Chapter 6: Clash of Leaf and Lightning
Deep within the forests of the Land of Fire, a shadowy underground stronghold lay hidden beneath the flickering candlelight. A small, ink-colored mouse with flowing brush lines scurried silently through the halls, surveying its surroundings.
This was Super Beast Scroll—a jutsu that infused chakra into calligraphy, breathing life into art. It belonged solely to Sai.
Hidden within the brush outside the stronghold, Sai maintained the hand sign as he whispered to his comrade. "That's right. This was one of Orochimaru's old bases."
Mitarashi Anko, standing beside him with her hands in her pockets, narrowed her eyes. "So that snake bastard's reusing his old hiding holes…"
Rustle!
Suddenly, a presence stirred behind the large tree.
Clang! Sai instinctively drew his blade, but Anko stopped him with a hand. "Relax—it's one of ours."
Emerging from the trees were three Konoha shinobi: Hyuga Tokuma, Aburame Muta, and the chunin Yavaro. Each bore the marks of their clans—Tokuma's pale Byakugan eyes, Muta's high-collared coat and insect gourd, and Yavaro's modest but ready stance.
Muta stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Captain Mitarashi. Orders from the village. The mission's changed."
He paused, adjusting his insect urn.
"We're to drop the search for Yakushi Kabuto. The new priority is Uzumaki Naruto. We'll be operating as your subordinates."
Anko blinked. "Naruto? What happened? Yamato rushed back to the village during the last mission—was it about this?"
Muta nodded. "Akatsuki attacked Konoha. The village was devastated. Casualties were heavy. Lady Tsunade… is in a coma."
"What!?"
"In her absence… Danzo has been appointed Sixth Hokage."
Sai's pupils constricted.
Anko stared in disbelief. "I don't buy it… What happened to Naruto?"
"We'll explain more once we regroup," Tokuma cut in sharply, glancing at Sai. As a member of Root, there were things better left unsaid in his presence.
"We'll move ahead," Sai muttered, leaping into the woods toward Konoha. Danzo... the Hokage? Naruto missing? Something felt wrong—very wrong.
Meanwhile, Anko's unit turned toward the next phase: find Naruto.
"I don't believe for a second that Naruto would betray Konoha," Anko muttered as they moved. She remembered the nervous, wide-eyed boy from the Chunin Exams... she had watched him grow.
Muta replied calmly, "None of us want to believe it. But we need to find him first. That's the only way to uncover the truth—and stop Danzo from twisting it any further. Rumors are already spreading…"
"Wait!" Tokuma's voice cut through the tension. His Byakugan pulsed.
"Twelve o'clock—Naruto. He's coming straight toward us!"
"What!?" Anko leapt onto a tree branch. "That's fast—everyone stay alert!"
The four of them formed a tight perimeter, kunai ready.
Roughly a kilometer away, Naruto ended his sage mode. "They've already spotted us."
This was his first time facing comrades since returning to the village... and he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
Then, he was there.
Rustle. Naruto stepped out into the clearing.
"Yo," he greeted casually. "Long time no see, Anko."
The team's eyes darted to the person behind him—Konan, cloaked in Akatsuki robes.
Muta narrowed his eyes. "That woman… she's with Akatsuki."
Anko walked forward, still hands in pockets. "Naruto, you left without a word. Now you're with Akatsuki? You better explain yourself."
Naruto shrugged. "There's nothing to explain. You can see it for yourself."
"Oh?" Anko's voice dropped cold, her fingers tightening in her pockets. "Still acting bold, huh?"
Naruto calmly raised his headband—the scratched, rebel one Sasuke had left behind after their fight at the Valley of the End.
"Yes. This is my way of the ninja."
Anko stared at him, speechless for a beat… then laughed bitterly. "Still playing with ideals at a time like this?"
Behind him, Konan spoke up. "It seems I'm not very welcome."
Naruto gave a dry laugh. "Can't blame them. Plenty of Konoha ninja died at Akatsuki's hands before Nagato. Don't take it personally, Konan-senpai."
She raised a brow. "You plan to face them alone?"
Naruto nodded. "It's been a long time since I fought anyone properly. My reflexes are dull. Four jonin-level shinobi—not too many, not too few. It's a good test."
