"What's going on?! How could they escape from that jutsu?!"
Danzo's voice trembled with fury, disbelief twisting his face. That sealing technique had been tested repeatedly—its endurance was said to surpass even that of a Five Kage!
"Lord Danzo!" one of the middle-aged Root shinobi cried out.
"They… they altered the jutsu's composition! It looks like they reverted the steel back to its base form—pig iron! The hardness of pig iron is far weaker than reinforced steel!"
Danzo's expression darkened, his jaw tight enough to crack teeth. If killing intent could manifest, Tsunade and Sasuke would have been torn apart on the spot.
To alter the nature of a jutsu—such a feat was nearly impossible. One needed to understand its structure on a fundamental level. Modifying a technique like that was as difficult as creating a new one from scratch.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the "Professor of Ninjutsu," had mastered all five elemental releases, blending them at will. Even he had few truly original techniques to his name.
Yet Tsunade and Sasuke had just changed the nature of an opponent's jutsu mid-battle. It was unthinkable.
Of course, Danzo's mind had no place for science or technology—had he known more, perhaps he wouldn't be so shocked.
Most shinobi had only a superficial grasp of materials and basic science—what they learned in the Academy before dedicating themselves entirely to chakra studies.
Ordinary civilians, meanwhile, were the ones who continued to explore such knowledge, which explained the skewed development of technology in the shinobi world.
Chakra was power—military, divine, and absolute. Technology was mundane, used for daily convenience.
Among the elite, the belief that shinobi and nobles stood above commoners had long been ingrained. Even as technology advanced, no ambitious figure sought to develop it for war, leaving the field stagnant compared to the art of ninjutsu.
As Naruto understood it, technology could bring unimaginable prosperity—yet its development had always lagged, suppressed by tradition and pride. True scientists, those driven by curiosity and discovery rather than greed, had focused on medicine, construction, and survival—not weapons.
Still, Naruto couldn't help but wonder: what if, someday, someone realized the true potential of technology? When machines rivaled chakra, what kind of world would that be?
He thought of the Hidden Cloud's chakra cannons—massive weapons said to rival the destructive power of a Tailed Beast Bomb.
He thought of the machine guns that would later appear in Boruto's era.
He didn't know how far technology would evolve—or whether it would follow the same path as the world he remembered. Because from the moment he was reborn here, the timeline had already changed.
Perhaps, one day, he would see beyond the borders of the shinobi world. The arrival of the Ōtsutsuki had already proven there were beings from beyond the stars. This world was far grander—and far more dangerous—than his old one.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and Sasuke glared daggers at Danzo. Killing intent rippled through the air.
Tsunade clenched her jaw, fury twisting across her face. If Sasuke hadn't thought of that solution, she would've been forced to rely on Reverse Summoning to escape—an act that would have handed Danzo the victory she could never accept.
If anyone else took control of Konoha, resistance would tear the village apart. But if she took over—Senju Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage—the people would rally. They trusted her.
And Danzo knew it.
"Danzo," Tsunade said coldly, chakra flaring as cracks formed beneath her feet. "Prepare to face my wrath!"
Her fists clenched with an audible crack. Even from a distance, the sheer pressure of her chakra could be felt.
"It looks like Tsunade's getting serious," Naruto said, smiling faintly from afar.
"Oh?" Shisui's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Does Lady Tsunade have another trump card up her sleeve?"
"This is an S-rank medical ninjutsu developed by Tsunade herself," Naruto explained, his tone half in admiration, half in awe.
"See that diamond-shaped mark on her forehead? That's the Strength of a Hundred Seal. She stores a vast amount of chakra there over time, and when she releases it, she gains instant regeneration—even fatal wounds heal in seconds."
As he spoke, a faint smile tugged at Naruto's lips.
"So that's it," Shisui murmured, eyes wide. "As expected of Lady Tsunade… brilliant and terrifying at the same time."
Naruto chuckled.
"Yeah, she's strong. It's just a shame she wasted so many years running away from the world."
He couldn't help thinking—if Tsunade had even half the relentless drive of the scientists from his previous life, she'd easily rank among the strongest in the ninja world.
Look at Guy, Naruto thought. Decades of training, and when he finally opened the Eighth Gate, even Madara almost hit the floor.
Naruto's eyes swept over the battlefield. The tide was turning. The Umbrella shinobi were fewer in number, and Konoha's forces were gradually gaining the upper hand.
He exhaled softly. This mock battle's gone on long enough.
An idea flickered in his mind. Turning to Shisui, he gestured subtly and leaned in to whisper,
"Here's what we'll do…"
As Naruto explained, Shisui raised a brow, clearly amused. "You're pretty sly, Naruto," he said with a grin.
"But I like it."
Naruto smirked. "Why bother talking about morals when it comes to the enemy, right?"
On Tsunade's side, the Yin Seal: Release glowed brightly on her forehead.
With her Strength of a Hundred Technique activated, her movements grew faster and sharper. The fight against Danzo quickly devolved into a brutal exchange—his forbidden techniques and Izanagi against her unstoppable regeneration.
To Sasuke, watching from the sidelines, it felt like witnessing two monsters clash. He could barely intervene.
Frustration burned in his chest. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, blood dripping between his fingers.
At that moment, a familiar voice called out to him. "That's enough, Sasuke. You've done great."
Sasuke turned to see Naruto waving him over with an easy grin.
Reluctantly, he walked back. Naruto glanced at his hands, then placed a hand on his shoulder. A soothing warmth spread through Sasuke's body, closing the wound within seconds.
"What, getting discouraged already?" Naruto teased lightly. "You've done more than enough."
"Tch." Sasuke turned his head away, though his eyes flicked back toward the ongoing battle.
Tsunade was fighting like a demon—each punch tore through the ground, her chakra roaring like a storm.
Naruto whistled softly. "She's supposed to be a healer… yet she fights like a berserker. Honestly, it's kinda terrifying."
Sasuke didn't answer, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
Naruto crossed his arms, then said with sudden seriousness, "You're still young, Sasuke. Give it a few years, and none of them will be your match. When we get back… how about I help you awaken your Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, then he smirked. "You said it. Don't you dare go back on your word."
"I never go back on my word," Naruto said, grinning. "That's my ninja way."
He extended his fist toward Sasuke.
Sasuke hesitated for a moment, then bumped his fist against Naruto's.
It was a simple gesture—but one filled with meaning. A symbol of their bond as brothers.
Naruto's smile softened. Sasuke wasn't the cold, distant person he'd once been. Bit by bit, he was changing—and that alone made all of this worth it.
...
TN:
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