"This is ridiculous… I can't believe I'm working with this worthless snake to save someone…"
On a remote dirt path, Gamabunta grumbled while puffing on his pipe, throwing a displeased glance toward the giant serpent slithering beside him.
Manda growled back in his usual savage tone, "Watch it, toad. One more look like that and I'll turn you into a leather wallet."
Gamabunta scoffed, "Perfect. I've been needing a new sheath for my short blade—snake-skin would be ideal."
The two titanic summons stopped at the same time, eyes locked with mutual disdain, each one itching to squash the other right then and there.
"Bunta! Don't waste time!"
From atop the toad's head, Jiraiya shouted in frustration.
"Tsunade's in danger! If we're too late, who knows what she'll have suffered… with her beauty—!"
Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely, "Manda, don't just stand there. Isn't Menma your enemy too?"
Back in Otogakure, Naruto had nearly killed Manda. If not for Orochimaru's intervention and multiple jutsu, the serpent would have perished.
The moment Manda heard Menma, his eyes filled with fury.
"I'll tear that bastard apart!!"
With a thunderous hiss, he surged forward even faster.
Gamabunta narrowed his eyes, then sprang forward in massive bounds to keep pace.
And so—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and their summoned beasts sped toward the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure.
BOOM!!
With a single punch, Naruto shattered a small mountain.
He withdrew his fist—still coated in Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki)—and murmured,
"I think I've fully grasped the fundamentals of Kaijūken (Monster Strength Fist)…"
The technique wasn't overly complex, but neither was it simple. The key lay in precise chakra control—channeling it through specific meridians, concentrating it at a point, and then releasing it with explosive force.
And it wasn't limited to the fists—Kaijūken could be applied to any part of the body.
Those with stronger physicality and larger chakra reserves could wield it with even greater effect.
In the original timeline, Sakura's version of the technique never quite surpassed Tsunade's—not because of lack of control, but because her chakra pool and innate physical strength simply didn't compare.
But Naruto was different.
With inhuman strength and chakra reserves rivaling a Tailed Beast, using Kaijūken was like strapping a rocket to a missile—pure destructive synergy.
"Are we… really going to invade Kumogakure?" Izumi asked nervously as she gazed at the thunder-lit mountains in the distance.
Even with her current power, she'd never infiltrated a Hidden Village before—much less the mighty Kumogakure, which had grown strong enough to rival any of the Five Great Villages.
"No," Naruto shook his head and turned to a nearby mountain range.
"Before we deal with the village, we're going to pick someone up."
"Who?"
Izumi followed his gaze.
That mountain range was a good distance away from Kumogakure—why would any powerful shinobi live outside the safety of the village?
"Two-Tails' Jinchūriki—Yugito Nii."
Naruto smiled faintly as he revealed the identity of his next target.
Izumi's eyes lit with understanding.
"A Jinchūriki… makes sense. No village treats them well. She's probably living alone because of that…"
She cast a glance at Naruto.
After all, he was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki—and quite possibly the most powerful threat to Konoha now.
"Let's go catch ourselves a little kitten."
Naruto laughed and darted toward the mountain range.
Izumi followed close behind.
Even before entering the mountains, Naruto's Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) had already located her.
A tall woman with long, ash-brown hair tied in a thick braid that fell to her waist—Yugito Nii, a mature beauty with a cool and commanding aura. Unlike Mei Terumi's overt seductiveness, her beauty radiated ice-cold composure.
And right now…
That frosty beauty was soaking in a hot spring in the middle of the mountains, her elegant figure immersed in the warm water.
Suddenly—
Yugito's expression changed.
She sensed intruders.
"Who's there!?"
Her mind raced.
Could it be… the one the Raikage warned me about? Menma? How did he even know I live here!?
She immediately rose from the water, scanning the area—but before she could grab her clothes, her sharp gaze locked onto the two approaching figures.
"You got here fast."
Barely twenty seconds had passed since she sensed them—yet the intruders were already in front of her.
Naruto smiled.
"Well, if I didn't hurry, I might've missed such a rare view—beauty in the bath."
Izumi's cheeks turned slightly pink. She found herself thinking about later tonight—how she would serve Naruto-sama. Maybe… I should join him for a bath too…
"Hmph…" Yugito's expression grew colder. She didn't even bother putting her clothes on.
With firm steps, she walked out of the spring, completely unbothered.
"So… you're ready to die?"
Naruto tilted his head. "Die? For enjoying the scenery?"
"Exactly," Yugito growled, eyes narrowing as her chakra erupted in a brilliant blue glow.
"I'll shred you both where you stand—so you can take the sight of my body to the afterlife with you!"
As a Jinchūriki, Yugito had always been shunned and isolated—even by her fellow shinobi.
She had chosen to live alone in the mountains as a result.
And because of that solitude, she had never even had a boyfriend—yet today, two strangers had seen her entire body…
The humiliation fueled her fury. Her chakra flared more violently, hair unfurling as she dropped to all fours—like a furious blue feline about to pounce.
"What a look," Naruto chuckled.
"Didn't expect the Two-Tails' host to be this pretty. I bet riding you into battle would be one hell of a sight."
"Die!!!"
Yugito's face turned crimson with rage. She lunged forward with a savage cry, claws forming and aimed straight at Naruto's chest.
"Don't get the wrong idea," Naruto said coolly as he dodged.
"When I said I wanted to ride the Two-Tails, I meant the actual beast… though riding you doesn't sound bad either."
But Yugito wasn't listening anymore.
Fury had clouded everything.
With a roar, she slashed at Naruto's heart with deadly precision.
(End of Chapter)
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