In Konoha Village, the villagers watched in awe as Neji was defeated, their minds reeling.
"That's the genius of the Hyūga clan… and even he lost to that dead last?"
"But Naruto is really impressive! He did well!"
Influenced by the video, some people's attitudes were slowly changing. At the very least, they no longer despised Naruto as much as before.
"Naruto, how did you get so strong in such a short time?" Choji exclaimed. He, Naruto, and Shikamaru used to be the three lazybones of their class. Now, Naruto had surpassed them all in just a few months?
No one could believe it. The young ninjas vowed to train harder and never slack off again.
"Naruto, after you become stronger, we'll duel again!" Neji walked over calmly, convinced that Naruto had held back during their fight. After all, Naruto's shadow clones against Mizuki were no joke.
The words Naruto spoke in the video stirred something in Neji, who had been consumed by hatred. Perhaps Naruto could change the Hyūga clan someday.
Perched on a tree, Sasuke snorted coldly. He never realized it was Naruto who saved him during that battle.
"Damn it… How strong are you now?"
Unfortunately, the video skipped many scenes focused on others, only showing events from Naruto's perspective.
"Naruto-kun… thank you…" Hidden nearby, Hinata nervously twisted her fingers together, her face buried in her chest.
Before the young ninjas could say more, the scene changed again.
[This time, Naruto faced Gaara, who seemed to have entered a berserk state.]
[Overwhelmed by Gaara's power, Naruto was at a loss.]
[Naruto fought for his comrades, while Gaara fought only for himself.]
[Naruto also learned about Gaara's past—feared as a monster, unloved and unrecognized by anyone. Naruto saw his own past reflected in Gaara's and felt deep sympathy for him.]
[Naruto erupted with an unshakable determination not to lose…]
[Even if the gap between them was vast, he would charge forward to protect Sasuke, Sakura, and his most precious comrades!]
Naruto formed hand signs, ready to give it his all!
[Ah!!!!]
A massive surge of chakra erupted from Naruto, forming a sphere.
["I will protect them!"]
["Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"]
[Poof… Countless shadow clones appeared, stretching as far as the eye could see…]
Temari, Sasuke, Gaara, and even a dog stared in shock at the scene.
["From now on… this is the Uzumaki Naruto Ninja Art!"]
["Four Corner Sealing Jutsu: Shuriken!"]
Gaara was thrown into panic, forced into a desperate defense.
["Uzumaki Naruto…"]
["Two Thousand Combo!"]
Even Gaara's "Absolute Defense" was shattered under this onslaught. The One-Tail's cloak was torn to shreds. Gaara couldn't understand how the boy who once trembled in fear before him had become so powerful in such a short time.
...
"Naruto, when did you steal my technique?!" Lee exclaimed, stunned by the "Two Thousand Combo." Wasn't that his move?
"I don't know… I just figured it out…"
.....
[In the video, Gaara grew angrier, unable to accept being beaten so badly.]
["How can I lose to someone like you?!"]
Gaara roared, and something within him awakened.
The next moment, a thick mist enveloped the area, and a gigantic figure emerged. All of Naruto's shadow clones vanished in an instant.
[It was the One-Tail, Shukaku…]
Sand began coiling around Naruto's feet, trapping him completely.
Transformed into the One-Tail, Gaara shouted:
["It's over… Sand Burial…"]
At the critical moment:
["Summoning Jutsu!"]
A massive cloud of white smoke appeared, and a giant red toad emerged.
["Boss Toad, let's do this together!"]
["Alright… kid… I'll show you what true loyalty means…"]
Boss Toad drew a short sword and held it ready.
["Kid… hold on tight!"]
Boss Toad leaped dozens of meters into the air, driving the sword into Shukaku's joint with immense force.
Shukaku's arm was severed, dissolving into sand. Boss Toad's sword was knocked away, embedding itself in the ground.
["What a terrifying opponent… I had to use all my strength just to move the sword… We need to end this quickly… or the terrain will be destroyed…"]
Gaara turned around, excitedly staring at Naruto and Gamabunta.
