A light breeze swayed the thin branches of trees, which the lookout from the thirty-meter tower gazed at from on high, dressed in standard Konoha gear. Wall duty wasn't the toughest, but it demanded high responsibility and solid knowledge of observation, defense, and support squad protocols.
Each squad had its symbol, received upon starting duty and worn on the second arm like a Uzumaki clan chevron.
Wall duty was the defense squad, divided into three: guard, customs, and patrol. Patrol and guard were straightforward—the former moved set routes around the village outside the walls, the latter stood at prepared positions on the wall itself. But the customs squad worked harder than the rest combined. Wall duty wasn't easy either—receiving inventory, maintaining order in armories and towers, checking wall weapons, logging everything, etc. Plus two-hour armed posts, and in case of combat alert (drills weren't rare), receive reinforcements, escort to armories, issue extra gear, and per combat schedule, position them on the wall.
Customs works always... Gates constantly need people in/out logs, pass and document checks. Scheduled gate opens/closes—not just central ones. Besides people, Konoha regularly hosts caravans for inspection and logging. Hourly written reports to HQ...
Recalling his customs assignment, the shinobi sighed in relief and checked his watch.
"Late..." he thought, glancing at the time. "If I don't see him on the horizon in five minutes, I'll have to raise hell, and that's a headache." He meant his post's second watchman. But a minute later, he and the senior—who traditionally escorted to posts—appeared walking along the wall to his tower.
"Damn... No rush, huh? Figures, not you losing rest minutes..."
"Yo..." The relieving shinobi greeted his colleague with a smile.
"Damn, maybe file a report on you... How many times already! So boring here, I nearly raised alert just from your slowness."
"Come on, don't gripe... Listen to this instead. Hyuga lost!"
"No way?!" The one being relieved was surprised.
"Word of honor—my brother dropped by with bento and told me."
"And the Uchiha vs. Sand prince fight?"
"Even better—they postponed it, and while sorting it with extra matches, bro popped home and here to share the news."
"Postponed? Damn... Must be exciting there, and I'm stuck here..."
"Heh-heh-heh... You're not alone. What can ya do—someone's gotta stand post even on festival day. Be glad no inspections or drills today."
"Alright... Gonna rest and count my losses." The watchman told his reliever.
"Ha! You bet on Hyuga too?" The senior asked.
"Yeah, damn that master-Jiraiya of yours—I won't listen to that old..."
"Quiet!" The new watchman snapped.
"Hm?"
"Something moving outside the wall..."
"Don't stress..." The departing one replied. "Probably our patrol returning."
"Idiot... Patrol just left!"
Suddenly, a bright flash afar heralded a monster's arrival. Right by the walls, mere hundreds of meters away, three massive snakes with face tattoos appeared and hissed furiously at the wall defenders.
"What the?!"
Shinobi barely reacted before sand shinobi, masked under the walls, attacked too.
In an instant, they scaled the wall and assaulted with explosive kunai, while two Sound shinobi leaped from each snake's mouth in support.
"Alert! Notify observation squad! Raise everyone and report to Hokage!" Echoed everywhere on the west from main gates.
Any post abandonment attempts were blocked by emerging Sand shinobi as if from nowhere. They'd disguised as the previous patrol shift and were among them.
The summoned beasts—actually three together—charged the wall, toppling trees with their bodies. Tail strikes up close demolished tower roofs. When close, snakes spewed thick poisonous gas, blanketing surroundings. Snake attacks targeted weakest front positions. Up close, exhaling gas cut off reinforcements from the wall's far side. But mainly, their mass breached the thirty-meter stone wall, creating a serious defense gap.
Observation squad—or barrier team—seeing signal barrier readings and first report from a shinobi who miraculously reached HQ, were shocked.
While monitoring barrier readings, they hoped it was joint drills or radical Sand provocation.
The wounded shinobi's report clarified everything... Sand shinobi coordinated with prepared Sound squads, attack method... Single-direction wall assault screamed premeditated.
"Wait a sec..." A sensor asked. "Stadium's got trouble too—smoke visible, battle sounds! Smoke from Hokage balcony!"
"Understood..." The elder Hyuga, barrier group leader, activated Byakugan. "Betrayal! Activate evacuation squad per third scenario immediately!"
"Yes sir!" Room shinobi replied.
"Contact ANBU squad, prep them. Redirect all free village patrols to repel attack! Hold enemy as long as possible! Relay to all clash shinobi! Order: protect self and Konoha BY ANY MEANS!"
