Tanzaku Quarters.
This place, a collection of casinos, gourmet food, hot springs, with circus's, and even brothels, was one of the most famous tourist attraction in the Land of Fire.
Just like in the original story, Jiraiya brought Naruto here and found Tsunade.
When Jiraiya asked tsunade to return to be the Hokage, she scoffed as expected.
At the same time, Naruto made a bet with Tsunade: he would master the Rasengan within a week.
Now, a week mark had passed.
Orochimaru met with Tsunade, injured her, and triggered her fear of blood.
The scene of a drugged Jiraiya and Naruto rushing to the rescue unfolded.
As in the original story, Naruto's opponent was Kabuto.
Facing Kabuto, who possessed Jonin-level strength and continuously used the Chakra Scalpel, Naruto, before mastering the Rasengan, was utterly defenseless.
Even in the original story, he only managed to injure Kabuto with the Rasengan due to talk-no-jutsu and a surprise attack.
The current situation was even more critical.
Having personally participated in the Konoha Crush plan, Kabuto knew very well that several kids in Konoha possessed strange abilities.
Therefore, this time, facing Naruto, who could accompany one of the Sannin, he held no contempt.
If Naruto knew this, he'd probably cry out in frustration. Everyone else had awakened their abilities, yet no one in Team 7 had.
This also resulted in Kabuto dodging the Rasengan that Naruto had painstakingly formed.
It didn't hit him directly as it did in the original story.
"Damn it, it's over.
"Why did it hit a clone?"
Naruto was covered in wounds, looking utterly miserable.
After all, Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel was truly exceptionally sharp.
Moreover, due to his cautiousness and composure in battle, Kabuto fully displayed his Jonin-level strength.
This left Naruto with no chance of victory.
Even the joy of successfully performing the Rasengan was significantly diminished at the moment.
"Heh, you had me worried for nothing.
"I thought you, like the other brats, possessed a special ability.
"It seems you don't have that kind of talent."
Kabuto grinned, finally starting to gloat.
It was good that he was cautious; otherwise, he might have really been done in by that unexpected Rasengan.
The key was, he didn't expect this kid to actually learn the highly difficult Rasengan.
Although it was just a standard Ninjutsu, It was still truly surprising.
"Well, if you don't have any other abilities…"
In the midst of his dialouge, Kabuto used the Body Flicker Technique and instantly vanished.
When he reappeared, he was standing in front of Naruto.
His eyes held no trace of pity, and a chilling glint flashed across his cold lenses as he aimed the chakra scalpel..
"Here is where you will die."
A smile crept onto Kabuto's lips.
'Did you really think I would only attack after finishing my sentence?'
There were too many geniuses in this ninja world, and caution was the only way for one to survive.
A sharp, azure Chakra Scalpel tore through the air, aimed straight at Naruto!
Puchi!!
The sound of the blade piercing flesh gave Naruto goosebumps.
He trembled involuntarily, and his eyes subconsciously slammed shut.
However, the expected piercing pain didn't come.
He opened his eyes.
A figure with brilliant golden hair stood before him.
"Gran–.Granny Tsunade!"
Naruto froze.
From this angle, he could clearly see the chakra blade piercing Tsunade's body.
A deep blue glow emanated from her back.
A large amount of blood stained her clothes.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!" Tsunade roared hoarsely.
Boom!!
With a thunderous crash, a single foot stomped down.
The ground in front of her instantly collapsed and cracked as if it was caught in an earthquake.
Frightened, Kabuto quickly released his hand and retreated explosively, ultimately avoiding the attack with a Substitution Jutsu.
Only then did Tsunade have time to turn around and give Naruto a thumbs-up:
"Naruto, I didn't expect you to actually do it.
"You...are amazing!
"Don't worry, with me here, I won't let anything happen to you.
"I bet on the name of Hokage!"
As she looked back, Tsunade's face was full of smiles, though covered in blood.
This child was too much like Nawaki; she absolutely couldn't let anything happen to him.
Absolutely not this time.
"This...Granny Tsunade, she has she agreed to come back and become the Hokage?"
He had actually done it.
It should have been a joyous occasion.
But seeing Tsunade's injuries, Naruto couldn't be happy at all.
From childhood, he had been treated coldly in the village.
Only in the presence of his friends like Natsuki had he gradually felt warmth.
He vaguely remembered being protected so desperately the last time was when he had just graduated from the Academy.
