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Chapter 23
🕑 Added 2025-01-16 09:52:27 +0000 UTC“The name’s Naruto Uzumaki, and I’m gonna be the next Hokage, believe it!” shouted a short, blond boy, his voice brimming with energy and determination. He stood proudly in the center of the ring, a second-year academy student dressed in an orange pair of shorts and a short-sleeved white t-shirt. The whisker-like markings on his cheeks made him stand out even more, as if his personality alone weren’t enough.
At the opposite side of the ring stood another second-year academy student, Naruto’s opponent. A tanned boy with short black hair. And standing between the two was none other than Mizuki.
“Start!” Announced the ninja as he retreated outside the ring.
Separated from the spectators’ stand, the rest of the participants watched the various fights unfold in the numerous rings.
Standing among the crowd, Ando observed the energetic boy, a spark of recognition flashing in his eyes. Ando looked at the information hovering above Naruto, and was met with a bunch of question marks at the place where the age and levels should have been.
He watched the blond boy prance around the ring, grinning as if victory were already his. The boy—Naruto Uzumaki—was loud, brash, and surprisingly enough, a lot like Ando, back when he still did not know how to fight. He was fearless, and seemed to have unlimited energy.
“You’re having some flashbacks?” a familiar voice quipped from his left.
Ando turned his head slightly to see Chika standing beside him, her arms crossed as she watched the fight intently.
“Because I sure do,” she added with a sly grin.
“Was that how I used to fight back in the day?” Ando asked, raising an eyebrow.
Chika didn’t miss a beat. “What do you mean ‘back in the day’? You’re still—”
She ducked to the side just in time to avoid a mock punch from Ando, her smirk never wavering.
“You were worse!” she teased, leaning back as if dodging another imaginary strike. “At least this kid’s got some strength behind his attacks.” She glanced at Ando with a glint of mischief in her eyes. “You, on the other hand, hit like a baby.”
Ando rolled his eyes. “Just wait until I run into you in the ring. I’ll show you. I won’t hold back this time!”
“Oh, this time?” Chika shot back, her smirk widening. “I thought you never held back?”
Ando chose to wisely ignore her jabs, redirecting his attention to the ongoing fight.
Naruto was charging left and right at his nimble opponent. It looked like the orphan had no actual strategy to win the fight. But he was actually keeping his opponent on the backfoot. The tradeoff? He was wasting a lot of energy while doing so.
In a simple one on one fight, such a strategy would have worked. Given Naruto’s large reserves, he could potentially wear his opponent down. But in a tournament format, he would not go far.
Still, it was a good effort. Though it looked like Naruto’s opponent wouldn’t go down easy. The boy, Horie Yasushi, a tanned kid with a slightly muscular body, did not look like he was someone who was just there to participate. While dodging and parrying Naruto’s wild strikes, he was always on the lookout for openings. Taking the chance to land a light jab or two whenever he had the occasion.
But strangely enough, those jabs did not seem to do anything to stop Naruto. It looked more like he was getting even more worked-out the more Horie hit him. In a moment of frustration, the blonde boy discarded all defense and simply lunged at Horie for a grappling match.
Horie did not seem too surprised by the development. He braced himself and took a single step back, receiving Naruto’s dive into his chest with a painful grunt. He gripped Naruto’s shirt tight and used it to haul the orphan to the side. But he underestimated Naruto’s grip. Once the orphan got hold of him, it was like a tight rope had wound itself around Horie’s chest. His action of throwing the blonde over only served to make the two of them fall and roll into the ground.
Horie moved first, reacting faster than anyone expected, and managed to pin the blonde boy beneath him. But Naruto, ever resilient, slammed his forehead into Horie’s. The impact was jarring, and Horie’s vision blurred as pain shot through his skull.
The momentary daze was all Naruto needed. With a swift motion, he reversed their positions, now straddling Horie with fiery determination blazing in his blue eyes. Naruto’s fists came down like hammers, one after another, forcing Horie to shield himself as best he could.
