"Naruto, can you show us the Wind Release Chakra Mode?!"
The moment the words were spoken, everyone in the room became excited. Curiosity filled the air as every gaze landed on Naruto.
Naruto grinned confidently.
"Of course!"
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Naruto slowly stepped forward. Then, in an instant—
Boom!
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted from his body like a violent storm breaking free from its restraints.
The entire room trembled.
An unimaginable pressure descended upon everyone present. It felt as though a raging hurricane had suddenly appeared indoors, swallowing the very air around them. Many people instinctively held their breath as the crushing aura washed over them.
"So… so much chakra…"
The ninjas from Sunagakure stared at Naruto in disbelief.
Even Baki was visibly shaken.
Tsunade raised an arm to shield her face from the violent winds.
"Has Naruto really reached this level already?!"
At that moment, only a few people truly understood the extent of Naruto's power—Gaara's siblings, Sasuke, and Hinata. Everyone else was seeing this overwhelming force for the first time.
Asuma's eyes widened with excitement.
"This… this is incredible…"
Naruto's expression turned serious.
"Wind Release Chakra Mode!"
The instant he shouted, the chakra throughout his entire body erupted violently. Every cell within him seemed to awaken simultaneously as wind chakra surged endlessly through his chakra pathways.
The surrounding air exploded into motion.
Wild currents of wind wrapped around Naruto's body like a roaring cyclone. His clothes fluttered violently as layers of compressed wind chakra spiraled around him.
At that moment—
Naruto became the wind itself.
And the wind became Naruto.
The atmosphere in the room changed completely. Everyone felt trapped inside a massive vortex, as though invisible blades of wind surrounded them from every direction.
The pressure alone made several people instinctively step backward.
Naruto quickly formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Hurricane Punch!"
Originally, it was merely a taijutsu technique enhanced by wind chakra for close combat.
But after being amplified by Wind Release Chakra Mode, the technique transformed completely.
Naruto threw a punch forward.
Boom!!!
A gigantic fist-shaped mass of compressed wind chakra exploded from his arm and blasted through the air like a cannon.
The attack smashed directly into the massive sand dunes outside the window.
The entire dune exploded instantly.
Sand erupted into the sky as a gigantic crater appeared in the distance, the destructive force carving deep into the earth.
Silence.
Everyone stared blankly at the destroyed sand dune.
Even Tsunade was stunned.
"He destroyed an entire sand dune… with a single punch from that distance?"
Shizune and Tonton were speechless.
Might Guy and Kurenai looked as though they had just witnessed a miracle.
Rock Lee's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Naruto! Is that really your power?! You've become this strong already?!"
Neji, Tenten, Sakura, Kiba, and the others were equally shocked.
However, the most emotional person there was Asuma.
After all, the original concept for Wind Release Chakra Mode had come from him.
Yet even he had never imagined it could truly be completed.
He himself was incapable of reaching such a level.
But Naruto had done it.
In only one or two years, Naruto had transformed a mere theory into a terrifying reality.
Asuma suddenly burst into laughter.
"Naruto, you really did it!"
"Wind Release Chakra Mode…"
"From today onward, Wind Release ninjas finally have a supreme technique of their own!"
His expression became more and more excited as he spoke.
"No… this can't even be called an ordinary ninjutsu anymore!"
"It's a superior technique!"
"A power completely unmatched by other chakra natures!"
Asuma looked at Naruto with genuine pride.
"Naruto… thank you."
"Thank you for letting me witness this."
Naruto immediately shook his head.
"What are you talking about, Asuma-sensei?"
"I should be the one thanking you!"
"If it weren't for your guidance, I never would've thought about creating something like this."
Asuma smiled warmly.
"No matter what, Naruto… your Wind Release Chakra Mode has already surpassed imagination."
"You may not have reached the level of a Hokage yet…"
"But there's no doubt you're already one of the strongest experts in the ninja world."
Tsunade silently listened to their conversation.
She understood the terrifying potential of Wind Release Chakra Mode better than anyone because she had personally supervised Naruto's training.
Still…
She could not help but feel worried.
"Naruto," Tsunade said softly, "I've never wanted to keep you locked away like the two elders."
"They always believed protecting you meant hiding you."
"But I've always believed true protection comes from gaining enough strength to protect yourself and the village."
She paused for a moment.
"Even so… you're still too young."
"Don't forget."
"You're only thirteen years old."
Naruto looked directly into her eyes.
"Tsunade-baachan, I understand everything you're saying."
"But the Akatsuki won't show mercy just because I'm thirteen."
His voice became firm and determined.
"Instead of waiting for them to come after us…"
"It's better to take the initiative."
Tsunade stared at Naruto quietly.
Then she sighed helplessly.
"You've truly grown up, Naruto."