"Don't hold back, then," Konan said, stepping out of the circle.
Anko analyzed the situation.
Konan wasn't planning to fight. That was unexpected… and fortunate. But Naruto had defeated the man who razed Konoha. His current strength likely surpassed Orochimaru's.
Even with the advantage in numbers, raw power tilted in Naruto's favor.
Still, Naruto was straightforward. His combat habits were known—he relied on shadow clones and Rasengan, and had access to sage mode. And if reports were right, he could use clones to gather natural energy mid-battle.
"Tokuma. Check for clones."
Tokuma activated his Byakugan. "Only him—and the Akatsuki woman. No clones nearby."
Anko narrowed her eyes. So he's not using sage mode yet? Doesn't think we're worth it? That brat who used to flinch at my killing intent has really grown up.
"Formation B!"
Whoosh! The group scattered.
Anko held the center, Tokuma moved right, Muta took the flank, and Yavaro circled around the back.
Naruto watched calmly.
Anko smirked. "Let's see what you've really got!"
She bit her thumb and slammed her hand down.
—Summoning Jutsu!
Bang! A massive snake erupted from the ground, coiling upward.
Naruto grinned. "Whoa! Just like the one in the Forest of Death. Oh right—Anko, you were Orochimaru's student."
Crash! The snake lunged, and Naruto jumped back as the massive tree behind him was crushed.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Behind him, Yavaro hurled several kunai laced with explosive tags.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Naruto casually tossed his own shuriken, perfectly intercepting each kunai mid-air. Boom! The tags exploded harmlessly overhead as he landed smoothly.
Yavaro stared in awe. "He didn't even turn around! He heard the wind and knew exactly where they were? His shuriken technique is insane!"
The snake coiled again, preparing to strike.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Let's try this."
He slammed his hands together and touched the ground.
—Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!
Whirl! The earth turned to sludge beneath the serpent, dragging it into the muck.
Anko gasped. "Earth style!? I thought Naruto only had wind!"
Like many, she was misinformed. Naruto's chakra nature wasn't limited to wind—he had wind, earth, fire, lightning, water, and yang. He lacked only yin.
He simply specialized in wind. That's what showed up on the chakra paper years ago.
But after becoming Hokage in his previous life, Naruto had mastered the others.
He was no longer the boy who relied on shadow clones and Rasengan alone.
As the snake struggled, Naruto crouched to hold the jutsu.
Whoosh! Behind him, Yavaro formed seals.
—Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
Fwoosh! A thin jet of flame expanded into a roaring fireball.
Bang! Smoke erupted.
A clone?
Even under pressure, Naruto had created a shadow clone. Everyone was shocked.
The clone formed its own seals.
—Wind Style: Gale Palm!
Boom! A surge of wind slammed into the fireball, reversing its path!
Yavaro's eyes widened. "What!? He used wind to overpower fire!?"
Crash! The firestorm roared back through the trees, lifting Yavaro off his feet and hurling him to the ground.
"Whoa, you good?" Naruto called out. "Didn't mean to hit that hard…"
Yavaro grunted, barely conscious. A nearly shattered ninja shield had saved his life.
"Whew… Didn't think a Chunin would tank that."
"I… I am a Chunin…" Yavaro mumbled before passing out.
Buzz!
Muta opened his insect jar. Thousands of chakra-eating insects surged outward, forming a black wave around Naruto.
The Aburame clan's techniques covered wide areas—there was no dodging them.
Naruto didn't hesitate. He threw a marked kunai at Muta.
Muta dodged instinctively, and the kunai buried itself in the tree behind him.
Then… the swarm engulfed Naruto.
"He's trapped," Muta said confidently. "They're draining his chakra. He can't—"
Whip!
Dozens of snakes burst from Anko's sleeves and wrapped around Naruto.
"You're done, Naruto!"
Whoosh!
But then the bugs scattered—and the snakes dropped lifelessly.
"He vanished!?" Muta gasped.
"Behind you!" Tokuma shouted.
Too late. Crack! A sharp chop to the back of the neck, and Muta fell.
Clink. Naruto calmly pulled his kunai from the tree. A strange seal glowed on the handle.
Anko stared in disbelief. Cold sweat ran down her back.
"No doubt about it… That's the Fourth Hokage's technique—Flying Thunder God."
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