Only You Can Save the Hokage

Naruto's sense of belonging to Konoha was practically zero.

There were only humans with emotions, but they were few and far between.

If the invaders hadn't insisted on going after his little brother Sasuke, he would have just pretended to faint like that kid Nara Shikamaru next to him.

He observed.

Even though at this very moment, even Hiruzen Sarutobi was locked in a fierce battle, and he was being blocked by that idiot Gaara spouting incomprehensible depressive ramblings, he still felt someone was hiding, not yet revealed.

For example, the Anbu.

The Anbu originally stationed at the venue were all imposters; what about the real ones?

Allowing the damn Hokage to fight alone in his own base? Was that something a human would do?

With an evil, frenzied look, his skin twitching, Gaara, seeing Naruto remain silent for a long time, roared as his gourd sprayed yellow sand:

"You're just like me! You have the same eyes, you need to prove your worth! Do you hear me!"

Naruto, cradling the sleeping Hinata with his left arm, swatted away the sand, "Blah blah blah! What are you yapping about!"

Gaara suddenly looked terrified, clawing at his hair as if schizophrenic, "Mother, don't be angry, I'll kill him right away and avenge you."

Naruto, looking disgusted, picked up Hinata and jumped off the high wall, stepping on the railing.

As soon as he left, Shikamaru, who had been lying on the ground, immediately flipped over and jumped up, following behind him to avoid being killed by Gaara's madness.

Gaara threw his head back and roared, yellow sand exploding through the entire spectator corridor. A massive, brown and white striped arm replaced his left hand, his right eye turned into a coin shape, and fangs grew from half his mouth.

His teammate and brother Kankuro trembled in fear, sweating and exclaiming, "Terrifying, so terrifying! No one can hurt Gaara. The first time I saw him turn into that thing, I was too scared to eat."

His sister Temari also looked solemn, "Let's go quickly, before he loses his mind and turns into his complete form."

Gaara, like a mad dog, pulled on the railing with his fanged arm, retreating. The fanged arm stretched elastically like rubber, and with a release, he shot out like an arrow, pouncing towards Naruto.

"Damn it, will this never end? Whale Killer Hegemonic Fist!" Naruto stopped, turning back and throwing a punch without mercy, colliding with the fanged arm.

The fanged arm instantly exploded into a sky full of yellow sand, and was carried by the punch's force back towards Gaara's chest.

The gourd behind Gaara moved almost instantaneously, forming a thick sand shield in front of him. After it completely exploded, it barely blocked the punch's force.

Seeing the gourd explode into a sand curtain, Gaara's pupils widened.

Naruto, holding Hinata in his arms, broke through the sand curtain, drawing his fist back like a bow, "Next life, have a better birth."

Gaara sensed that the power that had always protected him since childhood was no longer sustainable.

He had no choice but to control his Chakra himself, "Desert Wave!"

Sand enveloped him layer by layer, condensing into a spiky sphere, but a hard fist pierced the sand before it could fully solidify, letting light into the darkness within.

It struck him directly in the head, and the sand armor cracked inch by inch.

Countless memories flashed through his mind in an instant.

Killing his father, killing his uncles, hating his mother.

Endless hatred for this world; with so many people he wanted to kill, how could he be willing to die?

He wanted to defeat those who could harm him, take everything from them, and clearly feel the value of being alive!

"False Sleep Technique! Shukaku!"

Wild Chakra surged from Gaara's body, rapidly strengthening his sand armor and quickly expanding to five meters tall, transforming into a true monster, a brown and white tattooed raccoon with a large tail curled behind its back.

It hopped and stretched its claws, excitedly pointing at Naruto, "Yoho! Hahaha! Finally out! The first thing I see when I open my eyes is someone I want to kill! Release, release, get bigger!"

"What an ugly thing! Five Elements Seal!" Naruto fell from the sky, his five fingers burning with Chakra, and slammed them heavily onto the forehead of the expanding Shukaku.

Shukaku's laughter abruptly stopped, "I just came out! I don't want to go back!"

It quickly retracted, releasing only a small portion of its Chakra, revealing the blood-red "Love" character on Gaara's forehead again.

He confirmed it; Gaara was also a Jinchuriki, and this monster was clearly a Tailed Beast.

Looking at the unconscious Gaara, he was now uncertain; if he killed him, would the Tailed Beast be completely freed?

If it was similar to the Nine-Tails, its power was clearly a bit excessive.

Not far away, Baki and Kakashi, two Jonin, were engaged in a battle of wits.

Seeing Gaara captured, Baki panicked. In his distraction, Kakashi used a Shuriken to cut off his mask, adding another scar to his ugly and ferocious half-face.

The most crucial part of the entire operation was Shukaku within him. Only when Shukaku was released in its complete form could this invasion of Konoha have a chance of success.

Completely free, Kakashi's gaze upon him put immense psychological pressure on him.

He had to consider Kakashi's potential attack at any moment.

And the attack came quickly.

Kakashi formed the Raikiri in his hand and charged straight ahead. Baki had no way to evade and used the Whirlwind Blade Technique.

As the two were locked in a stalemate, Naruto rushed behind Baki, his right hand transforming into the Hell Sword, stabbing through the sand and shredding his heart.

The entire process was smooth and fluid, and the veteran who had served two Kazekage died on the spot.

In the stands, a passionate Might Guy was fighting over a hundred Sound Ninja alone, his fists smashing through walls.

Inside the seal, whose roof had been blown apart by gnarled trees, Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi were locked in a fierce battle.

Explosions could be heard from time to time within the village, and a giant snake tens of meters tall shrieked as it tore down houses.

This chaotic scene felt incredibly familiar to Naruto.

Yakushi Kabuto, who had been chasing Gekko Hayate, had already left the arena.

He had a hunch that Yakushi Kabuto was hiding his strength, just to make them think Gekko Hayate could hold him back.

Naruto suddenly felt a slight tremor in his arms. He looked down and saw Hinata, who was nestled against his shoulder, her eyes tightly closed but her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Are you awake?"

Hinata opened her eyes, nodded gently, and reluctantly pulled away from his embrace to stand properly.

"I'm going to support Hayate and save Sasuke." Kakashi rubbed his temples and suddenly looked seriously at Naruto, "Naruto, you might be the only one who can save the Hokage."

Naruto didn't answer. "I'll go take a look."

Kakashi grunted and followed the trail in the direction Yakushi Kabuto had fled.

Naruto naturally understood Kakashi's meaning. He was also a Jinchuriki, and perhaps by summoning the Nine-Tails like Gaara, he could truly break that purple seal.

He instructed Shikamaru, "Keep an eye on Gaara. Don't let him wake up. If he does, knock him out immediately."

"Hinata, can you go home by yourself?"

Hinata nodded firmly. She had years of experience being kidnapped and had planned over a dozen escape routes at home.

Naruto said no more and climbed the wall onto the platform.

He didn't know why the powerful members of Konoha's many clans weren't appearing, nor did he know what conspiracy was behind it.

However, he still felt the genuine affection the Third had shown him in his childhood, even if the old man was a bit senile.

He had to go and see. If he could save him, he would. If not, he'd at least send him off, so he wouldn't be killed alone and friendless.

He reached the outside of the seal.

Naruto saw two coffins standing upright. The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second, Tobirama Senju, were together with Orochimaru, forcing Hiruzen Sarutobi, who held the Adamantine Staff, to his knees.