"Not just in strength… but mentally as well."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Very well."
"Might Guy!"
"You will lead Team 7 and escort the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki safely out of Takigakure."
Guy immediately gave a thumbs-up.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
He burst into loud laughter.
"Kakashi isn't here, so Team 7's safety is entirely in my hands now!"
"I guarantee I'll protect everyone!"
"Youth shall prevail!"
Rock Lee clenched his fist passionately.
"Teacher Guy! Don't worry!"
"As the only Chunin in Team Guy, I'll also protect Neji and Tenten!"
Guy gave another dazzling thumbs-up.
"Well said, Lee!"
Tenten immediately deadpanned.
"…Honestly, we probably don't need protection in Sunagakure."
Neji nodded in agreement.
Naruto laughed excitedly.
"Alright then, Bushy Brows-sensei! Let's head out immediately!"
"Yosh!"
In an instant, Naruto and Guy rushed out together at incredible speed.
Sasuke and Hinata quickly followed behind them.
As she watched the group leave, Tsunade unconsciously became worried again.
Shizune comforted her softly.
"Lady Tsunade, don't worry."
"With Naruto's current strength, even if he can't defeat a Kage-level opponent, he can definitely fight evenly against any Elite Jonin."
"And Sasuke and Hinata are both exceptionally talented too."
Rock Lee immediately added confidently,
"As long as Teacher Guy is there, nothing will happen!"
"He's even stronger than Kakashi-sensei!"
Tsunade chuckled softly.
"You're right."
"Alright then… let's continue discussing the Chunin Exams."
Baki nodded respectfully.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
---
Meanwhile, Guy and Team 7 quickly departed toward Takigakure.
Takigakure—the Hidden Waterfall Village.
A secretive ninja village hidden behind a gigantic waterfall.
Although it wasn't one of the Five Great Nations, its strength could not be underestimated.
It was the only small village besides the Five Great Nations that possessed a Tailed Beast.
The village was also famous for producing Kakuzu and the forbidden technique known as Earth Grudge Fear.
Back in the past, Takigakure had even dared to send Kakuzu to assassinate the First Hokage.
Although the mission ended in complete failure, the fact that they dared to attempt such a thing proved how ambitious and powerful Takigakure once was.
Otherwise, they would never have qualified to possess a Tailed Beast.
However, after Kakuzu stole Earth Grudge Fear and slaughtered many of Takigakure's higher-ups, the village suffered a devastating decline.
Even now, it had never fully recovered.
Still, the Seven-Tails remained Takigakure's greatest source of power.
But at the same time…
It also made them a target.
Especially for the Akatsuki.
When Naruto first learned there was another Jinchuriki around his age besides himself and Gaara, he immediately felt a sense of connection.
That was why he volunteered so eagerly for this mission.
Might Guy laughed loudly while running ahead.
"Let us charge toward Takigakure with the power of youth!"
Hinata gently corrected him.
"Teacher Guy… according to the intelligence report, the Takigakure team participating in the Chunin Exams already left their village."
"They should currently be heading toward Sunagakure."
Guy blinked.
"Oh?"
Then he laughed awkwardly.
"Hahahaha! It seems I didn't read the mission report carefully!"
"So where are they now?"
Hinata calmly explained,
"To reach Sunagakure, they must pass through Kusagakure and Amegakure first."
"They're most likely in the Land of Grass right now."
Guy instantly pointed forward dramatically.
"Excellent!"
"Then our destination is the Hidden Grass Village!"
Naruto cheered excitedly while Sasuke sighed helplessly.
Hinata smiled softly as she watched Naruto.
"Naruto…"
"You've finally proven yourself."
"You've earned everyone's acknowledgment."
"This is one of your dreams, isn't it?"
"To become Hokage…"
Her expression became gentler.
"No matter what happens…"
"I'll always support you silently."
---
At the same time…
On a remote forest path far away, two figures wearing black cloaks decorated with red clouds moved swiftly through the darkness.
One of them spoke impatiently.
"Hey, Kakuzu!"
"Weren't we supposed to capture someone from Takigakure?!"
"Why did we suddenly change directions?"
Kakuzu answered coldly without slowing down.
"The people from Takigakure likely sensed danger and changed their plans early."
His eyes narrowed darkly.
"This must be because Jiraiya warned the various villages about the Akatsuki."
"That made Takigakure even more cautious."
Hidan scratched his ear irritably.
"Didn't you say you knew Takigakure inside and out?"
"You even claimed this mission would be easy!"
"And yet we still ended up empty-handed!"
Kakuzu's voice immediately became colder.
"Shut up, Hidan."
The killing intent in his tone caused the surrounding air to turn heavy.
But Hidan only laughed recklessly.
"Heh… looks like somebody's in a bad mood."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)