The forest trembled after the powerful attacks of Team 7. Dust and broken branches filled the air. In the middle of the destruction stood the mysterious masked ninja, his dark chakra growing stronger every second.
Naruto Uzumaki wiped the dust from his face and stepped forward.
"Alright… now we're serious."
Beside him, Sasuke Uchiha activated his Sharingan. His eyes glowed red in the darkness.
"This guy isn't normal," Sasuke said calmly. "His chakra… it's unnatural."
Behind them, Sakura Haruno clenched her fists.
"Then we just have to hit him harder."
Suddenly the masked ninja raised both hands.
"Forbidden Shadow Jutsu: Nightmare Army!"
Dark chakra spread across the ground like black smoke. From the shadows, dozens of dark ninja clones rose up, their glowing red eyes staring at Team 7.
Naruto smirked.
"Heh… you think clones scare me?"
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, hundreds of Naruto clones filled the forest. The battlefield exploded into chaos as shadow soldiers and Naruto clones clashed everywhere.
Boom!Crash!Trees shattered and the ground cracked from the constant fighting.
One of Naruto's clones was grabbed by a shadow soldier and destroyed.
Naruto jumped into the air.
"RASENGAN BARRAGE!"
Several clones rushed forward, each holding a spinning Rasengan.
Meanwhile, Sasuke disappeared in a flash of speed.
Lightning gathered in his hand.
"CHIDORI!"
He dashed forward like a lightning bolt, piercing through several shadow soldiers at once. The forest lit up with blue electricity.
But the masked ninja suddenly appeared behind him.
"You're fast… but not fast enough."
Before the enemy could strike, the ground suddenly exploded.
BOOM!
Sakura's punch shattered the earth beneath them.
"Don't forget about me!" she shouted.
The masked ninja jumped back, but his mask cracked slightly.
Naruto noticed it.
"That's it! We're breaking through!"
Suddenly the enemy's chakra exploded even stronger. The sky above the forest darkened as if a storm was forming.
"You fools," the masked ninja said. "You're only seeing a fraction of my power."
He slowly removed the broken mask.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"That face… it can't be…"
The stranger smiled coldly.
"I was once a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf… betrayed and forgotten."
Dark chakra spiraled around him like a tornado.
"This time… I will erase the village from history!"
Naruto stepped forward with determination.
"Not if I stop you!"
Red chakra from the Nine-Tails began to appear around Naruto's body.
The wind roared.
The forest shook.
And the real battle was about to begin.