"If this continues, forget the mission Orochimaru-sama gave us—we might not even survive this fight!"
"We don't have any other choice…"
"Then use it!"
"…Alright."
At that moment, the Sound Four were already in a miserable state. Their breathing was ragged, their bodies covered in injuries, and their expressions were tense. Facing Naruto's relentless assault, they had finally been pushed to their limit.
There was no turning back now.
"The Power of the Cursed Seal!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
It was as if a violent transformation had erupted within them. A dark, ominous energy surged outward, spreading rapidly across their bodies like a living organism. Strange markings began to crawl along their skin, twisting and expanding as the power of the Cursed Seal engulfed them entirely.
Their chakra spiked dramatically.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
"This… this is Orochimaru's Cursed Seal power?!"
Jirobo let out a cold snort.
"That's right."
"To think we had to use this power against a brat like you… how humiliating."
"But now—" his lips curled into a cruel grin, "—you're definitely going to die."
Sakon and Ukon laughed mockingly.
"This power is a burden even for us. But once it's activated… you don't stand a chance anymore."
Nearby, Kidōmaru calmly spat out a strange golden substance—his unique Spider Sticky Gold. With practiced precision, he shaped it into a massive longbow. The golden threads gleamed under the light as he slowly pulled the bowstring back, his tongue brushing across it with eerie excitement.
"Now… this will be fun."
Tayuya, clearly irritated, clicked her tongue.
"Why waste time talking to this brat? Just tear him apart!"
With that, all four members of the Sound Four fully unleashed the Cursed Seal – Stage One.
In an instant, Naruto felt the difference.
Their chakra had grown darker—colder, heavier, and far more sinister than before. Their speed, strength, and killing intent had all increased dramatically. Even their personalities seemed affected, becoming more violent, more unstable, and more bloodthirsty.
But Naruto didn't retreat.
"Hmph… borrowing power from Orochimaru?"
"That kind of strength doesn't even belong to you!"
"You think something like that can defeat Uzumaki Naruto?!"
With a furious roar, the Sound Four charged forward together.
The Battle Escalates
"Earth Release: Mud Golem!"
Jirobo slammed his hands into the ground, summoning a massive earthen construct. The giant puppet rose from the soil, towering over Naruto's shadow clones. Its body pulsed with energy drawn directly from the earth itself.
Even if destroyed, it could regenerate endlessly.
At the same time, Sakon and Ukon activated their unique ability. Their body split into two, forming separate entities. Their appearances became grotesque and demonic, their chakra surging to terrifying levels.
Tayuya's summoned demons grew even more ferocious under the influence of the Cursed Seal. Their attack patterns multiplied, becoming unpredictable and relentless.
And then—
Twannng!
Kidōmaru released his bowstring.
A razor-sharp arrow made of Spider Sticky Gold tore through the air with terrifying speed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In a single shot, five or six of Naruto's shadow clones were pierced and dispersed instantly.
Naruto frowned.
"Damn it… they've gotten much stronger."
"But…"
His expression hardened.
"I'm still the strongest here!"
Naruto's Growth
Even under the influence of the Cursed Seal Stage One, the Sound Four had become significantly stronger. The dark markings covering their bodies not only enhanced their abilities but also eroded their sanity.
Meanwhile, Naruto's shadow clones were being destroyed rapidly.
But this time… things were different.
In the original timeline, Naruto could create hundreds—even thousands—of shadow clones. However, their individual strength was limited. Against opponents like Kimimaro or even Sasuke, they were often easily defeated.
But now—
Naruto himself had grown.
His strength had reached the level of a Jonin, perhaps even surpassing it.
And as a result, every shadow clone he created carried a portion of that power.
Each clone was no longer just a number.
Each one was a capable fighter.
They could use taijutsu, ninjutsu, sealing techniques, and even combine strategies intelligently. Thanks to Naruto's mental growth, every clone could calmly analyze the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, adapting their approach accordingly.
