007 Way of A Ninja

He actually learned the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique...!

Anko's face turned serious. 

As someone who witnessed that era firsthand, she knew exactly how Namikaze Minato had become a legend with that technique.

She thought to herself: It's the same with that Earth Style earlier. Naruto's abilities go far beyond what we know. He's been hiding his true strength and planning for a long time...

"Captain Anko, what do we do?!" Tokuma asked urgently.

Anko responded firmly, "We can't win this. Tokuma, take Avalo and Muta retreat immediately!"

Naruto said calmly, "The others can go... but Miss Anko, you're staying."

Tokuma was shocked. His real target is Captain Anko!?

Buzz buzz buzz…

Just then, the scattered parasitic insects regrouped. 

It was a hidden feature of the Aburame clan's technique when the user loses consciousness, the insects continue to chase the last enemy target without stopping.

"What a troublesome technique..." Naruto muttered.

He formed a hand seal and brought his palms together.

Fire Style: Flame Tornado!

Fwoosh!

Flames spiraled up from beneath him, cloaking his body and cloak in fire. The burning whirlwind swept out, incinerating the wall of insects around him.

Tokuma narrowed his eyes. "Now's our chance to retreat!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, several of Naruto's Shadow Clones charged forward, each one cloaked in flames and holding a Rasengan.

"There's too many… we can't stop them all," Tokuma muttered.

Activating his Byakugan to the fullest, Tokuma adjusted his stance. Chakra surged from his tenketsu points as he spun with precision, forming a powerful defensive barrier.

Eight Trigrams Palm: Revolving Heaven!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang...!

The flaming clones were wiped out one by one.

As the rotation ended, Tokuma's sharp eyes locked onto the real Naruto closing in. He gathered chakra into his palm and thrust it forward.

Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!

Boom!

The shockwave blasted Naruto back several meters.

Naruto grinned. "Impressive you're definitely a Hyuga elite. But this is the end…"

Whoosh!

Naruto formed a Rasengan in his hand. As he poured more chakra into it, the sphere expanded rapidly.

Tokuma realized the danger and shouted, "Captain Anko! I'll hold him off—retreat now! Tell the village everything that happened here!"

Massive Rasengan!

Naruto leapt high into the air, then dove down with the giant swirling sphere aimed straight at Tokuma!

Eight Trigrams Palm: Revolving Heaven!

Hyuga Tokuma gritted his teeth and unleashed the technique again!

Boom!

Naruto's Massive Rasengan slammed into the spinning chakra barrier with a heavy impact.

The force of the clash stirred the air violently. But under the pressure of the Rasengan, the defense began to falter. 

Through the chakra shield, Tokuma's struggling figure could already be seen.

It wasn't that Tokuma was weak but Naruto was just too strong…

BANG!!

Just as Revolving Heaven collapsed, Naruto pulled back, restraining the full force of the Massive Rasengan in time. 

But even so, the shock from the impact sent Tokuma flying. He crashed hard against a tree and lost consciousness.

Naruto landed lightly on the ground and turned to Anko.

"Now… no one else is in the way, Miss Anko."

Anko clenched her fists. "Naruto, why are you doing this?!"

After a brief pause, Naruto pulled up the hood of his cloak and said in a low voice, "For the future of the ninja world. And to do that… I need his help. And Miss Anko, you're a key part of it."

"Him…?" Anko was confused, but then suddenly winced in pain as the cursed mark on her neck began to throb.

She was shocked. "The curse mark… it hasn't reacted in years. Why now? But I don't have time to worry about this, there are more important things!"

Rustle.

A small snake slithered down from her sleeve and disappeared into the grass.

"Sending information back to the village..." Naruto noticed, but didn't stop it.

Naruto thought to himself, Forget it. If the village sees me as a traitor, then my next actions won't be tied to them anymore.

The little snake safely escaped with the information, and Anko let out a quiet breath of relief.

At least it wasn't a complete failure.

Anko smirked. "Now it's big sister's turn to play."

