"Then let me show you what this blond kid is capable of!"
"Losers, shut up already!"
Although Tsunade had complete faith in Naruto, she couldn't help but frown slightly.
Shizune leaned closer and whispered anxiously,
"Naruto... be careful."
"Darui is far from an ordinary ninja."
"He's the strongest of the younger generation in the Hidden Cloud Village. His status is even higher than Kakashi Hatake's, and he's widely regarded as the Raikage's right-hand man and a future Raikage candidate."
"He's proficient in swordsmanship, Water Release, and Lightning Release. On top of that, he's the only known user of Storm Release and has inherited the Third Raikage's Black Lightning technique."
"You absolutely cannot underestimate him."
Instead of becoming nervous, Naruto's fighting spirit only grew stronger.
"Really?"
A confident grin spread across his face.
"Then he's finally worth defeating."
Darui lazily scratched his ear, a gesture that reminded Naruto of Shikamaru.
"What an energetic kid..."
"I've heard of you, Uzumaki Naruto—the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of Konoha."
"But what impressed me most wasn't the Nine-Tails. It was the fact that you've defeated numerous powerful enemies through your own strength."
Naruto snorted.
"I don't need your compliments."
"Come at me."
The moment he finished speaking, his figure blurred.
With a burst of speed, he disappeared from where he stood.
Everyone's expressions immediately changed.
Mei Terumi and Baki had already witnessed Naruto's strength firsthand.
However, Onoki and the Fourth Raikage had only heard rumors.
Uzumaki Naruto...
The genius ninja of Konoha.
It was certainly an impressive title.
But the ninja world had never lacked prodigies.
Onoki's former student, Deidara, had been expelled from the Hidden Stone Village at the age of nine for carrying out unauthorized bombings before eventually joining the Akatsuki.
Darui himself was a prodigy, mastering swordsmanship, Water Release, Lightning Release, Storm Release, and the Black Lightning Secret Technique.
The young ninja C possessed exceptional sensory abilities, genjutsu, and medical ninjutsu.
The Raikage's younger brother, Killer Bee, had perfectly synchronized with the Eight-Tails, making him one of the strongest Jinchūriki in history.
Simply hearing Naruto's name wasn't enough to convince them that he stood above these exceptional talents.
Besides...
Many of Naruto's greatest accomplishments remained unknown.
The defeat of Zabuza Momochi was generally credited to Team 7, with most believing Kakashi had played the decisive role.
Orochimaru's defeat was attributed to Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Naruto's crucial contribution remained largely unknown.
Although Naruto personally defeated Hidan and Kakuzu, Hidan's reputation was limited outside the Hidden Hot Springs Village, while Kakuzu belonged to a previous era and had long faded from public memory.
Likewise, Naruto's role in defeating Yagura Karatachi and rescuing the Three-Tails had been concealed by the Hidden Mist Village.
As a result, most of the ninja world viewed Naruto as nothing more than Konoha's newest rising genius—not yet someone standing at the very peak.
By comparison, Darui's reputation within the Hidden Cloud Village far exceeded Naruto's current fame.
However...
Naruto had already demonstrated enough to shock everyone.
His incredible Body Flicker Technique alone stunned all Five Kage and their bodyguards.
Without another word, everyone followed the two combatants outside.
Darui stopped several meters away from Naruto.
The two stood facing each other in silence.
"It seems your speed is impressive," Darui admitted.
"That movement technique was incredibly fast. Aside from Lord Raikage, I've never seen anyone move like that."
Naruto folded his arms confidently.
"You call that fast?"
"You clearly don't know what true speed looks like."
Darui sighed.
"No..."
"You're the one who doesn't understand how vast this world really is."
"Do you know why Lord Raikage is known as the fastest shinobi alive?"
Naruto smiled proudly.
"Because he hasn't met me yet."
Darui frowned.
"You're unbelievably arrogant."
"I can tolerate insults directed at me."
"But I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting Lord Raikage."
The moment those words left his mouth...
Both men moved simultaneously.
Darui instantly drew his katana and slashed toward Naruto.
Naruto responded by drawing the Kusanagi Sword.
Clang!
The collision of steel sent brilliant sparks flying.
Darui's expression changed immediately.
"What incredible strength..."
"And what overwhelming chakra!"
"Aside from Lord Raikage..."
"I've never felt pressure like this before."
"As expected of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
Naruto frowned.
"I already told you."
"This isn't the Nine-Tails' power."
"This is my own strength."
"The power of Uzumaki Naruto!"
With a sudden burst of chakra, Naruto surged forward.
The force behind his sword strike instantly knocked Darui's katana aside.
Without giving him a chance to recover, Naruto swung the Kusanagi Sword.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
The chakra-absorbing properties of the Kusanagi amplified the technique, producing a massive blade of compressed wind that tore through the battlefield.
Darui's eyes widened.
His hands immediately formed seals.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
A roaring torrent of water erupted before him, forming an enormous defensive barrier.
Unlike an ordinary Water Wall, Darui's version served both offensive and defensive purposes.
The rushing current surged forward like a waterfall.
Unfortunately...
Naruto's Vacuum Blade was simply too powerful.
The massive wind blade split the Water Wall cleanly in half, reducing it to countless fragments.
Darui remained calm.
Without hesitation, he formed another set of hand seals.
"Lightning Release: Wave of Inspiration!"
Lightning surged through the flowing water, combining Water Release and Lightning Release into a devastating hybrid technique.
The electrified torrent rushed directly toward Naruto.
Although Naruto hadn't mastered many elemental techniques beyond Wind Release, that hardly mattered.
In the face of overwhelming power...
Complexity meant nothing.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent hurricane erupted from Naruto's mouth.
The overwhelming gust swept across the battlefield, instantly shattering the remaining Water Wall and completely dispersing the Lightning Release technique.
This was the perfect example of overwhelming force crushing sophisticated techniques.
The Fourth Raikage's eyes widened.
"What kind of Wind Release is that?"
"How much chakra does that brat possess?"
"It might even rival Bee's..."
Although his attack had failed, Darui showed no signs of panic.
His hands immediately flashed through another series of seals.
"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
This was the legendary Black Lightning Secret Technique inherited from the Third Raikage.
Although many had attempted to learn it, only Darui had successfully mastered the technique.
Black lightning condensed into the shape of a gigantic panther before charging forward with a deafening roar.
Its terrifying electrical aura made even the spectators' hair stand on end.
Mei Terumi frowned.
"What terrifying Lightning Release..."
Gaara clenched his fists nervously.
"Naruto..."
Unlike the others, Tsunade merely smiled with complete confidence.
Facing the incoming Black Panther, Naruto remained perfectly calm.
His hands flew through a series of seals.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
This was Naruto's strongest Wind Release technique.
After countless improvements to his chakra reserves, chakra quality, cellular vitality, Wind Release Chakra Mode, and chakra control under Tsunade and Shizune's guidance, the technique had reached an entirely new level of power.
A massive sphere of compressed wind chakra instantly burst forth, roaring toward the battlefield with overwhelming force.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)