After using "Chidori," expending major chakra, and taking that horrific killing intent hit from the cracked egg, Sasuke still heard head noise from hundreds of electric discharges, but he clearly distinguished the smoke grenade pop and distant real explosions/collapses. Before him stood the full sand team with their sensei, plus the examiner shielding him. Obvious the match ended, but what the hell was happening?!
Sasuke's limbs still trembled; he was half-crouched when he heard the examiner.
"Sasuke... Sorry, but Chunin Exams are over. Seems some can't live peacefully." Genma said.
"What's with him?!" Baki shouted, eyes fixed on Sasuke and examiner.
"Bad—he's wounded, losing consciousness. Useless like this; needs time to gather chakra for transformation!" Temari replied.
"Tch..." Baki clicked his tongue.
"And now?!" Kankuro asked.
"No!" Baki shouted. "You two... Grab Gaara and bolt to east outskirts. Guards'll thin there; patrols won't stop you. Go, get him sorted! When he can use power, counterattack supporting him."
"Hm... Think I'll let you?" Genma calmly replied to their shouts.
"Think I'll let you interfere?" Baki grinned. "You... What're you waiting for?! Go!"
"What about you, sensei?!"
"Follow orders, I said! Move!"
"Yes sir!" Kankuro and Temari replied, supporting the passed-out Gaara under arms, bounding behind the wall in leaps.
Genma tried hindering with two thrown kunai, but Baki extended arm, directing chakra-charged wind stream across trajectories. Genma's kunai slowed, veered, stabbed ground.
"Tch..." Now Genma clicked. Sand genin trio escaped successfully. "Sasuke... As I said, Exams over. Konoha attacked by exam allies—war now. Hell starts any minute, but you're village shinobi at Chunin level. Hear order..."
"Listening..." Sasuke said. He grasped Genma's words but, scanning around, couldn't believe it. What Itachi and father whispered half-voiced was happening before his eyes.
War!
"You pursue those two sand ninja, prevent recovery. Catch and arrest! If impossible and they fight, kill on sight!"
"Think I'll let him pursue?!" Baki shouted.
"Think I'll let you interfere?" Genma replied. "Sasuke, go!" He nodded, dashed after. Baki's kunai flew at him, downed by Genma's shurikens.
"Tch... Guess I gotta play with you first..." Baki said.
"Orochimaru behind this?" Genma asked.
"Don't know... Don't care!"
"Clear... So Hayate and baldy were right... Then..." Explosive kunai flew at Genma's face; he spat his long toothpick, chakra-overloaded, clashing at high speed with Baki's kunai, deflecting trajectory—boom.
They say scariest events are unexpected ones?
Dunno about surprises, but even knowing ahead and prepping for what awaited, I knelt on stone stairs steps behind Guy and Kakashi, who gawked at lined-up fake ANBU below like sheep at new gates.
They reciprocated; nine shed cloaks, revealing Sound shinobi. Middle one—likely Kabuto—stayed cloaked/masked. On Hokage balcony, two title-holders—one fake Kage—burst upward from smoke, landing on arena central building's massive wide roof.
"Lord-Hokage..." Guy whispered, turning to look.
Real ANBU led by Boar—now in white captain cloak—headed roofward; fake Kazekage's two bodyguards flew intercept.
Boar led, mood soured. Dual-kunai hands slashed both in half. But he halted further. Fake Kazekage pressed kunai to old man's throat, chatted, then ripped off mask.
"Orochimaru!" Kakashi said, baring Sharingan. "Knew it..."
"Ha!" Kabuto—in disguise, voice altered—said. "You two'll be tough. What brought you here..." He mused aloud.
"Orders?" A shinobi asked, assuming stance. Battle ignited around. Black blade shinobi used cawing crow flock cover to clash with sand ninja there. Neighboring stands, Asuma and Kurenai weren't slacking.
Two Chunin—Kotetsu and Izumo—Kakashi sent to village check situation, aid defense if possible. He covered retreat with shuriken throws when back-attacked.
Sakura half-stood, reaching for weapon, but...
"No interference... Kill kids; second wave on Kakashi and big guy!" Masked Kabuto ordered.
Instant movement/shadow sub over me and Sakura: two shinobi each. I drew sword, hurled at Sakura.
True to form, she squeezed eyes shut, hands over head. Taught or not...
