Chapter 131 - 31

Sudden Change!"The outcome is decided."Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses, speaking in a low voice. His tone was tinged with a hint of relief, as well as a trace of undisguised admiration. "To be able to hold out to this extent is already astonishing."Utatane Koharu nodded: "Under the interference of Kakashi's Sharingan genjutsu and Might Guy's frontal assault, he is still able to maintain such efficient defense and limited counterattacks. His combat instinct and Chakra control are far beyond his peers.""Truly remarkable..."Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe. The exhaled smoke blurred the expression on his face, but his words were interwoven with relief and a different kind of complexity.He looked at Naruto, as if seeing another pillar of Konoha's future, and also seeing the huge hidden risks."What does everyone think of Naruto's current comprehensive strength?"Sandaime spoke slowly, breaking the silence in the room.The group looked at each other, each with their own thoughts. Based on what Naruto had shown so far—powerful Chakra, unique Taijutsu attacks, astonishing defense and recovery ability...Although suppressed by two elite Jonin, this combat strength had undoubtedly touched the threshold of a Jonin, and might even be stronger in some aspects!As for the shortcomings..."Hiruzen!"Danzo Shimura's cold voice rang out, breaking the brief silence. His single eye stared down like a viper. "A Jinchuriki is, after all, just a sealing vessel, not the Tailed Beast itself! Look at how many Ninjutsu he has used from start to finish?!""Aside from that brute strength and bizarre Taijutsu burst, where is the Ninja proficiency he has displayed?""Clone Technique? Body Replacement Technique? Nature Transformation? Tactical deception? I haven't seen any of it!""He is just squandering the Tailed Beast Chakra he was born with! This is wasting his bloodline and potential!"He paused, his cane thumping heavily on the ground: "Better to hand him over to me. Roottraining will let him truly understand how to fight as a 'Ninja', and how to utilize every bit of power, rather than just charging around like a beast!""Cough cough..."Hiruzen Sarutobi choked and coughed a few times, the wrinkles on his face deepening.He could not refute Danzo's words; Naruto's lack of variety in Ninjutsu and tactical proficiency was indeed a clear shortcoming, an undeniable fact.However, to hand Naruto over to Danzo?Absolutely impossible!That cold, dark, and twisted method of cultivation would only ruin this child, and might even push both the Nine-Tailed and the Jinchuriki into an uncontrollable abyss."This... the flaws in Ninjutsu will naturally be filled in later."Sandaime waved his hand, his tone gentle but unquestionable. "After all, he is still a child who hasn't officially graduated from the Ninja Academy. Having such Taijutsu and Chakra talent is already precious. As for the rest..."He gave Danzo a meaningful look. "Konoha's education system will naturally guide him onto the correct path."Danzo snorted coldly and said no more, but the malice in his single eye deepened.Hiruzen Sarutobi had already made up his mind. Naruto must be cultivated, but letting him out of the Village directly carried too high a risk!But continuing to keep him trapped in the Ninja Academy was also unrealistic. His rate of progress and potential instability both required a more suitable "vessel" to channel and polish him.The internal sentiment of the Village had been volatile lately, the various clans had different intentions, and the suspicion toward the Uchiha Clan was deepening day by day. If Narutocontinued to stay in the Village, he might be dragged into an unnecessary vortex...Better to—First, in the name of "missions" and "guidance," let him go out moderately, contact the outside world within a controllable range, and at the same time...Recall those few scoundrels wandering outside who are most suitable for guiding this kind of "problem child"!When he returns, then hand Naruto over to him completely; only then could he rest easy. As for now, let Kakashi and Might Guy take him for the time being, make up for some basic shortcomings, and incidentally... observe and hone him.Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts were flying, preparing to speak and announce the assessment results and issue subsequent arrangements—"Huh? What is that...?"Hiashi, who had been observing in silence, suddenly exclaimed!He took a sudden step forward. Near the temples on both sides of his forehead, the veins characteristic of the Byakugan suddenly bulged and contracted like coiled dragons, as if he had seen something extremely incredible that required him to concentrate all his ocular power to confirm!Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were startled and immediately followed Hiashi's gaze to the center of the arena.The next second, everyone, including Kakashi and Might Guy who were in the midst of fierce battle, clearly saw that unforgettable scene—Naruto, who had been suppressed and seemed to be only capable of passive defense, suddenly had a sharp look in his eyes the moment he barely parried Might Guy's heavy kick and stumbled back!He did not weave any hand signs.He didn't even have an obvious process of condensing Chakra.Just with a suppressed low shout, and the action of slamming his right fist into the empty air towards the ground—"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"Several sharp wooden spikes, as thick as a bowl, dark as ink, but with pale golden wood grain flowing on the surface, shot out from the ground around him without warning, like giant pythons choosing their prey!These wooden spikes were extremely fast and came from tricky angles. They didn't go straight, but carried a strange arc and rotation, instantly piercing several Lightning Release Shadow Clones that were pouncing from the side!"Boom boom boom—!"The pierced Shadow Clones didn't even have time to self-destruct. The moment they were pierced by the wooden spikes, their internal structure was disturbed and destroyed by some strange power, exploding directly into clusters of chaotic blue electric light, dissipating into the air!At the same time, several other wooden spikes that missed their targets plunged deep into the walls and ground in the distance, and then—"Puff!" "Puff!" "Puff!"The tips of the wooden spikes burst open!Exploding into a large mass of dense, almost viscous, dark green strange gas!The gas spread rapidly, emitting a pungent odor that was both sweet and decaying. Wherever it passed, the stagnant water on the ground hissed and bubbled!"Poison mist?!"Might Guy's pupils shrank. He immediately held his breath and retreated violently, while waving his arms to disperse the poison mist with palm wind.Kakashi also retreated instantly, his Sharinganfixed on the wooden spikes and poison mist, his face changing drastically under his mask.He had forced back the close-combat Might Guy, temporarily cleared the harassing Shadow Clones, and the poison mist also obstructed Kakashi's line of sight and potential subsequent attacks.However, all of this was just a prelude.Kakashi and Might Guy, who had retreated to the sides, as well as everyone in the observation room, stared stiffly and incredulously at the center of the arena—Just as the wooden spikes erupted with poison mist, the slightly dim golden Chakra cloak on Naruto's body suddenly flared with great light!In that flowing golden Chakra, streaks of... vibrant emerald green suddenly emerged!