Guren staggered back, her breath ragged. No matter how she attacked, her strikes simply bounced off without effect. Sweat dampened her temples, frustration painting her face.
But before she could try again, her gaze snapped toward the distance. Her expression twisted with disbelief—then rage.
"Damn it… that bastard Yakushi Kabuto dared to bring Yukimaru out here!" she shouted, voice trembling. "And that chakra—he forced it out of him in one breath… that's life-threatening!"
The sheer pressure of the chakra surging across the lake told her more than enough. It was greater than anything she had felt from Yukimaru before, more than ten times stronger than last time.
Even if she was beaten senseless, Guren would never believe that the pills Kabuto gave Yukimaru were harmless. The way Yukimaru screamed in agony was proof enough.
Her jaw clenched. "That snake… how many of those pills did he force down his throat?"
She turned back toward Naruto, then toward the lake where the chakra storm was raging. Her choice was immediate.
"I don't have time to waste here. You can stay and gloat if you want—Yukimaru needs me."
Without waiting for a reply, she pivoted sharply and sprinted toward the boy's chakra.
Naruto didn't stop her. His blue eyes tracked her for only a moment before shifting elsewhere. He had no interest in cutting her down when bigger problems loomed. He could already sense them: Deidara's killing intent, and the faint yet unmistakable pull of Uchiha Obito's chakra behind that ridiculous mask.
The Akatsuki were here.
Naruto's lips curved into the faintest of smirks. So, they've finally shown their hand. Perfect. If they want the Three-Tails so badly, then I'll make sure they choke on it.
He broke into a sprint, his sandals striking the damp earth in rhythm. At the same time, he released a shadow clone, which darted off toward Kakashi and the others to warn them.
Two additional clones, saturated with his stored senjutsu chakra, remained hidden—silent aces in the hole, should the battle turn dire.
Across the water's edge, Obito and Deidara stood side by side on the branch of a massive tree, their vantage giving them a clear view of the chaos.
A sudden gale whipped toward them, sharp and purposeful.
"Ahh! Deidara-senpai, there's a hurricane coming!" Obito yelped, flailing his arms in exaggerated panic. He knew full well it wasn't just weather. Someone was attacking.
Deidara leapt back instinctively, scowling. "What do you mean, 'what should I do'? Idiot! Just get out of the way when the fighting starts!"
His voice was sharp, irritated—but even in his anger, there was an edge of concern buried beneath. He didn't want his partner caught in the crossfire.
Obito gave a dramatic little cheer as he retreated. "Good luck, Deidara-senpai! I believe in you! Beat them quick!"
Deidara grit his teeth, annoyed beyond measure.
From the swirling gale, a figure stepped into view, golden hair catching the wind. Naruto's cloak flared, and his eyes locked on Deidara.
"Long time no see, Deidara," Naruto said evenly. His gaze flicked once—past the bomber—to the masked Uchiha standing behind him. Still pretending, huh? You're good at playing the fool, I'll give you that, Naruto thought.
But Deidara caught the glance. His jaw tightened. Being ignored cut deeper than any insult.
"You bastard," Deidara growled. "How dare you look past me as if I'm nothing? Do you think I'm some stepping stone?"
Naruto tilted his head, expression calm, almost pitying. "If you want to kill me, you'd better go straight for your final art. Otherwise, you don't stand a chance."
The words landed like a hammer. Deidara froze. His "final art" wasn't something anyone should know—his self-detonation technique was his ultimate trump card. He had never shown it to anyone in Akatsuki, let alone the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
His mouth went dry. How does he know?
No… impossible. He can't know. He must be bluffing. Guessing.
Rage burned the hesitation away. Deidara thrust his hands into his pouches, fingers already feeding clay into the hungry mouths stitched into his palms.
But Naruto didn't give him the chance.
In a blur, he closed the distance. Deidara barely had time to cross his arms before—
Bang!
The impact cracked like thunder as Naruto's fist slammed into him. The bomber's body crashed into the dirt below, kicking up a plume of earth and smoke.
Naruto straightened, his breath steady. Sage Mode sharpened every detail, every movement. His physical strength now rivaled that of the Fourth Raikage at full speed.
Up in the branches, Obito's lone Sharingan whirred, its tomoe rotating as it fixed on Naruto. The air around him turned heavy with cold calculation.
Stronger than before. Too strong. This boy… the longer he lives, the greater the threat he becomes.
Naruto felt that gaze on him like ice down his spine. But he didn't flinch. Not for Obito. Not for anyone.
Meanwhile, far across the lake, Kakashi received the shadow clone's warning. The smoke dissipated, leaving urgency in its wake.
Yamato frowned. "Sealing the Three-Tails was already difficult enough… now Orochimaru's forces are involved, and Akatsuki as well."
Kakashi's expression hardened. "Yamato, Sai, Shino—stay here. Help Shizune and the others hold the seal. I'll take Kiba and support Naruto."
Time was slipping away. Every second mattered.
Yamato nodded sharply, already focusing his Wood Release to stabilize the trembling seal.
Kakashi and Kiba broke off at once, racing across the uneven ground toward the fight. The Akatsuki were no ordinary criminals. Each of them was an S-class monster. If Naruto was already engaged with one… then every ounce of support mattered.
Back at the seal site, Sakura clenched her fists as she watched Kakashi and Kiba vanish into the distance.
"Sensei wouldn't have left in such a hurry unless Naruto was in danger," she said quietly, worry knotting her chest.
Hinata's Byakugan flared, her pale eyes locked on the raging form of the Three-Tails as it thrashed against its bonds. "We just have to trust him," she murmured.
The lake erupted again with the beast's fury, chakra storms tearing across the surface.
And on the other side, Naruto stood above a crater, his shadow cast over the fallen Deidara—, while the masked Uchiha's crimson gaze followed his every move.
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