Three-Tailed Form

"Damn Danzo. If it weren't for him, I would've stayed in Konohagakure until I became a Genin before leaving."

Naruto's face was full of resentment. Just thinking about it made her angry! She had originally planned to stay in Konohagakure for a few more years, but Danzo had ruined everything, making it impossible for her to remain there.

They had already bullied her right to her doorstep. If she kept swallowing her anger, wouldn't that make her a turtle hiding in its shell?!

Seeing Naruto's resentful, puffed-up, adorable expression, Yakushi Nonō burst out laughing and stroked Naruto's hair.

"Then I'll be sticking by your side. Please take care of me, Naruto~!" Yakushi Nonō smiled gently, radiating motherly warmth.

For that instant, Naruto felt as if she had seen an angel and could not help freezing up.

After Yakushi Nonō woke up, the three of them changed outfits at the inn, bought enough necessities for surviving in the wilderness, and left the village.

Naruto used the Transformation Jutsu to become Genkai. Her pink wavy hair was tied into a neat ponytail, with several strands left hanging beside her cheeks like cricket antennae, making Genkai especially beautiful and cute. As a result, Yakushi Nonō and Mikoto Uchiha always liked touching her hair whenever they had the chance.

Genkai's height was a fatal flaw! She looked just like a little girl who had not grown up yet. Naruto regretted transforming into this appearance.

Chapter 25: Nine-Tails Transformation: Three-Tails (1/2)

Not long after the three left the village, a group of ninja led by Kakashi arrived. ☆☆

"Captain Kakashi!"

"Shiwa, did you find anything out?"

"Yes! A blond girl did indeed arrive in this village yesterday. According to the innkeeper, that girl was incredibly strong and carried two unconscious women into the inn. The innkeeper said the girl had three whisker-like markings on each side of her face. The three of them left the village today, and no one knows where they went. We can determine that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki did come to this village, but we don't know who the two women with her are..."

Shiwa reported the information he had gathered.

Unconscious women—who could they be? Still, no matter what, the blond girl the innkeeper described was definitely Naruto!

"Move! Catch up to them! They shouldn't have gone far!"

At Kakashi's command, the group vanished from where they stood.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Kakashi bit his finger and rapidly formed hand seals. A Ninja Hound, covered in foam and dripping wet, appeared from the smoke.

"Kakashi? What do you want?" The Ninja Hound scratched its head with a paw, then bit Kakashi's arm. "Don't you know I was taking a bath? I hate being disturbed while bathing!"

"Kakashi-senpai!"

Yamato stared wide-eyed, his mouth hanging open as he watched Kakashi get bitten by the Ninja Hound he had summoned.

"Pakkun! This is urgent!"

Kakashi endured the pain, pretending it did not hurt at all in order to maintain his authority as captain.

"Is that so... Kakashi, I'll settle this score with you next time!" Pakkun shook off the foam, put on some clothes, and crouched in front of Kakashi. "So, what do you need me to do?"

"Find the owner of this piece of clothing."

Kakashi took out a scroll and released its seal. A pair of underwear Naruto had once worn appeared before everyone. ζζ

"Kakashi... you've really gone down the path of crime!" Pakkun stared at Kakashi disdainfully, his gaze settling on Kakashi's crotch as though he were considering whether to bite down and sever the root of Kakashi's sins.

"Kakashi-senpai would never do something like that!"

Under everyone's contemptuous stares, Kakashi's face reddened slightly as he weakly explained, "The Anbu gave this to me..."

Damn Anbu, why did they give Naruto's underwear to me? Couldn't they have found some other clothes Naruto had worn?

Kakashi's obviously guilty explanation naturally convinced no one. Instead, it only made him look worse. Helpless, Kakashi could only shoulder this enormous blame with a lifeless expression.

Expressionless, Kakashi picked up Naruto's underwear and held it in front of Pakkun's nose. His voice was so cold it seemed capable of freezing the air solid.

"Pakkun, find the owner of this scent."

"Oh..."

Pakkun reluctantly sniffed it, his dog face flushing slightly. Then he sniffed the ground and excitedly ran in one direction, with the group following behind him.

Meanwhile, another group of ninja led by Haruki Hyuga was also searching for Naruto. Haruki Hyuga kept his Byakugan activated the entire time, scanning a large area for Naruto's trail. Their team also had a ninja capable of summoning Ninja Hounds, who took out clothing Naruto had worn before.

Seeing the Ninja Hound shake its head, the ninja who had summoned it approached Haruki Hyuga with difficulty. "Captain Hyuga! Because of the heavy rain yesterday, Naruto Uzumaki's scent has disappeared."

"No choice. I'll have to keep searching without pause using my Byakugan. Before she leaves the Land of Fire, I must capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki before Kakashi does!"

"Yes!"

Haruki Hyuga, who considered himself superior to others, was a Jonin just like Kakashi. He had long been dissatisfied with Kakashi earning the title of "Copy Ninja Kakashi" through the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.

He would prove to Konohagakure that the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan was stronger than the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan!

Genkai, Yakushi Nonō, and Mikoto Uchiha leaped through the forest, moving swiftly. Knowing that Konohagakure would certainly send people after Naruto, they naturally would not sit around waiting to be captured. After a brief discussion, they decided to travel day and night and leave the Land of Fire as quickly as possible. Only then could they shake off the Konohagakure ninja chasing them.

Genkai, who was being treated entirely like a child, pouted unhappily as she looked at the two women rushing as though their butts were on fire.

"Be careful. Your injuries have only just healed, so don't overdo it..."

Yesterday, they had still been lying in bed half-dead, but today they were lively and jumping around. The people of this world had ridiculously good constitutions.

At night, the eye the Nine-Tails used to observe the outside world floated beside Genkai. That unique Chakra was like a beacon standing out in the darkness!

The moment Haruki Hyuga saw it, he immediately determined that Naruto had to be among the people moving swiftly ahead!

"Naruto! Konohagakure's ninja have caught up!"

Genkai turned her head and saw a five-man ninja squad. Leading them was a ninja with the Byakugan.

"Haruki Hyuga, a Jonin of Konohagakure and a genius ninja of the Hyuga Clan."

Yakushi Nonō recognized Haruki Hyuga when she saw him.

"The Konohagakure ninja pursuing us are all Jonin." Mikoto Uchiha frowned as she looked at the approaching Konohagakure ninja, then smiled gently at Genkai.

"You go first. Nonō and I will hold them back, then catch up with you..."

"Shut up!"

Naruto angrily cut Mikoto Uchiha off and dispelled the Transformation Jutsu.