Hidden Rebel Training Grounds – Kirigakure
The mist hung thick over the training grounds, clinging to Naruto's skin like a second layer. Three years of fighting in Kiri's civil war had hardened him, but nothing quite prepared him for her.
Mei Terumi stood across from him, her green eyes glinting like polished jade under the dim light. She twirled a kunai lazily between her fingers, her lips curved in that infuriating, knowing smirk.
"You've been avoiding me, Naruto-kun," she said, her voice a low purr that sent an unwelcome shiver down his spine.
Naruto adjusted the wrappings on his wrists, refusing to let her see how her tone affected him. "Avoiding? Nah. Just busy. War doesn't fight itself."
Mei chuckled, stepping closer. The damp earth muffled her footsteps, but Naruto had spent enough time in Kiri to know silence was just another weapon.
"Mmm. And yet, here you are. Alone. With me."
His jaw tightened. "You called me here to evaluate me, right? So let's evaluate."
She tilted her head, red hair catching the faint light. "So eager to prove yourself. I like that."
Then she moved.
No warning, no tell—just a blur of motion as her kunai flashed toward his throat.
Naruto barely twisted in time, feeling the blade graze the air where his neck had been. He retaliated with a sweep of his leg, but she was already gone, reappearing behind him with a breath against his ear.
"Too slow."
He spun, lashing out with a chakra-infused punch—only for her to catch his wrist, her grip deceptively soft.
Mei: "You're thinking too hard."
Naruto: "And you're talking too much."
He yanked free, flipping backward to put distance between them. His heart pounded, not from exertion, but from the way she watched him—like a predator savoring the chase.
Mei sighed, rolling her shoulders. "Fine. If you want a real fight…"
Her hands flew through seals, and Naruto barely had time to react before a torrent of boiling mist erupted from her lips.
Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!
"Shit—!"
He vaulted sideways, rolling to avoid the scalding steam. The ground where he'd stood bubbled, dissolving into sludge.
Naruto wiped his mouth, grinning despite himself. "Trying to melt me, huh?"
Mei licked her lips. "Among other things."
He didn't let himself dwell on that comment. Instead, he formed his own seals, slamming his palms into the earth.
Earth Release: Mud Wall!
A barrier erupted between them, but Mei was already leaping over it, her kunai aimed straight for his chest. Naruto barely managed to deflect it, their blades locking in a shower of sparks.
For a moment, they were frozen there, close enough for him to see the flecks of gold in her eyes.
Mei (softly): "You're holding back."
Naruto (gritted teeth): "Am I?"
She smirked. "Afraid you'll hurt me?"
"Afraid you'll cry when you lose."
Her laugh was dark, delighted. Then she kicked—hard—sending him skidding back.
Naruto recovered fast, but Mei was already on him, her strikes relentless. Kunai clashed, their movements a blur of steel and intent. He blocked a slash to his ribs, countered with a jab to her side—only for her to twist away, her fingers brushing his hip as she did.
His breath hitched.
Damn it.
She noticed. Of course she noticed.
Mei (murmuring): "Getting distracted?"
Naruto bared his teeth. "Not even close."
He feinted left, then pivoted, sweeping her legs out from under her. Mei gasped as she fell—but twisted midair, landing in a crouch. Before she could rise, Naruto was on her, pinning her wrists to the ground.
For a heartbeat, they were both still.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly beneath him, her lips parted. The scent of jasmine and sweat filled his senses.
Then—
Mei (whispering): "You're blushing."
Naruto's grip tightened. "Shut up."
She shifted beneath him, and—oh hell—he was painfully aware of every inch of contact.
Mei's smirk returned, slow and wicked. "Is this your idea of evaluating me, Naruto-kun?"
He should've pulled back. Should've stood up, brushed it off.
Instead, he leaned down, his voice a low growl. "You started it."
Her breath caught.
Then—she moved.
In a flash of limbs and momentum, she flipped them, straddling his waist with her kunai at his throat.
