— "Monster!"
Who had screamed that? No one knew.
Before them, Tsuchi had truly become a monster under the influence of Mōryō's power.
But… perhaps that insult was aimed at someone else.
— "Naruto..."
Murmuring his name, Shion let slip her true personality, long repressed in recent days.
— "Naruto~! Come on~! Crush him~~!"
Waving her tiny fists, Shion began cheering Naruto on enthusiastically. Finally freed, she expressed her extroverted nature without restraint and instantly felt better.
— "No problem!"
Leaning slightly forward, with three tails swaying behind him, Naruto leapt forward.
His chakra cloak, almost transparent, clearly showed his normal appearance.
In comparison, Tsuchi—his body fully mutated—looked far more like a true monster.
Boom!
Tsuchi's six arms slammed into the ground.
Six waves of burning flames burst forth, spreading like a tide toward Naruto.
Though they seemed slow, they actually converged at an astonishing speed.
But Naruto was faster. He dodged them with agility.
However, the fire waves suddenly exploded.
Boom boom boom...!
The sound, like hundreds of detonations, instantly reduced the area to rubble.
Yūhi Kurenai and the others had no choice but to retreat inside the priestess's barrier.
The seal, particularly effective against Mōryō's powers, held firm against the attack.
— "Naruto..."
Shion clenched her small fists to her chest, unable to hide her concern for him.
But the very next moment, Naruto emerged from the smoke, unharmed.
His three tails trailed behind him, stirring a fierce wind.
Then, he collided violently with Tsuchi.
The two opponents, tangled together, tumbled chaotically toward the mountain in the back.
Massive boulders shattered, trees were uprooted along their path.
A force that would have knocked out most jōnin was nothing more than a bump to Tsuchi.
His three heads stared at Naruto, while his six arms began to glow, each representing a different chakra nature.
Vzzz!
Far from the group, deep in the forest, Naruto began to transform as well.
There were things that should never be used in front of others.
Now… it was time for the real fight.
With the eruption of his Yang chakra, the "Black Kyūbi Power" returned.
His orange-red chakra cloak turned a brilliant black.
This blazing form resembled Kuro Menma from the world of the "Limited Tsukuyomi."
With a cruel grin, Naruto pointed his hand like a blade, concentrating the strength of his three tails into a massive spear that pierced Tsuchi's body.
Schlik!
— "Ghh...!"
Tsuchi's three faces twisted in pain, his six eyes wide with shock.
A single blow had caused him a grievous wound.
How... is this possible...?
— "You'd be surprised by so much more… But you won't get the chance."
Naruto's cruel voice echoed, his demonic face reflected in Tsuchi's terrified gaze.
His three tails blossomed inside Tsuchi's body like metallic, razor-sharp flowers.
Tsuchi was ripped apart on the spot.
— "Ghh... Ghh..."
Such a wound triggered an uncontrollable rebellion of Mōryō's power within him.
The unstable energy radiated outward like a bomb about to go off.
— "Mōryō... Mōryō-sama will conquer the ninja world!!!"
These final words spoken, his body exploded into a rain of blood...
— "Too talkative."
Naruto landed, watching his enemy's remains with indifference.
Inside him, the Kyūbi remained silent for a long moment.
He was still shaken by the power Naruto had unleashed through his Yang chakra.
Such malevolence confirmed one thing: the reason Naruto could not be corrupted by hatred.
It was because... "Uzumaki Naruto harbored a darkness far greater than his own."
Everything he had done since meeting Uchiha Sako was proof of that.
The truth had always been there, but this battle had finally convinced the Kyūbi of the shadows lurking in Naruto's heart.
Yet one question remained:
How could a human, so young, surpass a thousand years of accumulated hatred?
Is it that I, the Kyūbi, am too soft?
Or is it... Uzumaki Naruto, that you're simply too extreme?
The Kyūbi pondered deeply, refusing to believe that Asura's chakra could be evil.
He had fought alongside Asura against Indra and knew his true nature.
This kid... Uzumaki Naruto cannot possibly be the reincarnation of Asura's chakra!
— "Uzumaki Naruto..."
The voices of Uchiha Inahoshi and the others echoed behind him.
Seeing him safe and sound, they were both stunned and relieved.
Naruto turned, showing a gentle smile:
— "It's okay, that guy self-destructed..."
...
Shortly after, Uchiha Fugaku and others arrived on the scene, accompanied by the Third Hokage.
The energy released had drawn most of Konoha's elite.
In the heart of the night, a crowd gathered to learn the details of the incident.
Upon learning that Naruto had thwarted the plans of the Demon Country's ninjas, everyone was astonished.
Among them was also Kakashi.
Watching the son of his sensei at the center of attention, his feelings were conflicted.
— "Thank you, Old Man Hokage, it was nothing!"
Naruto scratched his head, flashing a shy, modest smile.
— "After all, I want to become Hokage!"
This time, no one dismissed his words as childish.
His repeated feats had proven his potential.
At his age, with such power...
What will he be like when he's older?
Truly, he is the Fourth Hokage's son...
The looks exchanged said it all.
— "Naruto-kun... thank you for your help..."
The priestess stepped forward, expressing her gratitude as someone under his protection.
— "No problem, oba-san. You're part of Konoha now too… Helping each other is normal."
Naruto waved his hand casually.
— "And… if you really want to thank me, later, there'll be an opportunity."
His piercing gaze locked on the noble priestess, his voice full of innuendo.
Before she could grasp the meaning, Shion ran up to him excitedly:
— "Naruto, you were so cool when you beat those guys!"
Resembling Hinata in looks but with a much more assertive personality, Shion wasn't afraid to express her feelings.
Her honesty made the crowd smile.
Seeing how quickly Naruto had gained the favor of both priestesses, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt reassured.
— "This boy… his character differs from Minato's, but he has the same gift for bringing people together..."
Only one who earned the recognition of all could become Hokage.
For now, Naruto was on the right path.
Thinking of his own son Asuma, who had given everything up, Hiruzen couldn't help but sigh.
Some are just... different...
...
Far away, in the Land of Demons.
— "Tsuchi and the others are dead."
Mōryō had felt the disappearance of the power he had bestowed upon them.
They lost to Konoha...
Was it because their plan was discovered?
Or... because of the Kyūbi?
— "We must continue to hide."
Mōryō advised the young daimyō to be patient and strengthen their country.
By spreading his power throughout the Land of Demons, he could create an invincible army.
Conquering the ninja world would then be a mere formality.
But the daimyō, tormented by the desire to reunite with his wife and daughter, flatly rejected this betrayal.
— "No! They were manipulated by Konoha! I will go there and bring them back!"
Under the guise of diplomacy, he decided to travel to Konoha.
If necessary, he would use the Fire Country's daimyō to pressure them into returning his family.
Faced with his determination, Mōryō remained silent.