I rocketed through the dense canopy as my enhanced strides splintered the thick branches beneath my feet. The chaotic cluster of chakra signatures was getting closer, and the distinct sounds of a desperate struggle echoed through the trees.
I broke through the final line of foliage and perched silently on a high branch overlooking a scarred clearing.
Through the leaves, I could see Team 8 being pushed back by a joint force of Kumo and Iwa genin.
Kiba was bleeding heavily from a gash on his shoulder, his chest heaving as he stood protectively in front of a whimpering, injured Akamaru. Shino's usually oppressive insect swarms were being actively countered and incinerated by a coordinated barrage of Kumo Lightning jutsu and Iwa explosive tags. Hinata was exhausted, her breathing ragged as she used her Gentle Fist to desperately deflect a relentless volley of incoming kunai.
"Is this the best the Leaf has to offer?" the Kumo leader mocked, spinning a kunai around his finger. The enemy ninja laughed, fully intending to thin the herd and claim their scrolls.
"Let's wrap this up," the Iwa leader ordered, his hands blurring through hand signs alongside the other ninjas to prepare a massive, combined Ninjutsu attack.
"Remember, leave the Hyuga alive," the Kumo leader said. "She's pivotal."
A translucent blue screen flared to life in my vision.
[URGENT QUEST GENERATED: Protect the Pack]
[OBJECTIVE: Eliminate all hostile targets (0/6)]
[BONUS CONDITION: Remain undetected until the final kill]
She's pivotal, huh? I thought, a cold, predatory smirk spreading across my face. Looks like they're definitely plotting something revolving around her and her Byakugan.
I pulled a single kunai from my pouch, infused it with [Shadow Mark], and hurled it through the canopy, aiming it to fly right past the head of a Kumo ninja standing on the perimeter.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Shadow Thunder God]
I vanished from the branch, and I instantaneously materialized mid-air, catching the kunai. Before the Kumo ninja could even blink, I drew my dagger and cleanly severed his head from his shoulders.
His headless body slumped to the forest floor with a heavy thud.
[Hostiles Eliminated: 1/6]
The enemy ninjas instantly froze, their combined jutsu fizzling out as they snapped their heads toward the falling corpse.
"What the—?!" an Iwa ninja yelled, drawing his weapons and looking wildly into the dense, dark foliage. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
"Coward!" the Kumo leader barked, signaling his comrades to get into a tight defensive formation. "Hiding in the shadows! Come out here and fight!"
If you say so, I thought, activating a skill.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Bloodlust (Medium Output)]
A suffocating aura of pure, paralyzing terror slammed down on the clearing. The immense pressure crushed the air out of their lungs, causing the enemy ninja to violently flinch, their bodies locking up in sheer primal fear.
I threw three shuriken from the darkness.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu]
The three blades instantly multiplied into a lethal cloud of steel raining down on the Iwa ninja on the left flank. He snapped out of his fear just in time to slam his hands on the ground, summoning a thick Earth Wall that absorbed the brunt of the shuriken, while he desperately dove to the side to dodge the rest.
But I was already tracking his movement.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Monarch's Step]
I teleported directly into his dodge path. As he stumbled forward, I grabbed him by the chin and the back of his head, and violently snapped his neck.
[Hostiles Eliminated: 2/6]
I melted back into the shadows of the forest floor, using the dense terrain to my advantage. Another Kumo ninja was backing up in pure terror, his eyes darting frantically.
I unspooled a length of ninja wire, infusing it with chakra. I whipped it out from the darkness, the wire wrapping tightly around the Kumo ninja's throat.
"GET OVER HERE!" I hissed.
I yanked the wire, violently pulling him off his feet and dragging him backward into the pitch-black underbrush. Before he could even scream, I commanded Beru to materialize directly behind him. The massive shadow ant unhinged his jaws and cleanly devoured the ninja's head in a single, sickening crunch.
[Hostiles Eliminated: 3/6]
"They're dropping like flies!" the other Iwa ninja panicked, abandoning his formation and bolting toward the tree line to escape.
I flicked a second shadow-infused kunai towards his back. With another flash of [Shadow Thunder God], I materialized mid-stride behind him, sweeping my leg to shatter his knee before driving a standard kunai into the base of his skull.
[Hostiles Eliminated: 4/6]
"Dammit! Earth Style—!" the Iwa leader roared, slapping his hands together to blow up the surrounding forest.
Before he could mold his chakra, one of my stealthed [Shadow Clones] appeared from behind him and put a kunai through his neck.
[Hostiles Eliminated: 5/6]
"Screw this!" the Kumo leader screamed, lunging toward Hinata, intending to use her as a human shield.
But before he could grab her, another one of my stealthed [Shadow Clones] dropped from the tree directly in front of him.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Wind Style: Great Breakthrough]
The pressurized gale force sent him skidding backward into the center of the clearing.
He attempted to recover, coughing and raising his kunai. At the same time, I stepped out from the shadows behind him and drove [Kasaka's Venom Fang] cleanly through his back, the blade piercing straight through his heart.
He gasped, dropping his weapon, before I kicked him off my blade.
