Naruto's Back

"Awesome!"

After successfully entering Sage Mode, Naruto pumped his fist hard.

At that moment, his entire aura had changed completely. His originally pure blue eyes had become snake-like vertical pupils, and faint scale-like patterns had appeared on his face.

"Move!"

Sensing that Naruto above him had entered Sage Mode, Garaga immediately let out a roar.

As Garaga began twisting his massive body, Naruto hurriedly said, "Garaga, aside from those four bad guys, everyone else here is our comrades. Make sure you don't hurt them!"

"Hmph, what a pain!"

Though Garaga grumbled, his movements became much gentler.

Seeing the enormous creature suddenly move and assume an attacking stance, Asuma and the other three tensed up, hesitating over whether to reveal their true identities.

Just then, Garaga's thick, powerful tail lashed out and swept toward Asuma and the others!

Boom boom boom...

Amid a series of thunderous crashes, every tree along its path was uprooted by the sweep. Rubble, splinters, and shockwaves mixed together, surging across the entire battlefield like a storm!

"Th-This...!?"

Asuma and the others had focused all their attention on the giant snake's head. They had never expected it to be so cunning; the attack posture it had assumed by raising its body had merely been a feint to conceal its tail strike.

Faced with the sudden, fierce tail strike, Asuma and the others had nowhere to dodge. They could only barely raise their arms to protect their vital points.

Boom...

The storm instantly swept across the entire battlefield. Even Asuma and the other Jonin seemed as small as insects within it, violently blown away.

Bang...

Only after his body slammed heavily into a large tree and he coughed up a mouthful of blood did Asuma barely steady himself. He then instinctively looked toward the devastated battlefield, his expression