But just as it seemed as Naruto had Horie suppressed, something extraordinary happened. Horie’s hands began to glow with a faint blue light, the energy pulsing faintly against his tanned skin. With a desperate push, he slammed his glowing palm into Naruto’s chest. The impact wasn’t strong enough to hurt Naruto, but it forced him to pause, his body momentarily stunned.
That brief moment was all Horie needed. He formed two rapid hand signs, and dark markings crawled up his arms like living shadows. With a cry, he thrust both hands onto Naruto’s unprotected abdomen.
Naruto’s eyes widened as the markings transferred to his body, spreading out like ink in water. Pain ripped through him, drawing a strangled scream from his throat. He stumbled back, clutching his stomach as the markings crept across his skin.
Horie, meanwhile, staggered to his feet, but something was wrong. His dark, healthy complexion drained of color, his smooth skin wrinkling as though years were being stolen from him in an instant. His brown hair turned white, falling in clumps to the ground. His once-vivid eyes were now dull, wide with a horror that mirrored the audience’s. He took a single shaky step forward before collapsing, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground.
The crowd fell silent, their cheers and gasps replaced by an uneasy stillness. All eyes turned to Naruto, who was hunched over, trembling. His screams became guttural, unnatural, and then, as though from nowhere…
A dark orange mist began to seep from his body.
The tension in the air was palpable as the mist thickened, swirling around Naruto in an almost sentient manner. The sound of his screams morphed into something primal, more animal than human. The ground beneath him cracked as a deep, earth-shaking roar erupted from his throat, freezing everyone in place. Then came a second roar, even louder and more terrifying, a sound filled with agony and rage. A shockwave exploded outward, hurling Horie’s body across the arena and sending those standing near the ring flying back like ragdolls.
The crowd's stunned silence shattered as the shockwave knocked spectators off their feet and sent debris flying through the air. Gasps and screams erupted, mixing with the deafening roar from the center of the chaos. Those who managed to stay upright scrambled for cover, their faces twisted with panic.
Naruto’s figure was barely visible now, shrouded in the ominous dark orange mist. His cries reverberating through the arena like a drumbeat of dread. The markings spreading across his body glowed faintly through the haze, pulsating with an unnatural rhythm.
Amid the chaos, a voice cut through the panicked noise with commanding authority. “Everyone, evacuate immediately!” Shimamoto Kin’s calm but firm tone echoed across the arena as he landed with practiced precision near the escalating disaster. His jounin flak jacket billowed slightly as he surveyed the scene with sharp, calculating eyes. His gaze fixed on the center of the chaos—Naruto, now enveloped in a dense, ominous orange mist.
Shimamoto’s hands blurred into a series of swift hand signs. “Barrier Squad, now!” he barked. In an instant, a team of ninja clad in dark garments materialized around the ring, moving in coordinated formation. Their combined chakra formed shimmering barriers, translucent but potent, attempting to contain the volatile energy radiating from Naruto.
The barriers shuddered under the strain. Inside, Naruto thrashed wildly, the ground continued to crack beneath his feet as his body began to shift. His bright yellow, spiky hair had darkened, now tinged with orange and faint streaks of red. His small frame swelled unnaturally, muscles bulging as the mist continued to pour from his skin like an angry spirit escaping its vessel.
His eyes snapped open, glowing red with slitted pupils that radiated pure malice. They locked onto the nearest ninja with predatory intent. With a roar, Naruto disappeared in a flash, reappearing in front of the ninja. His claw-like hand lashed out, striking with such force that the ninja barely managed to block with a short sword. Even so, the sheer power sent him flying, crashing into the barrier with a sickening thud before sliding to the ground.
Naruto prepared to pursue, but the other ninja moved in swiftly, restraining him from all sides. Earth-shaking blows and flashes of chakra illuminated the ring as the battle raged on. Within moments, an enormous earth dome rose up around the fighting ring, sealing off the chaotic scene from view. Outside, only the muffled sounds of thuds and roars hinted at the fierce struggle within.
More ninja began arriving, forming a perimeter around the dome. Among them, an ANBU operative wearing a white mask appeared at Shimamoto’s side. “Shimamoto-san,” the operative said in a low, measured voice, “what’s the situation?”
“Naruto has lost control,” Shimamoto Kin said, his voice steady but weighted with concern, his eyes fixed on the quaking earth dome. “The ANBU are containing him for now, but this reeks of misdirection. I believe a more significant threat is unfolding elsewhere.”
The masked ANBU operative nodded sharply. With practiced efficiency, he performed a series of hand signs, conveying the information to others before vanishing in a blur.
Meanwhile, the academy instructors continued to usher the frightened spectators to safety. Their voices carried a mix of authority and reassurance, gradually easing the hysteria that had gripped the crowd. Students and parents alike, though shaken, began to retreat from the scene, trusting the instructors' calming presence.
After what felt like an eternity, the massive earth dome began to lower, revealing the scene within. The ring was in ruins. Craters dotted the area, and deep gouges marred the earth. At the center of the devastation lay Naruto, unconscious, his small frame still faintly glowing with the remnants of the Kyubi’s chakra, flickering like embers on the verge of dying out.
Around him stood five ANBU operatives, their stances steady despite the clear signs of a grueling battle. Each bore the scars of their effort to subdue Naruto. One’s arm was hastily bandaged; his movements deliberate to avoid aggravating what was likely a fracture. Another had a cracked mask and held his side, the subtle tension in his posture hinting at cracked ribs. A third bore claw marks across his chest, the fabric of his uniform torn but the wounds appeared relatively shallow. The fourth ninja, his face bare, sported a bruised eye and split lip, his calm expression unshaken even as he leaned briefly on a comrade for support. The fifth, seemingly the least affected, showed only a singed sleeve and minor scratches on his exposed skin.
The medics moved quickly, stabilizing the injured ANBU operatives. Shimamoto remained nearby, his sharp eyes scanning the scene, taking in every detail. Though his demeanor appeared calm, an undercurrent of unease lingered in his gaze. His suspicions gnawing at him.
As the dust settled and the last of the crowd dispersed under the instructors’ guidance, a sudden hush descended upon the area. The Third Hokage arrived, flanked by an additional team of ANBU. His expression was grave, his presence commanding, yet it carried a quiet reassurance that calmed the remaining tension in the air. Those still present instinctively stepped back, making room for the leader of the village.
The Hokage’s sharp eyes scanned the scene, taking in the devastated ring, the injured ANBU, and the unconscious boy at the center of it all.
“What happened here?” Hiruzen demanded.
Shimamoto stepped forward, bowing slightly before speaking. “Lord Hokage, Naruto lost control during an academy exercise. The ANBU acted swiftly, erecting the dome to contain him and pacify the situation. However…” He hesitated, his expression darkening as his gaze swept the surroundings. “I strongly suspect this was a diversion. There may be more pressing matters unfolding elsewhere in the village.”
The Hokage’s gaze lingered on Naruto before shifting to the ANBU operatives who stood battered but composed. His voice softened slightly as he issued his orders. “Understood. Prioritize the academy’s security and ensure the students are safe. I will have my team begin a sweep of the village for any unusual activity.”
Turning to his ANBU squad, he added, “Investigate the cause of this incident. I want a full report by the end of the day.”
With his orders delivered, the Hokage knelt briefly beside Naruto, his expression softening as he studied the unconscious boy. “Naruto… you must learn to control this power,” he murmured, his words barely audible. Rising, he motioned to the medics. “Take him to the infirmary. Ensure he is carefully monitored.”
AN: Thanks for reading!