Mei (breathless): "Yield?"
Naruto's pulse roared in his ears. Her thighs pressed against his hips, her heat searing through his clothes. And worse—much worse—he was hard, and she knew it.
Her gaze dropped, then flicked back up, her smirk turning downright sinful.
Mei: "Oh? Is that—"
Naruto: "Don't."
She laughed, leaning down until her lips nearly brushed his ear. "Make me."
Something in him snapped.
In one fluid motion, he bucked his hips, throwing her off-balance. His hand shot up, twisting her wrist until the kunai dropped. Then he was on top, pinning her wrists above her head, his own blade resting against her throat.
Silence.
Mei stared up at him, her chest rising rapidly. A strand of red hair clung to her damp cheek.
Naruto's voice was rough. "Yield?"
For once, she seemed speechless. Then—slowly—her lips curled.
Mei: "Cheeky brat."
He didn't let her up. Not yet. "Say it."
She arched a brow. "Say what?"
"That I won."
A beat. Then she laughed, the sound rich and unguarded. "Fine. You win this round."
Naruto released her, rolling to his feet and offering a hand. Mei took it, letting him pull her up—though not without a lingering squeeze of his fingers.
Mei (smirking): "But don't get used to it."
Naruto (grinning): "Wouldn't dream of it."
She brushed dirt off her clothes, then shot him a look that promised more. "Next time, I won't go easy on you."
"You weren't going easy this time."
"Oh, Naruto-kun." She stepped closer, her breath warm against his lips. "You have no idea what easy looks like."
Then she walked away, leaving him standing there, heart pounding, painfully aware that he was absolutely in trouble.
--------------------
The mist had thickened by the time Naruto and Mei made their way back to the rebel encampment. The spar had left them both slick with sweat, their breaths still uneven, though neither would admit it. The path through the dense Kiri forests was quiet, save for the distant calls of birds and the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot.
Naruto walked a half-step behind Mei, his eyes scanning the trees out of habit—three years of war had made vigilance second nature. But his thoughts kept circling back to the fight, to the way Mei had felt beneath him, the heat of her body, the challenge in her eyes.
Damn it. Focus.
Mei glanced over her shoulder, her lips curling into that infuriating smirk. "You're thinking too loudly, Naruto-kun."
He scowled. "And you're walking too slow."
She laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Impatient, are we?"
"No. Just wondering why you dragged me out here if all you wanted was a spar."
"Oh, but it wasn't just a spar," she said, slowing her steps until they were side by side. "It was an evaluation. And you passed. Spectacularly."
Naruto snorted. "Yeah? What's the prize?"
Mei's smile turned dangerous. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Before he could retort, the trees thinned, revealing the sprawling rebel camp nestled in a hidden valley. Tents and makeshift barracks dotted the landscape, the air thick with the scent of smoke and salt from the nearby sea.
And then—silence.
Dozens of eyes turned toward them.
Whispers slithered through the ranks like snakes.
"That's Minori…"
"Did you hear? He matched Lady Mei in a fight."
"They say he might even be stronger than Yagura."
Naruto kept his face blank, but his jaw clenched. Minori—his cover name, his disguise. A faceless warrior in Kiri's rebellion. But after that spar weeks ago in front of them, he wasn't just another soldier anymore.
He was hope.
And that was dangerous.
Mei, ever perceptive, placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm. "Ignore them," she murmured, low enough that only he could hear. "They're just realizing what I've known for years."
"And what's that?"
She smirked. "That you're going to change everything."
Then, louder, for the crowd: "Back to your posts! We have a strategy meeting in one hour!"
The rebels scattered, though their gazes lingered.
Naruto exhaled sharply. "You're enjoying this."
"Maybe a little." Mei's fingers trailed down his arm before she stepped away. "Come. My tent first. We have things to discuss."
