Chapter 27 (Patreon)

At the training ground, Naruto’s shadow clone had already called his real body over.

Naruto now stood across from Temari, studying Shikamaru’s future wife as he recalled her abilities from the anime.

She specialized in Wind Style, and the enormous fan on her back allowed her to unleash powerful gusts. Naruto was skilled with Wind Style too, but in a direct clash, her fan gave her the advantage.

He would have to approach this another way.

Shikamaru had used the ground beneath her to his advantage when they fought in the anime. Naruto could do the same.

“Wind Style: Sickle Weasel Jutsu!”

Temari made the first move. She pulled the giant fan from her back, opened it far enough to reveal one of its three purple circles, and swung it toward Naruto.

“Wind Style: Hurricane!”

Naruto immediately answered with the B-rank jutsu he had practiced until he could use it with ease.

But he wasn’t trying to overpower her attack.

The two blasts of wind collided, sending sand and stones flying across the training ground. Dust filled the air, obscuring their view of each other.

“Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!”

Two hands suddenly shot out of the ground beneath Temari, reaching for her ankles.

She reacted at once, jumping clear before they could grab her.

Naruto had expected that.

The shadow clone hiding underground burst out after her, pursuing her with a kunai in hand.

Meanwhile, fifty more shadow clones emerged from beneath the ground around her. Their hands moved through the same seals, and their voices rang out together.

“Wind Style: Hurricane!”

Fifty hurricanes sprang into existence, swelling rapidly as they closed in on Temari from every direction.

Her eyes widened.

Fifty shadow clones? And every one of them could use a B-rank Wind Style jutsu?

Naruto’s abilities gave him an advantage she simply couldn’t match. There was no shame in being overwhelmed by someone like him.

Temari struck the clone beneath her with her fan, dispersing it. Then she snapped the fan fully open, exposing all three purple circles, and swung with greater force.

“Wind Style: Sickle Weasel Jutsu!”

She wanted to use a stronger technique, but there was no time to weave the necessary hand signs. She could only use the Sickle Weasel Jutsu to scatter the hurricanes in front of her, then turn and swing at those approaching from another direction.

She wasn’t fast enough.

The hurricanes on either side engulfed her before she could stop them.

For the first time, Temari understood what it felt like to be on the receiving end of the Wind Style attacks she used to overwhelm other ninja.

Just then, a mass of sand surged into the raging winds. It wrapped around her, shielding her from the attacks before pulling her out.

Naruto turned toward Gaara, who had appeared a short distance away.

A smile tugged at his lips. He wanted to see how he would fare against him.

But if he pushed Gaara far enough to release Shukaku, the One-Tail, it could disrupt the Konoha Crush plan. Reluctantly, Naruto suppressed the urge to fight.

He looked over at Sasuke and Kankurō instead.

Their battle was still underway. Sasuke was using Fire Style and Lightning Style, while Kankurō countered with one puppet trick after another.

The commotion caused by Naruto’s Wind Style attacks had drawn both their attention. When Sasuke realized that Naruto had already defeated Temari, his expression darkened.

He had lost their race.

Kankurō was just as startled. His older sister had always been strong. He hadn’t expected some kid from Konoha to defeat her so quickly.

Gaara lowered Temari to the ground with his sand, then regarded both her and Kankurō coldly.

“You’re both a disgrace to the village.”

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have defeated Sasuke for the fifth time.]

[Mission: Defeat Sasuke Seven Times.]

[Progress: 5/7.]

[Keep going to earn the mysterious reward!]

Ignoring Gaara’s intimidating display, Naruto turned to the other boy who was just as fond of acting superior.

“Sasuke, you lost again!”

At the sight of Gaara, Kankurō had gone rigid with fear. Sasuke took the opportunity to end their fight. With a cold snort, he walked over to Naruto and stood beside him, facing the three Sand ninja.

Sakura moved to Sasuke’s side, watching the visitors warily.

“You’re ninja from Sunagakure. What are you doing here in Konoha?”

“You haven’t even heard of the Chūnin Exams?” Kankurō snapped.