Sword over her head distracted her executioners a second from potential threat; it turned into me, who unleashed Leaf Hurricane mimicking Lee. My spin double, not as strong, but... Sound shinobi took unexpected face kicks they couldn't block—aiming kunai at Sakura. They flew off, heads smacking hard on fall. Temporarily out; I landed full height on chair backs over Sakura's head. Kakashi and Guy joined fray at instant speeds. My clone hurling disguised blade unbuttoned jacket, exposing inner explosive seals as foes neared.
"Your mother!" They yelled, wheeling. Second clone covered nearby prone Shikamaru, spawning more clones over nearby asleep spectators—boom. Sound shinobi hit by shards, stumbled fell.
"Damn it!" Shikamaru exclaimed, feigning sleep hands-over-head, curling from point-blank blast. My clone dispersed, but took damage meant for him. He dug ear; blast got him good.
Kakashi wounded several, dual-wielding kunai, double-legged one in face.
Guy moved passed-out Lee under bench, snapping crutch over Sound shinobi head.
Kakashi instant-moved beside me, hurling kunai multidirectionally, downing foe weapons midair several ways.
Strong...
His gaze on Sasuke leaving arena, Genma covering.
"Man... Naruto, Sakura, you okay?"
"Relative to situation?" I sassed, sword-swatting incoming shuriken.
"Teacher, what's happening?!" Sakura cried.
"Naruto fine..." Kakashi ignored my question. "Sakura, Exams over. Sound and Sand shinobi attacked. Seems they plotted Konoha destruction with Orochimaru.
"But why?"
"Can't explain quick... Hurt?" He glanced fleetingly, eyes on foe raising wounded, repositioning to encircle.
"Hear order. This A-rank; crucial you act together. Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru—follow Sasuke. Genma likely tasked him pursue Gaara. Assist, but priority: extract him, join evacuation squad. That chakra worries me..."
"You coming?" Sakura asked hopefully.
"No... 'Summoning Technique!'" Kakashi summoned pug raising paw salute.
"Dog?" Sakura surprised.
"Pakkun—ninja hound; he'll track Sasuke. Go roundabout."
"UUUUU!! YAAAAA...." Guy bellowed, body-slamming foe through my clone-bomber blast-damaged wall with gut punch.
"Go—we'll cover." I hoisted stunned Shikamaru as Sakura crawled stairs dodging flying cold steel. Pug urged her; she slowed more realizing talking dog.
"Damn mess... Should've really fallen to genjutsu." Shikamaru whined, still ear-digging.
"They'd wake you anyway. Quit whining, jump that hole!" I replied.
"Why dawdling?!" Kakashi covered again from explosive kunai. He finger-caught it, two-fingered off seal, clenched extinguishing "fuse." Risky stunt... 60% hand-loss odds. I nodded; nearly shoved Shikamaru—pug bit him too—then jumped hole.
We circled arena big loop, spotting smoke, fire, huge snake afar near west wall. Seeing live, I formed clone seal, concentrated chakra.
Things are bad... After the fight with Hyuga, and especially after being forced to brawl on the stands, I couldn't boast a large chakra reserve. I had about 40% left, maybe even less. If I was counting on a fight with Gaara, that might not be enough—not to mention what I had in mind. Looks like I'll have to ask for help...
"Hey, Kurama, you asleep?" Closing my eyes, I peered into that room with the cage.
"Mmm?" came the reply.
"I could use some help... But this time, what I can draw myself won't cut it. Try to push out the maximum chakra that can pass through the sealing mark right now."
"Is that so..." The Fox replied, turning away and lying back down on his paws, closing his eye.
"And? You gonna help?"
"Wanderer... Why do you want to use power like this? Why are you planning to save these people who are fighting? I give you my chakra when your survival is on the line. You can take what you need for that, but no more. I don't give a damn about these people!" The Fox opened his eye as he replied. "I have no reason to bust my ass just so you can risk yourself to save another pathetic soul!"
"Is that right? Maybe forget why I'm doing this? Just help me! Or do you not give a damn about the one sharing this body with you either?"
"Tch... What happens if you don't waste my chakra protecting people who are useless even to you, Wanderer? You need to learn priorities! Why do you need them?! How does this get us closer to our goals?!" He lifted his muzzle as he asked. "Or do you get off on thinking you mean something to these people? You enjoy their fake gratitude and think it improves how they see you? Ha! To them, Naruto will forever be the cursed monster they sealed me into, an even bigger monster. Only those who don't know can feed you illusions, but sooner or later it'll come out, and then they'll hate Naruto too. Out of envy... Out of fear, or pain from the lives I took of their loved ones, and the death and destruction I once brought to their village. People aren't capable of forgiveness or understanding. You'll never be one of them, Wanderer! And besides... Heh-heh-heh... They don't even know the real you. So why bother for them?"
