I Must Protect You All

After confirming that Gaara had reached his limit, Lin Mu let out a sigh of relief.

He flipped his palm, and a black card appeared in his hand.

Kakuan Nitten Suishu Experience Card!

This was a jutsu specifically used by Senju Hashirama to suppress Tailed Beasts. The user would manifest the character "Seat" on their palm and inject chakra to create a wooden rectangular structure to suppress Tailed Beast chakra.

During the battle at the Valley of the End, Senju Hashirama used this jutsu in conjunction with the Thousand-Armed Guanyin Statue to control the Nine-Tails.

Yamato had also used this technique to suppress Naruto when he lost control and transformed into the Nine-Tails.

When it came to dealing with Tailed Beasts, this ninjutsu was the professional choice!

Just as Lin Mu was about to crush the Kakuan Nitten Suishu Experience Card to suppress Gaara and end this special mission, a sudden attack occurred.

"Wind Style: Kamaitachi!"

A sharp blade of wind suddenly struck. Lin Mu could not dodge in time and could only cross the wooden spikes in his hands to block in front of him.

Sshhh—

The violent wind blade slashed directly into the wooden spikes!

Lin Mu's expression changed instantly; the wooden spikes in his hands lacked chakra infusion and lacked sufficient hardness.

This single wind blade nearly severed the spikes entirely.

After barely blocking the wind blade, Lin Mu retreated rapidly, but a chilling breeze suddenly brushed past his ear.

Lin Mu ducked instinctively.

Several poison needles shrouded in black mist whistled past his scalp.

Scanning with his peripheral vision, he saw a menacing black puppet lunging toward him.

It was Temari's Wind Style and Kankuro's Puppet Jutsu!

Lin Mu dared not be careless. He retreated quickly, backing against a large tree, and fixed his gaze on the two of them.

Temari and Kankuro exchanged a glance, each unleashing their ninjutsu to attack Lin Mu.

Gaara was too important to Sunagakure; there could be absolutely no mistakes!

In terms of individual strength, Kankuro and Temari were certainly no match for Lin Mu.

However, Lin Mu had just clashed with Gaara; although it was only two brief exchanges, each had required his full strength, leaving him with little chakra remaining.

Temari and Kankuro were siblings, and their coordination was incredibly seamless.

The eerie puppet arts combined perfectly with the immense power of the Wind Style.

For a moment, they exerted significant pressure on Lin Mu.

While the threat wasn't fatal, it effectively entangled Lin Mu, causing him to lose the opportunity to suppress Gaara directly.

With Lin Mu tightly held back by Temari and Kankuro, and Sasuke Uchiha unable to move due to the power of the Cursed Seal and total chakra exhaustion, Gaara was now completely unopposed, free to recover his injuries and chakra.

The sand on Gaara's body gradually stabilized, and his vicious gaze shifted, locking directly onto Sasuke Uchiha.

"Sasuke Uchiha, you are still going to die!"

He leaped forward, pouncing toward Sasuke Uchiha once again!

Bang!

With another muffled thud, Gaara, who was closing in on Sasuke Uchiha, was kicked away by a figure!

"Naruto!"

Sasuke Uchiha exclaimed in surprise; he had not expected Naruto to arrive at this moment.

Lin Mu also noticed the commotion, but he was not surprised.

He had known all along that Naruto would come; it was well within his expectations.

By now, Sakura Haruno had also arrived, and seeing Sasuke Uchiha collapsed on the ground, tears immediately streamed from her eyes.

But Gaara would not give Sakura Haruno time to weep. In his eyes, these two newcomers were nothing more than "prey" with no power to resist!

He slowly straightened his body, and at this moment, his form began to change once more.

Previously, only half of his body had transformed into a monster, but now, sand flowed out from the gourd on his back again.

It slowly covered his other half; his left hand gradually condensed into a sharp, massive claw, and a giant tail slowly extended outward!

Now, except for his legs, his entire body had transformed into a monster!

"He's about to reach his complete form!"

Temari's gaze swept over Gaara's transformation, her thoughts in turmoil.

If this continued, even she and Kankuro would be in danger!

Once Gaara reached his complete form, he would not distinguish between friend and foe—he would only know how to kill!

Naruto and Sakura Haruno were naturally stunned by Gaara's transformation.

Gaara did not care what his "prey" was thinking.

He extended his sharp claws, lunging directly at Sakura Haruno, who was closest to him!

How could Sakura Haruno have ever seen such a monster? She was stunned with fear.

But in a battle of this level, how could one afford to be stunned?

Naruto Uzumaki reacted with lightning speed, rushing straight toward Gaara in an attempt to block the blow for Sakura Haruno.

"Sand Shuriken!"

Gaara did not stop his attack on Sakura; the sand on his body surged violently, instantly condensing into countless sharp Sand Shuriken that shot toward Naruto.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

Naruto had rushed in out of desperation and now had no time to dodge.

He was struck head-on by the torrential storm of Sand Shuriken!

His body, falling from high in the air, was actually sent drifting upward by the violent force of the sand, finally slamming hard into a large tree in the distance!

Sakura Haruno, terrified out of her wits, was grabbed by Gaara and slammed ruthlessly against a tree!

"Sakura!"

Naruto and Sasuke were horrified, but at this moment, they had no way to save her.

However, Gaara did not deliver a killing blow; his shoulder slowly detached, and that massive claw, pinning Sakura firmly, remained embedded in the tree!

He curled his lips into a grin and chuckled:

"Defeat me! Otherwise, this claw will only tighten, and this girl will die sooner or later!"

Upon hearing these words, Naruto Uzumaki's eyes turned bloodshot.

At this moment, he could care about nothing else.

He had to save Sakura!

Watching Naruto Uzumaki rush toward him with reckless abandon, Gaara wore a sneer of disdain.

Given such a gap in strength, every move Naruto Uzumaki made was utterly useless!

"Bang!"

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Naruto Uzumaki was knocked away time and time again, yet he stood up each time, rushing toward Gaara as if he were incapable of fatigue.

Gaara curled his lips and swiped out with a vicious claw.

Struck by the heavy blow, Naruto's vision went black, and his body went limp as he collapsed to the ground.

"Hahahahahaha! I'll kill you all!"

Gaara appeared crazed, laughing wildly.

"Hiss..."

Squeezed by the claw, Sakura let out a groan of pain.

These sounds reached the ears of the fallen Naruto with crystal clarity.

"I..."

Naruto Uzumaki gathered all his strength and slowly crawled to his feet.

"Must protect you all!"

Having climbed up, Naruto Uzumaki swayed, struggling to steady himself.

He moved his hands, forming several seals.

The chakra within his body surged wildly, even erupting beyond his skin.

It burned fiercely like a raging fire.

"Ninja Art: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!"

A series of sounds rang out, and dense white smoke filled the entire forest.

When the white smoke cleared, everyone in the forest widened their eyes, as if they had seen a ghost.

The entire forest—on the branches, on the trunks, on the ground...

Was packed densely with—

Naruto Uzumaki!