006 Plan Before You Act

In a dimly lit area of the Land of Fire, under the flicker of candlelight, an ink-drawn mouse searched through the darkness…

This was the Super Beast Imitating Drawing, a jutsu that combines chakra with expert brushwork, a technique unique to Sai.

Near the base, hidden in the bushes, Sai kept his hands in a sealing position.

He turned to Mitarashi Anko, who was investigating Kabuto's movements with him, and said,

"Yes, this is one of Orochimaru's former hideouts."

Anko, hands in her pockets, replied,

"Looks like that guy Kabuto is making use of his master's old dens…"

Rustle!

Suddenly, a sound came from a large tree behind them.

Snap! 

Sai quickly drew his sword but Anko held out a hand to stop him.

"Wait. It's an ally."

Emerging from the shadows were three members of Konoha's reconnaissance team: Hyūga Tokuma, Aburame Muta, and Avaro, a Jōnin, a Special Jōnin, and a Chūnin.

Muta, dressed in the Aburame clan's trademark light coat and dark sunglasses, with a bug jar on his back, stepped forward.

"Captain Mitarashi, I've been sent with new orders from the village."

"The mission has changed. We're to suspend the search for Yakushi Kabuto and instead focus on locating Uzumaki Naruto. We'll now be working under your command."

"Uzumaki Naruto…?" Anko frowned. 

"Earlier, Yamato rushed back to the village mid-mission. Is this related?"

Muta nodded.

"Konoha was attacked by the Akatsuki. There were heavy casualties, and Lady Tsunade is now in a coma."

"What?!"

"Because of that, Danzo has been appointed as the Sixth Hokage."

Upon hearing this, Sai's eyes suddenly widened.

Anko frowned. "I still can't believe it… What exactly happened with Naruto?"

"I'll explain everything in detail later, Captain," Hyūga Tokuma said, stepping forward. He gave a quick glance toward Sai, whose status as a Root member made the situation delicate.

Some things were better left unsaid in front of him.

"We'll be going on ahead," Tokuma added.

Without a word, Sai leapt into the trees and sped off toward Konoha.

Danzo-sama is Hokage now, and Naruto's gone missing... he thought. Something feels wrong about this.

With their mission changed, Anko's team began tracking Naruto.

She now understood the situation more clearly.

"I don't believe for a second that Naruto would betray Konoha"

Her mind drifted to memories of Naruto during the Chūnin Exams, loud, cheerful, determined. She'd quietly kept an eye on his growth since then.

Aburame Muta added, "None of us want to believe it. But we have to find him to uncover the truth. If we don't, Danzo might frame him. Rumors are already spreading in the village…"

"Hmm?" Tokuma's voice suddenly sharpened. His Byakugan flared. 

"I've seen Naruto! Twelve o'clock—he's heading this way!"

"What?!" Anko jumped onto a tree branch, eyes alert.

"This timing… it's too perfect. Everyone, stay focus!"

The team froze in position, kunai at the ready.

About a kilometer away, Naruto sensed their presence. He activated Sage Mode.

They've found me already…

It was the first time he'd faced his comrades since returning.

His heart beat a little faster.

Moments later, he landed in front of them.

"Huh…" Naruto took a steadying breath and smiled.

"Hey, Miss Anko. Long time no see."

Anko's team stared at Naruto… and at the woman standing behind him.

Aburame Muta narrowed his eyes. "That outfit… she's with Akatsuki!"

Anko stepped forward, hands still in her pockets. 

"Naruto, not only did you leave the village without a word, but now you're traveling with an Akatsuki member. You owe us an explanation."

Naruto replied calmly, "There's nothing to explain. What you see is the truth."

"Oh?" Anko's expression darkened. Her fists clenched inside her pockets, a vein twitching on her forehead.

"You really are the kind of guy who does whatever he says... always moving forward."

Naruto lifted the forehead protector tied around his neck, the one Sasuke left behind after the battle at the Valley of the End.

"Yeah. This is my ninja way."

Anko let out a frustrated laugh. "Still acting cool at a time like this… you're as infuriating as ever."

Behind him, Konan's voice rang out, cold and sharp. "Seems I'm not very welcome here."

Naruto gave a faint smile. "Well, many shinobi from Konoha were killed by Akatsuki... before Nagato changed. It's not surprising they're wary of you, Sister Konan."

Konan asked, "Are you planning to fight them alone?"

Naruto said, "I haven't had a proper battle in a long time. My reflexes are probably rusty. But four jōnin-level opponents? Perfect. Just enough to help me warm up..."

"Then be careful," Konan said, stepping back, leaving Naruto alone in the clearing.

Anko stayed sharp, analyzing the situation. 

That Akatsuki member isn't joining the fight that's unexpected, but a relief.

Still... Naruto defeated the one who destroyed the village. His strength now might be above even Orochimaru's. Even with numbers on our side, we may not be able to overpower him.

Luckily, Naruto's fighting style is well known, so we can plan our tactics around it.

He's skilled at using Shadow Clones to create openings, and his main attack is the Rasengan. He's also mastered Lord Jiraiya's Sage Mode.

