Illusion?
No. It was killing intent.
Crimson filled his eyes. The tomoe pattern unfolded, and the Sharingan spun.
Sasuke was shocked and terrified.
He realized—this enemy was several times more frightening than Zabuza.
Sakura froze. She wanted to flee, on the verge of breaking down. But when she saw Naruto's back and caught Sasuke in the corner of her eye, she hesitated.
His words from the night before echoed in her ears.
No—I have to be strong.
She struggled to raise her hand and gripped her kunai tightly.
In an instant—
Metal clashed with a sharp clang, and sparks lit up their eyes.
Naruto drew his sword, slashing to meet the kunai.
Even he was amazed—
So fast!
This person's body flicker was the fastest among any ninja he'd fought.
Another slash came. At the moment of contact—
"Hadō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden."
Golden lightning coursed along the blade.
This was a tried-and-true technique for countering taijutsu users.
But—
This Grass Ninja was no ordinary shinobi. With incredible reflexes, just before the lightning touched him, a crackling sound erupted—his wrist disintegrated into a swarm of finger-thick snakes. The lightning burst out, scorching the air with the smell of burnt flesh.
No harm or effect.
"What kind of technique is that?" the Grass Ninja retreated, puzzled.
No hand seals.
That alone wasn't shocking. He could do simple techniques without seals too.
What was strange was the nature of the technique.
Even with just a glance, his sharp eyes saw it was vastly different from a normal "Lightning Release."
Naruto didn't speak.
He burst forth with chakra and stepped in close, slashing his blade.
The Grass Ninja formed hand signs—a summoning technique.
"Summoning Jutsu: Giant Snake!"
White smoke billowed. A massive gray-green python appeared, coiling protectively around its summoner.
The snake didn't attack—it only contracted and shielded.
It was both an obstacle and a shield. Adjusting its stance, it used its size to keep Naruto at bay.
The Grass Ninja kept his distance, unleashing various jutsu.
He wasn't skilled in taijutsu.
And that strange lightning-style clearly countered close combat.
No reason to invite trouble.
Naruto used kido techniques to respond, looking for an opening to break through.
Sasuke strained to open his eyes, trying to focus.
But even with his dual tomoe Sharingan, he struggled to follow the details of their battle.
They were too strong.
Suddenly—
He sensed something wrong. Just as he turned to the left—
Naruto decisively abandoned the snake, raised his left arm, gathered a chakra orb to shield from jutsu and kunai, and charged to the left, driving his sword into the ground.
From the dirt, a man dodged and emerged.
"Very decisive," the Grass Ninja raised his kunai, licking his lips. "You care that much about protecting your comrades?"
"Aren't you afraid it was just a feint?"
Naruto glanced at his wounded arm, unfazed: "I said before the exam—I will protect my comrades."
"And your target is the Sharingan."
Sasuke clenched his fists, furious at his own weakness.
Staring at Naruto's bloody figure—his clothes dyed red—even the Sharingan seemed stained, more crimson than ever.
"You really are like your father," the Grass Ninja grinned savagely. "Nine-Tails brat, want to know who your father is?"
"Did the Leaf not tell you?"
"It'll shock you."
"Nine-Tails" and "father"—these two words formed the outline of a truth.
His voice was enticing, trying to tempt him.
Waiting for the blond boy to ask, to take the bait.
But Naruto remained unmoved: "Mind games to shake your enemy's will don't work on me."
"Whatever answer comes from your mouth means nothing."
He raised his sword.
"You're stronger than me in this current state. If this drags on, you'll succeed."
"Tell me your name."
"It's respect—for me and for you."
"You're the first ninja to force me to use this power."
The Grass Ninja's pupils widened in disbelief, mixed with anticipation: "You've already mastered that power?"
Sasuke frowned.
What did that mean?
Naruto had another power he hadn't used?
He pondered it.
Naruto began chanting.
"Anger, pain, fear, corruption..."
Blood-red chakra poured out from Naruto, a wicked, monstrous aura spreading and engulfing the forest.
Sakura couldn't withstand the pressure, stepping back instinctively.
Sasuke was even more stunned.
He can still get stronger?!
The Grass Ninja licked his lips, staring greedily as Naruto was slowly engulfed by Nine-Tails chakra.
He'd seen Kushina use the Nine-Tails before.
But Naruto's way was completely different.
Why a sword?
Why verbal incantations?
Just like the strange techniques earlier—none were typical for a shinobi.
The secrets a Jinchūriki carried were fascinating.
He was deeply intrigued.
The final verse of the chant fell:
"Listen to the wails and bloom—"
"Demonic Fox: Nine-Tails!"
Dark red chakra enveloped Naruto completely. He swallowed the red blade, which transformed into a fourth tail swinging behind him.
"So it is a tailed beast transformation," the Grass Ninja muttered, "Can you still keep your sanity?"
Naruto drew another sword: "You know too much—were you once a Leaf ninja?"
As he spoke, he body flickered forward.
The Grass Ninja raised his kunai to block—but it was useless. The blade cleaved through it, the cut smooth, reflecting a demonic red glow.
In Tailed Beast Mode, Naruto's strength, speed, and chakra were amplified many times over.
The slash continued unhindered.
The Grass Ninja tried to retreat, but it was too late.
The blade carved a deep gash in his chest, Nine-Tails chakra clinging to the wound like fire, corroding it.
"This is bad," he muttered, glancing at his wound.
He formed a bizarre hand sign.
But it wasn't to heal himself.
His neck suddenly stretched toward Sasuke.
Naruto would not allow it. He leapt forward, slashed horizontally, wedging the blade between his teeth, forcing the neck to retreat, and instantly appeared above his body. With a flick of the wrist, he slammed his blade downward—boom, dust billowed.
"Is the enemy dealt with?" Sakura asked cautiously.
Naruto stared into the smoke.
A broken body lay there—half the head smashed, most bones shattered.
A fatal wound. Anyone normal would be half-dead.
But the man's chakra was violently fluctuating.
A hand reached out from his mouth, pulling his body out like a snake shedding skin, wet and slimy: "The Tailed Beast's power really is troublesome."
"Looks like I can't keep playing."
"Shame... Sasuke, I was going to deliver you a gift on your brother's behalf."
Sasuke flinched like he was shocked.
Brother?
This guy knows that man?!
Naruto gave no chance for more words—he slashed decisively.
The body was cut in half.
But no blood—only a swarm of tiny snakes wriggling out from within.
The man's voice echoed from all directions, impossible to pinpoint.
"Little Uchiha brat."
"If you crave power—if you want revenge on Itachi—come find me."
"Itachi Uchiha is beyond both me and this Tailed Beast kid."
"And you, Naruto Uzumaki."
"You interest me too much. If you want to know your father's identity, come find me."
"I'll answer all your questions."
"Remember my name."
"Orochimaru!"
Naruto looked around—his presence was everywhere, spiritual threads fleeing in all directions at high speed.
What an expert at escape.
Sasuke's expression was complicated, still caught in the shock of hearing the name "Uchiha Itachi."
Sakura looked worriedly at Naruto: "Naruto, are you okay?"
Wrapped in red chakra, looking more beast than man, his appearance made her nervous and scared.
Naruto raised his hand to his abdomen, gripped the Nine-Tails chakra and pulled: "I'm fine."
The chakra solidified into a blade, slowly withdrawn, transforming back into the "Nine-Tails" form.
(End of Chapter)