"Kurama..." I started, and he cut me off.
"Even if you take your true form, at best you'll be an eternal outsider. Only our goals matter, only your life in this body matters! That kid, Shukaku's vessel... He's right. He's a weapon and accepted it. He feels alive fulfilling his purpose, Wanderer, but you?! Is that how you feel alive? Risking yourself to save their worthless lives that mean nothing! You even named your sword Protector... Ha! Until now, I thought it was just an act and you understood these simple truths, but now, seeing what you're about to do, I'm not so sure!"
"Kurama..." I turned to him and smiled. "I thought you understood me better than anyone, but looks like I have to prove it over and over. I don't belong to this world, and to be honest... I don't like it, never did, even in my first life. They undervalue human life here way too much, just like you are now. But whether I want to or not, I'm here now, and as long as I live here, I don't want to hear that shit, Kurama! I want to change that attitude, change this world! That's why I'm here! These lives I save... You're right, they mean nothing to me. But I save them anyway, and I'll keep doing it, because if I only act on my own desires, what kind of change can I talk about?! You want me to become like them? Lose myself in this world? Should I deceive you too? You're useful, sure, but I could put myself above you and just ignore your wants! That's not my path, Kurama. Not our path... I came from a place where everyone doesn't give a damn about anyone, and I can't stand seeing it here anymore! I don't know why I'm here, but if I'm needed for something, at least it's to try changing things with this power, our power, and if it doesn't work, then... Whatever..."
"Is that so... Ha-ha-ha-ha... You sure know how to surprise me, Wanderer. Fine, I'll help you. If you really want to help and get me what I want, I see no reason to refuse the one sharing this vessel with me, but don't think you can change me! To me, only you and your goals matter— their lives are still nothing!"
I opened my eyes. The whole conversation, lasting about ten minutes, took maybe three seconds in the real world. I was already charging forward, holding the cloning seal and channeling all my chakra into the technique. My eyes had changed, chakra was seeping from my body, forming the Fox's ghostly cloak and spreading my aura across the area. Extra finger joints were growing, fangs extending in my mouth. Claws on hands and feet.
"Uh... Naruto?!" Shikamaru said in alarm. Sakura whipped around, eyes wide, edging away from my path. Her chills from my aura were understandable.
"It's fine... I need this power right now." Running felt easier... Much easier, legs carrying me effortlessly. Muscles swelled with blood.
I focused on the shadow clone technique as hard as I could, trying to control this massive chakra volume—about 200% of what I had before the Hyuga fight. And this wasn't even full one-tail mode, though I should learn it... Scared I wouldn't control it with my level. Even now, full focus to calculate boost, speed, and chakra's effect on the technique.
No clone army needed. One, the strongest ever, to hold against Gaara for a bit—I'm sending the clone there. I need to help the wall defenders, or most will die.
"Shadow Clone Technique!" Pouring everything in, I split the chakra in half, spun, and headed for the west wall.
"Naruto, why split your chakra?! What'll a shadow clone change?!" Shikamaru asked.
"I have to help!" my clone replied, staying with them. "I have a summoning technique to counter those snakes!"
"Tch... Where'd you learn all that?"
"You can summon toads like that sage?" Sakura asked, surprised. I nodded. "Think a clone's enough?"
"We'll see, but if the sage isn't in the village, I have to try something..." I said.
Truth was, no toad summon there—they'd help against Gaara. I planned to test the "Wanderer" persona. A second personality with a separate style could ease things a lot. Especially later, where "Naruto" shouldn't be...
After a few blocks in a wide arc, we hit roofs and spotted the barrier Sound Four dropped over Orochimaru and the Third's battlefield.
"What's going on in there?" Sakura muttered.
"Damn, we're past the arena—lost 'em now..." Shikamaru whined.
"Pakkun!" I called. The pug landed silently beside us. "I'm here! You kids are too fast. I'll lead now." His voice was gruff. We leaped after the ninja pug.
***
Splitting from Shikamaru, Sakura, and the clone, I hopped roofs, found a cozy alley near the park, and summoned the toad carrier with his barrel of "Wanderer" gear. Also prepped non-unique but unusual-world weapon—hated using on live targets, but if it came to this...
I changed fast, layering henge. Good the chakra form adjusts height and build. Felt like a new body, minus downsides—just slightly off, but I'd trained in extreme conditions, so fine.
