Plan before acting

Rustling filled a dim, candlelit hideout within the Land of Fire as ink-wash mice traced in bold lines scurried around, searching...

Super Beast Imitating Drawing combined chakra with unparalleled artistic talent. It was a technique unique to Sai.

In the bushes near the hideout, Sai held his Hand Formation and told Mitaraishi Anko, who was investigating Kabuto's whereabouts with him, "That's right. This is one of the hideouts Orochimaru used."

Anko kept both hands in her pockets. "Looks like Kabuto's making use of the old nest..."

Tap!

Suddenly, something stirred in the large tree behind them.

Shing! Sai drew his sword, but Anko stopped him. "Wait. They're allies."

Three members of Konoha's reconnaissance unit appeared before them: Tokuma Hyuga, Muta Aburame, and Yawara-a Jōnin, a Special Jōnin, and a Chunin, respectively.

Muta wore the Aburame Clan's signature light-colored coat and dark sunglasses, with an insect jar strapped to his back. He stepped forward. "Captain Mitaraishi, we have orders from the village!"

"The mission has changed. Suspend the search for Kabuto Yakushi and prioritize locating Naruto Uzumaki. We'll serve under your command!"

"Naruto Uzumaki..." Anko looked surprised. "Yamato hurried back to the village during our mission just now. Was that related?"

Muta Aburame said, "Konoha was attacked by the Akatsuki. The damage is extensive, and casualties are heavy. Lady Tsunade is currently in a coma..."

"What?"

"As a result, Lord Danzo has been appointed Sixth Hokage..."

Sai's pupils abruptly contracted at those words.

Anko said, "I still find that hard to believe... so what exactly happened with Naruto?"

"We'll give you a detailed report shortly, Captain." Tokuma Hyuga stepped forward, glancing sidelong at Sai, whose affiliation made things delicate.

Some things could not be said in front of Sai, a member of Root...

"I'll take my leave!"

Sai bounded through the trees toward Konoha. Lord Danzo has become Hokage, and Naruto has left the village. I have a very bad feeling about this...

With their mission changed, Anko's team began searching for Naruto.

Anko also learned what had led up to his departure.

"I wouldn't believe Naruto would betray Konoha even if you beat me to death."

She still remembered his thickheaded personality during the Chunin Ninja Exams, and she had kept an eye on his growth ever since...

Muta Aburame said, "None of us wants to believe it, either. But only by finding Naruto can we clear up the truth and prevent Danzo from exploiting and framing him. There are already some ugly rumors spreading through the village..."

"Hm!?" Tokuma Hyuga, who was surveying their surroundings with his Byakugan, called out, "Naruto spotted at twelve o'clock! He's heading toward us!"

"What!?" Anko landed on a tree trunk. "That's far too convenient. Everyone, stay alert!"

They held their positions, gripping their kunai warily.

A kilometer away, Naruto released Sage Mode as he raced ahead. "They've already spotted us..."

This would be his first time facing his fellow villagers since his return, and he could not help feeling a little uneasy.

By the time he gathered his thoughts, he had already arrived in front of Anko's team.

"Whew..." Naruto took a deep breath and greeted them calmly. "Hey, Miss Anko. Long time no see."

The four members of Anko's team studied Naruto and Konan behind him.

Muta Aburame frowned. "That woman-that outfit. She's with the Akatsuki!"

Anko walked forward with her hands in her pockets. "Naruto, you left without a word, and now you're running around with an Akatsuki member. You owe us a proper explanation."

Naruto said, "There's nothing to explain. It's exactly what it looks like..."

"Oh?" Anko's heart tightened. Her hands clenched inside her pockets, and a vein bulged on her forehead. "You really do stick to your word and charge straight ahead, don't you!"

Naruto adjusted his rogue ninja forehead protector [the one Sasuke had left him with during their battle at the Valley of the End]. "That's right. That's my Ninja Way!"

Anko was so angry that she laughed. "Still clowning around at a time like this. You really know how to get on someone's nerves!"

Behind Naruto, Konan said coolly, "It seems I'm not particularly welcome here."

Naruto smiled faintly. "Yeah. Plenty of Konoha ninja died at the Akatsuki's hands even before Nagato, Senior Sister Konan."

Konan asked, "Are you going to fight them alone?"

Naruto said, "I haven't had a proper fight in decades, and my reflexes have dulled quite a bit. Four Jōnin-level opponents-not too many, not too few. Just enough to help me regain my combat instincts..."

"Be careful, then..."

Konan withdrew beyond the combat area.

Anko analyzed the situation carefully. That Akatsuki member doesn't intend to fight. That's an unexpected bonus. But Naruto defeated the powerful enemy who destroyed the village. His strength now exceeds even Master Orochimaru's...

Even with our advantage in numbers, we may not be able to overpower Naruto.

Fortunately, the information on Naruto is openly available. We can build our tactics around it.

Naruto excels at using shadow clones as diversions. His strongest attack is the Rasengan. He's also mastered Lord Jiraiya's Sage Mode.

