Fox or monster... it didn't matter.
He was her friend.