Mei's tent was larger than the others, befitting her status as the rebellion's leader. The exterior was unassuming—dark canvas, blending into the shadows—but inside was another world entirely.
Naruto stepped in, immediately hit by the scent of her—jasmine and sea salt, something floral yet sharp, like the edge of a blade. The space was organized chaos: maps strewn across a low table, weapons meticulously arranged on a stand, a neatly folded haori draped over a chair.
A copper bathtub sat in one corner, steam still curling from the water.
Naruto blinked. "You had a bath prepared?"
Mei shrugged, already unbuckling her armor. "I had a feeling we'd both need it after our spar."
He turned away on instinct as she peeled off her outer layers, but not before catching the smooth expanse of her back, the curve of her waist—
Focus, damn it.
"You're blushing again," Mei teased, her voice laced with amusement.
"I'm not," Naruto grumbled, staring resolutely at the tent wall.
"Mmm. Then why won't you look at me?"
"Because you're—" He cut himself off as he heard the rustle of fabric.
Then—
Oh hell.
Mei was undressing.
Not just removing armor. Not just stripping down to training clothes.
All of it.
Naruto's entire body went rigid.
"Mei—what the hell are you doing?"
She laughed, the sound like silk. "Getting clean. Unless you'd prefer I go to the meeting smelling like sweat and dirt?"
"That's not—" He swallowed hard. "You could've warned me."
"Why?" Her voice was closer now, just behind him. "In war, you don't get warnings. If an enemy attacked me now, naked and unarmed, would you hesitate?"
Naruto's fists clenched. "That's different."
"Is it?"
He could feel her presence, the heat radiating off her skin. His pulse roared in his ears.
Then—
A whisper of fabric. The snap of a strap.
His resolve shattered.
"I'll wait outside," he choked out, bolting for the exit.
Mei's laughter followed him, bright and unrepentant. "Running away, Naruto-kun? I thought you were a warrior!"
He didn't dignify that with a response.
Outside, the cool air did nothing to calm the fire in his veins. And the Tegrity in his balls. He couldn't disappoint Haku. He leaned against a nearby post, dragging a hand down his face.
Damn her.
From inside, the sound of water splashing filled the silence.
Naruto exhaled sharply, tilting his head back.
This woman was going to be the death of him.
An hour later, freshly washed and much more composed, Naruto stood at the edge of the strategy tent, arms crossed as Mei addressed the rebel commanders.
She was back in full regalia—armor gleaming, hair perfectly coiled, every inch the unshakable leader.
No one would ever guess she'd been naked and laughing at his expense less than sixty minutes ago.
For three long years, Ao's network of spies and informants had chased shadows and whispers, searching for any trace of Utakata, the missing Jinchuriki of Saiken, the Six-Tails. He was a ghost, a legend among Kiri's missing-nin, said to be a master of soap bubble ninjutsu and fiercely protective of his solitude. Many believed him dead, a victim of Yagura's purges or the harsh life of a rogue. But Mei and Takito clung to the hope that he lived, for one Jinchuriki fighting for their cause would be a formidable counter to Yagura's might.
Finally, a credible lead emerged. A series of unusual, localized disappearances and sightings of giant, slug-like creatures in a remote, heavily forested region on the fringes of the Land of Fire, near the border with the Land of Sound, pointed towards Utakata's unique abilities. It was a dangerous area, known for its lawless elements and proximity to Orochimaru's suspected territories.
"This is our best chance, perhaps our only chance, to find him," Mei announced in the rebel command tent, her gaze sweeping over her core advisors and commanders. She looked directly at Naruto, who, now fifteen and standing tall and confident, exuded an aura of quiet power. "Naruto, I am entrusting this mission to you. Your Uzumaki heritage might make you uniquely suited to approach another Jinchuriki. Your empathy, your strength… you understand what it means to carry a burden, to be seen as different."
