Faced with the enormous Tailed Beast Bomb filling his vision, Returned Naruto extended his left palm.
Outer Path: Sealing Technique Absorption Seal!
Whoosh!
A hemispherical barrier appeared before his palm. The Tailed Beast Bomb halted upon contact with the barrier and quickly began to shrink.
Boom!
Naive Naruto followed up with a smaller Tailed Beast Bomb, aiming it at the rear of the first bomb, attempting to detonate it before it could be absorbed.
"Oh? Trying that trick, are you?"
With his free right hand, Returned Naruto immediately formed a hand seal.
Whoosh!
The smaller Tailed Beast Bomb hit its target but failed to explode.
Returned Naruto smirked confidently. "This is the Wu Wei Seal from Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure. It nullifies the delayed explosion of techniques, preventing premature detonations even when absorbing large chakra-based techniques with the Outer Path."
Whoosh!
The Tailed Beast Bomb was completely sealed by the Outer Path.
"Damn it!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Naive Naruto unleashed a rapid barrage of smaller Tailed Beast Bombs.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode!
Wrapped in purple lightning, Returned Naruto weaved through the explosions, scattering Flying Thunder God kunai across the battlefield as he moved.
Swish!
Finding an opening, he teleported behind the Nine-Tails.
"You reckless troublemaker!"
In Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and having entered Sage Mode, Naive Naruto's enhanced perception immediately caught on to Returned Naruto's intent. All nine golden tails lashed out simultaneously toward his back.
Thud!
"What?!"
Just as Returned Naruto appeared, he was struck squarely by the tails, slamming him into a mountainside. Though protected by his lightning cloak, he found himself momentarily on the defensive.
Whoosh!
Naive Naruto shouted, "I've tracked the location of every Flying Thunder God kunai!"
Whoosh! The Nine-Tails raised its head, gathering another Tailed Beast Bomb. This time, the bomb split into dozens of smaller orbs, each targeting the locations of the scattered kunai, obliterating them in one fell swoop.
Returned Naruto frowned. "Wait a minute, I don't remember having this level of mastery over the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode in my past life!"
Naive Naruto retorted, "You think I did nothing after you took over my body?! I've been training with Kurama for this very moment!"
With that declaration, Naive Naruto formed the hand seal for Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Poof! Poof! Poof! The massive form of the Nine-Tails split into three.
Returned Naruto broke into a cold sweat. "No way... He's not planning to use that technique, is he?"
The technique he referred to was his strongest move from his past life—Sage Art: Six Paths Asura Mode, which involved channeling natural energy from the earth through the Tailed Beast. However, he quickly dismissed the idea.
"No, that's only possible after mastering the Six Paths Sage Techniques. He shouldn't be able to pull it off now."
And indeed, that wasn't the case.
Naive Naruto and his shadow clones faced three different directions, each fully concentrating on forming a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Returned Naruto understood immediately. "I see, it's an indiscriminate attack. This battlefield within the waterfall illusion is enclosed. No matter how fast I am, my evasion space is limited. And since I can't use the Flying Thunder God to escape, even the Outer Path can only absorb one Tailed Beast Bomb. The remaining two explosions will engulf the entire battlefield!"
"But if you're playing tactics with me, you're still too green!"
Asura Path!
Clank!
A mechanical arm extended from Returned Naruto's shoulder. He detached its wrist, revealing a row of missiles aimed at the forming Tailed Beast Bombs.
The process of forming the bombs slowed due to the shadow clones, creating an exploitable opening.
"Five-Finger Missiles!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! The missiles struck one of the forming Tailed Beast Bombs, causing it to detonate prematurely.
At the edge of the battlefield, Returned Naruto watched the explosion with a deep gaze. "By triggering the explosion early, I can avoid the shockwave. But for you, at the core of the blast, it's a different story."
As the explosion subsided, two shadow clones were gone, and the Nine-Tails's main body was left severely damaged.
"The tables have turned. Now's my chance!"
Rustle! High above the Nine-Tails, a Sand Eye formed, using the Blade of Destiny Reversal to teleport Returned Naruto beside it.
Whoosh!
With a flick of his sleeve, nine black rods pierced the Nine-Tails's golden tails with precision.
"Damn it! Those black rods are sealing Kurama!!" Naive Naruto cursed.
Landing on the ground, Returned Naruto formed a tiger seal with both hands, lightning crackling at his fingertips.
He gazed at the exposed rear of the Nine-Tails and murmured, "Don't blame me for being ruthless, Kurama."
Kachak! Lowering his stance, he launched himself forward.
Lightning Strike: Thousand Years of Death!
Roar!!! The Nine-Tails let out an ear-splitting scream.
Returned Naruto pierced through the Nine-Tails's rear, using his lightning-coated fingers to carve a path through its chakra, heading straight for Naive Naruto at its head.
Returned Naruto declared, "Once I've got you, it's over. You know that, don't you?"
"Curse you!!!" Naive Naruto roared.
In desperation, Naive Naruto leapt from the Nine-Tails, forming a shadow clone mid-air and crafting a Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, hurling it forward.
Shinra Tensei!
Boom!!
The Rasenshuriken was shattered by repulsive force, and Returned Naruto continued his advance.
Roar!! A massive chakra hand formed around Naive Naruto, swinging forward.
Partial Expansion Jutsu!
Returned Naruto's left arm expanded, covered in lightning, shattering the chakra hand with a resounding boom.
Partial Expansion Jutsu released.
Returned Naruto extended his hand toward Naive Naruto.
Bansho Ten'in!!
Whoosh!!
The gravitational pull dragged Naive Naruto toward him. The latter, unfazed, released chakra from his palms and summoned additional chakra hands to spin.
Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!!!
Returned Naruto chuckled. "Ah, such a nostalgic technique. By now, you shouldn't need assistance to spin chakra anymore. So why take such a roundabout approach?"
Naive Naruto, with his fox-like sage eyes gleaming fiercely, retorted, "Because if I did, I'd become a fallen person like you! I refuse to stoop that low!"
"Is that so? You're as stubborn as ever."
Returned Naruto met the attack with his own single-handedly.
Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two Rasengan collided mid-air, creating a violent vortex.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Both figures retreated simultaneously, landing apart.
Whoosh!!!
In the background, the golden form of the Nine-Tails dissolved from Naive Naruto's body, reigniting as chakra flames.
Returned Naruto clasped his hands together. "It's time I got serious."
Chibaku Tensei!
This wasn't the ordinary Chibaku Tensei. Instead of creating a gravitational core, Returned Naruto used the Nine-Tails Chakra surrounding Naive Naruto as the core, forming a massive celestial sphere.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Nine-Tails was lifted into the sky, encased in layers of rock. But Naive Naruto struggled desperately to escape.
Returned Naruto soared upward, placing his hand beneath the sphere.
Earth Release: Super-Weighted Boulder Jutsu!
Buzz!!
The Chibaku Tensei's weight and density increased exponentially, slamming it into the ground with a deafening crash.
Returned Naruto smirked. "This is the same technique that left Madara helpless. If you want to escape, there's only one way."
Earth Release: Super-Light-Weighted Boulder Jutsu!
Buzz!!!
Under the Nine-Tails's immense chakra, the technique countered the weight, causing the Chibaku Tensei to crumble.
"Ha." Returned Naruto chuckled.
Adamantine Sealing Chains!
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Golden chakra chains erupted from Returned Naruto's back, binding the Nine-Tails's head, limbs, and tails.
He strode forward. "What's wrong? Didn't you disdain using my techniques? Then why resort to the Super-Light-Weighted Boulder Jutsu?"
Naive Naruto faltered. "I... I..."
Whoosh!
Wrapped in lightning, Returned Naruto stepped into the Nine-Tails Chakra, his voice resounding. "Because you know, don't you? Without it, you couldn't escape."
Naive Naruto's expression darkened.
"Naruto!! Don't waver!!!" Kurama roared.
Returned Naruto continued, "This world is full of helpless realities. If you can't change the world, then change yourself. Isn't that right?"
He stepped up to Naive Naruto, who instinctively tensed in defense.
But Returned Naruto closed the distance and embraced him tightly.
He gently stroked the back of Naive Naruto's head, whispering, "Growth always comes with pain. Take this step, and you'll truly mature."
A single tear slid down Naive Naruto's cheek.
Sizzle!
The darkness tainting his left eye faded, restoring its bright blue hue.
Snap!
Dark Naruto appeared nearby, his form dissolving into nothingness as Naive Naruto's inner turmoil and confusion dissipated.
Simultaneously, the Nine-Tails Chakra's golden form faded away.
Naive Naruto let go of his grudges.
"I'll try to trust you... my future self."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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