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Hearing Setsu's words, Naruto paused, his movements freezing mid-action.
He recognized the intent behind her words, his expression hardening slightly. In a cold tone, he warned her, "This trick works on me onceâbut only once."
Setsu lowered her head guiltily, replying softly, "I'm sorry, Naruto."
Naruto waved dismissively. "Let's go."
---
Two ANBU members from Konoha quietly left Sunagakure.
In the Kazekage's office, Rasa sat in his chair, secretly pleased. If Naruto were to sever ties with Konoha, wouldn't Sunagakure have the chance to win him over? This thought put him in an excellent mood.
During this break, Temari, unable to suppress her curiosity, approached Rasa.
"Lord Kazekage," Temari asked anxiously, "if Naruto leaves Konoha, what will happen to my engagement with him?"
Rasa, maintaining a neutral expression, replied smoothly, "It won't be canceled, of course."
"Huh." Temari let out a relieved sigh. "That's good, then."
Rasa raised an eyebrow at her reaction.
It wasn't as though no one had ever pursued Temari before. Many suitors had expressed interest in her, yet she paid no mind to them. But now, in just a few days, she seemed completely captivated by Naruto.
Seeing this, Rasa realized that if he interfered with her budding relationship, Temari might enter a rebellious phase.
At that moment, a deafening explosion shook Sunagakure.
Rasa's expression immediately darkened. "Shukaku again? Did its seal break?"
Naruto, intrigued, muttered, "Is this the 'terrifying power' Kurama mentioned?"
He was skeptical. The seal on Shukaku was robustâthree layers of the Eight Trigrams Seal!
"Something smells off," Kurama's voice echoed in Naruto's mind. "That's not Shukakuâit's a group of rogue ninjas attacking Sunagakure's JinchĆ«riki."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. At the same time, Rasa, Temari, and Naruto rushed to a rooftop for a better view.
Below them, Sunagakure's shinobi scrambled to respond to the chaos. Black-clad figures darted between buildings, their movements causing panic among the villagers. The residents, however, seemed oddly accustomed to such disturbances.
Rasa quickly assessed the situation. Feeling the chakra fluctuations and destructive power, his heart sank.
"Stay here," he ordered Naruto and Temari. "Don't move!"
Without waiting for a reply, Rasa manipulated his golden sand and took to the air, flying toward the source of the explosion.
Naruto turned to Temari, echoing Rasa's command. "Stay here and don't move."
Temari blinked in confusion. "What?"
Ignoring her, Naruto leaped into the air, surpassing even Rasa in speed.
Watching him vanish into the distance, Temari sighed in exasperation. "What's with their attitudes? Acting like I'm useless!"
Before she could finish venting, a massive explosion erupted in the distance. Flames shot skyward, consuming everything in their path.
Temari's confidence faltered as she stared at the destruction.
"I⊠I might actually be uselessâŠ" she murmured bitterly. "If only I'd mastered that technique, I wouldn't be so helpless."
---
At the scene of the explosion, Deidara hoisted an unconscious Gaara over his shoulder, grumbling.
"What's with this kid? I blew him half to death, and he's just sleeping through it!" He clicked his tongue in irritation. "So disrespectful to my art, hm!"
Nearby, Sasori emerged from his puppet. "Quiet, Deidara. That's not art."
Deidara scoffed. "Don't lecture me about art, old man!"
Not far away, Kisame stood with Samehada slung over his back, observing the duo.
"I envy you two," he said, a toothy grin spreading across his shark-like face. "You completed your mission so easily. Itachi, looks like it's our turn now."
Standing on a nearby rooftop, Itachi silently activated his Sharingan. Any approaching Sand shinobi were swiftly caught in his genjutsu, collapsing mid-step.
A sudden shout interrupted the tense scene.
"Stop!"
From the sky, Rasa's commanding voice echoed. "Who are you, and why are you attacking our Jinchƫriki?"
Kisame chuckled darkly, his sharp teeth glinting in the light. "Calling your own son a Jinchƫriki? Harsh. But then again, wasn't the Nine-Tails Jinchƫriki also taken from Konoha? Where is he, by the way?"
Rasa's patience snapped. Realizing these intruders wouldn't answer, he launched an attack, manipulating his gold dust to strike at Deidara.
Feigning panic, Deidara dodged with exaggerated movements.
"Whoa there, old man!" he shouted, leaping out of harm's way. "What did I ever do to you? It's the shark-face over there who provoked you, not me!"
Rasa's attack left a crater where Deidara had stood. The blonde bomber glanced back, impressed.
"Phew. That was close, hm!"
Turning to Sasori, he called out, "Let's retreat. We've got what we came for."
Sasori, retreating alongside him, scowled. "Don't call me 'old man.'"
"Fine, Mr. Sasori," Deidara teased.
Sasori clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Rasa attempted to pursue them, but Kisame stepped in, blocking his path.
"Lord Kazekage," Kisame said with a malicious grin, "why don't you tell us where the Nine-Tails Jinchƫriki is?"
Rasa ignored him, focusing on chasing Deidara and Sasori. However, before he could act, Naruto arrived, flying through the air and landing between Rasa and the Akatsuki members.
"Lord Kazekage," Naruto said firmly, "go after those two. Leave these guys to me."
Deidara, overhearing, bristled. "Who are you calling a brat, huh? Hm!"
Rasa hesitated, glancing at the unconscious Gaara. After a moment's deliberation, he nodded and continued his pursuit of Deidara and Sasori, who were heading toward the village's outskirts.
Naruto turned his attention to Kisame and Itachi, standing his ground.
"I didn't expect your Akatsuki to track me here," Naruto said, his tone calm yet edged with steel. "I've been keeping a low profile, but you still found me."
Kisame smirked, unwrapping the cloth around Samehada. "Don't worry about that. Just come quietly, kid. OtherwiseâŠ"
"Otherwise what?" Naruto interrupted, forming a one-handed seal.
The air cracked ominously. Kisame instinctively dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the massive Myojin Gate that crashed down where he had been standing.
Kisame's eyes widened in shock. "What is this?!"
Itachi, now standing on another rooftop, activated his Sharingan fully. He addressed Naruto, his voice calm yet probing.
"Uzumaki Naruto, why did you leave Konoha?"
Naruto didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze sharpened, and he clenched his fists.
"You'll have to earn that answer," he said, his tone cold.
Kisame grinned, his earlier surprise replaced with excitement. "Oh? This might actually be fun."
As the tension thickened, the battle was about to begin.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of Sunagakure, Temari stood on a rooftop, watching the distant explosions and clashes of chakra.
She gritted her teeth in frustration. "I need to get stronger⊠I can't just stand by anymore."
Setsu, who had rejoined her after ensuring the village's safety, placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Temari," Setsu said softly. "Naruto's got this. He's stronger than we realize."
Temari glanced at Setsu and sighed. "I hope you're right. For all our sakes."
---
Back at the battlefield, the air crackled with tension as Naruto prepared to face Kisame and Itachi.
The Akatsuki's assault on Sunagakure had only just begun.
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