Chūnin Exam Arena
Many people were staring at Naruto with fear in their eyes.
After seeing how Naruto appeared in the footage…
none of them could honestly say they weren't afraid.
Seeing their frightened looks, Naruto panicked and hurried to explain:
"Oi—listen! That was all just to defeat the enemy!
I would never hurt everyone!"
Someone shouted:
"But you lost control! You were clearly overcome by rage!
After defeating the enemy…
can you swear you wouldn't attack us too?"
Another person:
"That wasn't Naruto anymore—
that was the Nine-Tails."
Another:
"I heard the village almost got destroyed by the Nine-Tails before…"
Sakura couldn't endure it anymore.
She remembered her own pathetic performance in earlier footage—
she couldn't stand by and watch them treat Naruto like this.
"You idiots! Should YOU really be afraid of Naruto!?"
"Why do you think he turned into that terrifying form!?"
"The only reason Naruto transformed like that
was to protect the village—
to protect us!"
"You think Naruto looked scary?
What were YOU doing!?"
"Could YOU stand up and protect the village?"
"If you could—
would Naruto have needed to turn into that state?"
"You all saw how much pain he was in
when he fought Orochimaru before!"
"You all know
how much damage that form does to his body!"
The people who had been staring at Naruto with fear
now lowered their heads in shame.
Ino walked up beside Sakura, yelling at the crowd with her.
"Forehead… you said it perfectly this time!
I'm with you!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto with a complicated expression.
In his heart he thought:
If, in that future… I hadn't defected from the village…
Then the person who would fight Pain… to protect the village and everyone…
Should have been me—Uchiha Sasuke.
If it were me…
I would've become the hero who saved the village… right?
Hiruzen's expression was similarly complicated.
He thought—
I must have made a mistake.
I shouldn't have treated Naruto that way…
All the hardships he suffered since childhood were because of my decisions.
Now it seems… my decisions may have been wrong.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, looked thrilled.
So many new things worth researching…
Hinata stared at Naruto with deep pain in her eyes,
her resolve to grow stronger becoming even firmer.
Naruto became like that… because of her.
If she were stronger…
Naruto wouldn't have had to suffer so much.
Wait—
Naruto transformed because of her…
Doesn't that mean…
Naruto… likes her too?!
Hinata's face instantly turned bright red, steam shooting from her head.
He likes her!
He likes her!
He likes her!!
The thought repeated endlessly in her mind—
thud!
Hinata fainted again.
Rain Country — Akatsuki Base
Tobi jumped excitedly.
"Sugoi! Sugoi! Leader-sama is so strong!!"
Deidara nodded.
"As expected of the Leader. Stronger than Itachi for sure—hm!"
Hidan: "Kakuzu, you fought the First Hokage before.
Who's stronger—Leader or the First?"
Kakuzu: "Well… I've never fought the Leader, so I can't say."
Hidan nodded.
"That's true. Even though you totally crushed the First Hokage,
without fighting Leader personally,
it's normal you can't compare them."
Kakuzu sighed in relief.
But then Hidan continued:
"Kakuzu! You should fight Leader sometime!"
"PFFT!"
Kakuzu waved frantically.
"No need!"
Hidan blinked. "Why not?"
Kakuzu: "From what I've seen…
Leader seems stronger."
Hidan nodded.
"I think so too."
Tobi: "As expected of Leader-sama!
Stronger than the God of Shinobi, Hashirama!"
Behind his mask, Tobi was full of disdain.
If Pain actually fought Hashirama—
Hashirama could probably defeat him with one hand.
Nagato's forehead twitched with black lines.
But he said nothing.
If he refuted them now, Kakuzu would lose too much face
and might even quit Akatsuki out of embarrassment.
Pure Land
[Hashirama: Madara! Did you see?
Their battle really has a teeny tiny bit of our flavor!]
[Madara: Hashirama!
WHAT are you smoking?]
The footage continued.
[Naruto's Nine-Tails power continued to rampage further.]
[The First Hokage's necklace on his chest sensed the danger
and burst with sealing power to suppress the Nine-Tails.]
[But Naruto—relying on his own strength—
crushed the necklace with his bare hand!]
[Breaking Hashirama's seal by force!]
[Deva Path stared in confusion.]
[Then an even more terrifying clash erupted.]
A small inn beside a gambling house
Tsunade froze in shock.
"What!? He broke my grandfather's necklace with his bare hands!?"
"And—he shattered something so important to me!?"
"Damn brat Naruto… I won't forgive you for that."
She clutched her own necklace—
"…But still… nicely done."
Outside Konoha
Jiraiya was stunned as well.
"Naruto…
you're truly furious this time."
"To think not even the First Hokage's necklace
could seal the Nine-Tails' chakra erupting from your anger…"
"Naruto!
I'm sorry. It's future-me who failed you."
"I failed to protect you…
I failed to protect the village."
Pure Land
[Hashirama: Oh! Impressive—
he actually crushed my necklace with his hand.]
[Madara: Hashirama! Your granddaughter treasures that necklace—
yet you're HAPPY it got destroyed!?]
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