As soon as the Third Hokage finished speaking, he swung his staff toward Carl.
Facing the incoming strike, Carl didn't dodge. Instead, his hands suddenly turned pitch black with a loud hum.
The Third Hokage thought it was some kind of dark release at first.
But the moment Carl's arms clashed with the staff, the metallic clang that rang out instantly cleared the doubt in the Hokage's eyes.
He could feel a strange power coating Carl's arms—completely different from the sinister energy of dark release.
This was something far more solid, far stronger.
Even the Monkey King Enma sensed it more acutely than the Hokage did.
The force of the rebound sent the Third Hokage flying backward, his grip still tight on the staff.
When he landed, Enma's voice came through the staff.
"That kid's power isn't normal at all… that blow actually hurt!"
The Hokage's face darkened.
Before he could figure out what that black energy on Carl's arms was, Carl had already punched from a distance, sending out a fierce shockwave straight at him.
The Hokage hurriedly raised his staff to block, barely withstanding the attack.
That made him realize something.
Carl had actually held back when fighting Sasuke earlier.
If Sasuke had taken a hit with this much power…
Well, let's just say the top student might not be walking away today.
Thinking of that, a flash of relief crossed the Hokage's eyes.
It meant Carl's consciousness wasn't completely overtaken by the Nine-Tails yet.
At least, he still remembered his comrades.
Perhaps… words could reach him during battle.
Maybe knocking him out wasn't the only option.
Truth be told, with the power Carl was showing right now, the Hokage couldn't guarantee how much damage it would take to bring him down.
If the entire Ninja Academy ended up destroyed…
Well, the rebuilding costs alone would break Konoha's already tight budget.
Decades as Hokage had made such thoughts second nature to him.
But Carl clearly didn't care about any of that.
The last attack may have been blocked, but he didn't seem bothered.
That was just him… getting slightly serious.
He rolled his wrists, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk that looked completely unfamiliar to the onlooking teachers and students.
"A fine staff you have there… guess I'll have to take this a little more seriously."
The Hokage gave a bitter smile.
Today, his old bones were in for a real beating.
Carl's eyes narrowed.
A flash of red-black lightning flickered across his pupils.
He drew his fists back to his waist.
The next second, a flurry of punches erupted in the air.
"Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!"
...
The overlapping waves of punches formed a translucent force field, tearing toward the Hokage like a storm.
The ground along its path cracked and shattered under the pressure, sending debris flying.
The gale from the attack blasted teachers and students alike off their feet, even the two ANBU, who had to channel chakra into their feet just to stay grounded.
Their faces turned pale.
Just moments ago, they had been about to step in to help the Hokage.
Now they realized how foolish that thought was.
If either of them had been standing where the Hokage was right now, the scattered force of those punches alone would have torn them to pieces before the main attack even landed.
The Hokage quickly formed hand seals.
A massive earth wall rose from the ground, followed by the staff in his hands expanding to several times its size.
As the wall crumbled under the onslaught, the enlarged staff spun rapidly, forming a dense barrier in front of him.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
The deafening explosions shook the sky.
The ground trembled violently.
Villagers near the Ninja Academy thought it was an earthquake and ran outside in a panic—only to see a mushroom cloud rising from the academy grounds and cracks spiderwebbing across the school walls.
...
Inside the training field, the Hokage knelt on one knee, clutching his arm.
Enma had already reverted to his true form, lying sprawled on the ground.
The Monkey King raised his head with difficulty, gritting his teeth.
"W-what a… monster…"
"Rest now, Enma. You've done enough."
With a seal, the Hokage sent Enma back in a puff of smoke.
He stood slowly, removing his hand from his arm.
His sleeve was shredded, blood soaking the skin beneath.
Since taking the Hokage seat again, he had never been wounded this badly.
Across the field, Carl—who had unleashed such devastating power—was clearly at his limit too.
His arms trembled as he panted heavily.
...
Inside the seal, Carl opened his eyes, looking regretful.
Maybe using taijutsu wasn't the smartest choice.
Naruto was still too young.
His body couldn't handle the strain of continuous haki attacks.
The Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack wasn't even fully unleashed before his body gave out.
Otherwise, the Hokage would definitely be in the hospital right now.
If Carl pushed any further, things could get ugly.
Minato might step in.
Kushina too.
And that would be bad for Carl's plans to break the seal.
Smiling faintly, Carl leaped onto the Nine-Tails' back, using its fur as a pillow as he lay down.
The Nine-Tails glared at him but swallowed its anger, shutting its eyes as if asleep.
...
Back outside, as Carl withdrew, his consciousness returned.
He looked around at the "ruins" with confusion.
Then he saw the Hokage, ragged and bloodied, and blurted out,
"Grandpa Third, what happened to you!?"
The Hokage blinked, then his face lit up with joy.
"Naruto… you're back!"
"Huh?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"Back? I think I just fell asleep… wait, wasn't I fighting Sasuke?"
From a distance, Sasuke's face darkened.
"What the hell are you talking about? You were fighting the Hokage! What's next—you gonna say you were sleepwalking?"
Naruto froze.
He pointed at himself, eyes wide.
"Wha—!? Fighting the Hokage!? Me!?"
-----------
+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg