"Naruto, what's up with this bloodline reversion of yours?"
Just then, Shikamaru caught up and walked side-by-side with Naruto. "Two days ago, your hair was still blonde, and now it's completely black."
"Shouldn't an Uzumaki bloodline reversion result in red hair?"
"It happened suddenly while I was training. My Chakra levels have increased significantly, and my vitality has improved as well." Naruto didn't explain much about the hair color issue.
Shikamaru knew Naruto didn't want to go into detail, so he didn't press further, just muttering thoughtfully, "To think even a bloodline can revert through training—just how much do you have hidden?"
Guy heard their conversation and turned back from the front. "Bloodline reversion and vitality increased? This is the burning of youth deep within the body."
"Naruto, since your physical foundation is so good now, do you want to learn Taijutsu from me?"
"Your speed and strength foundations are already very good. If you combine that with our school's Strong Fist style..."
"Strong Fist style, huh?" Naruto revealed an interested expression.
"Guy-sensei, I have always been curious about the force generation methods and Chakra burst techniques of your Strong Fist style."
"Especially the method you and Rock Lee use in your daily training, where you concentrate Chakra in your joints to burst. Theoretically, it could boost melee attack power by more than just one level."
Guy's eyes lit up. "That's right, that is the essence of the Strong Fist style. We concentrate Chakra in our elbow and wrist joints at the moment of punching, allowing both punch speed and destructive power to reach their limits."
"And the leg Chakra bursts can instantly change movement direction, making it impossible for enemies to predict your next move."
"I'll find some time to experience it personally another day." Naruto nodded.
"It's a deal. Naruto, your physical foundation is currently too good. We can skip the basic endurance training and go straight to weighted training." Guy grinned.
...
The group traveled quickly through the forests of the Land of Fire, occasionally passing a border outpost or two along the way.
Naruto chatted with Guy about Taijutsu along the way, and from time to time discussed the potential diplomatic situations they might encounter with Shikamaru.
Time quickly reached noon.
The group passed through a forest, and the view in front of them widened.
Several Kumogakure unit flags had already been erected across the border.
When Naruto's group arrived, the border ninja captain in charge of garrisoning had already been waiting for a long time.
The handover procedures were simple and swift. The captain handed a map marked with the latest movements of the Kumogakure unit to Naruto, while reporting the approximate troop strength on the other side.
About two hundred people, with the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Bee as the core, equipped with several Jonin and a complete mobile unit, had already camped at the border.
Naruto scanned the map and told the border Ninjas to continue holding their posts. Then, he took Kakashi and twenty Anbu and walked toward the open space left between the two sides.
The Kumogakure camp was set up on the high ground opposite, with flags fluttering in the wind. Two hundred Kumogakure ninjas stood in formation.
Naruto stood at the very front of the Konoha team, while Kakashi behind him kept his hand nonchalantly resting on his Ninja tool pouch. Guy was seriously evaluating the troop configuration on the opposite side.
Shikamaru's gaze swept across the Kumogakure formation as he said, "There are at least three blockade lines on the left, and there should be an ambush hidden on the high ground on the right."
Neither side made a move, nor did anyone come forward to shout. They just stood in a standoff from a distance.
Meanwhile, this friction was spreading across the entire Ninja World at an extremely fast speed.
Konoha captured the Fourth Raikage, Kumogakure gathered troops to press the border, and both sides were at daggers drawn on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Springs. Every aspect was enough to tug at the nerves of the major ninja villages.
It had been less than a dozen years since the end of the Third Great Ninja War. Undercurrents were surging, and everyone was staring at this border, waiting for the outcome of this standoff.
—
Deep in a dark cave, the mouth of the Gedo statue opened, and illusory projections appeared one by one on the statue's fingers.
Kisame asked first in a hoarse voice, his tone carrying a hint of irrepressible excitement, "I heard the Raikage was captured alive. This Fourth Raikage, known as the fastest in the Ninja World, was caught by Konoha. Don't you all find it interesting?"
"The Raikage was targeting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki." White Zetsu's projection took over the conversation.