The implication was clear: Naruto's own (still secret to the wider rebellion) status as a former member of a Jinchuriki centric family and once thought of status of a quasi-Jinchuriki figure in Konoha (due to the 'Minori' cover and his parents being alive, this part of his original canon story is not known to Kiri, but Mei is likely referring to his Uzumaki lineage being historically good Jinchuriki candidates and his current burden as their 'hope'), and his instinctive manifestation of the chains, gave him a unique perspective.
"Haku will accompany you," Mei continued. "Your synergy is unparalleled. Chojuro, you will provide support and cover. This will be a diplomatic mission first and foremost. Utakata is not our enemy. He is a victim of Kiri's past, just as many of us are. Convince him, Naruto. Show him that the Kirigakure we fight for is one where he and his Bijuu can find peace, not persecution."
Takito provided them with detailed intelligence, escape routes, and contingency plans. "Utakata was betrayed by his former master, who attempted to extract Saiken. He trusts no one, especially shinobi from Kirigakure. He is likely to be hostile. Do not underestimate him. His bubble ninjutsu is versatile and deadly, and Saiken's corrosive abilities are potent."
The journey was arduous, taking them through dense, untamed wilderness. Naruto led the way, his senses, sharpened by years of war and his turtle sage training, on high alert. Haku moved like a silent shadow at his side, their unspoken communication a testament to their deep bond. Chojuro, clutching his katana, covered their rear, his initial nervousness replaced by a focused determination.
They found signs of Utakata's passage: strange, acidic burns on trees, remnants of large, burst soap bubbles, and an unsettling quiet in the forest, as if even the animals feared to tread there. After several days of meticulous tracking, they came upon a secluded clearing, dominated by a large, serene lake. In the center of the lake, seemingly floating on its surface, was a simple, rustic hut. And on its small porch sat a young man with long, dark brown hair, clad in a light blue kimono, casually blowing soap bubbles from a pipe. Beside him, a young girl with dirty blonde hair, Hotaru, was tending to a small herb garden.
This was Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, and his young ward.
As Naruto's team approached the edge of the clearing, Utakata's head snapped up, his previously languid demeanor vanishing, replaced by a cold, wary alertness. Saiken's immense chakra flared, a palpable pressure washing over them.
"Kirigakure shinobi," Utakata's voice was low, dangerous. "You've come a long way to die." Corrosive bubbles, shimmering ominously, began to form around him. Hotaru, startled, hid behind him.
"Utakata-san, we are not here to fight," Naruto called out, his voice calm and steady, hands held open. "We are from the Kirigakure rebellion, fighting against Yagura Karatachi."
Utakata scoffed. "Rebellion? Kiri politics mean nothing to me. I want only to be left alone." His eyes narrowed. "And you… I sense a powerful, familiar chakra from you. Uzumaki. What is one of your hunted clan doing so far from… well, anywhere you could call home?"
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto stated, deciding directness was best. "And this is Haku, and Chojuro. We fight for a new Kirigakure, one that doesn't persecute its own people for their blood or the burdens they carry." He looked pointedly at Utakata. "A Kirigakure where a Jinchuriki wouldn't have to live in hiding, in fear of his own village."
Utakata's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of something – pain, perhaps, or bitter memory – crossed his eyes. "Words are cheap. Kirigakure tried to kill me, to turn me into a weapon, just like it did with Yagura. My master… he betrayed me." The bubbles around him grew larger, more agitated.
Hotaru tugged at his sleeve. "Utakata-sama, they don't seem hostile…"
"Quiet, Hotaru," Utakata said, though his gaze softened momentarily as he looked at her.
"We understand your distrust, Utakata-san," Haku said, her voice gentle. "Many of us have suffered at Yagura's hands, or the village's past cruelties. But we believe things can change. Mei Terumi, our leader, envisions a Kiri of tolerance and peace."
"Peace?" Utakata let out a harsh laugh. "There is no peace for a Jinchuriki. Only exploitation or extermination." He fixed Naruto with a hard stare. "What makes you think you can change that, Uzumaki? You're just a boy."
