East of the Forest of Death.
Rumble!
"Roar!"
"Ah! Run!"
"Get out of there! That monster is coming!"
Three or four panicked genin sprinted for their lives, terror etched on their faces.
Crawling on all fours behind them was Naruto, acting like a wild beast!
Because he had been switched with Menma during his previous berserk state, he hadn't experienced the soul-crushing hatred of the Nine-Tails' chakra himself. Now, however, he was completely consumed by an overwhelming desire for slaughter and destruction!
He attacked anyone he saw with his claws, tearing through trees and earth.
Many were already seriously injured, some lying on the verge of death.
If Naruto hadn't retained a sliver of clarity—a mental barrier preventing him from killing—those unfortunate souls would have been torn in two by his claws!
"What's happening over there?"
"Why is everyone running?"
Kiba looked curiously at the fleeing ninjas.
"Stop looking. We need to evacuate too. It's definitely dangerous."
Shino adjusted his glasses, his voice calm. "Besides, we've already obtained the Earth Scroll and gathered both Heaven and Earth. We should avoid the danger and head straight for the central tower."
Kiba scoffed. "You're already thinking about ending things at the very beginning? You have no intention of pushing your limits!"
He gestured to Shino. "And you're too gloomy. We should face the challenge head-on and check it out! You agree, right, Akamaru?"
"Woof! Woof!" Akamaru, perched on Kiba's head, barked in agreement.
"But… but… I also think Shino is right…" Hinata Hyuga voiced her opinion timidly.
"Alright, alright, I know! You guys are so annoying!" Seeing Hinata object, Kiba sulked but nodded. "Fine. But if it's not too dangerous, can I use my Byakugan to take a look? I'm really curious what's chasing them!"
Hinata nodded and activated her Byakugan, veins bulging around her eyes. "Byakugan!"
Whoosh!
Her gaze pierced through layers of trees and foliage. She quickly spotted Naruto a kilometer away, slamming someone against a tree trunk with a single claw.
"That's… Naruto-kun?"
"Naruto?" Kiba and Shino looked at her, puzzled. "Are you kidding me? That dangerous monster is Naruto?"
Before Hinata could answer, Naruto—sensing her gaze—suddenly looked up in their direction. Crimson vertical pupils, jet-black lips, a fierce expression.
Then, with a burst of power, he leaped forward, racing toward them!
"Something's wrong. Naruto-kun is acting strange."
Hinata's brows furrowed, her usual soft voice gone, the stammering stopped. The next second, her face hardened. "You guys wait here. I'm going to check it out."
"Huh? Didn't you just say you weren't going?" Kiba was confused, but Hinata didn't listen and ran off.
"We'll follow," Shino said without hesitation.
"I really can't do anything with you guys," Kiba shook his head, then followed excitedly.
Behind the rampaging Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino, covered in bruises, trailed him.
"What's wrong with Naruto? Why did he suddenly attack us?" Choji's face was full of worry and sadness. His best friend trying to kill him was heartbreaking.
Ino recalled Naruto attacking her, and her heart pounded. "It was like he was dealing with a wild animal—completely unfamiliar with us." She paused. "And where are Sasuke and Sakura? Did Naruto kill them?"
"If he really wanted to kill someone, we'd be dead already, not just injured," Shikamaru said calmly, analyzing the situation with composure. "Maybe the seal is malfunctioning, or the thing inside him is acting strangely. Anyway, Naruto is in danger right now, acting on pure instinct."
He had trained with Naruto and the others for two months. Naruto, with his big mouth, had already told them everything about the Nine-Tails seal and his alternate personality.
Choji, watching ahead, suddenly shouted, "Look! It's Hinata Hyuga from Team 8! Behind her are Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame!"
Shikamaru and Ino looked over. Sure enough, Hinata was running straight toward Naruto.
"What's Hinata doing?" Ino frowned. Compared to the usually timid, stuttering, blushing Hinata, Ino had never seen her with such a determined expression.
However, she couldn't bear to see her get injured. "Get out of the way, Hinata!" she shouted. "Naruto isn't thinking straight right now. He won't recognize us!"
"Roar!" As if to prove Ino's words, Naruto roared and slashed through a tree trunk in his path with his claws.
Faced with this terrifying version of Naruto, Hinata's expression hardened. That gentle Naruto-kun must be so sad and helpless right now, she thought. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. I have to help him come to his senses!
Thinking this, Hinata jumped down from the tree, meeting Naruto's raised palm. She took a step forward, assuming a Gentle Fist stance.
Hinata, you have to have confidence. You can do it. Just like you practice so hard, aim at the pressure points…
Swish!
Strands of hair fluttered, and a trickle of blood flowed from Hinata's cheek.
So fast! I can't keep up at all!
Hinata, who had originally planned to observe with her Byakugan before striking, found herself unable to keep up with the movements. She could only barely see them clearly. If it weren't for Naruto's claws shifting a few centimeters earlier, she would have been decapitated!
Kiba and Shino followed closely behind. Seeing the enraged Naruto move again, they shouted anxiously, "Hinata, behind you! Get out of the way!"
Naruto attacked again from behind, this time targeting her left arm—not a vital spot. Hinata quickly turned around, her snow-white pupils filled with determination.
Snap!
A sharp pain shot through her left arm. Hinata struck out with her palm toward Naruto's joint, but the chakra that had pierced her joint was blocked by the Nine-Tails Chakra Cloak!
Seeing himself countered, the enraged Naruto instantly erupted in fury. His claws flashed like lightning as he stabbed toward Hinata's throat.
"Hinata!" everyone cried out in alarm.
At the same time, Yamato's voice came from afar. "Wood Release: Binding Nest!"
A thick tree trunk suddenly emerged from the ground, coiling around Naruto's limbs like a serpent. But the tree trunk was no match for the speed of his claws.
Seeing Hinata about to die on the spot, Naruto's last shred of sanity stirred in a struggle. Instantly, he retreated into his body, disappearing into the Nine-Tails' sealing space.
Then, Menma, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly took over the body without warning.
Bang!
A gust of wind swept outwards, engulfing the entire area. The claw that had been reaching for Hinata abruptly changed direction, smashing the entangling tree trunk to pieces.
"Naruto," Menma muttered, his voice low and cold, "you've gotten smarter again…"