At that moment, Naruto was running toward the shelter under the protection of his Ninja Academy teacher, Iruka.
Several ANBU were also escorting them from the shadows.
"Iruka-sensei, what happened to the village? Is it serious?" Naruto asked anxiously as he ran.
Though he had yet to graduate from the Ninja Academy, his heart had long since been steeped in Konoha's Will of Fire, and he was deeply worried about the village.
Iruka looked gravely toward the battlefield nearby and shook his head. "Naruto, you don't need to worry about this. Our priority right now is to get to safety!"
"But I want to help the village too, Iruka-sensei! I've gotten stronger!" Naruto insisted stubbornly.
"Don't be ridiculous! What good would your little bit of strength do? Have you forgotten what happened last time? Even Lord Third Hokage was seriously injured then. You're still a long way from being ready! You wouldn't be any help!" Iruka said sternly.
"Not even with the Nine-Tails inside me?" Naruto shouted.
Iruka froze. He hadn't expected Naruto to have already become aware of the Nine-Tails' power within him. After a moment's thought, he sighed. "Naruto, you must never let the Nine-Tails' power escape. What you need to do now is hurry up and hide somewhere safe. This trouble might be aimed at you again!"
Hearing that he might be the target, Naruto felt his blood surge and opened his mouth to argue.
Knowing what Naruto was thinking, Iruka spoke sternly before he could say anything. "Naruto, protect everyone once you've mastered the power inside you! You aren't strong enough yet. Do you understand?"
Naruto lowered his head helplessly, overwhelmed by a profound sense of powerlessness at his own weakness.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out in Naruto's mind.
"Naruto, do you want power?