Ten minutes run to west wall, five via roofs and long jumps. I stuck to shadows; seven minutes to nearest block where Konoha shinobi clashed with sand.
Snakes splitting, wrecking wall, towers, surroundings. Ripping trees by roots, hurling at defenders. Plus building chunks. Shinobi raised earth walls, pelted stones and fireballs. Useless. Over 50m tall, head four-five Kamaz trucks. Hide tougher than stone per explosive kunai.
Too-close meant swallowed with roof chunk or tail-smack flight—fatal.
Snakes spreading sectors. Can killing summoners end it? Anime knowledge says no... Long chakra charge, weird scrolls. Ritual for full-power permanent summons. Big problems.
Leaping from water tower to roof, saw five Leaf shinobi advantage a sand ninja at intersection. Substitution dodged his attack, atop small houses.
White turban, standard sand gear, wrapped head—adult male, experienced. Dual scimitars. Kunai/shuriken storm—he spun whirlwind-fast. Deflected all. Explosives slowed seconds, no harm—wind-enhanced. No stop; some damn technique. Unapproachable, accelerating spin.
Kurama's chakra overflow—I saw through his eyes. Fast even for me; normal hit miss.
Sand shinobi launched boosted shuriken/sword, beheaded ours! Sword returned. Blood fountain. Couldn't watch; he'd wipe them. Chakra right hand, finger-spin, extra power, aura-locked enlarged crimson rasengan matching Kurama cloak.
Instant shift forward, boosted reaction—struck left torso... Wind cloak dispersed second, but he twisted, flat-scimitar block. Pushed, extra chakra cracked blade to dust, sphere pierced vest left chest. Rasengan deformed, expanded, engulfed chest/shoulder, launched spinning, tunneled blast. Arm/scimitar remnants flew; body five-seven meters forward. Hands down post-blast, checked result.
Shocking.
Left shoulder gone. Clothes/armor shredded. Left face chakra-burn, eye melted.
Blood waterfall; dead for sure...
Everyone stunned. Bald shine in sun, stared at first kill. Right hand shook/smoked from power. High black coat collar hid below nose-bridge.
"Hey... Who the hell are you?" Through rasengan ring. No marks, but no attack rush—I one-shot untouchable foe. Sand-killer no enemy, but no trust.
Tore gaze from corpse, faced three surviving Konoha shinobi.
"Grab wounded, fall back." Pointed at shuriken-pierced groaning one. "Two carry, third with me forward, warn retreat to tall buildings. No point holding open roads/wide intersections—sitting ducks, single-story surrounds. Outnumbered, so tell all to hide buildings, attack from above using height!"
"We wanted to surround him here..." Wounded-carrier objected.
"Move, discuss if we live."
"Man, you didn't answer—who the fuck are you?! Konoha shinobi? Where's your forehead protector?!"
"Reinforcements! Listen, maybe we all live—or do your thing. Attack my back if want; I'll dodge, fight sand/sound. Main task: shove pepper up their noses, block deep push—gonna spook that snake!" Pointed nearest, couple hundred meters.
Ended talk, leaped over abandoned house to two tall shinobi dorms—hot springs ad atop. Kunai cover. Third-floor roof comfier than low ones. Hundred-plus meters, deflected sand kunai/shuriken midair, hid. Subbed as enemy explosive passed, shifted behind ad shield.
Assessed: Leaf sacrificing for evac time—smart, but hated. Sand cut detachments, no crit advantage. Retreated behind snakes tanking damage. Ours killed on errors, mostly wounded hoping sand rescue for fire/steel trap—but sand no-help. Unlike ours... Damn mutual aid mentality. Watched three pull earth shinobi snake-trapped columns, blinded pepper-explosives—failed, air-bullets to poison cloud paralysis. Three rushed; sand ambushed, explosive kunai rain. Chunks flew alley. I countered: six explosives, three per hand from height. Three blasts, three more—hit some. One down, second dragged minus leg. Saw east sand squad cut reinforcements, force hide from fire—I summoned giant shuriken. Unfurled, wound up, hurled full power. Higher ad shield view, leap-throw instant shift.
Two shuriken: one clone shadowed. Clone neared, dropped henge, point-blank six kunai. Real one veered 150m wind; dodge or halved. Snake smashed barriers toward dorms; two sand squads front, expecting brake.
Sand split, hit our lone kamikaze prepping fire breath/explosives. Kurama speed, dozen instant shifts—yanked three from hammer on anvil.
