"You of all people should know how gambling works, right? Once your chips are on the table, you don't get to take them back."
Naruto spoke calmly.
Hearing this, Tsunade took a deep breath—and her chest visibly expanded as if threatening to burst.
She'd gambled all her life.
And if there was one thing she understood, it was the rules of the game.
With things said to this point, she gave a bit of a defeated snort.
"Fine then. What do you want?"
She even braced herself for the worst, fully expecting her reputation to go up in flames.
But Naruto only dropped a sentence as he turned and walked away:
"Don't overestimate yourself. I only said that on a whim.
Look at the woman beside me—don't you think she's a bit more... tempting?"
Watching Naruto's back as he left, Tsunade didn't feel relieved.
Instead—
"This damn brat…"
The only reason she even considered such a move was because…
She didn't actually dislike Naruto.
That month they spent together—she might've even developed feelings.
Sometimes, she saw glimpses of Dan in him.
Especially at the gambling table—
He reminded her of someone she once loved.
Shaking off the messy thoughts, she knew the top priority was still getting Konoha through this crisis.
Naruto had intended to go home and rest.
He'd fought multiple high-level battles.
His body could take it, but mentally—he was a bit strained.
But then, in a remote corner of Konoha, a powerful chakra spike suddenly erupted.
"This chakra…"
Naruto frowned.
He recognized it immediately.
Might Guy.
From the magnitude of that chakra, it was clear Guy was about to open the Eighth Gate.
Naruto didn't usually meddle with other jōnin.
But Guy—he couldn't let him just die like that.
Grabbing Kaguya, Naruto vanished in a flash—appearing instantly at Guy's location.
It was the old Uchiha District.
There, Might Guy stood alongside Tenten, Neji, Lee, and several other Konoha shinobi…
…Facing off against nearly a hundred resurrected Uchiha from the Pure Land.
The weakest among them had Three Tomoe Sharingan.
And at least a dozen of them…
Had Mangekyō.
One of them was none other than the former Uchiha clan head—Uchiha Fugaku.
With so many fully manifested Susanoo, it was no wonder Guy was preparing to open the final gate.
Now Naruto understood why Tsunade had been willing to cut a deal with him.
This lineup of Uchiha alone…
Had the power to wipe out a hidden village.
"The Blue Beast of Konoha is about to leave the stage…
Next up—will be the era of the Crimson Beast."
"Lee! Watch closely!
This is the ultimate peak of youth!"
Might Guy stood tall before the Susanoo army, his back firm and proud.
Lee, deeply moved, burst into tears.
"Guy Sensei!"
Among the resurrected Uchiha, a cocky and handsome youth smirked.
His eyes swirled with dual Mangekyō, and his Susanoo burned crimson red.
"Crimson Beast? How laughable.
In front of the divine power of the Uchiha, everything is but dust!"
Guy ignored the provocation.
He crossed his arms, his body glowing as he surged toward the Gate of Death.
"Eight Gates Released Formation. Gate of Death—!"
Just as he was about to shout "Open!", a hand gently rested on his shoulder.
The chakra instantly receded. Guy blinked, confused.
He turned and saw—
A perfect, flawless profile.
"Naruto? Just in time!
Now I can let you witness the pinnacle of youth firsthand!"
He began gathering strength again.
But Naruto raised a hand and shook his head.
"Guy-senpai.
This isn't enough to warrant opening the Eighth Gate."
Across from them, the smug Uchiha chuckled darkly.
"Hah! Not enough?
You think you can talk bigger than I do?!
Die!"
His crimson Susanoo raised a giant fist and brought it crashing down on Naruto.
Just then—
Tobirama Senju arrived, now possessing a physical body.
He'd come to this battlefield first—of course, because it was crawling with Uchiha.
So many Mangekyō…
He was itching to wipe them out.
As the monstrous fist came down, Naruto's eyes narrowed.
He gave the Uchiha army…
A single glare.
Limbo: Border Jail.
In that instant, all the Uchiha—including the Susanoo warriors—were blasted backward.
The Three Tomoe users?
Instantly obliterated.
Even those with full Susanoo—
Their supposedly invincible armor shattered on the spot.
One after another, the Uchiha fell, broken and defeated.
The cocky youth lay buried under rubble, coughing blood, limbs mangled.
"W-What the hell…?!
Is the ninja world… this terrifying now…?"
"We're the mighty Uchiha… how can this be happening?!"
His pride—shattered completely.
He had lived in a time where just one Mangekyō meant invincibility.
Now?
He got one-shot by a stare.
Naruto raised a hand.
Universal Pull.
A dozen Mangekyō Sharingan flew toward him.
But as he examined them…
They began to lose their luster—turning into ordinary eyes.
Apparently, once separated from the soul, Mangekyō lost their power.
Naruto clicked his tongue in disappointment.
'Such a waste… those were probably a dozen different ocular jutsu…'
Guy and the other Konoha shinobi stood frozen.
The enemy they could barely resist—
Naruto had one-shot with a look.
The difference in power was so vast, it left them speechless.
Guy just laughed heartily and clapped Naruto on the shoulder.
"Naruto! Your youth is… blindingly radiant!"
Even Guy had given up on the notion that effort alone could surpass Naruto.
Neji, curious, activated his Byakugan to peek inside Naruto.
And what he saw…
Made his scalp go numb.
Naruto's chakra was…
Unfathomable.
But more terrifying—
Neji's bloodline froze as soon as he looked.
His Byakugan deactivated on its own,
And his legs gave out—
He nearly collapsed.
If not for Lee and Tenten, he'd have face-planted.
"Neji! What's wrong?!"
Tenten asked, worried.
Neji gasped for breath.
He couldn't answer.
He just stared at Naruto in horror.
And watching all of this unfold—
Tobirama Senju, ever stern and serious,
Now wore a look so cold…
It could freeze water.