[Hostiles Eliminated: 6/6]
[URGENT QUEST COMPLETED]
[BONUS CONDITION: FULFILLED]
[REWARDS]:
+1,500 XP
Skill Scroll: Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu
[NOTICE: PATH TO OMNIPOTENCE MILESTONE REACHED: LEVEL 200]
[REWARD APPLIED: +10 Stat Points Allocated to ALL Core Attributes]
Oh, how nice. Just what I needed, I thought as I looked upon the now silent area.
Team 8 was absolutely stunned. Kiba's jaw was practically on the floor, and Shino's usually calm insects were buzzing erratically, practically shivering in fear from the suffocating [Presence] radiating off my body.
I said nothing, my face completely neutral, as I wiped my dagger on the dead Kumo ninja's vest, slipped it back into my inventory via my pouch, and walked slowly over to them. They immediately tensed up, Kiba stepping back slightly.
My expression relaxed into a casual smile. "How'd y'all get into a situation like this?"
They stared at me in stunned silence. Kiba and Shino clearly didn't believe it was actually me.
Hinata activated her Byakugan and gasped at what she saw. "Your chakra... it looks like a bottomless pit..." she whispered, blinking a few times as she deactivated her eyes and letting out a massive sigh of relief. "But... it really is you."
"Yeah, man," Kiba muttered, still eyeing me warily. "But what the hell is up with that… intent you're giving off? It feels exactly like that psycho Sand ninja we avoided earlier."
"Gaara?" I deduced out loud, resting a hand on my chin. "You didn't try to fight him, did you? 'Cause he's unwell right now; he'll kill you if he gets the opportunity."
Kiba yelled theatrically, throwing his hands up. "We're standing here, are we not?!"
I shook my head slowly. "Mmm, mmm, mmm. So, you ran away. I expected better, Kiba. I bet you were probably the one who told these two to run away with ya."
"I ain't say nothing!" Kiba barked defensively, his face flushing. "When I see that Sand ninja again, I'll pulverize him!"
Shino simply shook his head and cleared his throat, pulling the conversation back to reality. He explained how they'd heard and felt a massive explosion somewhere deep in the forest. Thinking other teams were engaging in a giant battle, they decided to move toward the blast zone to scavenge scrolls in the aftermath.
"Me and my team did the same thing before the explosion," I noted smoothly.
Hinata fidgeted with her fingers, looking around the clearing. "S-Speaking of your team... where are Sasuke and Sakura?"
"Oh, we got attacked by this Grass ninja and got separated when I blew up the forest," I said casually, picking at some dirt under my fingernail.
Kiba's eyes practically bugged out of his head. "You caused that explosion?!" he exclaimed.
"Yea," I chuckled, stretching my arms. "I went a little overboard with the explosion tags."
"That explosion uprooted parts of the forest and knocked the remnants, as well as us, completely back," Shino stated flatly, adjusting his sunglasses.
I shrugged. "Damn. Well, you guys are still alive, so I think we should be counting our blessings rather than thinking on the negatives."
Kiba let out a long, loud groan of pure frustration.
"Aye, don't be like that," I said, waving him off. "Tell you what, to make up for things, how about you guys come with me."
"Come with you?! For what?!" Kiba demanded.
"The other rookie teams from the Leaf are with my team now," I explained.
"How do you know that?" Shino asked, his analytical mind kicking in.
"Oh, I sent clones ahead some time ago to scout out enemies since we lost our scrolls during the explosion," I lied effortlessly. "I was gonna go after some teams to recoup our scrolls, but then I sensed you guys in your little situation."
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. "N-Naruto, you're a sensor?" she asked softly.
"Mhm, a top-of-the-line one too."
Kiba raised a brow in complete disbelief. "Since when?!"
"Couple months ago," I shrugged. "But we're kind of wasting time. You wanna join up or not? I still need to know why they were jumping y'all."
Shino nodded. "Many of the opposing teams are joining up with each other. And various teams from other villages are putting aside their differences specifically to attack Leaf ninja. Which is how we found ourselves in the predicament we were in."
"Okay, that's more than enough of a reason to join up with me then," I said, flashing them a thumbs-up. "We Leaf ninjas need to stick together. Don't worry, I'll protect y'all."
Kiba practically bristled. "You protect us?!" he said with exaggerated anger.
"Well, duh," I replied, gesturing to the bodies of the slain ninja littering the clearing. "You guys need more muscle, and I have plenty of that."
"Please, I could have done that if I wasn't ambushed from all sides!" Kiba scoffed, waving me off and pointing a thumb proudly at his chest. "I'll protect us! Right, Akamaru?!"
Akamaru let out a skeptical, high-pitched whimper and immediately hid behind Kiba's legs.
Kiba gained a shocked expression, looking down at his dog. "You too, boy?!"
Just another day in the life of Kiba, huh? I thought, shaking my head. Poor senseless fool.
Hinata offered a small, grateful smile. "W-We would appreciate your help, Naruto."
"Yes. It is the most logical course of action," Shino agreed.
