Tsunade had initially hoped to observe Kanon Uchiha further, out of sentiment for Naruto's old bond with her. But now, she had reached the limit of her patience. Between the mounting body count and the relentless pressure from Danzo, Homura, and the rest of the Elders, Tsunade finally let out a long, heavy sigh.
"Shizune... list Kanon Uchiha as an SSS-rank rogue ninja," Tsunade said, her eyes bloodshot with exhaustion and resolve. "If she is sighted, execute her on the spot."
She had no other choice. Kanon had killed too many Konoha shinobi. As Hokage, Tsunade had a responsibility to the village that overrode personal feelings.
"What about Sasuke...?"
"Sasuke Uchiha's movements are currently unclear, but Kanon Uchiha has explicitly aligned herself with the Akatsuki."
"Since the bridge has been burned, we can no longer afford to turn a blind eye," Tsunade muttered, a trace of sorrow in her voice.
It seemed Kanon's threat to one day destroy Konoha wasn't an empty one. The trail of dead shinobi she had left behind was the first signal of the coming storm.
…
Back at the battlefield, Hidan and Shikamaru had already departed for their secluded duel. Kakuzu stood alone, facing seven opponents, his expression tightening with gravity.
"We're late. Sorry about that," Naruto said, addressing Choji and Ino.
As the smoke cleared, Yamato, Sai, Naruto, and Sakura had arrived on the scene. Kakashi let out a ragged breath; the situation had been dire. If they hadn't arrived, the three of them would have likely been finished off by Kakuzu.
"Just in time..."
Choji sighed in relief. "Reinforcements. We're saved."
"Sakura, Sai... even Naruto is here..."
"Another group of strange brats," Kakuzu remarked softly. He scanned Naruto, noticing the injuries on his body with slight confusion. This boy came here while already wounded?
Choji and Ino noticed as well. "Naruto, are you okay?"
Naruto ignored his own condition and immediately asked about Shikamaru. "Where's Shikamaru?"
"He's fighting the other one in a different location."
Kakashi immediately began issuing orders. "We need to send two people to back up Shikamaru. Ideally a long-range specialist and a medical ninja."
Yamato and Kakashi shared a look of understanding. Kakashi instantly summoned Pakkun.
Standing beside Pakkun, Yamato announced the command: "Understood. Sai, Sakura, follow Pakkun and go provide cover for Shikamaru."
"Right!" Sakura and Sai accepted the order in unison and vanished.
Kakuzu's lips curled into a smirk as he mocked the group. "What can a disorganized rabble like you hope to achieve?"
Naruto stepped forward, his gaze hardening with determination. "Leave the rest to me."
Sakura and Sai nodded and flickered away to reinforce Shikamaru.
"Is it complete?" Kakashi asked.
Yamato shook his head. "Not yet. It's only about fifty percent finished."
"I see..." Kakashi said with a hint of regret. Developing an S-rank jutsu was never a quick process; some things simply couldn't be rushed. "Still... the Naruto standing there now is a different man entirely."
Naruto moved. His hands flew into a cross-seal. "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In a flash, three shadow clones appeared beside him.
"Three clones?" Kakuzu was puzzled. What was the boy planning?
Naruto's clones began their specialized roles. One clone stood on one side of the original, forming the Rasengan and shaping it into a shuriken form, while the other clone performed the nature transformation of the chakra into the Wind element.
A high-pitched, piercing screech filled the air as an immense amount of chakra began to converge.
"What is that kid doing?" Kakuzu's brow furrowed. Even he could feel the terrifying power gathering in Naruto's hand.
A howling gale began to spiral, causing the surrounding flames to flare up wildly. Cold sweat broke out on Kakuzu's brow. What is that jutsu? The chakra density is insane... if that hits me, it's over. He knew he had to evade it at all costs.
"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!" Naruto finally finished. In his right hand, the massive shuriken of wind hummed with a sound so sharp it left Kakuzu stunned.
"Let's settle this with one strike!"
Naruto charged toward Kakuzu, holding the Rasenshuriken aloft. Choji moved to help, but Yamato held him back.
"Stay away from Naruto! You'll get caught in the blast!"
Kakuzu watched Naruto's approach, his expression becoming as grim as death. "Is this the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"Truly... a jutsu only a monster could use."
Naruto's original body followed behind three clones who charged ahead with kunai to act as decoys. But before Kakuzu could even react, a bolt of terrifying white lightning descended from the heavens. It instantly shattered all three of Naruto's clones, sending a wall of dust and debris into the air in front of Kakuzu.
