"Wind Breathing, Third Form: Clean Storm Wind Tree!" ×2
Naruto and Shinazugawa Sanemi attacked simultaneously, using the same technique. In an instant, three wind blades erupted from each of them, centered on their bodies.
However, the moment the two attacks collided, the difference became painfully obvious.
Shinazugawa Sanemi's wind blades shattered outright.
Both sides froze for a split second, caught off guard by the sheer disparity.
"Damn it!"
Shinazugawa Sanemi was the first to recover. Gritting his teeth, he attacked again—this time pouring his full strength into the strike.
That brief exchange had made one thing clear: the gap between him and Naruto was already so vast that holding back was pointless.
Naruto, seeing Shinazugawa Sanemi finally go all out, immediately met the attack head-on.
And then—
He completely overwhelmed him.
There was no helping it. With a mental age of only six, Naruto had no concept of modesty. He only wanted to show off.
Even though he instinctively restrained himself to avoid seriously hurting Shinazugawa Sanemi, the way he fought still left Shinazugawa with almost no room to retaliate.
"No… the gap is too wide."
Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Pillar, shook his head slightly as he observed. Without hesitation, he drew his nichirin blade and joined the fight, teaming up with Shinazugawa Sanemi against Naruto.
"Hahaha!"
Naruto didn't object in the slightest. On the contrary, he grew even more excited.
Gradually, he began releasing more of the power he had been suppressing—
—and before long, both the Wind Pillar and the Serpent Pillar were being completely dominated by the Storm Pillar who had yet to be officially appointed.
Even with Shinazugawa Sanemi and Obanai Iguro working together, they were still no match for Naruto.
"How embarrassing…"
Muichiro Tokito said flatly. He drew his nichirin blade and stepped in as well.
With the Wind Pillar, Serpent Pillar, and Mist Pillar fighting together, they were finally able to barely hold Naruto to a standstill—an evenly matched battle, at least on the surface.
"Naruto-kun is truly strong."
Kochou Shinobu watched the three-on-one fight with quiet amazement. Then her expression turned serious.
"However… judging by the power Naruto-kun has displayed, the gap between us and the Upper Moons may be even greater than we imagined."
"No. This still isn't Naruto's true strength."
Kyojuro Rengoku shook his head solemnly.
"He isn't using his own nichirin blade right now, which definitely affects his performance. And this isn't a life-or-death battle. We can't accurately compare this sparring match to his fight against an Upper Moon."
He clenched his fists tightly.
"…Damn it. How could the difference be this great?"
If his blade hadn't already been handed to Naruto, Rengoku would have rushed in without hesitation.
"Is that so?"
A trace of frustration flickered through Kocho Shinobu's eyes.
Among the current Pillars, she was the weakest in direct combat. That meant the gap between her and the Upper Moons was even more severe.
In truth, Rengoku's assessment was accurate—if anything, conservative.
Naruto's current strength couldn't even be meaningfully compared to an Upper Moon.
Because the Naruto standing here now was fundamentally different from the Naruto who had fought Akaza.
To put it bluntly—If Naruto were to face Akaza again in his current state, the outcome would be no different from this sparring match.
A crushing victory.
Even Naruto himself had no real awareness of that fact.
"Alright—stop!"
After hundreds of exchanges, Shinazugawa Sanemi finally called a halt.
He had personally felt the difference.
In that battle, he, Obanai Iguro, and Muichiro Tokito had all fought at full strength—yet Naruto only grew more ferocious as time passed, showing signs of becoming stronger the longer the fight dragged on.
All three understood it at the same time.
If this continued, they would all lose.
"Tch… damn it."
Shinazugawa Sanemi sheathed his blade, then stepped forward and roughly ruffled Naruto's hair.
"Oi, brat. Explain it clearly—why did you suddenly become this strong?!"
"I already told you!"
Naruto straightened his messy hair and replied seriously.
"When I fought the Upper Moon, it happened just like I said… but after I passed out, my body felt like it changed again."
"…What?"
Shinazugawa Sanemi's eyes widened instantly. He grabbed Naruto by the collar.
"Why didn't you say that earlier?! Hurry up—what kind of change?!"
Obanai Iguro and Muichiro Tokito leaned in as well, waiting.
"Uh… well…"
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly.
"I'm… not really sure."
Silence.
Shinazugawa Sanemi, Obanai Iguro, and Muichiro Tokito all stared at him, their expectations instantly deflating.
"I—I'm sorry…"
Naruto felt guilty, but he genuinely couldn't explain it.
"At least… let me explain this part for Naruto-kun."
Kochou Shinobu stepped forward, smiling. She raised a finger and pointed at the markings on Naruto's face.
"His changes are most likely connected to these."
"These… scars?"
Shinazugawa Sanemi frowned.
Not just him—Naruto himself looked confused.
"They're not scars."
Kochou Shinobu smiled softly.
"What Naruto-kun has awakened is something known as a Mark."
"A… Mark?!"
Shinazugawa Sanemi, Obanai Iguro, and Muichiro Tokito all stiffened.
"So they're not scars?!"
Naruto finally let out a breath of relief. He touched the markings nervously.
"Then… will they disappear?"
Even though he didn't care much about his appearance, having whisker-like markings on his face felt awkward.
And worse—Shinazugawa Sanemi would absolutely use this to mock him forever.
"Shut up."
Shinazugawa Sanemi glared at him fiercely.
"Idiot. Is that really what you should be worrying about right now?"