But judging by his chakra right now, he doesn't seem to be using it.

It's said he can use Shadow Clones to recharge his sage energy too.

"Tokuma, activate your Byakugan. Check if there are any Shadow Clones nearby!"

Tokuma scanned the area. "Aside from that Akatsuki woman, Naruto is alone!"

Anko narrowed her eyes. 

Oh? Not using Sage Mode? Do you think you don't need it? The kid who once flinched at my killing intent has really grown up.

"Formation B!"

Swish! 

Everyone split into position.

Anko stayed in front of Naruto. Tokuma moved to the right, Muta to the left, and Avaro circled behind.

"Let's see if your strength is the real deal, Naruto!"

Anko smirked, bit her finger, and formed a hand seal. 

Summoning Jutsu! Bang!

With a puff of white smoke, a giant snake appeared!

Naruto blinked. "Whoa! That's huge… Looks just like the one in the Chūnin Exams. Oh yeah, Miss Anko, you were trained by one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru!"

Boom!

The snake lunged at him. Naruto jumped back just in time, and the tree behind him was crushed by the snake's massive body!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

From behind, Anko hurled several kunai each one wrapped with explosive tags!

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Naruto casually threw a few shuriken, hitting all of Anko's kunai in mid-air—boom!—the explosive tags went off harmlessly. Naruto landed smoothly, completely unharmed.

Anko's eyes narrowed. "He didn't even look behind him, yet blocked every kunai… Did he track them by the sound of the wind? His shuriken skills are insane!"

The giant snake lunged again from the front!

But Naruto just smirked. He quickly formed hand signs and slammed his palms onto the ground.

Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!

Splash!

A swamp suddenly appeared under the snake, dragging it down and trapping it!

Anko was stunned. "Earth style? But I thought Naruto only had wind chakra?!"

This was a common misunderstanding. Most believed Naruto only had the wind attribute.

But in reality, according to the official data from the Ninja Scroll of Formations, Naruto had mastered six chakra natures: wind, earth, lightning, fire, water, and yang. He just lacked the yin element.

Wind was simply his strongest nature, which was why it showed up first during the chakra paper test.

Back then, he relied on Shadow Clones and Rasengan. 

But this Naruto who had once ruled the battlefield as Hokage was far more powerful and versatile now.

Still crouched, Naruto held the swamp technique in place.

Swish! 

Behind him, Anko formed hand seals, puffing up her chest 

Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu! Fwoosh!

A stream of flame burst from her mouth, turning into a blazing fireball aimed straight at Naruto's back!

Bang! 

A puff of smoke appeared as Naruto's Shadow Clone had taken the hit!

Everyone was stunned.

"How did he manage to form a Shadow Clone seal under that pressure!?"

The clone turned its back to Naruto's main body and faced Avalo, quickly forming hand signs with both hands.

Wind Style: Gale Palm!

Boom!

A blast of wind roared forward, pushing the Great Fireball back!

Anko's eyes widened. 

"What?! Wind Style overpowering Fire Style?! That's not possible!"

Whoooosh—!

The fiery storm tore through the forest, blasting down trees. Anko was caught in the blast and thrown hard to the ground!

"Hey! You okay, old man?!" Naruto called out in shock. 

He had only meant to shake off the rust and not seriously hurt anyone from Konoha.

But then he saw Avalo lying on the ground, holding up a cracked ninja shield. It had barely absorbed the damage.

Whew... Naruto sighed in relief. 

"A Jōnin wouldn't go down from that, right?"

"I... I'm a Chūnin..." Avalo groaned before fainting.

Buzz buzz buzz...!

Just then, Aburame Muta opened the insect jar on his back.

A cloud of black bugs swarmed out, forming a curtain of insects around Naruto.

The Aburame clan's techniques were famous for their wide range, impossible to escape once surrounded!

Naruto's face grew serious. Not daring to underestimate the move, he quickly threw a kunai straight at Muta before the swarm could close in.

Muta quickly dodged Naruto's kunai and embedded itself in a tree behind him.

By then, the parasitic insects had already swarmed around Naruto, wrapping him tightly.

"I can feel it," Muta said. 

"The insects are draining his chakra. We've got the upper hand now."

"Good," Anko said. 

"Let's add this to completely restrict his movement Hidden Snake Hands!"

From her sleeves, multiple snakes shot out, coiling around Naruto and binding him tightly.

"Give up, Naruto!".

Whoosh!!

But in the next instant the insects scattered in confusion, and the snakes dropped to the ground, limp.

"What?!" Muta was stunned. 

"The target... just vanished?!"

"Behind you, Muta!!" Tokuma yelled.

Too late.

Clang!

Naruto appeared behind Muta in a flash, slicing with a kunai. The blow landed cleanly against Muta's neck.

"Ugh..." Muta groaned, falling unconscious from the tree.

Snap!

Naruto calmly walked over and pulled the kunai out of the tree. A glowing seal was carved into the handle.

Anko broke into a cold sweat.

"No doubt about it... That's the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique!"

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TO BE CONTINUED