It was as though the void itself had shattered beneath Naruto's punch. Soundless as thunder, everyone only felt a momentary distortion before they saw the storm Temari had created vanish beneath Naruto's fist.
"Nani?"
Temari was shocked. Her chest heaved violently as all three stars of her fan opened. This was her full strength, yet it had been crushed by Naruto's punch.
The sight was truly shocking.
Temari's move could sweep away an entire forest, its destructive power immense. Yet such an overwhelmingly powerful attack had been annihilated with a single punch from Naruto.
There seemed to be lingering wind in the air.
Wind.
Wind behind her!
Temari suddenly felt a chill down her back. Her pupils contracted as she saw Naruto before her gradually turn illusory, while a clear voice rang out behind her. "Oh? You're pretty strong."
Naruto had witnessed Temari's fight with Tenten firsthand. Both of them had truly gone all out, and Temari had ultimately emerged slightly stronger. Tenten had lost to Temari's Scythe-Weasel technique.
Hearing Naruto's voice behind her, Temari knew she had already lost. There was no room for luck.
Bang! Bang! Bang...
Without question, Naruto began testing Temari's sincerity.
Baki was still dazed by the sight of Naruto's punch annihilating the storm and had yet to recover. Only when he saw Temari's face slowly swelling beneath Naruto's fists did the corner of his mouth twitch as he came back to his senses.
Recovered, Baki turned to look at his student Kankuro. Seeing Baki's expression, Kankuro immediately scratched his head awkwardly.
As Temari demonstrated her sincerity as a friend, the others who had already become Naruto's friends all smiled.
Because their group was growing larger and larger.
From now on, they felt they would no longer be alone. After all, they were no longer