With Shihōin Naraku's prestige and standing in Konoha, if he truly wanted to make something go his way...
No one could stop him.
Kabuto Yakushi was certain of that.
Besides, Lord Naraku had already given him his word, so there was naturally no reason to go back on it.
Konoha's East Gate.
The first reinforcements had arrived.
Whoosh!
Two figures descended from the sky at incredible speed, landing before the Anbu Ninja.
Naruto Uzumaki!
Sasuke Uchiha!
Although neither of them had been the first ninja to see or hear the fireworks, they had been the first to reach the East Gate.
Such was their overwhelming strength, far beyond the ninja of the shinobi world.
Their speed had long since surpassed what ordinary ninja could comprehend.
Of course, that was excluding the exception that was Shihōin Naraku.
But Naraku had deliberately stayed out of sight, so the two of them were naturally the first Konoha ninja to appear.
Naruto exclaimed in surprise, "Kabuto Yakushi?!"
Kabuto nodded slightly, his tone still calm. "Long time no see, Naruto."
Naruto did not return his greeting.
Sasuke, meanwhile, asked gravely, "Kabuto Yakushi, what are you doing in Konoha?"
"I've already explained it to them once. There are some things I'd like to discuss with Lord Hokage."
"And... I've come to surrender!" Kabuto Yakushi said with a smile.
But then something occurred to him, and he added, "Not just me. Akame, too. We've come to surrender together."
Surrender?!
Did that mean...
Naruto froze. Of course he understood what the word meant, but he could not begin to guess why Kabuto Yakushi would do this.
Sasuke, meanwhile, did not believe a single word Kabuto Yakushi said.
"No matter what you're planning," Naruto declared loudly, "you won't succeed!"
"I'll stop you!"
At that moment, Naruto also remembered his