Naruto replied calmly, "You could still try to run. You might get away."

Anko glanced at Tokuma and the others lying unconscious. She knew the situation she might escape on her own, but there was no way to take her teammates with her.

She tapped her forehead protector and said firmly, "A Konoha ninja never abandons their comrades. You were born in Konoha, Naruto. You should know that better than anyone."

Naruto gave a faint smile. "Yeah, I know… In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum. But those who abandon their friends… are worse than scum."

"Then there's nothing more to say!"

Anko began forming hand seals, gathering chakra while thinking to herself: 

Of all my jutsu, only one has a real chance to hurt him. But I need him close… I'll bait him first.

She finished the seals, took a deep breath, and 

 Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!

Whoosh!!

A blazing jet of flames roared toward Naruto.

Watching the fire approach, Naruto quickly judged the situation. If I counter with fire, she'll definitely get burned. Better to hit her with water, drowning is safer than burning.

Swish!

Naruto rapidly formed hand seals with both hands 

Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

Fwoosh!

Water surged up and formed into a massive dragon. It swallowed the incoming flames and then came crashing down toward Anko!

"Ahhhhh !!"

Whoosh! Naruto rushed forward and reached out to grab Anko.

But in that moment, Anko suddenly grabbed his hand, locking their fingers together into a hand seal.

"This is a suicide jutsu, Naruto! You're now a threat to the village… I'll die here with you!"

Ninja Art: Twin Snake Sacrifice Jutsu!

Snap! Snap!

Two snakes shot out from Anko's sleeves, coiling around both her and Naruto. A dark red glow began to radiate, it was the sign of an incoming explosion.

Naruto's eyes widened. "!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

Flames burst into the sky, swallowing everything in a deafening explosion!

But at the same time

Whoosh!

A flash of the Flying Thunder God's light blinked through the chaos. Naruto reappeared at a marked location, holding an unconscious Anko in his arms.

Looking back at the scorched land behind him, Naruto muttered, "Only real battle can remind people of those glory days…"

Konan stepped forward and glanced at the three unconscious Konoha shinobi. She understood Naruto well and knew he wouldn't kill them.

"The wildlife has already scattered from the battle. Konoha's response team will arrive soon and take them back"

"Yeah… let's go."

Carrying Anko, Naruto leapt down from the tree, placed a hand on Konan's shoulder, and vanished with a flash using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Not long after they disappeared, several Konoha Anbu arrived at the scene.

Their leader, wearing a white cloak, held a scroll it was the intel Anko had released. It had been intercepted in transit and now landed in their hands.

Since the scroll had been written in haste without complex codes, the team quickly decoded it and understood what had happened here…

After checking on Tokuma and the others, the black-cloaked ninjas reported to the ones in white:

"All three are still alive. Uzumaki Naruto didn't kill them. As for Mitarashi Anko… she's missing. Based on the signs, it looks like Naruto took her with him."

"What should we do with these three? Should we bring them back and wait for Lord Danzo's instructions?"

The ninja in white the mid-level leader of Root under Danzo, narrowed his eyes. 

He was a devoted follower of Danzo and firmly believed in his philosophy of dark justice.

"Though we are all Konoha shinobi, our ideals are incompatible," 

"Root acts to eliminate all threats without hesitation."

He raised the scroll in his hand. "With this intel, and the bodies of these three, Naruto's defection is now undeniable. According to the rumors already spreading among the people, this will serve as strong proof."

"There's no need to consult Lord Danzo. As members of Root, we will carry out our mission to the end kill them."

"…Understood."

Without hesitation, the black-cloaked Root ninjas drew their blades and stabbed Hyuga Tokuma, Aburame Muta, and Avalo through the heart.

The three shinobi who should've been rescued by their village were instead murdered by their own comrades.

As blood pooled around the fallen, the white-robed Root leader stared coldly at their corpses and muttered darkly:

"With this… the era of Lord Danzo has truly begun."

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TO BE CONTINUED