Chapter 160
Naruto manipulated his Wind Release Chakra, sending the fastest, most powerful, and most cunning Shuriken with all his might to Gaara's defensive weak points.
Bang bang bang—
Even his automatic sand defense couldn't perfectly block them.
Gaara could only violently wave his hand.
More sand shot up into the sky, forming a Sand Wall, blocking the Shuriken enhanced with Wind Release.
However, the power of Wind Release: Gale Palmstill penetrated his body, fiercely striking Gaara's form.
Boom—
Gaara was instantly sent flying backward!
His clothes rustled loudly!
And streaks of sand fell from him... Naruto was overjoyed: "It worked!"
The Shuriken enhanced by his Wind Release: Gale Palm had speed and power that were incomparable to ordinary Shuriken.
More importantly, even after the Shuriken were thrown, Naruto could still control their direction and trajectory, making it impossible for Gaara to defend against them!
Even if these were all defended against, the inherent power of Wind Release: Gale Palm could still launch a secondary attack, penetrating every crevice.
As expected, one strike was effective!
Baki frowned: "That kid, Uzumaki Naruto, is indeed formidable! If this continues..."
Temari and Kankuro also couldn't help but worry.
"Gaara..."
Hinata, however, said joyfully: "Naruto-kun, great job—"
A barely noticeable smile also appeared on Sasuke's lips.
"Hmph, after all that effort, he only managed to hit the opponent once."
He still said that aloud.
Kakashi smiled slightly: "Naruto seems to have been observing Gaara as well, and he already figured out a way to deal with him in his mind."
Gaara was sent flying, but when he turned back, Naruto and all the spectators realized... only sand was falling from his face and body.
His true body had not sustained any damage!
Naruto frowned: "What was that?!"
"Did he wrap his entire body in sand to enhance his defense?!"
"Damn it, this guy really is a monster..."
Baki and the others, however, knew that while Gaara's Sand Armor was powerful, it was his last resort and required more Chakra.
If he couldn't quickly defeat Naruto, he might... Gaara, having been sent flying by Naruto, was even more furious. His eyes already held a monstrous ferocity, and his mouth became increasingly torn, distended, twisted, his pale teeth seemingly ready to bite a living person!
"U-zu-ma-ki Na-ru-to!"
Gaara roared, letting out a sharp, monstrous shriek!
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
Immediately, countless grains of sand swept up, enveloping and suppressing Naruto from all directions!
Naruto was not to be outdone, and he and his Shadow Clones simultaneously launched a large-scale Wind Release Ninjutsu.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Seven or eight Narutos simultaneously unleashed Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, charging in all directions. The air currents surged like a tide, overwhelming and rolling in!
Rumble—
Rumble!!!
With one strike, it actually blew away the sand, scattering it violently towards the outer perimeter of the entire arena!
Shiranui Genma quickly dodged.
But the spectators in the front rows of the arena suffered, their eyes immediately filled with sand and dust, unable to open them... Temari was greatly surprised: "He actually blew away Gaara's Sand Binding Coffin!"
"How can that guy's Wind Release Ninjutsu have such powerful force?!"
Baki frowned: "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough..."
"It's not a powerful Ninjutsu, but that Uzumaki Naruto's Chakra reserves are truly astonishing!"
"Perhaps..."
"Even greater than Gaara's!"
Kankuro jumped in fright: "What?!"
"How is that possible..."
Baki said: "Nothing is impossible. That Uzumaki Naruto is naturally a Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, but I heard that he hasn't used the Tailed Beast's power..."
"However, he flows with the blood of the Uzumaki Clan; immense Chakra and tenacious vitality are innate powers..."
"Even so, to have such strength at such a young age is beyond what can be described as mere talent..."
Naruto blew away Gaara's Sand Binding Coffin in one fell swoop.
Without the slightest pause.
Half of the Shadow Clones once again unleashed a new Ninjutsu.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
This was Naruto's strongest attack!
Combining Wind Release: Great Breakthroughwith Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique, unleashed simultaneously!
The two merged into one, blowing away and cutting, two distinctly different paths converging!
In an instant... fierce winds howled, and wind blades crisscrossed!
The interwoven cutting force sliced through the sky and the earth!
Gaara's absolute defense immediately formed automatically, but the speed and cutting power of Wind Release were unparalleled, still penetrating the gaps in the defense and fiercely striking Gaara's body.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh—
The Sand Armor had just been destroyed and was now reforming, not yet solid. Struck by Naruto's strongest attack, it instantly developed cracks!
It even... reached Gaara's main body!
Blood seeped out!
Gaara suddenly felt a long-forgotten pain. For a moment, unimaginable anger and fear simultaneously surged into his heart... "Wh-what is this..."
"Is that blood?!"
"Is that my blood?!"
"No, impossible..."
"I only make enemies bleed; no one has ever made me bleed!"
"Uzumaki Naruto, I will kill you!"
In his terror and rage, Gaara's body transformed again, as if the prototype of a monster had appeared... His facial features were twisted to the extreme, terrifying and demonic!
He roared, and countless grains of sand surged out!
In an instant, half of the arena turned into a world of sand!
Naruto couldn't help but frown at the sight.
"This guy really is a monster..."
Naruto and his many Shadow Clones immediately retreated rapidly to dodge.
But the sand was overwhelming, something that couldn't be solved by dodging.
Since that was the case, Naruto simply stopped dodging.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Naruto and his Shadow Clones actually all turned and charged towards the sand!
"Wind Release: Whirlwind Fist!"
In an instant, violent Wind Release Chakraenveloped and coiled around his fists, fiercely unleashing attacks like swirling hurricanes, forcefully blasting holes in the sand and passing straight through!
"What?!"
Gaara was both shocked and enraged.
He immediately clenched his hands, and more sand rushed from all directions!
He vowed to crush Naruto into dust!
Rumble—
Rumble!!!
Indeed, one by one, the Shadow Clones couldn't escape in time, eventually being swallowed by the sea of sand, turning into puffs of white smoke and disappearing.
Even the main body was caught by the sea of sand, as if swallowed by some fierce beast, its gaping maw tearing down, completely engulfing Naruto... "Naruto-kun!"
Hinata was filled with worry and couldn't help but exclaim.
Sasuke also frowned.
"Damn it, that bastard wouldn't..."
Kakashi, however, smiled slightly: "You have to believe in Naruto. How could he be defeated so easily?"
"After all, he is..."
"Konoha's strongest Genin!"
As Kakashi Hatake spoke these words, time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Naruto Uzumaki's recently vanished figure suddenly reappeared, while the body that had been swallowed turned into a wind-like afterimage!
"That's Naruto-kun's Wind Body Flicker!"
"Th-that's great..."
"Hmph, so that's it."
Naruto activated Wind Body Flicker Technique, not only dodging Gaara's sand attack but also taking advantage of his unpreparedness. His speed increased to the extreme, and he quickly closed in on Gaara's main body!
"You bastard, you've been arrogant for too long!"
"Take this..."
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
The Wind Body Flicker Technique was not only incredibly fast, even creating afterimages, but with the added speed, Naruto's strength also surged dramatically!
This strike came fiercely from above, descending from the sky, slamming down with his heel!
Rumble—
Boom!!!
A powerful strike landed squarely on Gaara's head!