.
---
Kamizuki Izumo's patience snapped.
That smell—something uncomfortably familiar—hit his nose like a punch. Any man would recognize it.
"This bastard... he spends all day reading that filthy book, why can't he put that energy into training?"
Kotetsu, unfazed, flipped through the latest edition of Icha Icha Paradise, lounging at the guard post. He barely looked up as he retorted, "What do you know? This is art, Izumo. Refined literature. You wouldn't get it."
Izumo exhaled deeply. "If you're so interested in studying, why don't you analyze this intel on White Zetsu instead?"
Kotetsu waved a hand dismissively. "Relax! White Zetsu isn't here yet. That's what Shikaku and the higher-ups are for. They handle the strategy—we just follow orders."
He turned another page. "Besides, if those freaks actually show up, I'll just cut them down myself. Who the hell dares attack our Konoha?"
The ground trembled.
Kotetsu froze mid-sentence.
The sound of countless feet pounding against the earth filled the air. The vibrations rattled the very foundations of the guard post.
Izumo's eyes snapped up. A mass of white surged toward the village gates, a sea of twisted humanoid figures rushing like a tidal wave.
"Holy shit, Kotetsu, you jinxed it!"
The words had barely left Izumo's mouth before Kotetsu slammed his book shut and bolted. "Izumo, stall them! I'm getting reinforcements!"
Izumo turned to yell after him, but Kotetsu was already gone, vanishing down the street like his life depended on it.
Izumo turned back to the horde of White Zetsu and immediately regretted everything.
"I swear to god, I'm going to kill that bastard later."
His fingers blurred through a set of hand signs.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ten identical copies of Izumo appeared, each springing into action, reinforcing the gates, barricading the entrance, and preparing for battle.
He could only hope Kotetsu wasn't screwing around.
This wasn't like the Third Great Ninja War—this was something worse. A direct assault on their home.
For a moment, his mind echoed the words of the Third Hokage.
"Wherever the leaves dance, fire will burn. The will of fire sustains the village."
The crashing of fists against wood shattered his thoughts.
The gates of Konoha shuddered under the relentless pounding.
Sweat dripped down Izumo's face. The gate wouldn't last much longer.
Where the hell was the backup?!
"Kotetsu, you better not be slacking off!"
A familiar voice rang out from the distance.
"Izumo, I'm back!"
Relief flooded him. "Damn, that was fast! Where's the backup?"
Kotetsu stopped just short of the gate. "They're on their way! I came ahead to help!"
Izumo exhaled. "Didn't expect you to have that kind of awareness—"
A flicker of steel.
Izumo barely had time to react.
He moved on instinct, jerking back, but the kunai still sliced across his chest, leaving a deep gash.
If he had hesitated a second longer, it would have slit his throat.
Izumo stumbled back, clutching his bleeding wound, eyes locked on Kotetsu.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
His breath caught.
That chakra… it was wrong.
"Wait... you're not Kotetsu."
Realization dawned like a punch to the gut.
"You're a White Zetsu imposter!"
The thing wearing Kotetsu's face merely grinned.
Before Izumo could react, the gates exploded inward.
White Zetsu flooded the village.
Izumo clenched his kunai, steeling himself.
"Shit. I'm going to die, aren't I?"
A high-pitched whirring noise filled the air.
A spiraling blur of chakra shot past him.
"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
The explosion tore through the incoming Zetsu, their bodies shredded by countless microscopic blades.
Another figure landed beside Izumo, golden energy radiating off him in waves.
"Rasengan!"
The Zetsu imposter disguised as Kotetsu was obliterated on impact, his body disintegrating back into its true form.
A moment of stunned silence followed.
Then, Izumo recognized the voice.
A grin formed as the golden figure straightened.
"Yo, Uncle Izumo. Long time no see."
Izumo blinked. "Naruto?!"
The Seventh Hokage—no, not yet. But standing before him in his glowing Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, eyes sharp with determination, was Naruto Uzumaki.
Kotetsu finally arrived, panting heavily. "I swear, I just had the weirdest—"
Izumo instantly raised a kunai at him. "Hold it right there!"
Kotetsu stopped in his tracks. "What?"
Izumo narrowed his eyes. "How do I know you're the real Kotetsu and not another damn Zetsu?"
Before Kotetsu could protest, Naruto stepped forward, his golden aura flickering. "He's real."
Izumo hesitated. "How can you be sure?"
Naruto smirked. "Nine-Tails Chakra Mode lets me sense malice. That last Zetsu? He reeked of it. This Kotetsu's just confused as hell."
Kotetsu groaned. "Of course I'm confused! Izumo, I just spent the last five minutes dealing with freaks who had my face!"
Then, he frowned. "Wait... if they copied my chakra, but I never got attacked... how did they get it?"
Silence.
Naruto sniffed the air. His expression twisted.
Izumo caught the scent too.
They both turned to look at Kotetsu.
Kotetsu blinked. "What?"
Naruto's face scrunched in confusion. "Did you... do something outside the village before coming back?"
Izumo's eyes slowly widened. "Oh... my god."
Kotetsu frowned. "What are you—"
And then it hit him.
His face paled.
"Oh, shit."
Izumo smirked. "Yup. That Zetsu absorbed exactly what you left behind outside the village."
Naruto looked horrified. "Dude... really?"
Kotetsu groaned into his hands. "I hate everything."
Izumo just patted his shoulder. "W
ell... on the bright side, at least we know Zetsu absorbs everything."
Naruto sighed, already regretting getting involved.
"This is why I left you guys in charge of the gates."
---
---
Check out other novels
Naruto: l Aspire To Become Hokage Man
🚨🆕Haikyuu: To The Top 🆕🚨
To Get This Week Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones
Dear Readers
For 120 Advance Chapters Join My Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/NF25
-------
Please Support My Patreon 🥺