Chapter 268: Battlefields Everywhere
Outside Konoha Village, wave after wave of figures clad in Sound ninja uniforms surged from hidden strongholds like hyenas smelling blood, launching a new round of charges toward the smoke-filled Konoha Village, attempting to push this chaos to an even higher peak.
A Sound ninja force numbering at least several dozen, cruel and excited smiles sketched beneath their face masks, as if already envisioning scenes of wanton destruction and slaughter. They rushed forward rapidly, kicking up clouds of dust.
However, they were completely unaware that on a high slope not far away, a pair of eyes locked firmly onto them with a light interweaving cruelty and excitement.
Just as this group of Sound ninja was about to rush into the village's outer area.
In the sky, several clay creations disguised as ordinary birds quietly swept over their heads. Immediately after, some small white things dropped from the clay birds' bellies, precisely falling right into the middle of the running Sound ninja formation.
"Hmm?"
The white objects suddenly falling from the sky made several Sound ninja instinctively freeze, their steps slowing accordingly. However, this brief hesitation was the final moment of their lives.
"Ha!"
Accompanied by a cold command from the distance.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—!!
Continuous explosions instantly engulfed this Sound ninja force! The small clay spiders erupted with terrifying power completely disproportionate to their size, scorching flames and shockwaves mercilessly harvesting lives.
Screams were drowned by the explosion's roar. Severed limbs and shattered ninja tools scattered everywhere. The formation that had been so imposing moments ago was instantly annihilated, leaving only scorched craters in the ground and permeating stench of blood.
"Hahahaha! How was that?! If you can't instantly comprehend art's true essence, this is the result!"
Standing on high ground, Deidara watched his "masterpiece" and released a hearty laugh.
He then added as if talking to himself, "However, this is also your own fault, yeah. After all, our leader rarely takes lives easily. But dealing with you war invaders, he won't show mercy, mm."
"Even if I blow you all to pieces, even Buddha would forgive it, yeah."
But soon, looking at the chaotic battlefield below, he became somewhat dispirited. "However, small fries of only this level can't test my new artistic creations at all, mm."
Being eliminated so easily made him yearn to find opponents who could better withstand his "great art."
Just then, his gaze was drawn to another giant summoned serpent being called forth on the nearby battlefield. Deidara's eyes immediately blazed with excitement. He casually molded several clay centipedes, quietly laying them in ambush along the path, then jumped onto an already-prepared giant clay owl.
"Good! I'll test my new work on that big guy! Mm!"
He laughed loudly, riding the clay owl as he sped toward that behemoth.
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"Naruto... what exactly is this..."
Kakashi looked at his student who'd returned, his heart filled with inexpressible shock. Just now, Naruto had clearly used Flying Thunder God to leave, yet when he reappeared, he'd already transformed into this form? His entire body enveloped in warm, dazzling golden radiance, the chakra feeling both familiar and strange... So this was the form of Nine-Tails' chakra?
What made him even more alarmed was that overwhelming, abyss-like vast chakra quantity he could clearly sense even though it was deliberately restrained, and that sense of absolute power that seemed to have already far surpassed his own.
Of course, what was present here now was merely one of Naruto's shadow clones. This clone was responsible for supporting the crisis-riddled Chunin Exam venue—Orochimaru had clearly ambushed an astonishing number of Sound ninja here, intending to prevent any Konoha ninja from going to support the Third Hokage confronting him.
"Hahaha! What's wrong, Kakashi? Are you so shocked by your student's amazing growth that you can't speak?" Might Guy kicked a Sand ninja flying while passionately shouting, "However, we're still in competition right now! Currently, I'm ahead in the number of enemy nation ninja defeated!"
Hearing this, Kakashi quickly collected himself, gave that golden figure a deep look, then threw himself back into battle, his kunai precisely deflecting incoming attacks.
"Satsuki, watch out!"
Naruto's shadow clone reacted extremely fast. A golden chakra giant claw instantly extended, precisely grabbing the kunai stabbing toward Satsuki's heart from the shadows along with the ambushing Sound ninja, then mercilessly slammed them toward the ground—accompanied by a dull thud, that Sound ninja never got up again.
Satsuki stared blankly at Naruto now... shining with golden light. Though the strength Naruto displayed had already far exceeded her own, making an unavoidable trace of disappointment initially rise in her heart, but... his current appearance...
So beautiful... Simply dazzling and warm like the sun.
Though her heart couldn't help rippling—seeming like a love-struck brain attack—Satsuki's combat competence was completely unaffected. The kunai in her hand precisely slashed another Sound ninja's throat, her movements clean and efficient. It seemed Naruto's earlier worry had been somewhat excessive.
Naruto surveyed his surroundings, looking at the Sound ninja endlessly pouring out like spawn points in a game. He couldn't keep dragging this out! To quickly clear the field without injuring teammates, it seemed he could only use that move.
He raised his right hand. A massive, stable Rasengan emitting a low hum instantly manifested in his palm. Then he held the Rasengan high above his head. At the same time, several golden chakra giant claws suddenly spread behind him like a peacock's tail, rapidly firmly grasping numerous panicked Sound ninja around him!
"Rasengan Magnet!"
With his low shout, those Sound ninja imprisoned by golden giant claws were involuntarily slammed viciously toward the massive Rasengan floating in the air!
"Gah—!"
Screams and the sound of chakra tearing mixed together. The Rasengan's terrifying rotation and tearing power instantly exploded, causing massive casualties, instantly clearing out a spacious area!
"Ohh! Amazing! Kakashi!" Guy watched this scene, his eyes burning with even more fervent fighting spirit. "Looks like if we don't get serious, we might really be outdone by Naruto! Come on, this is youth burning at its peak!"
"Sixth Gate: Gate of View—Open!!"
BOOM! Even more violent green energy erupted from Guy's body, forming visibly surging air waves that sent surrounding rubble tumbling!
His powerful aura made many Sound ninja who'd witnessed Rock Lee's battle in the first Chunin Exam match feel fear. And this man before them possessed presence several times more terrifying than that bushy-browed boy!
"M-monster!"
"Retreat quickly!"
Facing Naruto's crushing clearing ability and Guy's overwhelming beast-like explosive aura, the invaders' morale finally began collapsing. Fear spread like plague as many ninja began entertaining thoughts of retreat, their fighting spirit rapidly disintegrating.
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