Chapter 40: Both Naruto and Sasuke Want to Show Off

Battlefield in the Land of Hot Water.

"Kakuzu, it looks like Deidara's creations are even more impressive than you!" Hidan exclaimed.

"Hidan, shut up!" The old man snapped, clearly annoyed.

The battlefield in the Land of Hot Water was also facing the reanimated forces, including the Second Mizukage and the Second Tsuchikage. Despite having Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Hiruzen on their side, they were still at a disadvantage, heavily outnumbered.

However, with the timely arrival of Deidara's clay clones, the tide of battle shifted dramatically. Once everyone was armed with the clay weaponry, they quickly turned the tables.

Moreover, thanks to the Yamanaka clan's presence, the tactical use of the clay equipment became even more efficient.

"Everyone, listen up! Fighter Squadron One, commence the assault! Target: the Second Mizukage!"

"Mecha Squadrons One and Two, provide cover! Tank Division, focus on suppressing enemy fire!"

Yamanaka Inoichi's voice echoed through the minds of the battlefield troops. Dozens of clay aircraft soared overhead, releasing a barrage of clay bombs.

"This is bad!" The Second Mizukage muttered grimly, glancing at the sky. He had already hidden his real body using genjutsu, but against this kind of carpet bombing, what good would hiding do?

Boom!

Before the bombs even landed, a synchronized volley from the distant tank division fired off. A barrage of clay projectiles, each as large as a full-grown bull, arced through the sky, promising devastating explosions upon impact.

The sheer volume was overwhelming, like an unrelenting storm.

The entire battlefield trembled under the relentless bombardment, with fire and dust rising everywhere. Under such an assault, even Kage-level reanimated shinobi struggled to hold their ground—let alone the ordinary followers of Jashin.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

Ōnoki and the Second Tsuchikage launched simultaneous attacks, yet neither could overpower the other.

"Ōnoki, you've grown," the Second Tsuchikage remarked with a hint of admiration. Not everyone would willingly become a puppet and turn against their own village.

Though, at this point, the Five Great Shinobi Villages no longer existed.

Ōnoki nodded but found himself at a loss for words.

Instead, the Second Tsuchikage continued, "At this stage, just press forward with courage."

However, before he could say more, his consciousness was abruptly stripped away, and the battlefield descended into chaos once again.

Meanwhile, Kakuzu observed Hidan, who was piloting a mecha, cutting down enemies with great enthusiasm.

"Hidan, aren't they from your own religion?"

"Huh?" Hidan sounded confused. "We Jashinists kill indiscriminately."

"Endless slaughter is the truest devotion to Lord Jashin!"

"Blasphemer!" A Jashinist cultist below shouted. "That was in the past! Now, Lord Jashin himself has given new orders! How dare you defy them?!"

Crunch!

Hidan stomped the cultist into the ground with his mecha, then, as if unsatisfied, stomped twice more.

"You dare question my faith?!"

"Lord Jashin himself said that aside from oneself, everyone else can be killed!"

"You don't even know this? You're the real heretic here!"

"So… are you saying you'd even kill Lord Jashin?"

Hidan stroked his chin in thought. "Now that you mention it… not entirely impossible."

...

Tengakure Village. (Tengakure, Village of Heaven - new Amegakure name)

While the battles in the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Hot Water raged on, Moryō's true ace was about to be revealed.

Leading the assault were Rasa and Shimura Kiyoto, heading a strike force tasked with taking advantage of Tengakure Village's distraction to utterly destroy it!

"Lord Rasa, should we launch a frontal attack?" a ninja asked confidently. With the Akatsuki's monstrous members elsewhere, and their own side granted immortality, what was there to fear?

Rasa shared the sentiment.

Extending both arms, he raised them slowly, summoning a tsunami of gold sand behind him, towering like an apocalyptic wave poised to bury Tengakure Village entirely.

...

"Sakura, Sasuke, look at that! What the hell is that?!" Naruto pointed at the approaching tide of sand, not yet grasping the severity of the situation.

Ever since Sasuke had returned, the three had formed a team once more.

Unlike Naruto's oblivious excitement, Sakura and Sasuke had very different reactions. Sakura trembled in fear, while Sasuke's expression grew increasingly grim.

Given the timing of the attack, Sasuke quickly deduced the enemy's goal.

"Sasuke, Naruto, we should take shelter in the evacuation zone!" Sakura suggested.

But Naruto was the first to object.

"No way! Everyone's still in the village—I have to protect them!"

"After all, I'm going to be Hokage!"

"Idiot, there is no Hokage anymore." Sasuke shot back with a snide remark but still chose to stand by Naruto's side.

Without experiencing his final descent into darkness, Sasuke remained somewhat noble.

Naruto ignored the jab. He saw this as the perfect opportunity to show off his training. After all, after all the effort he'd put in at Mount Myōboku, he had to prove he was stronger than that smug Sasuke.

"Sasuke, watch closely! I'm about to show you my new jutsu! It's insanely powerful!"

Naruto bit his thumb, swiftly forming seals before slamming his hand to the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

With a surge of chakra and a puff of smoke, Gamabunta, pipe in mouth, appeared on the battlefield.

"Boss Toad, I need your help! You're super strong, so this should be no problem for you, right?!" Naruto yelled from atop Gamabunta's head.

Gamabunta took a long drag from his pipe, savoring the moment before answering,

"Of course. After all, I am Gamabunta!"

Clearly, he enjoyed the flattery.

"Then stop that incoming sand!" Naruto commanded, pointing at the massive golden wave approaching the village.

Gamabunta slowly opened his eyes and followed Naruto's finger—only to instantly freeze.

What the hell?!

"Naruto, who the hell did you piss off?!" Gamabunta barked.

"I dunno! The sand just showed up! Hurry up and block it, Boss Toad! If it reaches the village, we're screwed!" Naruto urged.

Block? Block my ass!

Gamabunta gulped at the sheer scale of the attack. He wanted to back out, but having just boasted moments ago, running now would be humiliating.

"Fine, kid, just watch!"

"Water Release: Liquid Bullet!"

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

Fanfic is finished on Patreon (241 chapters in total.) 

Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)