Naruto hurled the Dragon-Patterned Griddle with all his strength,
then
stared straight at the attack bearing down on him.
His eyes were wide open. Unlike other Ninja, he refused to close them before death.
Instead,
he kept them open, as though determined to show his contempt for the enemy until his final breath!
But
just then,
a figure suddenly shoved Naruto aside.
BOOM!!!
The blast thundered beside Naruto's ears. He frowned, his head ringing.
Still, he scrambled up and looked behind him.
Who had saved him?!
But
when he saw the figure, his eyes flew wide.
The Ninja around him looked just as stunned,
as though the person who had saved Naruto had no business being there!
"H-how is that possible...?"
Kabuto Yakushi breathed a sigh of relief, sat back down, and pushed up his glasses with a show of composure.
Baki's mouth fell open. Disbelief filled his voice.
"Temari?"
That was right.
The person who had pushed Naruto aside and taken a fatal blow in his place
was Temari of Sunagakure!
In the muted sunlight, Temari's Sunagakure forehead protector gleamed, drawing every eye on the battlefield.
The surrounding Ninja were baffled. Weren't the Sunagakure Ninja their enemies?
Why had she suddenly saved Naruto?!
Naruto was stunned too. His mouth hung open, but he had no words. Then his gaze dropped, and his pupils contracted sharply.
There,
in Temari's abdomen, was a gaping hole.
Blood streamed from the wound and soaked the hem of her pristine white clothes. The sight was jarring.
"Wh-why...?"
Naruto asked, bewildered.
Temari gave a faint smile. Blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
"If you're asking why... you're the hope of the Shinobi World now..."
"And you're Lord Cangyue's student. I won't let his student die..."
Naruto stared at her, speechless.
Baki was