But judging by his chakra, he isn't in Sage Mode right now. Right, apparently he can also use shadow clones to replenish his sage power.

"Tokuma, use your Byakugan to keep a close watch on the surroundings. Check for Naruto's shadow clones!"

Tokuma said, "Apart from that Akatsuki woman, there's only the real Naruto!"

Anko's gaze sharpened. Oh, he doesn't intend to enter Sage Mode. Does he think he won't need it? That little brat who froze at my killing intent back then really has come a long way!

"Formation B!"

Whoosh! Everyone scattered.

Anko stayed directly in front of Naruto, Tokuma took the right, Muta also took the right, and Yawara circled around behind him!

"Naruto... let's see whether your skills are the real thing!"

A battle-hungry smile curled Anko's lips. She bit her finger and formed the summoning Hand Formation.

Summoning Technique!

Poof!

Amid a cloud of white smoke, a huge snake rose in coils!

Naruto said, "It's huge! Just like the giant snake in the forest during the Chunin Ninja Exams. Come to think of it, Miss Anko, you were a student of Orochimaru, one of the Sannin!"

Boom!

The huge snake lunged down. Naruto leaped backward to evade it, and the tree he had stood on snapped under its merciless impact!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Behind him, Yawara threw several kunai fitted with explosive tags.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Naruto casually tossed out shuriken, precisely intercepting every kunai. Boom! The explosive tags detonated in midair, and Naruto landed safely, untouched by the blast.

Yawara's expression grew grave. "He intercepted my kunai perfectly without even looking behind him. Did he locate them by the sound of the wind? His Shurikenjutsu is absurdly good!"

The summoned snake launched another fierce attack from directly ahead!

But Naruto's lips curved slightly. After forming hand seals, he suddenly pressed both hands to the ground.

Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!

Splosh!

A swamp suddenly formed, swallowing the huge snake!

Mitaraishi Anko stared in shock. "Earth nature? Isn't Naruto's chakra nature wind!?"

The idea that Naruto possessed only wind nature was a misconception most people shared!

In fact, Naruto possessed six chakra nature transformations: wind, earth, lightning, fire, water, and yang. He lacked only Yin Release [according to the official Naruto databook, the Book of Formation].

He was simply more proficient with wind than the others, so wind nature had shown itself first during his chakra paper test back then.

After becoming Hokage in his previous life, Naruto had developed his other nature transformations as well. He was no longer the Naruto who knew only shadow clones and Rasengan, relying on the same trick to handle everything!

Naruto crouched, maintaining the Swamp of the Underworld.

Whoosh! Behind him, Yawara formed hand seals, his chest swelling high.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Fwoom!

A thin stream of flame expanded before his mouth into a ferocious fireball, striking at Naruto's back!

Poof!

Naruto's shadow clone appeared amid white smoke...

Everyone was stunned. "He managed to form the shadow clone seal under those circumstances!?"

With its back to the original, Naruto's shadow clone faced Yawara and formed a series of Hand Formations.

Wind Release: Gale Palm!

Boom!

A fierce gale howled, driving the great fireball backward!

Yawara was aghast. "Impossible! He overpowered Fire Release with Wind Release!?"

"Aaargh...!!"

The wind-driven flames tore whole swathes of trees from the ground. Yawara was hurled backward and slammed heavily into the earth!

"Hey, are you all right, mister?" Naruto was startled by the sight, too. He only wanted to get back into fighting form, not hurt Konoha's ninja!

But Yawara lay on the ground holding a ninja shield on the verge of shattering. That shield had saved him.

"Whew..." Naruto let out a long breath. "That shouldn't have been too much for a Jōnin, right?"

"I... I'm a Chunin..." With that, Yawara passed out.

Bzzzz!

Muta Aburame opened the insect jar on his back. A black cloud formed from thousands upon thousands of kikaichū surged toward Naruto, surrounding him...

The Aburame Clan's techniques were renowned for their range. There was simply nowhere to dodge!

Naruto did not dare underestimate them. Before the insects surrounded him, he hurled a kunai at Muta.

Muta hurriedly dodged... and the kunai embedded itself in the tree behind him.

By then, the kikaichū had completely enveloped Naruto.

Muta said, "I can feel it... the insects are absorbing his chakra. We have the upper hand now."

"Good... combine it with this, and we'll completely immobilize him!"

Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!

Multiple snakes shot forward from beneath Anko's sleeves, binding Naruto tightly and completely...!

"Give yourself up, Naruto!"

Whoosh!!

But just then... the insects scattered chaotically, and the snakes fell to the ground!

Muta was stunned. "How? The target... suddenly vanished!?"

Tokuma Hyuga shouted, "Muta, behind you!"

But it was too late. With a sharp tap, Naruto's knife-hand struck the back of Muta's neck...

"Urgh..." Muta fell from the tree trunk, unconscious.

Shick!

Naruto calmly pulled the kunai he had thrown earlier from the tree trunk. A strange technique formula was inscribed on it!

Cold sweat streamed down Anko's face. "There's no mistake. That's the Fourth Hokage's... Flying Thunder God Technique!"