Anrokuzan fled, sliding straight down a secret passage into the depths of the Underground Palace. His obese body bumped and scraped through the narrow passage, his shoulder striking the stone wall with a dull thud, but he had no time to care about the pain or catch his breath. Only one thought filled his mind.
Run. Get as far away as possible.
That Naruto Uzumaki wasn't human. He was a monster!
He had seen many powerful ninja: Sunagakure's Kazekage, Konoha's White Fang, Kumogakure's Raikage. But those people had at least remained within the bounds of humanity.
But the blond man behind him-the way he swung his sword, the speed at which he ran, the certainty in his eyes, so calm it bordered on cruelty...
Was this guy really human?
"How could a ninja this powerful even exist?!"
Anrokuzan roared, ran, and gasped for breath.
His lungs heaved desperately in his chest like a pair of broken bellows, every breath bringing a rusty, burning sensation.
His legs trembled, and his knees creaked ominously.
Six years of binge eating and unrestrained indulgence had long since hollowed out his already frail body.
Fat piled around his belly and cheeks, weighing down his every movement like a heavy suit of armor.
By now, Anrokuzan's physical condition was worse than that of a Genin fresh out of the Ninja Academy.
The Puppet Technique he had once taken such pride in required precise chakra control, but now even maintaining basic hand seals felt exhausting.
"You're just scared."
The golden figure followed him like a shadow, sword in hand.
Naruto's voice came from behind him, unhurried, with a composure that was almost maddening.
His footsteps tapped out a light, steady rhythm on the passage's stone stairs. None of his steps were quick, yet every one precisely narrowed