Naruto: Set a goal, conquer the universe.

Page 88

If it were anyone else, he might have actually escaped, but unfortunately, he ran into Naruto!

The characteristic of Wind Release: Rasenshuriken is not its powerful physical explosive impact, but rather its terrifying destructive power at the microscopic level.

Countless nanometer-sized wind blades ignored the thick earth barrier, precisely locking onto Kakuzu's body. Like the most frenzied meat grinder, they pierced through the soil, sweeping across the underground space where Kakuzu was hiding with an almost annihilating scale.

Kakuzu's formidable physical defenses, stitched together by countless black lines and honed through countless battles, were utterly rendered meaningless in the face of this wind-style cutting technique that disregarded even the most extreme forms.

The tough skin, strong muscles, and even the pitch-black lines of earth-wraiths were instantly shattered by the cutting of countless wind blades.

The wind blades pierced directly through his body tissues, indiscriminately destroying every cell, every meridian, and every inch of the microscopic structure that constitutes life within him.

It was less of an attack and more like the infiltration of toxins.

Kaku could clearly feel a pain that surpassed all his previous injuries. It wasn't just a single, intense pain, but a sense of despair as if his entire being was being torn apart and shattered from its most basic level.

The Earth Grudge writhed and struggled frantically, trying to repair itself, but the rate of collapse at the molecular level far exceeded the Earth Grudge's repair limit.

The black lines broke and dissolved inch by inch, turning into lifeless fragments.

The ground returned to calm after the violent tremors, with no large plumes of dust or new craters.

There was only dead silence.

Naruto jumped into the deep pit and, after seeing Kakuzu's mangled body with his own eyes, slowly dissipated the chakra remaining on his fingertips.

Unfortunately, given Orochimaru's precedent, Naruto was genuinely worried that these 'seniors' who had been mingling in the ninja world might have some means of self-preservation.

It seems that only Orochimaru could escape from him by relying on his life-saving skills.

“One taken care of.” Naruto muttered to himself, grabbed Kakuzu’s body, jumped to the ground, and casually tossed the body aside. He then turned around and looked at Asuma, Guy, and Kurenai with concern.

He strode over, his voice regaining its usual sunny tone: "Ms. Kai, Ms. Hong, Ms. Asuma! Are you alright?!"

Gai looked at the battlefield, now leveled and calm again, and was deeply impressed. He let out a long sigh, gave Naruto a thumbs up, and flashed a bright smile with his white teeth: "You're amazing, Naruto! The power of youth is truly shining through you!"

Kurenai, holding the weakened Asuma, looked at Naruto with deep gratitude and relief at surviving the ordeal.

She knew that if Naruto hadn't arrived in time, Asuma would have already died from Hidan's curse, and the powerful Kakuzu would have been enough to destroy them all.

Although Hidan, who was pierced by Wood Release and howling in pain, was stunned for a moment when he saw Kakuzu's aura completely disappear.

The battlefield situation was completely reversed due to Naruto's arrival and those two thunderous attacks.

The three Naruto shadow clones continued to heal the three's injuries.

However, Naruto found medical ninjutsu too slow, so after entering Sage Mode, he used the Sage Art: Yang Release: Eight Directions Return to Origin to help them quickly recover from their injuries.

By the time Naruto finished treating them, Guy and Asuma's injuries had been completely healed, and their faces had regained their color.

The healing effects of Yang Dun are indeed powerful.

Naruto hopes that his Yang Release will reach the level of the First Hokage as soon as possible.

"Naruto!" Shikamaru, having regained some of his strength, slowly approached Naruto.

"Thank you!" Shikamaru said earnestly to Naruto.

If Naruto hadn't suddenly appeared, Asuma would have been dead without a doubt.

He died right before his eyes!

At that time, he had no idea what would happen to him!

Naruto patted Shikamaru on the shoulder: "We're brothers, so there's no need for thanks. Asuma-sensei is the Third Hokage's son and also my elder, so it's only right that I save him."