Sand squads shocked. Two behind ad, third second dorm roof farther.
I stood crossroads center, fast moves drawing mega-snake. Aimed, exhaled poison gas crossroads. Sand saw suicide, flanked rear safe.
Poison? Pfft. Kurama purges; max aura dispersed cloud, density null. Front shuriken storm—leg-pouch kunai deflected. Gas gone, sand three-on-one frontal: sword, folding spear, dual long daggers. Seals fast, smirked...
"Summoning Technique!" Three-meter toad statue subbed me. Summon-sub meh—three-meter limit, three seconds vs. one-point-five normal...
Surprise: unstoppable attack tripled fragile oil-filled stone statue.
"Fire!" Yelled up at saved skins. God bless, no questions—flamed oil-soaked foes.
Flash blinded; roof-jump, heard screams, winced...
Damn... Horrid death, but snake priority.
"Wind/fire shinobi here?" Fire-attacker beside me ad shield; another hopped up. Kid, seventeen. My world—no army yet...
"I do wind!"
"Perfect." Nodded. "That burning oil—natural fire source. Joint technique, fan flames, max chakra! Fire Dragon pull?"
"Normal no, but oil blaze strong. Try." Fire said.
"Y-yeah, I'll help..."
"Target—that beast. Dragon face-first!" Pointed near snake. "Go..." They nodded, down.
Seals: wind inhaled max air; fire max aura vortex-fed flames. Fire exhaled, seals dragon-head whirl from ground oil-fed, roared snake-face. Third-smaller dense flame scorched skin, nostrils, eyes; pain-open maw—throat dive, gutted clean. Chakra out, final flash disperse—but catastrophic damage. Hissing agony, gaping maw fanned flames worse. Eyes popped overboiled. Head-smashed building, crashed dead crossroads.
Exited shield, signaled two roof-up.
Hopped lower neighbor better view dead beast... Sand shinobi shadow-sub back. Perfect—Gai/Lee level. Barely audible step. Aura caught...
No react; heart-stab kunai back.
Lucky plate under coat... Second life-save.
Spin kunai slash—throat cut, shocked as him...
Expected dodge; never perfect kadyk/jugular slice...
Dark-crimson sprayed coat, face speckles, body gush.
Thought me dead; counter surprise. Dropped clutching throat, gurgle no words, final rasp...
***
Chasing Sasuke, pug-leaps—surprisingly fast flight, jump-sniff lag.
"Attention..." Pakkun said. "Trouble."
"Huh?" We three.
Outskirts now, road third-fourth east polygons. Free shinobi battlefield-moved. No village roofs careful-jump. Forest start. Wall three km, branch-leap.
"All stop." Pug ordered. "Confuse tracks. Eight—no, nine. Nine Sound shinobi tailing."
"Damn..." Shikamaru.
"Backtrack tracks, long jumps only."
"Clones decoy wrong way?"
"They'll split, Naruto." Smart pug. "Best shake. Non-trackers might lose us—want that..."
"Fine." I said.
Did as Pakkun said.
Minutes long jumps; wall-scent, pursuers back.
"Damn... No good."
"Still tailing?" Sakura.
"Yeah..." Pug nod.
"Ambush fight? Better than caught..."
"No, Naruto..." Shikamaru. "Ambush needs early spot, foe blind terrain. They hit our turf, pursuing plan. Terrain known. Numbers theirs. Trap-savvy, quick resume."
"So now?" I asked, knowing.
"Guaranteed shake: one stays ambushes, others escape pursue. Group-wait—miss Sasuke."
Wall-climb thirty meters, scouted. Guard section abandoned reinforcement breach-hold.
"Suicide. None take nine." Sakura.
"So me." Shikamaru.
"What?!" She yelped; Pakkun turned.
"Can't help big fight—half chakra max. But... Technique delays regardless numbers. Only one pull it."
"Suicide wish?" I asked. Real scared. What if Asuma no-show...
"No." He said. "Today you saved me, Naruto." Sakura eyes ping-ponged us. "Hate debts, especially THAT debt. Now scram before rethink."
"Tch... Listen, maybe..." I started.
"Scram fast! Sasuke rescue—he won't solo those three!"
"He's right! Go..." Pug leaped.
"But..." Sakura.
"No time, kid's best plan!" Pakkun forward.
"Wait!" Sakura chased.
"Shikamaru... Don't die." I said, followed.
"Heh..." Noisy exhale. "Guess that's my fate..."
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan