Eastern Land of Fire.
Whoosh...
Amid a burst of rushing wind, Naruto landed in the forest and looked around. "Is this where Sensei arranged for us to meet?"
Suddenly, Naruto seemed to sense something and turned toward a certain direction. Before long, unhurried footsteps came from that way.
Taking a closer look, Naruto realized that the newcomer was not someone he knew, but a mysterious figure wrapped head to toe in a black cloak.
Moreover, Naruto, who had mastered Senjutsu, sensed an inescapable icy chill from the other person, instinctively putting him on guard.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
Naruto shouted.
As far as he knew, this was the secret meeting place his teacher had arranged with him. He had not even told companions like Sasuke, so no one other than his teacher should have happened to appear here.
Yet the mysterious figure did not answer and continued slowly walking toward Naruto.
"An enemy?"
Naruto's expression hardened as he raised his hands to form seals.
As the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he knew very well what he meant to the village and to the Ninja World. If his teacher, Hyuga Kagami, had not summoned him, he would never have left the village on his own.
That was precisely why, despite his usually rash nature, he had been especially cautious throughout the journey.
Swish...
At that moment, the mysterious figure flickered and vanished from Naruto's sight at an inconceivable speed.
This is bad!
Naruto immediately realized the gravity of the situation. His hands, which had only been poised to form seals, moved without hesitation.
Bang...
But before Naruto could form even his first seal, the mysterious figure flashed before him and drove a knee brutally into his chest with a dull thud.
In an instant, Naruto felt as though he