Facing Jirobo—whose strength and Earth Release techniques had been amplified—the clones quickly adjusted.
Instead of engaging in close combat, where Jirobo's monstrous strength dominated, they switched to long-range attacks.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Cutter Technique!"
"Wind Style: Gale Fist!"
The battlefield was instantly filled with cutting winds.
Sharp blades of compressed air tore through Jirobo's defenses, slicing across his body repeatedly. Even his Earth Release armor struggled to withstand the relentless assault.
Soon, blood began to appear.
His clothes were torn, his body covered in wounds.
If not for the Cursed Seal's support, he might have already fallen.
Despite being physically the strongest among the Sound Four, Jirobo was ironically the weakest overall.
Naruto noticed this immediately.
Break the weakest link first.
That was his strategy.
The Collapse of Teamwork
The remaining three members of the Sound Four also realized Naruto's intention.
But unlike Konoha's ninja teams, they lacked unity.
There was no trust.
No real cooperation.
Their relationship was built more on rivalry than teamwork.
At that moment, they were far more focused on completing their mission—delivering Sasuke—than saving Jirobo.
And Jirobo himself understood this better than anyone.
His eyes burned with fury.
"You bastards…!"
With a furious roar, he pushed his power to the limit.
Cursed Seal – Stage Two
His body began to change violently.
This time, it wasn't just markings.
It was a full transformation.
The once bulky man turned into a monstrous figure. His skin became crimson, his muscles bulged grotesquely, and strange protrusions formed across his body. His hair grew wild and unkempt, and his entire appearance became terrifying.
At the same time, his chakra surged again—far beyond before.
Boom!!!
He slammed his fist into the ground.
The earth shattered.
The shockwave spread hundreds of meters, sending rocks and debris flying into the air. The ground trembled violently, and dozens of Naruto's shadow clones were destroyed instantly.
Naruto's expression grew serious.
"So this is the second stage of the Cursed Seal…"
"It's like he's become a completely different person."
More importantly, it wasn't just power.
Jirobo's personality had changed entirely. He had become more violent, more unstable, consumed by destruction.
It was clear—
The Cursed Seal didn't just grant strength.
It devoured the user's will.
Naruto clenched his fists.
This only strengthened his resolve.
There was no way he would allow Sasuke to fall into Orochimaru's hands.
Jirobo's Rampage
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
"You think you can stop me?!"
Jirobo roared as his power exploded to its peak.
"Knee Strike!"
"Shoulder Crush!"
"Crushing Palm!"
Each attack carried overwhelming force. His blows weren't just destroying Naruto's clones—the ground itself was cracking under the pressure.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dozens more clones were obliterated.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"I can't fight him head-on…"
Then, suddenly—
An idea flashed through his mind.
"…Right. That move."
Sealing Strategy
Seven or eight shadow clones rushed forward simultaneously, surrounding Jirobo from all directions.
Jirobo sneered.
"Trying to gang up on me? How naive!"
But just as he prepared to attack—
"Sealing Technique: Single Strand Light Formation!"
In an instant, the clones activated the technique.
Complex sealing runes spread outward, forming a glowing network of energy that rapidly tightened around Jirobo's massive body.
The technique itself was basic.
But—
Naruto's chakra was anything but.
Combined with multiple clones, the sealing power multiplied exponentially.
Jirobo froze.
His body trembled as the energy suppressed him completely.
He couldn't move.
"What—what is this?!"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"This is it!"
The Finishing Strike
Five or six additional shadow clones leapt into the air, each wielding a Kusanagi sword.
They descended like executioners.
At the same time—
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"
A massive blade of compressed wind formed, extending from their weapons. Its sharpness was terrifying, capable of slicing through anything in its path.
Jirobo's eyes widened in shock.
"No…!"
But it was too late.
The blades came down.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH—!"
His roar echoed across the battlefield as the unstoppable attack descended upon him.
The battle had reached its turning point.
And Naruto—
Was just getting started.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)