"Red Sun… Kira!"
One of the newly joined members screamed, staring at Naruto in terror. The arrogance drained from his face. His lips trembled. His legs shook uncontrollably.
He was a rogue ninja from Kirigakure.
Back when Naruto swept through the Mist Village, this man had still been a loyal Jōnin. He had personally taken part in the siege against Naruto.
He had witnessed everything.
The Mist elite falling one after another.
Mizukage Yagura transforming into a perfect Jinchūriki and unleashing the full Tailed Beast form.
And Naruto standing there—untouched. Unstoppable.
That battle had left a permanent scar on his mind.
When Naruto had been hidden in the smoke earlier, he hadn't recognized him.
But now, seeing the dark armor clearly—
He knew.
"Red Sun Society Kira? Who's that?" Deidara sneered. "Never heard of him. Must be some nobody."
More white clay centipedes slid from his palms, merged with the floor, and silently crept toward Naruto.
Earlier had only been a test.
This time, the explosives were doubled.
More concentrated.
More lethal.
Deidara believed in his art absolutely.
Naruto didn't stop walking.
His gaze settled on Deidara like he was looking at a misbehaving child.
"Kid, put away the firecrackers. I'm busy. We can play next time."
"Explode!"
Deidara roared.
The clay centipedes tightened around Naruto, compressing the blast radius for maximum destruction.
Chakra surged.
The room went silent.
No explosion.
Only faint crackling sounds.
Deidara's face drained of color.
His connection to the explosives—cut.
Gone.
"I've got better art than this! Just wait—"
"Noisy. Stay down."
Naruto flicked his hand casually.
A streak of lightning burst forth—
Instantly forming a thunder dragon.
It struck.
BOOM!
Deidara flew backward, slammed into the wall, charred black, and dropped unconscious.
Everyone inhaled sharply.
They knew Deidara's strength.
Few among them could confidently defeat him.
Kakuzu's eyes widened in fear.
"That's him… That overwhelming pressure… Even more terrifying than the First Hokage…"
"You bastard!" another member roared. "I don't care who you are! You dare provoke the Akatsuki?!"
He formed hand seals rapidly.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Palm!"
Naruto sighed.
"I just came as a guest. Why can't you behave?"
Before the words finished, he had already appeared in front of the man.
He grabbed the man's head.
Slammed it into the ground.
BOOM!
Only the man's legs stuck out, twitching pitifully.
No resistance.
No struggle.
Naruto's movements weren't fast.
They weren't flashy.
They were simple.
Clean.
But none of them could react.
Not dodge.
Not counter.
Not even breathe properly.
Fear spread.
"Fire Style!"
"Lightning Style!"
"Water Style!"
"Hidden Rain Technique!"
Ninjutsu filled the room in a frenzy.
Explosions.
Flames.
Water dragons.
Lightning bolts.
Smoke and shockwaves tore through the air.
One figure flew out.
Another collapsed.
A third crumpled mid-charge.
Every single one fell with a single strike.
"Fight me head-on if you dare!" one shouted desperately.
Naruto tilted his head slightly.
The man collapsed before he finished speaking.
The Kirigakure rogue laughed bitterly.
"It's him… Kira of the Red Sun… The strongest in the ninja world! Even Uzumaki Naruto from Konoha probably isn't his match…"
He stopped resisting.
Naruto appeared before him.
Chakra froze.
His body locked in place.
No Clone Technique.
No Substitution.
Nothing worked.
BOOM!
He was sent flying, unconscious.
Hidan rushed forward, eyes wild.
"I'm immortal! God, give me strength!"
He swung his triple-bladed scythe.
Naruto raised one finger.
Tap.
CRACK.
The blade shattered.
The shaft shattered.
His finger lightly touched Hidan's forehead.
"I'm immortal—"
His words cut off.
Hidan's head rang like a bell struck by a hammer.
He staggered twice—
And dropped.
Unconscious.
"Can't see me. Can't see me. Can't see me…"
Kakuzu hid in the corner, muttering, leaving a clone as cover.
Naruto's gaze swept the room.
It passed the clone.
Stopped on the real body.
A faint smile appeared.
Kakuzu froze.
"Fine! I'll do it myself!"
He punched himself in the face.
BOOM.
Collapsed instantly.
Naruto paused.
Shook his head.
"Sasori of the Red Sand. Where do you think you're going?"
No one was there.
Sasori still appeared to be leaning quietly against the wall.
Naruto reached forward.
Grabbed.
A hidden figure was pulled into view.
Sasori.
He didn't resist.
But as Naruto drew close, Sasori's concealed tail shot forward like lightning—aimed at Naruto's eye.
Naruto flicked his finger.
The tail shattered.
He grabbed Sasori by the neck and shook him twice.
Inside the puppet shell, Sasori's vision blurred.
Darkness closed in.
Before losing consciousness, one thought crossed his mind:
Should've run like Obito and Zetsu…
Moments later—
The hall of the Akatsuki tower was silent.
Broken bodies lay scattered everywhere.
Only Pain and Konan remained standing.
Naruto stood calmly in the center.
Unscathed.
Unhurried.
Like he had just taken out the trash.
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