Naruto met his gaze, unflinching. "I carry a burden too, Utakata-san. Maybe not a Bijuu, but a different kind of weight." He thought of the expectations, of Honoka's pain, of his own past. "I know what it's like to be seen as a tool, or a threat. But I also know that giving up, hiding away, won't change anything. Yagura is a tyrant. If he's not stopped, he'll destroy everything Kirigakure could be. And his madness won't stay confined to the Land of Water forever."
He then spoke of their fight, of Mei's vision, of the sacrifices made, of the small victories, and the crushing defeats. He didn't romanticize the war; he painted a stark, honest picture of their desperate struggle. He spoke of his desire to create a village where people like Haku, with her kekkei genkai, or Chojuro, with his quiet strength, or even Honoka, with her bitterness, could find acceptance.
Utakata listened, his defenses slowly, almost imperceptibly, lowering. Hotaru, sensing the shift, peeked out from behind him, her curiosity overcoming her fear.
"Even if I believed you," Utakata finally said, his voice laced with skepticism, "what could I possibly do? Saiken and I… we are not weapons to be wielded."
"We don't want you as a weapon, Utakata-san," Naruto insisted. "We want you as an ally. As a comrade. Your strength, your experience… it could help us save countless lives, including your own, and Hotaru-chan's. Yagura will never leave you in peace. Sooner or later, he will come for Saiken."
This struck a chord. Utakata knew the truth of Naruto's words. He had been running, hiding, for years, always looking over his shoulder.
A tense silence hung in the air. Then, Naruto did something unexpected. He unstrapped the Roaring Tide Hammer from his back and laid it on the ground. He deactivated any overt chakra enhancements.
"I'm not asking you to trust Kirigakure, Utakata-san," Naruto said, his voice sincere. "I'm asking you to trust me. To trust that I will fight for that better future, for a place where you and Hotaru-chan can live without fear." He then looked Utakata directly in the eyes. "If words are not enough, then let our strength speak. A spar. No Bijuu transformations, just our skills as shinobi. If I can earn your respect, will you at least consider our offer?"
Utakata looked at the young Uzumaki, at his earnest gaze, his surprising maturity, and the quiet power that radiated from him. He saw a reflection of his own weariness, his own desire for a peace that always seemed out of reach. And perhaps, he saw a flicker of hope.
He glanced at Hotaru, who looked up at him with pleading eyes. He sighed, the corrosive bubbles around him slowly dissipating.
"Very well, Naruto Uzumaki," Utakata said, a wry smile touching his lips. "Let's see if your Kiri rebellion's 'hope' has any substance. Or if you're just another fool chasing an impossible dream." He rose, his soap pipe glinting. "But be warned. I don't go easy on anyone."
Naruto picked up his mace, a determined glint in his blue eyes. This was more than just a spar. It was a battle for trust, for an alliance that could change the course of the war. The fate of Kirigakure, and the future of two burdened souls, hung in the balance, under the watchful eyes of a hopeful girl and the silent, ancient forest.
The secluded clearing by the serene lake shimmered with an almost palpable tension. Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, stood with a languid grace that belied the dangerous power coiled within him, his soap bubble pipe held loosely in one hand. Opposite him, Naruto Uzumaki, a youth forged in the crucible of war and bearing the heavy mantle of his Uzumaki heritage, gripped the Roaring Tide Hammer, Shiosai no Tsuchi. Its ancient conch shell surface seemed to absorb the ambient mist, glowing with a faint, internal light. Haku and Chojuro watched from a safe distance, their expressions a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. Hotaru clung to Haku's side, her small face pale but her eyes fixed on Utakata with unwavering loyalty.
"You understand the terms, Naruto Uzumaki?" Utakata's voice was calm, yet held an undercurrent of melancholy and challenge. "No direct Bijuu transformations beyond a controlled Version 1 cloak, should it come to that. This is a test of skill, of will, of the substance behind your pretty words about a 'new Kirigakure.' Can you earn my respect, or will you prove to be just another idealistic fool destined for a shallow grave?"