"Ight, cool," I said, turning toward the bodies. "First things first, though, let's get the scrolls from these guys."
Once we had looted the Kumo and Iwa ninja, we began making our way through the canopy toward the perimeter where the rest of the Konoha 12 were waiting. As we traveled, I quietly deployed dozens of my [Shadow Soldiers] to scout the surrounding miles, acting as an invisible sensory net.
Through my Soldiers' eyes, I quickly realized that Shino was incredibly accurate. The foreign teams were moving in coordinated packs.
I saw Kaminari, the massive six-foot-five brute from Kumo wielding his chakra-cleaver, brute-forcing his way toward the tower with a squad of lightning-users. I spotted Gantetsu, the Iwa ninja covered in unique Earth Armor, grouping up with other Iwa ninja to trap teams in stone structures. Chigiri and his Kiri teammates were blanketing entire sectors in hidden mist, picking off anyone caught inside. Even Ajisai and the Ame genin were utilizing brutal ambush tactics to secure their passage.
Gaara and his siblings were nowhere to be found, so I assumed that they'd already made it to the central tower.
But then, one of my Soldiers picked up something interesting.
Karin and her Kusa teammates had been ambushed by a team from Kiri. The Kiri ninja had seen Karin's unique ability to rapidly heal injuries when someone bit into her skin, so they used their Hidden Mist technique to cut off their line of sight and effortlessly eliminated her teammates. They were currently binding her, deciding how to kidnap her and take her back to the Hidden Mist.
I slowed my pace on the branch, thinking the situation over.
Honestly, being taken to Kiri might benefit her in the long run, I thought. Mei Terumi either is the Mizukage or will be soon, and she's a far more benevolent leader than the warmongers in Kumo or Iwa. But... I need Karin to stay the course. I need Orochimaru to get his hands on her so she goes to the Sound Village. That's the only way I can attach a Soldier to her shadow and map out Orochimaru's hideouts. Decisions, decisions.
"My King..." a raspy, echoing voice suddenly vibrated in my mind. "Shall I dispatch them for you? I am faster, and these insects need to know the true greatness of their Sovereign."
"Hmm, that's a pretty good idea," I communicated internally. "But I rather you—"
I literally stumbled on my branch and did a mental double-take.
"Beru?! I mentally yelled. You can talk?! How?! You're not at the General Grade yet!"
"When I devoured the head of the Kumo ninja, I absorbed his knowledge, his language, and his memories," Beru explained smoothly, his tone practically dripping with dark reverence. "It is tied to my Gluttony trait, my King."
I nodded slowly, a massive grin spreading across my face. "When you say you've absorbed their knowledge,do you mean everything the Kumo ninja knew? Jutsu learned, village secrets told to him, secret codes?"
"Every last drop of it, my liege."
"Ah, what a wonderful gift you have," I noted happily.
The amount of intel I could gather just by letting him feed will be staggering, I mused.
"So, shall I go and tear them apart?" Beru asked eagerly.
"No," I told him. "You're my strongest Soldier right now. I want you by my side just in case anything goes down."
I could practically feel the shadowy ant vibrating with sheer delight at the praise.
"N-Naruto?" Hinata called out softly. "Is everything alright?"
"Oh yea, everything's fine," I replied smoothly.
"Are you sure?" Shino questioned. "You stopped abruptly. Like something seemed to be on your mind."
Man, they're really observant, I thought briefly.
"Just sensed a couple of teams fighting somewhat nearby, but we're all good," I assured. "They're pushing their fight away from us."
Shino and Hinata nodded.
"Just make sure you get me to a safe spot so I can rest my weary little head, you got that, Mr. Sensor?" Kiba added.
Tch, this fucking guy.
"Yea, yea," I said, picking up my pace again. "Follow me, King Canine."
While continuing my trek with Team 8, I focused back on the situation with Karin, having reached a sound decision. I tapped into the Soldier hidden in the mist near her captors and funneled my chakra.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Shadow Conduit]
[SKILL ACTIVATED: Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu]
A massive sphere of superheated fire erupted from the Soldier's mouth, instantly incinerating two of the Kiri ninja before they even knew what was happening. As the flames cleared, my Soldier surged forward, driving a blade through the chest of the final Kiri ninja, dropping him to the ground.
Through the link, I watched Karin scramble backward in pure terror, not understanding how the Kiri ninja suddenly got killed.
"Attach to her shadow," I commanded. "Get her out of the forest safely, and observe her from now on."
The Soldier pinged back in confirmation, and seamlessly merged with Karin's shadow without her knowing.
"Hey!" Kiba said, grabbing my attention again. "What're you over there grinning about?"
"The others are close by," I responded, smoothly. "They're just through that cluster of trees, five meters out."
A moment later, we broke through the trees, landing smoothly on a massive, overarching root. Directly below us, forming a tight, defensive perimeter around a hollowed-out tree root where Sasuke and Sakura were resting, were Team 10 and Team Guy.
Neji spotted us first and the rest looked up, weapons drawn, as we touched down.
"Well, well, well," I said, strolling casually towards them. "Ain't this a nice surprise."