[Forest of Death]
The ANBU who were besieging the Hyuga clansmen suddenly noticed someone leaping out from the woods.
The next moment, one ANBU had already fallen stiffly to the ground.
The others were startled.
Because the other side had opened crimson-red Mangekyo Sharingan, and a single person charged toward their entire group.
It was the former head of the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Fugaku!
The Hyuga clansmen's spirits lifted. A few exchanged glances, and one of them spun his body, "Rotation!"
After forcing the ANBU aside, they immediately leapt next to Fugaku.
"Elder Fugaku!"
At this moment, Fugaku's identity was that of an honorary elder in Konoha village, so calling him that was no problem.
The Hyuga clansmen hadn't expected someone from the Uchiha to specially come save them, but they couldn't help feeling relieved inside.
Fugaku led the charge against the few ANBU, "Take action together, just leave one alive!"
"Yes!"
The Hyuga clansmen understood what Fugaku meant, and pounced together as well.
Now the situation was reversed, those ANBU immediately turned and ran.
'Are you kidding? Mangekyo Sharingan? Who the hell would fight that?'
———
[Inside the Forest]
Kimimaro's squad, who were on the move, froze for a second when they saw Sasuke fire off a signal flare for help.
"That was Sasuke's signal flare for aid?", Gaara looked up at once, and his expression changed drastically.
"Something's happened!"
He stomped his foot and hurriedly rushed toward Sasuke's direction.
Kimimaro, Haku, and Karin immediately followed.
For the first time, Gaara spoke so quickly, "This means someone is attacking Naruto."
"It's possible outsiders have invaded, the target is Naruto."
The three, Kimimaro, Haku, and Karin, each looked serious. After all, anyone bold enough to target the Nine-Tails definitely wouldn't be weak.
"Master must have sensed it as well. Let's hurry and help. Naruto must not come to harm."
Karin knew that the entire Forest of Death should be under Rengoku's surveillance.
Although nervous, she wasn't too worried.
Haku spoke, "Gaara, later we shouldn't fight head-on. If we can take him away, then just take him away first."
Gaara gave a heavy response, "I know."
Last time, when his One-Tail was ripped out, Rengoku had to spend a massive amount of life force to bring him back.
This time Naruto absolutely could not be harmed.
Karin turned her head and said to Haku and Kimimaro, "When we arrive, you two draw their attention."
The two answered at once. They knew Karin was preparing to set up a formation.
———
After Sasuke fired the signal flare, he saw Naruto telling Hinata, "Hinata, you need to leave, they're here for me!"
Clearly, Naruto had also recognized who the enemy was.
Hinata froze, then her face turned resolute, "No! How could I abandon my teammates!"
Sasuke looked at Naruto speechlessly, then switched to another phrasing as he told Hinata, "Hinata, their strength is extremely high. We're no match. Someone has to go report, hurry and find the teacher!"
But Hinata didn't fall for it at all, "Sasuke, you already fired the signal flare. There's no need for me to report anything. I will not abandon you."
As she said that, Hinata already set up her Gentle Fist stance. Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a glance, then dropped down at her side.
With their leg speed, they couldn't run away anyway.
Senku strolled out unhurriedly, "Be at ease, young ones. This poor monk is only here for the beast inside you. I will not harm your lives."
Naruto roared angrily, "Do you think we're idiots? Anyone who extracts a tailed beast, the jinchuriki will die!"
"Gaara nearly died from it!"
Senku's voice remained calm, "That one only faked death last time. This poor monk does not take lives."
Naturally, the three, Sasuke, Naruto, Hinata, did not believe him. Sasuke drew a kunai and said coldly, "Don't you dare even think about the Nine-Tails!"
Inside, Naruto was desperately shouting to the Nine-Tails, 'Kurama! Kurama!'
'Hurry and lend me your power! Otherwise you'll be taken away!'
Inside his mental space, the Nine-Tails slowly opened his eyes.
["What, are you worried I'll be captured?"]
Naruto said anxiously, 'Of course! The principal said, these unknown people are here exactly to seize your power and imprison you.'
Kurama's eyes glimmered with amusement. He didn't speak, just closed his eyes comfortably.
'Kurama!'
'Kurama?'
Naruto shouted twice and realized Kurama wasn't answering. He could only refocus on the outside world.
After Senku finished chanting his incantations, Ishishu and the men behind him hurriedly said, "Master Senku, let's just take action. As long as we don't kill them."
Senku planted his nine-ring staff on the ground, "So be it. Be careful, young ones."
Ishishu directly passed Senku and lunged straight at Naruto.
Naruto formed hand signs with both hands, "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
BANG!
A massive explosion of smoke.
In an instant, hundreds upon hundreds of Narutos appeared.
Ishishu and his men were dumbfounded. After all, the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu was a forbidden technique.
Normally, it was impossible to make this many clones.
Even if Naruto was from the Uzumaki clan, at most he used to make a few more than average.
But this many Narutos, how were they supposed to find the real one?
Even Naruto himself was stunned. This was his first time splitting into so many shadow clones.
Then, a flash of inspiration told him. It was Kurama who had lent him chakra.
"Thank you, Kurama."
The Nine-Tails didn't answer, only lay down lazily on his paws, as if waiting for something.
"Sasuke! Hinata! Let's run! My clones will stall them!"
Naruto loudly "conspired," pulling Sasuke and Hinata into the crowd of clones.
The other clones shouted, "Charge! Block them!"
Hundreds upon hundreds of Narutos surged forward, launching a counter-charge at Ishishu and the others.
But how could Sarutobi Ishishu and his group be so easily held up?
He rushed at the front, the sounds of bang bang bang smoke bursts unending in his wake.
While being delayed, the clones all screamed as they pounced at him.
It didn't look like ninja at all, more like children brawling.
But undeniably, grabbing legs, tugging clothes, those actions greatly slowed Ishishu's speed.
At last Ishishu had to show real skill. Left hand formed signs, right hand drew his blade.
At the same time as his mouth spewed flames, his sword thrust forward.
"Great Flame Slash!"
The flames he spat out grew with the wind, instantly turning into a towering wall of fire.
The fire wall, as if pushed by a giant hand, smashed toward the mass of Narutos.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The dense sounds echoed as countless shadow clones were scattered.
Then Ishishu's figure flickered, vanishing midair.
The next instant, he was already pouncing at the Naruto escaping together with Hinata and Sasuke.
Only, the moment he touched this Naruto, Naruto popped into smoke and vanished.
And right beside, the "Sasuke" and "Hinata" each had a ball appear in their hands, slamming toward Ishishu's body.
Ishishu gave a cold snort, spun his body in a sideways slash, and those two transformed clones were also cut apart into smoke.
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