Naruto nodded, his blue eyes serious. "I understand, Utakata-san. I only ask that you see the strength of our resolve." He shifted his stance, the Roaring Tide Hammer held ready. The Kōrasen Tōhō, his Turtle Sage Art, was subtly active, his skin gaining a faint jade sheen, his senses expanding, connecting him to the earth beneath his feet and the moist air around him. He could feel the thrum of Utakata's immense chakra, the subtle acidic tang of Saiken's power.
Utakata smiled faintly, a fleeting, sad expression. "Resolve is easily spoken. Let us see it tested." He brought the pipe to his lips. "Suiton: Hōmatsurippa (Water Release: Soap Bubble Technique - Violent Tsunami Wave)!" A veritable storm of iridescent bubbles, each shimmering with deadly beauty, erupted from his pipe, converging on Naruto from multiple angles. Some were filled with Saiken's corrosive acid, capable of melting stone; others were designed to explode with concussive force upon contact; and yet others were sticky, meant to bind and immobilize.
Naruto met the onslaught not with brute force, but with calculated precision. He spun the Roaring Tide Hammer, its conch shell head gathering wind chakra. "Fūton: Kaze no Sharin (Wind Release: Wind Wheel)!" The mace became the epicenter of a localized vortex, deflecting the majority of the bubbles, sending them careening into the surrounding trees where they exploded in sizzling bursts of acid and force. For the few that slipped through, Naruto's Kongō Fūsa (Adamantine Sealing Chains), now under much finer control thanks to Honoka's harsh tutelage, lashed out like golden serpents, piercing the explosive bubbles harmlessly or forming small, shimmering shields to intercept the acidic ones.
"Impressive defense," Utakata conceded, his eyes narrowing. "You have more control over that Uzumaki power than I anticipated." He then blurred, his movements deceptively fast, appearing behind Naruto. "Shabondama Ninjutsu: Fuyō Hōei (Soap Bubble Ninjutsu: Floating Formation)!" Dozens of smaller, almost invisible bubbles, laced with a potent paralytic agent, surrounded Naruto, attempting to trap him in a suffocating, immobilizing sphere.
Naruto, his Kōrasen-enhanced senses picking up the subtle shift in air currents and the faint scent of the paralytic, reacted instantly. He slammed the butt of the Roaring Tide Hammer into the ground. "Shiosai no Tsuchi: Daichi Meidō (Roaring Tide Hammer: Earth Rumble)!" This was one of the mace's unique abilities, drawing on its connection to earth and water. A shockwave of vibrational energy pulsed through the ground, disrupting Utakata's delicate bubble formation, causing many to pop prematurely. Simultaneously, Naruto activated another facet of his Turtle Sage Art. "Kōrasen Tōhō: Jōka no Kokyū (Turtle Sage Art: Breath of Purification)!" He took a deep, controlled breath, his chakra circulating through his system, neutralizing the small amount of paralytic mist he had inhaled.
"He's adapting quickly," Haku murmured, her fists clenched. Chojuro nodded, his eyes wide with awe at the sheer versatility Naruto was displaying.
Utakata clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Resourceful." He then changed tactics. He began to move in wide, unpredictable circles, his soap bubbles now forming into animalistic shapes – acidic slugs that crawled along the ground, explosive birds that dive-bombed from above. Shabondama Ninjutsu: Dōbutsu Sōzō (Soap Bubble Ninjutsu: Animal Creation). It was a dazzling, disorienting assault.
Naruto met this challenge with the mace's 'aerial' form. He channeled wind chakra into Shiosai no Tsuchi, and its form subtly shifted, becoming lighter, more aerodynamic, small wing-like protrusions of solidified wind chakra appearing along its handle. "Fūton: Shiosai Shippūjin (Wind Release: Roaring Tide Gale Formation)!" He leaped high into the air, using the mace's enhanced wind propulsion to maneuver with incredible agility, batting away the explosive bubble-birds, his chains lashing out to intercept the acidic slugs before they could reach him. He then counter-attacked from above, the mace now glowing with condensed water chakra. "Suiton: Shiosai Gekiryu Sō (Water Release: Roaring Tide Raging Current Spear)!" A spear of highly pressurized water, sharp as any blade, shot down towards Utakata.
Utakata dispersed into a cloud of bubbles, the water spear passing harmlessly through where he'd stood, then reformed a short distance away. "Suiton: Mizuame Nabara (Water Release: Starch Syrup Capture Field)!" The ground beneath Naruto suddenly became a viscous, sticky morass, attempting to trap his feet.
Naruto, however, was prepared for such tactics. He activated the mace's 'underground' form. Slamming its head into the sticky ground, he yelled, "Doton: Shiosai Chiteiryū (Earth Release: Roaring Tide Subterranean Flow)!" The mace pulsed with earth chakra, and the ground beneath him hardened, then liquefied selectively, allowing him to sink partially into the earth and then propel himself out of the sticky trap with a burst of mobilized soil, like a mole emerging from its burrow. He landed lightly, already transitioning into his next move.
The spar was a breathtaking dance of elemental powers and unique Jinchuriki abilities. Naruto's versatility with the Roaring Tide Hammer was on full display – its standard mace form for powerful strikes, its aerial form for enhanced mobility and wind attacks, its subterranean form for earth manipulation and evasion. His Uzumaki chains were a constant threat, binding, deflecting, and creating openings. His Kōrasen Tōhō provided him with incredible resilience and sensory acuity.
Utakata, for his part, was a master of elusiveness and misdirection, his soap bubble ninjutsu a beautiful yet deadly art form. He flowed like water, his attacks coming from unexpected angles, his defenses difficult to penetrate.
Hours seemed to pass in minutes. Both shinobi were panting, their chakra reserves significantly depleted, though Naruto's Uzumaki vitality was giving him a slight edge in stamina. The clearing around them was scarred, trees felled by explosive bubbles, the ground pockmarked by acidic residue and Naruto's earth-shattering mace strikes.
Utakata, a grim determination now replacing his earlier languor, took a deep breath. A faint, sickly green aura began to emanate from him – Saiken's chakra. "Naruto Uzumaki," he said, his voice taking on a slightly deeper, more resonant tone. "You have proven yourself more than just a reckless boy. Your strength, your adaptability… they are commendable. But this is where the true test begins. Are you prepared to face the power of a Bijuu, even a fraction of it?" He looked at Naruto, a silent question in his eyes. "I will enter Version 1. Are you certain you wish to continue?"
Naruto's heart pounded. Version 1. He had faced Yagura's terrifying Version 2 state, and barely survived. Even a controlled Version 1 from another Jinchuriki was an immense threat. Haku and Chojuro tensed, their worry palpable. Haku even took a half-step forward, ready to intervene.
Naruto met Utakata's gaze, then glanced at Haku, offering her a small, reassuring nod. He took a deep breath, calming the tremor of fear that ran through him. "I am, Utakata-san. Show me." He suppressed his own apprehension, projecting an aura of calm confidence. He needed to see this, to understand it, if he was ever to truly help Utakata integrate into their forces, and if he was to stand a chance against Yagura.
With a nod, Utakata allowed Saiken's chakra to surge. A cloak of bubbling, translucent green energy, viscous and almost slug-like, enveloped him. One distinct, thick tail of Bijuu chakra lashed out behind him. His eyes glowed with Saiken's power, his features becoming slightly more bestial. The air around him crackled with corrosive energy.
"Bijū Sofutobadī (Tailed Beast Soft Body)!" Utakata declared, his voice now a distorted echo. He moved with a speed that was almost impossible to track, his limbs stretching and contorting in unnatural ways, his attacks now imbued with Saiken's highly corrosive properties.
