Rasa led the Sand ninja and retreated to Raikage A's side.
The forces of Sand and Cloud merged.
"Kazekage," Naruto said from the rooftop, his voice carrying across the entire venue, "I really can't understand you. How stupid do you have to be to think invading Konoha was a good idea?"
His words echoed clearly—every audience member could hear them.
"Among the Five Great Villages, Sand is already the weakest. Instead of lying low and rebuilding your strength, you chose invasion."
"Have you never heard the saying: hurt the enemy by eight hundred, lose a thousand yourself? Even if Konoha were weakened, wiping out the ninjas you sent would never be a problem. Did you never consider how badly Sand itself would be damaged?"
Naruto's gaze was sharp, merciless.
"As Kazekage, you're utterly unqualified. And the higher-ups who failed to stop you? Just as incompetent. A pack of useless fools."
"With leaders like you, it's no wonder the Sand has been barren for decades. The people living there—what a tragedy."
"You don't reflect. You don't innovate. You don't improve your environment. Instead, you dream of war, invasion, and slaughter."
"Rasa—you deserve everything coming to you."
His words were calm, cutting, and absolute.
"Record this! Record all of it!"
In a hidden corner of the venue, Karin stared at a massive monitor filled with multiple live feeds—every one of them locked onto Naruto and Rasa.
"Zoom in on Uzumaki Naruto! Close-up on Kazekage Rasa!"
"Director, the micro-drones are hard to stabilize—"
"I don't care! If this footage isn't perfect, I'll deal with you myself!"
Karin was shaking with excitement.
This was world-shaking news.
Red Sun TV would explode.
She already had the title:
"The Konoha Collapse Plan: The Truth Behind the Five Great Villages."
"Uzumaki-sama is right!"
"The Kazekage is an idiot!"
"Invading Konoha over money—was his brain flooded?"
"This could trigger a Fourth Great Ninja War! Even civilians can see that—why couldn't he?"
"And the Raikage isn't any better."
The audience whispered furiously, disgust clear in their eyes.
Even Raikage A was dragged into the criticism.
Rasa's face twitched violently.
A's fists clenched—lightning crackled faintly across his bronze skin.
"Shut up!" Rasa roared.
"Uzumaki Naruto, what do you know about running a village?!"
"The daimyo kept cutting our budget! Our ninjas can barely survive! I—Kazekage of Sand—have to mine gold with my own blood just to keep the village alive!"
"You think that's easy?!"
His voice was filled with exhaustion, bitterness, and suppressed rage.
Temari and Kankuro stared in shock.
This was a side of their father they had never seen.
Was Sand really suffering that badly?
"So you chose to invade Konoha?" Naruto sneered.
"Just to advertise yourselves? 'Look how strong Sand is! Come give us missions!'"
"Idiot."
"Are ninjas only capable of doing missions? If you dropped your pride, there are countless ways to make money with ninja abilities."
"Don't tell me ninjas are worse than civilians. Even ordinary people find ways to survive—are ninjas useless outside killing?"
Each word hit Rasa like a hammer.
His face went pale.
Then Naruto turned.
"And you, Fourth Raikage."
His eyes locked onto A—cold, lethal.
"You've been targeting Konoha for years. Now you openly invade."
"Is Cloud in such a hurry to die?"
The killing intent in Naruto's voice was unmistakable.
Raikage A laughed loudly.
"Hmph. Uzumaki Naruto, save your sharp tongue."
"The ninja world runs on one rule: the strong rule the weak."
"Reason with fists."
"If you beat me, you're right. If you lose, all your talk means nothing."
Rasa straightened, his resolve returning.
"Exactly. History only remembers the victor."
The two Kage exchanged a glance.
They both understood.
In this venue, Konoha had the advantage.
Naruto.
Jiraiya.
Tsunade.
Even together, A and Rasa knew they couldn't win head-on.
So there was only one option left.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Rasa said coldly,
"Open the Four Red Yang Formation and let us leave."
"Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."
Jiraiya and Tsunade stiffened.
Naruto smiled—bright, calm, terrifying.
"Consequences?" he said lightly.
"You mean hostages?"
"Tsk… Raikage-sama, didn't you just say fists decide everything?"
"And now you threaten civilians?"
The audience erupted.
"What does that mean?!"
"They're using us as leverage?!"
"That's despicable!"
"It's not even subtle—it's a direct threat!"
Panic spread as people tried to flee.
"Everyone, don't move."
Naruto's voice rang out, firm and reassuring.
"I, Uzumaki Naruto, guarantee your safety."
Clones appeared instantly, lining the front of the stands, backs to the audience, standing like an unbreakable wall.
The scarlet cloak fluttered in the air.
That slender back felt unshakable—like a god guarding mortals.
The panic vanished.
People returned to their seats.
"As long as I'm here," Naruto said calmly,
"no one touches you."
He smiled.
"What kind of stage is this without an audience?"
Then—
Boom.
"Earth Style: Earth Turns to Steel."
Chakra surged.
The entire arena gleamed with metallic luster.
Walls, floors, structures—everything hardened into steel-like solidity.
A fortress.
Naruto looked straight at Rasa and A.
"Kazekage. Raikage."
"If you want to reason with fists—"
"Then let's see whose fists speak louder."
His voice thundered across the arena.
"Yours—"
"Or Konoha's."
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