"Is this the backbone of Sunagakure ninja? Hiding in the sand like a turtle when you can't win?!"
"Get out here and fight head-on, coward!"
When Gaara hid inside an airtight sphere of sand, even Naruto's probing shuriken and kunai were precisely blocked by sand spikes that instantly protruded from its surface. Some spectators, who had just been getting excited, erupted in displeasure, angrily denouncing Gaara's evasive "turtle tactics."
"Strange..."
Kakashi frowned slightly as he watched Naruto standing motionless in the arena. He had personally witnessed Naruto use all five elemental releases. Though the sand sphere's defenses were thick, Naruto should have had several ways to force it open. Why was he still waiting?
Naruto's silence did not mean he had run out of options. He was thinking. He knew that Gaara had most likely hidden inside the sand sphere to prepare the Sleeping Fox Technique and surrender complete control of his body to One-Tails Shukaku within him.
But if he wanted to truly defeat Gaara, he would have to face One-Tails Shukaku regardless. Even if he killed Gaara now, the sealed One-Tails Shukaku would still break free.
No matter what, a confrontation with this "Great Tanuki" seemed inevitable... At that thought, Naruto could sense Kurama's excited growls inside his mental world, eager and itching for a fight.
However, to avoid endangering the innocent people outside the arena, Naruto absolutely could not let Gaara fully release Shukaku here. He had to crack this turtle shell before Shukaku completely awakened, throw Gaara out of the arena, and continue the fight elsewhere.
His decision made, Naruto swiftly formed hand seals in front of his chest. His chest swelled, and then he exhaled forcefully.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
An otherwise unremarkable B-rank Fire Release ninjutsu surged from Naruto's mouth as a blazing