As the dust swirled, everyone's pupils contracted. Even Naruto, mid-charge, was taken aback. How could someone else be here?
Then, a familiar voice drifted through the air, resonant, ethereal, and hauntingly nostalgic:
"Fire Release: Rasengan Fire Dance."
From within the dust, a miniature sun erupted. A sphere of revolving chakra, roughly the size of the Rasenshuriken but wreathed in a ring of solar flames, flew out, shining with blinding intensity.
"Naruto! Block it with your new jutsu!" Kakashi roared.
Naruto's original body swung the Rasenshuriken in front of him, clashing head-on with the Rasengan Fire Dance.
The collision sent a violent magnetic storm and a wall of wind pressure screaming across the battlefield. In an instant, a colossal explosion blasted Naruto backward.
The intersection of fire and wind spiraled into a hundred-meter-high crimson tornado, blowing everyone back. Kakashi and the others scrambled to their feet as the sheer force of the shockwave leveled everything in the vicinity.
When the dust finally settled, they were all standing in a massive crater. And there, standing in front of Kakuzu, was a young girl.
Her black hair was tied into twin tails. A fox mask concealed her face, and her Akatsuki cloak billowed in the wind.
The reinforcements for Kakuzu had arrived.
"Kanon-chan, you're finally here," Kakuzu said softly.
"Kakuzu-nii, I'm here to back you up."
Kanon looked toward the Konoha shinobi with a gaze that was cold and detached. That murderous intent made Choji and Ino feel a sudden, jarring sense of estrangement.
"Dammit... Kanon Uchiha is here," Yamato said, stepping to the front with a grave expression.
"Kanon!" Kakashi kept his right eye closed, focusing his Sharingan on the girl before him.
"It really is her..." Ino covered her mouth. The cute girl-next-door she once knew was now looking at her childhood companions with nothing but killing intent. Ino couldn't help but wonder: What could have happened to turn such a bright girl into this?
"Kakuzu-nii, your Earth Grudge Fear hearts are running low. Can you still fight?" Kanon asked.
"I'm fine for now. Hidan needs the help more."
"Hidan-nii?" Kanon thought for a moment. It made sense; Hidan wasn't the brightest, and he often struggled when fighting tacticians. "Where is he?"
"I'll give you the coordinates..."
Once Kakuzu relayed Hidan's position, Kanon turned her head toward Naruto, who was staring at her in a daze. She gave a small, knowing nod.
"An S-rank original jutsu?"
"Naruto, it seems you've mastered the nature transformation of the Rasengan as well."
"Wind Release chakra... shaping the Rasengan into a shuriken. Creative."
"But the flaw is too obvious. It's not a long-range attack; you have to release it at close range. If it doesn't hit, it's meaningless."
Naruto froze as he listened to her analysis. She had seen it once and already dissected his entire strategy. It wasn't just that she knew him, it was that she understood the Rasengan better than anyone.
"Kanon... you..." Naruto began, his voice trailing off. He wanted to ask why she was doing this, but remembering she was now a member of the Akatsuki, the answer was already clear.
Seeing Naruto's silence, Kanon knew her assessment was correct. Regarding nature transformations of the Rasengan, she had experimented extensively during her time at Ryuchi Cave, even incorporating other Kekkei Genkai she possessed. While she had developed several variations, Naruto's use of Wind to create a shuriken-like form was still an impressive sight.
"Good idea," Kanon said, then she unsheathed her Kusanagi Sword and charged.
"She's coming!" Kakashi warned.
"I know!" Ino immediately hurled an explosive kunai toward Kanon's head. Kanon tilted her head slightly, letting the projectile whistle past.
Choji lunged forward, his fist expanding ten times its size as he swung a massive blow at her.
Kanon's lips curled into a smirk. She threw a punch of her own. Seeing her delicate, slender arm meeting his massive fist, Choji almost wanted to scoff, until a terrifying, explosive force nearly shattered his hand on impact.
His bones snapped instantly. Blood sprayed from his ruptured vessels under the sheer pressure of the hit.
Kanon's absolute monster strength was not something Choji Akimichi could withstand. Naruto and Ino watched in horror as Choji was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut.
But she was faster. Kanon's shadow blurred as she leaped into the center of the group.
Her three-tomoe Sharingan took in every movement, reading them as if they were standing still.