Naruto grit his teeth, his Kōrasen defense flaring to its maximum. The Roaring Tide Hammer became a blur, meeting Utakata's Bijuu-enhanced strikes. Each impact sent shudders through Naruto's body, the corrosive chakra sizzling against his defenses, against his chains. He was pushed back, forced onto the defensive, his previous adaptability struggling against Utakata's sheer, overwhelming Bijuu power. He used his chains in a desperate attempt to bind Utakata's fluid, amorphous limbs, but they slipped and slid, the corrosive chakra eating away at their golden light.
Utakata, seeing Naruto struggling, paused his assault for a fraction of a second. He then began to gather chakra in his mouth, a dense, swirling sphere of malevolent green energy – a miniature Bijuudama (Tailed Beast Ball). It was smaller than Yagura's, but its condensed power was terrifying.
"This is it, Uzumaki," Utakata's distorted voice rumbled. "Can you withstand this? Can your ideals protect you from this?"
Naruto knew this was the true test. His mind raced. He couldn't dodge it. He couldn't overpower it. He had to contain it. His Uzumaki heritage, Honoka's teachings, his own desperate ingenuity – it all coalesced into one desperate, audacious plan.
He plunged the Roaring Tide Hammer deep into the earth, anchoring himself. His golden chains erupted from his body with a final, defiant surge, not to attack, but to weave themselves into an incredibly dense, multi-layered spherical barrier in front of him. Kongō Fūsa: Bijuu Chakra Hōheki (Adamantine Sealing Chains: Tailed Beast Chakra Barricade)! He poured every last ounce of his remaining Uzumaki chakra, his life force, into this ultimate defense, the golden light of the chains so intense it was almost blinding.
Utakata unleashed the Bijuudama.
The small, green sphere of annihilation streaked towards Naruto, hitting the golden chain barrier with a deafening roar. The impact was immense. The ground beneath Naruto cracked and buckled. The air itself seemed to scream. The golden chains strained, groaned, some individual strands snapping under the pressure, only to be instantly reinforced by others. Naruto felt his consciousness flickering, his body screaming in protest, but he held on, his will an unbreakable anchor.
For what felt like an eternity, the Bijuudama raged against the Uzumaki chains. Then, slowly, miraculously, the green sphere began to shrink, its power diffused, absorbed, redirected by the intricate weave of the golden barrier. Finally, with a last, fading hiss, it dissipated.
The chain barrier crumbled, Naruto falling to his knees, panting, his golden aura flickering weakly. He had done it. He had blocked a Bijuudama.
Utakata reverted to his human form, Saiken's chakra receding, his expression one of stunned disbelief, quickly followed by a slow, genuine smile – the first truly unguarded smile Naruto had seen from him.
"Enough," Utakata conceded, his voice hoarse but clear. He walked over to Naruto, offering a hand to help him up. "Enough, Naruto Uzumaki. You have… exceeded all expectations." He knew, with absolute certainty, that if he had truly gone all out, unleashed Saiken's full power, Naruto would have fallen. But that wasn't the point of this spar. The boy had faced a Bijuudama and survived, protected himself through sheer willpower and an incredible, unique talent. "You fight with the spirit of a true protector. And your control over that Uzumaki power… it's remarkable for one so young." He looked at Hotaru, who was beaming, tears of relief streaming down her face. "Perhaps… perhaps there is still a Kirigakure worth fighting for. Perhaps there is still a path for people like us."
Naruto, leaning heavily on Utakata's offered arm, managed a weak, triumphant grin. He had faced the storm, and he had not broken. He had earned more than just an ally; he had earned the respect of a fellow Jinchuriki, and perhaps, a kindred spirit. The path ahead was still perilous, but now, they would walk it with one more powerful, hopeful soul by their side. The gathering storm for Kirigakure's liberation had just gained another crucial element.