Teacher Iruka had also shielded him from a blade with his own body.
Now, Granny Tsunade was doing the same.
Her injuries were even more severe this time, it looked like she wouldn't even survive.
What had he, Naruto, done to deserve such love and protection from everyone?
"It's all my fault..."
These words stunned Tsunade next to him. "Naruto, what's wrong?"
Naruto, the crybaby, was once again in tears.
"It's all because I'm too weak.
"If I were stronger, like Natsuki, Lady Tsunade wouldn't have been hurt like this.
"No one would have been hurt..."
As Naruto blamed himself, he walked forward and stood in front of Tsunade.
"Uh... Naruto, that's enough. Rest a bit. I'm fine.
"My fear of blood is gone."
Seeing the equally wounded Naruto, Tsunade quickly consoled him.
She knew her condition had frightened the child.
She quickly released her Strength of a Hundred Seal!
Immediately, a massive surge of Chakra erupted, and her injuries rapidly healed.
Unfortunately, Naruto didn't see any of this.
With tears streaming down his face, he was lost in his own world.
His eyes were fixed on Orochimaru and Kabuto.
Trembling, he pulled a transformation device from his pocket.
It was the same device that Choji used to transform into the Giant of Light.
Although he didn't know why he had never successfully transformed in all these years, he had a feeling that this time, he would definitely succeed.
"This time, I will protect my Granny!
"I will protect the Konoha I cherish!
"Transform!"
Naruto shouted loudly, raising the transformation device high in his right hand.
Moments later, nothing happened.
Slap!
Jiraiya, who had just recovered from being drugged by Tsunade, slapped himself hard on the face. He was too embarrassed.
"Naruto, stop messing around, this isn't the place for your games. Come here quickly, leave them to me."
Even Tsunade was taken aback, she even forgot how he had mumbled about protecting his Granny.
After all that emotional build-up, this kid pulled out a toy and started talking nonsense about transforming. Was he still stuck in the eight grade?
At this moment, Tsunade deeply doubted the quality of Konoha's education.
It seemed she really needed to return as Hokage and rectify things.
Only Orochimaru and Kabuto, who had witnessed similar scenes during the Chunin Exams, didn't take this as a joke.
Kiba's dramatic transformation with Akamaru was still fresh in their minds.
Although the lines they chanted were different, they both sounded equally chuuni-ish, full of confidence, and loud.
"Kabuto! What are you waiting for?
"Kill him!"
Orochimaru snarled.
Better safe than sorry.
They eliminate this kid first.
"Yes!"
Kabuto also knew what Orochimaru was afraid of. Even he had been slightly startled just now. Fortunately, it seemed the kid hadn't succeeded.
Orochimaru and Kabuto's cautious behavior made Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune feel rather bewildered.
"Naruto's just messing around with a toy, why do Orochimaru and Kabuto seem scared?" Shizune asked, puzzled.
Jiraiya instantly recalled those kids in Konoha with special abilities. It was said that before awakening their powers, they also made similar chuunibyou declarations. This made him wonder if Naruto was about to awaken some special ability as well.
Naruto, at this moment, was frozen not because he had failed, but because of the voice that echoed in his mind from his congregation badge, telling him he'd said the wrong lines.
He shouldn't have shouted 'Transform.'
Instead, he should have shouted:
"Armor of the Wind Eagle, Combine!!!"
At the same time, Kabuto barely managed to reach Naruto with a Body Flicker, a cold killing intent on his face:
"Stop shouting! You ain't talented like them!!"
The blue Chakra Scalpel slashed down.
Hum!!!
And a dazzling pillar of light erupted around Naruto.
The Chakra Scalpel was stuck in a wall of light, unable to penetrate further.
"How... how is this possible!" Kabuto's eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead as he used all his strength, yet couldn't pierce through.
Naruto's voice resounded through the clouds.
Like the heavenly voice that had resounded throughout Konoha several times.
This time, it echoed outside Konoha, in the bustling Tanzaku Quarters.
Everyone, whether enjoying leisure or working, was startled by this majestic yet non-jarring voice that carried an aura of divine might.
"Wha... what happened?"
"What's going on?"
"Such a huge commotion, is that some Jonin releasing a high-level Ninjutsu?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion as people ran out.
"Quick, look! What's that?"
Moments later, someone spotted the anomaly first. Looking towards the sound, a gigantic pillar of light piercing the heavens came into everyone's view.