As he stood there, something shifted.
Chakra began to rise from Naruto's body not violently, but steadily, like a pressure building beneath the surface. Then it spilled outward, dense and burning, wrapping around him in a dark orange cloak.
A tail formed behind him. Then another. Then a third.
They swayed slowly, fluid and alive, the chakra taking on a slick, fox-like form as it rippled with contained power. The ground beneath his feet trembled faintly under the weight of it.
His eyes changed.
The horizontal pupils of Sage Mode merged with Kurama's influence, forming a sharp, cross-like pattern. The orange pigmentation around his eyes deepened, blending with the darker chakra now surrounding him.
The air grew heavier.
'…Nice,' Naruto thought, rolling his shoulders slightly as he adjusted to the surge of power. His gaze moved across the Jinchūriki, studying each of them carefully.
'Now… who should I beat first?'
They stared back, unmoving but alert, their shared vision tracking him from every angle. Naruto tilted his head slightly. He shrugged.
'…Why not all of them.'
His foot stepped forward.
CRACK—
The ground beneath him fractured instantly, splitting outward from the sheer force behind the movement. He vanished in a burst. His figure shot forward like a projectile, tearing across the battlefield in a straight line, air splitting around him as he closed the distance in an instant.
He went straight for Utakata.
Utakata saw him.
His eyes widened slightly, body reacting, but it wasn't enough. The speed was overwhelming, far beyond what it had been moments ago. Naruto was already there. His feet came down. Planted directly onto Utakata's face.
The impact compressed for a split secon. Then released.
BAM—
The force drove Utakata downward violently, his body slamming into the ground as the earth caved beneath him.
The momentum didn't stop there, he was launched across the battlefield, skipping across the surface as each impact carved craters into the ground.
One.
Two.
Three. Before he was sent flying into the distant treeline.
CRASH!
The remaining forest in that direction shook as his body tore through it, the sound echoing across the now open battlefield.
Silence followed for half a second.
Obito's gaze hardened behind the mask, his posture stiffening slightly as he watched the aftermath.
'…Why is he so damn strong?!' he thought, frustration flickering beneath his control.
Naruto slid across the broken ground, his hand dragging briefly against the dirt before he pushed himself up in one smooth motion.
His feet planted firmly as he rose, body already leaning forward, momentum never truly stopping as his eyes locked onto the remaining three.
He stepped forward, but they moved first. Fū descended from above, wings slicing through the air with sharp precision as she dove toward him. Goku charged straight in, magma coating his arms as heat radiated off him in waves. Yagura circled to the side, staff already spinning as he cut off Naruto's angle, closing the gap with tight, controlled footwork.
Naruto exhaled slowly, his stance tightening.
' All that training with my clones was for this very moment' he thought. With no hesitation, he stepped into them.
Fū's fist came down fast, aimed directly at his head. Naruto tilted just enough for it to miss, his hand snapping up to catch her wrist mid-strike.
The moment he made contact, he pulled, dragging her downward out of the air while rotating his body to strike—but Goku was already there.
A magma-coated fist came crashing in from the side, forcing Naruto to release Fū and drop low. The punch roared past him, heat scorching the air as it missed by inches.
WHOOM
Naruto pivoted on one knee and snapped a kick into Goku's ankle. The impact landed solid, but Goku barely shifted, his weight and power anchoring him firmly.
Naruto adjusted instantly. He rose into Goku's space, elbow driving sharply into his ribs.
BAM
The hit landed, but the magma burned against Naruto's arm. He ignored it completely, twisting away just as Yagura's staff swept toward his legs.
SWISH
Naruto jumped cleanly over it, his body rotating mid-air as he brought his knee down toward Yagura's shoulder. Yagura raised his arm to block, absorbing the strike, but the force still pushed him back a step.
Naruto landed lightly, already moving again.
Fū came back in from behind, faster now. Naruto sensed her approach without turning, his arm snapping backward in a backfist aimed at her head.
She ducked under it. Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly.
They were adapting.
Goku lunged forward, attempting to grab him mid-motion. Naruto slipped inside his reach, stepping close enough that their bodies nearly collided. His palm shot forward, slamming into Goku's chest.
THUD
The impact connected, but Goku held firm. Naruto followed immediately, his other hand striking upward into Goku's jaw.
BAM
This time, Goku's head snapped slightly, just enough to disrupt his balance.
Yagura re-entered from behind. ( Pause )
Naruto turned just in time to raise his arm as the staff came down.
CRACK
The strike forced him back half a step, the ground shifting beneath his feet as he absorbed the force. Before he could reset, Fū dropped from above again, her attack coming in fast.
Naruto moved forward instead.
He stepped into Yagura's space, shoulder slamming into him to break his stance, then turned sharply as his hand shot up. He caught Fū's ankle mid-descent and used her momentum against her.
He swung.
WHAM
Fū's body slammed into Goku's side, the collision knocking both of them off balance for a brief moment.
Naruto didn't waste it. He rushed in, pressing the advantage.
A straight punch at Goku forced a block. A follow-up kick toward Yagura was narrowly avoided. Fū recovered mid-air, wings flaring as she spun back in with another strike.
Naruto leaned back just enough for it to miss, then stepped forward again. Closer. His movements became tighter, more efficient.
He slipped between Goku and Yagura, weaving through their attacks with minimal effort. A quick jab drove into Yagura's ribs.
THUD
A back kick followed into Goku's knee.
BAM
Fū tried to intercept again, but Naruto turned instantly, his elbow slamming into her midsection.
WHUMP
This time, all three of them staggered.
Naruto saw it and pushed harder. Goku swung wide, putting everything into the strike. Naruto ducked under it and drove forward, his shoulder slamming into Goku's chest.
BOOM
Goku slid back, feet dragging through the dirt.
Yagura thrust his staff forward in response, aiming to catch Naruto mid-motion. Naruto grabbed it with one hand and pulled sharply, dragging Yagura off balance. In the same motion, his knee drove upward.
BAM
It slammed into Yagura's stomach, folding him slightly. Fū came in again from the side. Naruto released the staff and turned, his leg whipping around in a tight arc.
CRACK
The kick connected with her side, sending her crashing across the ground. Naruto shifted again, not letting the momentum drop.
Goku roared and charged, trying to overpower him with brute force. Naruto met him head-on, their fists colliding with explosive force.
BOOM
For a moment, they held. Then Naruto broke the clash. His other hand shot forward, striking Goku square in the chest.
THUD
Then again.
BAM
Goku stumbled this time.
Naruto stepped through him, turning immediately as Yagura tried to recover. His hand shot out, grabbing Yagura by the collar before spinning his body.
He threw him hard.
WHAM
Yagura slammed into the ground, bouncing once before sliding across the broken terrain. Fū rose again, wings beating hard as she tried to regain control.
Naruto was already moving. He leaped, closing the distance mid-air, his body twisting as he drove his fist forward.
BAM
The strike slammed into her, sending her spiraling down into the ground below. The battlefield went still for a moment.
Naruto landed lightly, his breathing steady as he straightened slowly. Around him, Goku struggled to push himself up, Yagura lay in a shallow crater, and Fū remained embedded where she had fallen.
Naruto looked down at all of them, his expression calm, eyes still sharp. None of them got back up. He remained standing.
TO BE CONTINUED