Naruto stepped off the roof.
In the arena, stone pillars rose from the ground one after another, lifting him forward step by step. He came to a stop at the very center, standing atop the highest pillar, looking straight at the Fourth Raikage on the platform.
"I'll be fair," Naruto said calmly. "Kazekage. Raikage. You can come at me together.
Actually—every one of you can come at once."
He swept his gaze across the battlefield, arrogance and disdain laid bare.
"Uzumaki Naruto, you're far too arrogant," Raikage A snapped. "Do you really think you're invincible?"
Lightning erupted.
A transformed into a bolt of thunder and shot toward Naruto.
"Lightning Release: Lateral Bolt of Pain—Chop!"
His hand became a blazing lightning blade, crackling with chakra as it slashed down.
"That's Raikage-sama's lightning hand," someone from Cloud exclaimed. "It once cut off one of the Eight-Tails' horns! I didn't expect him to go all-out immediately. Uzumaki Naruto is finished!"
"Hmph. That blond kid's been acting invincible. Raikage-sama, teach him a lesson!"
"I… I've got a bad feeling."
"Shut up, Omoi! Don't spread that nonsense. If Lord Raikage moves personally, it'll be fine."
All of Cloud stared wide-eyed, excitement surging.
Raikage A was their symbol—unyielding, absolute.
"In this world," Naruto said lightly, "there are a few people worth my attention. But Raikage-sama—
you're not one of them."
He smiled.
And raised one finger.
Just one.
Nothing more.
ZZZ—!
Thunder screamed. Lightning exploded outward.
The collision tore the air apart, shockwaves slamming into the arena like detonations. Dust and debris roared skyward as if the world itself were shaking.
"So this is a clash between Kage-level fighters…"
"Thank goodness Uzumaki-sama's clones are shielding us—otherwise we'd be dead."
"The arena isn't even shaking… That's unbelievable."
"He reinforced the entire venue earlier. He really thought of everything."
The audience buzzed, awe growing by the second.
"Today," Kakashi said quietly, eyes fixed on the battlefield, "Naruto's probably going to show his real strength."
"His real strength?"
"When he was seven, I already felt I couldn't beat him. Ever since then, I've never been able to see his limits. He's always felt bottomless. Today… we might finally see a glimpse."
Kakashi's voice carried rare emotion.
Beside him, Konoha's shinobi were stunned.
Matching multiple Kage was already unthinkable.
But Kakashi's words implied something worse—that Kage-level power wasn't Naruto's ceiling at all.
"Looks like the new generation really has replaced the old," Jiraiya muttered. "Tsunade… I suddenly feel old."
"Rubbish," Tsunade snapped instantly. "I'm eternally eighteen."
The dust finally settled.
Naruto stood calmly on the pillar, one hand behind his back, one finger extended.
Raikage A's lightning blade—chakra roaring, power that once wounded a tailed beast—was stopped cold.
It couldn't move even an inch.
A's face turned red. He poured more chakra into the strike, lightning blazing brighter and brighter.
Still useless.
"You alone," Naruto said softly, shaking his head, "aren't enough."
He pushed forward.
A was blasted backward, crashing onto the platform, skidding several steps before slamming into the wall.
Cloud froze.
The audience went dead silent.
"Raikage… lost?"
"With one finger?"
"This isn't human…"
"Is this another First Hokage?"
"No—this is worse."
"He's only twelve! This isn't even First Hokage level anymore… this is Six Paths territory!"
"Sage of Six Paths… does that mean Uzumaki-sama is—"
The silence shattered into chaos.
Konoha's civilians were flushed with pride.
Konoha's shinobi looked at Naruto with reverence.
Kakashi's words were no longer in doubt.
"I already told you," Naruto said, smiling gently, "you can't do it alone. Even together, I'm not sure you'd be enough to finish my warm-up."
He paused.
"I'll make it even easier. If any of you can make me take even half a step off this pillar, you win."
"I'll drop the Four Red Yang Formation and let you leave. Deal?"
Raikage A was breathing hard now, steam rising from his body. Rage burned in his eyes.
Rasa trembled—furious, but also cold to the bone.
The Naruto before them was nothing like the one they'd faced before.
Back then, Naruto overwhelmed opponents with endless techniques, speed, and firepower—but you could still see the edge.
Now?
One finger had sent Raikage flying.
This power had no visible bottom.
Unknown.
Unmeasurable.
Terrifying.
"Do you stand by your words?" Raikage asked quietly.
All anger was forced down.
He understood now—fighting Naruto head-on was pointless.
What mattered was survival.
Rasa thought the same.
The Konoha Collapse Plan was over.
Now they just wanted to escape Naruto alive.
The Four Red Yang Formation sealed their retreat.
But Naruto had offered a way out.
Arrogant? Maybe.
But arrogance created openings.
Raikage and Kazekage exchanged a glance.
Their eyes hardened.
They had found their gamble.
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