"He received intelligence that Naruto, the son of the Fourth Hokage, is the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He had fought against Minato during the Third Great Ninja War and rated the Yellow Flash highly."
"He didn't want Konoha to produce a second Yellow Flash, so he decided to strike first, taking two personal guards and ten elite Kumogakure Ninjas to personally infiltrate the border of the Land of Fire."
"As a result, they fought at the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Springs. The Raikage was captured, all ten elite Kumogakure Ninjas were wiped out, and the two personal guards were also captured."
The Raikage's strength was recognized throughout the Ninja World. His extreme speed and power in Lightning Release Chakra Mode, combined with his reckless fighting style, meant that those who could stably defeat him one-on-one could be counted on one hand. Adding two personal guards and ten elite Ninjas, this configuration was more than enough to destroy a small country.
Yet, not only did they fail to take down the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, they were completely annihilated.
"Konoha still has this level of combat power?" Kakuzu spoke first, his eyes flashing with a keen sense for money.
"After the Third Hokage died, during the time when Jiraiya and Tsunade were not in the village, Konoha's defenses should have been at their weakest. The Raikage chose a good time, but the problem is who he ran into."
"Among Konoha's current roster, who can defeat the Raikage head-on?"
"I am actually quite interested in what means were used to beat down that reckless Raikage."
Deidara's tone carried a hint of schadenfreude excitement. "It would be great if we could collect details of that battle. A Ninjutsu capable of crushing the Raikage head-on must have great artistic value, hmm."
"Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is very strange."
Itachi asked, "Leader, do you need me to investigate again?"
Deva Path was silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to White Zetsu. "Is there any new clue about that Wind Release powerhouse who wiped out the Land of Grass?"
White Zetsu shook his head. "No, I have repeatedly checked near the ruins of Kusagakure, but only a trace amount of Wind Chakra remained, which doesn't match the Chakra characteristics of any known ninja at all."
"However, some time ago, I detected a very strong energy fluctuation on an uninhabited island in the southern sea. By the time I arrived, the person was already gone."
"There were no traces of battle at the scene, and some very strange Chakra residue remained."
"Continue to monitor. Report immediately if any anomalies are discovered."
Deva Path looked around at the members, each with their own thoughts. "That's all for today. Nine-Tails is not our primary target for now, but if Konoha has new combat power rising, we must figure out the bottom line as soon as possible."
"Meeting adjourned."
The illusory projections disappeared from the fingers one by one, and the cave plunged back into deep darkness.
...
Meanwhile, in the Land of Earth, Iwagakure.
Ōnoki held the intelligence just sent back by the border spy, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Konoha captured the Raikage, and Kumogakure is at the border now."
"Tsk. That idiot Raikage actually fell into Konoha's hands. However, this might not be a bad opportunity for Iwagakure."
"If Kumogakure and Konoha really fight and both sides suffer losses, we might be able to take advantage of it."
Ōnoki instructed Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi behind him, "Let the people at the border continue to observe, don't act rashly, but don't just stay idle either. Wait until they finish fighting, then we will make a judgment."
Land of Water, Kirigakure.
Mei had just taken over as Mizukage and was busy rectifying the long-standing ills within the village.
After reading the intelligence in her hand, she set it on the desk and said indifferently, "Kirigakure will not participate in the dispute between Konoha and Kumogakure. Our priority right now is internal reconstruction."
"Let them fight. Regardless of who wins or loses, it won't have much impact on the Land of Water."
"However..."
As she spoke, she paused her movements, her gaze lingering on the part of the report about the capture of the Fourth Raikage:
"To be able to capture the Fourth Raikage alive in a direct confrontation, Konoha's hidden cards are deeper than we imagined. We need to be cautious when dealing with Konoha in the future."
Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
Gaara sat in the Kazekage's office, with the same detailed intelligence report about the standoff between Konoha and Kumogakure spread out before him.
His gaze paused for a moment on the name Naruto. Then, he put down the report and walked to the window, looking at the village amidst the yellow sand outside.