["Now… it's time to show the true power of Shukaku!"]
["Temple of Nirvana Technique!"]
Gaara gradually fell asleep, awakening Shukaku's consciousness within him.
["I'm finally free!"]
Shukaku cheered, spotting its target and raising its remaining arm.
["Right away, I found someone I want to kill…"]
["Wind Style: Air Bullet!"]
Shukaku slammed its belly, firing a massive sphere of compressed air from its mouth.
Boss Toad leaped into the air, puffing up its cheeks.
["Water Style: Iron Water Bullet!"]
The two attacks collided, creating a storm of wind and rain that battered the ground.
["Kid… go wake up the medium!"]
["How?"]
["Just punch him hard!"]
Boss Toad charged at Shukaku, but its toad claws were useless against the sand beast.
["Kid… use Transformation Jutsu… You need claws and fangs!"]
["Alright… I got it!"]
Naruto imagined a creature with sharp claws and fangs. Suddenly, he felt a connection.
["Transformation!"]
From the thick mist, a Nine-Tailed Fox emerged!
Shukaku stared in disbelief at the familiar figure, followed by intense hatred.
["Damn it… it's that stinky fox!"]
The transformed Boss Toad grabbed Shukaku, and Naruto seized the opportunity to leap toward Gaara.
["Wake up!"]
He punched Gaara squarely in the face.
Since Gaara hadn't been asleep for long, he quickly woke up.
However, Shukaku's body didn't collapse. Gaara used sand to bind Naruto, coldly staring at him.
["You will die by my hand!!!"]
["Crap… Naruto and I are out of chakra…"]
But Gaara didn't know that Naruto had another source of chakra.
["I will protect everyone!"]
Red chakra enveloped Naruto as he raised his right fist and charged at Gaara.
["Here I come, you dumb raccoon!"]
["Die!"]
Before he could reach Gaara, the sand trapped him again.
["Damn it…!"]
Naruto headbutted Gaara with all his might.
["Thud!"]
Both boys were sent flying, crashing into two separate trees.
They quickly stabilized themselves and charged at each other with raised fists.
Gaara, who rarely relied on taijutsu, was no match for Naruto and was knocked to the ground.
["Where leaves dance, fire burns…"]
["The fire's light will illuminate the entire village…"]
Both lay powerless on the ground. Gaara couldn't move, but Naruto used his chin to drag himself toward Gaara.
Gaara watched Naruto's approach, filled with confusion.
["Why is this guy so strong…?"]
Naruto recalled scenes from his childhood:
[A boy standing alone behind everyone… People calling him a monster…]
[The boy's cries ignored by all…]
The scene shifted to another boy:
[Also crying… Those around him had only one word for him: monster.]
[The two boys shared similar fates. They didn't understand why people hated them so much.]
[In the eyes of the higher-ups… they were weapons. To ordinary people… they were monsters. To other children… they were the freaks adults warned them about.]
As Naruto drew closer, Gaara felt fear for the first time.
["Don't… don't come any closer!"]
Naruto raised his head tremblingly, looking at Gaara with heartfelt pain and a tearful voice:
["It's painful to be alone, isn't it?… It's really painful, right…?"]
Naruto's sorrowful gaze struck a chord in Gaara, his pupils dilating.
["Somehow… I understand exactly how you feel."]
["But I have important people now… I won't let you hurt them…"]
["Even if I have to kill you!"]
Naruto's eyes were firm. To protect those he cherished, he would become a demon if necessary.
Gaara trembled as he asked:
["Why… would you go this far for others…?"]
Naruto thought of Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, and Iruka.
["Because they pulled me out of the hell of loneliness…"]
Gaara looked up, recalling words once spoken to him:
["Emotions are about devoting yourself to those you love… A heart that protects with compassion…"]
["Emotions… Is that why this guy is so strong?"]
In the end, Gaara was taken away by Temari and Kankuro.
["Uzumaki Naruto… Someday, I will have that too…"]
["Temari… Kankuro… I'm sorry…"]
Naruto, learning that Sakura was safe, smiled and fell asleep.