Chapter 25 Jiraiya Returns

Asuma walked over and patted Naruto on the shoulder: "Naruto, enough said. Just come to me anytime you need anything!"

He, the son of the Third Hokage, was filled with gratitude towards Naruto; if it weren't for Naruto, he would have already died.

Naruto gave him a bright and gentle smile.

"Why are they here?" Naruto asked curiously.

The Akatsuki's goal was to capture the Tailed Beasts, but Kakuzu and Hidan didn't come to Konoha to find him. Instead, they attacked the Fire Temple. Why was that?

“It might be related to that boy!” Asuma pointed to the empty space that Hidan had thrown to the ground.

Judging from their purpose, the attack on the Fire Temple was to take the boy away.

"Oh? Is there anything about him that would make the Akatsuki take notice?" Naruto walked over, placed his hand on Sora's body, and sensed his physical condition.

"What is this?" Naruto's expression changed slightly.

"Hey, Kurama, is this your chakra?" Naruto shouted to Kurama in his mind.

"Ah, although this amount is just a drop in the ocean, it is indeed my chakra. I didn't expect that someone would actually collect my chakra!" Kurama replied.

"Then I'll take him back, otherwise the Akatsuki might not let him go," Naruto said.

[Whatever.] Kurama (the Nine-Tails) didn't care about that little bit of chakra.

“He has the Nine-Tails’ chakra,” Naruto said to Asuma and the others.

"What?" Asuma and the others' expressions changed; even Asuma didn't know about this.

“Although I don’t know where his Nine-Tails chakra came from, I’m going to take it back now, otherwise the Akatsuki won’t let him go.” Naruto said, and a tree branch appeared in his hand, which he draped over Sora.

Wood Release can absorb and devour chakra!

The branches on Sora's body began to continuously absorb the Nine-Tails' chakra from Sora's body into Naruto's body.

As Naruto retrieved the Nine-Tails' chakra from his empty body, Shikamaru asked, "Naruto, how's your mission going?"

He was a little worried that summoning Naruto might have affected his own mission.

"Ah, the mission went very smoothly. We've rescued Gaara from the Akatsuki and were just about to return to Konoha when I sensed your kunai's chakra, so I came over," Naruto replied.

"Thanks to your intervention, otherwise the Akatsuki might have collected both the One-Tailed and Nine-Tailed chakra in one go," Shikamaru said, frowning.

“No, they’ve probably already collected the One-Tailed Beast’s chakra. When we got there, Gaara was barely alive. While I was treating him, I sensed Shukaku inside him and found that he had lost most of his chakra and his body had shrunk considerably,” Naruto said, shaking his head.

Naruto recalled that when he was healing Gaara, his chakra was connected to Gaara's body, and Kurama mocked Shukaku.

"Tsk, I wonder what their purpose is?" Shikamaru clicked his tongue. The Akatsuki organization was very mysterious before the Third Hokage exposed them.

No one knew their purpose. After being exposed, they quickly rounded up all the Jinchūriki from various countries, catching the major powers off guard.

The key issue is that the Akatsuki have collected so many tailed beasts, and nobody knows what they're planning to do with them.

"They're not going to use it for any good deeds anyway, so maybe we can't let them take the initiative anymore. I have to take the initiative and meet them myself!" Naruto said.

Shikamaru was taken aback, then looked at Naruto with some nervousness and said, "Hey, don't do anything reckless. Judging from the people Akatsuki sent, they are extremely strong."

"It's too dangerous for you to go into their lair alone."

"Don't worry, I didn't say I was going alone," Naruto said, waving his hand.

Shikamaru looked at Naruto, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists. He regretted his laziness back then.

If his strength were half that of Naruto, he wouldn't have been so helpless as he watched Asuma be cursed to death by Hidan.

If he were a little stronger, he could help Naruto!

For the first time, Shikamaru felt that he should start working harder.

He used to feel that with Naruto around, he could relax, but Naruto isn't always there. What if Naruto gets bogged down by the enemy and doesn't show up in time?

Then Asma really died!

People must rely on themselves!

Shikamaru realized a truth.

"Alright, I've finished collecting the Nine-Tails chakra from him. Are you going to take him back?" Naruto stood up and retrieved the branch from his body.

“I will take him back to the Fire Temple,” Asuma nodded and said. Although the Fire Temple was attacked by Hidan and Kakuzu, some monks who were in other places and those who escaped remained.

I believe that with the support of the Land of Fire, the Fire Temple will be rebuilt soon.

“Then let’s head back to Konoha Village first,” Guy said to Asuma.

Their mission was to eliminate the Akatsuki members, and now that mission is complete.

Asma nodded.

Naruto looked at Hidan, who had been pretending to be dead ever since Kakuzu died, trying to make Naruto ignore his existence.

But how is this possible!

“Although you are immortal, there are still ways to deal with you.” Naruto smiled as he looked at Hidan.

Looking at Naruto's smile, Hidan felt a chill run down his spine. He trembled as he said, "What...what do you want?"

Naruto clasped his hands together, and a large number of tree branches appeared beneath his feet, tightly enveloping him before he slowly sank down.

“I will send you a thousand meters underground, and your body will become nourishment for these trees!” Naruto said softly.

"No, no, don't!!!" Hidan screamed frantically, but soon his head was completely covered by trees, and he couldn't make a sound.

His body was dragged a thousand meters underground by the trees!

After defeating Hidan, the group quickly separated, with Asuma taking Ku back to the Temple of Fire.

Naruto and Guy returned to Konoha Village together.

As they approached Konoha, they ran into Kakashi and Sasuke, who were rushing back to the village.

Kakashi and the others breathed a sigh of relief after learning why Naruto had left.

Kakashi looked at Naruto's face and thought of his Fourth Hokage.

Back then, Watergate also provided support everywhere, but unfortunately, it was wartime, and there were simply too many places that needed Watergate's support.

He couldn't handle it all by himself, and Minato didn't arrive in time when Obito and Rin were in danger.

But can we blame Minato for this?

Kakashi felt that Minato was not to blame, and that it was a foolish idea to place all hope in someone else.

If anyone is to blame, it's his weakness; he couldn't save Obito and Rin.

Keep in mind that Kakashi was already a Jonin at the time, and he was in charge of leading Obito and Rin on missions.

The group headed to the Hokage's office and had just opened the door.

Naruto then saw a familiar figure.

"The lecherous immortal? You're back?"

That's right, Jiraiya has already returned from Kirigakure.

"Yo, Naruto, long time no see!" Jiraiya greeted Naruto with a smile.

After Kakashi and Guy finished reporting their respective missions to Tsunade,

Tsunade's face showed relief. Fortunately, Naruto saved the day; otherwise, Konoha would have suffered heavy losses against Kakuzu and Hidan.

The strength of the Akatsuki members is indeed not to be underestimated.

"Since you are all here, and you are the backbone of Konoha right now, let's listen to the information that Jiraiya obtained from Kirigakure."

Tsunade kept Kakashi and Guy behind.

She knew exactly how many ninjas in Konoha could fight Akatsuki members one-on-one.

Therefore, Kakashi and Guy should also know about the Akatsuki organization.

Intelligence is extremely important in the ninja world. Only by understanding the enemy's intelligence in advance can a corresponding plan to defeat them be formulated.

Of course, if the difference in strength is too great, then that's a different story.

However, given Naruto and his friends' current strength, it's impossible for them to encounter someone whose strength is worlds apart from theirs.

Chapter 26 Yagura, he was taken into custody.

Jiraiya only returned to Konoha from Kirigakure today, and before he could tell Tsunade about the situation in Kirigakure, Naruto and the others came back.

He looked at the people in the office: Kakashi, Guy, Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke. Unbeknownst to him, Konoha's foundation had grown stronger again.

Konoha Village always produces geniuses, something that makes other ninja villages envious.

"I infiltrated Kirigakure to inquire about the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, who is now the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura." Jiraiya began to recount his experiences in Kirigakure.