He was still irritated. He had dismissed Sasuke as an insignificant kid at first, yet he hadn’t been able to defeat him quickly.

“The Chūnin Exams?” Sakura and Sasuke murmured, frowning.

“You. The blond one.”

Gaara’s dark-rimmed eyes settled on Naruto. His expression was blank.

“What’s your name?”

“Naruto Uzumaki,” Naruto replied with a grin.

For nearly a minute, no one said anything.

Irritation gradually appeared on both Gaara’s and Sasuke’s faces.

“Don’t you want to know my name?”

They spoke at the same time.

Gaara was looking at Naruto. Sasuke was looking at Gaara.

Naruto burst out laughing, then answered Gaara.

“No. Not interested.”

Kankurō and Temari immediately stiffened. They glanced at Gaara in alarm, afraid that Naruto’s answer would send him into a rage.

Gaara narrowed his eyes. As he stared at Naruto, a chilling pressure began to spread around him.

For a moment, he seemed ready to lose control.

But reason eventually prevailed over the madness stirring inside him. His gaze remained cold, fixed on Naruto as though he were already looking at a corpse.

“I’ll kill you in the Chūnin Exams.”

His voice was quiet.

“Remember my name. Gaara of the Sand. The boy who never sleeps.” His stare didn’t waver. “I’ll be the one to kill you.”

With that, the sleepless boy turned and walked away.

Naruto chuckled and shook his head. He said nothing, but his thoughts were just as murderous.

I want your head too. Killing you would earn me plenty of points.

[Ding! New Mission: Chūnin Exams!]

[Option 1 — The Virgin’s Choice: Protect Sasuke from Orochimaru during the upcoming Chūnin Exams and prevent him from leaving Konoha.]

[Reward: Best Friends’ Halo ×1.]

[Option 2 — The Devil’s Choice: Seize the opportunity to kill, earn points, and grow stronger.]

[Reward: Unlock Asura Field. Points earned from each kill will be doubled!]

Naruto smiled as he read the new mission. Whenever another choice appeared, it always came with a reward worth having.

Why should I stop Sasuke from leaving Konoha? So he can stay here and be at their mercy, just like me? I’d rather leave with him!

His decision was immediate.

I choose the second option!

[Ding! Choice confirmed. Asura Field has been activated!]

[Make the most of this opportunity, Host!]

Naruto watched Gaara, Kankurō, and Temari walk away. His eyes narrowed slightly as he calculated how many points killing all three might earn him.

...

Meanwhile, at Mount Myōboku...

Jiraiya knelt on one knee before the Great Toad Sage.

“Great Sage, you summoned me in quite a hurry. Has something happened?”

The old toad opened his eyes wide.

“Jiraiya, a new Child of Prophecy has appeared. But he is turning toward evil. You must find him quickly and guide him!”

“What?”

Jiraiya stared at him. He had never seen the Great Toad Sage look so anxious.

“Who is this Child of Prophecy? Where can I find him?”

“He is in Konoha. His name is Naruto.”

“Naruto?” Jiraiya frowned. “That sounds familiar. Isn’t that the name of the main character in one of my novels?”

Had the old sage gotten something mixed up?

“You fool, Jiraiya!” the Great Toad Sage scolded, his eyes widening further. “Have you forgotten the name of Minato’s child?”

“Oh! Right, right!”

Jiraiya finally remembered.

After Minato died during the Nine-Tails’ attack, he had returned to Konoha to see the child his student had left behind. Then he had departed again.

Twelve years had passed since then.

That infant was already twelve years old—and now he had become the Child of Prophecy.

Jiraiya had once believed that Minato Namikaze was the child foretold by the sage. That was why he had requested the Flying Thunder God Technique from the Third Hokage and passed it on to Minato.

But Minato had died in battle, proving that he wasn’t the one. His death had weighed on Jiraiya for a long time.

Who would have thought that the prophecy would fall to Minato’s son instead?

Jiraiya thumped his own chest confidently.

“Leave it to me, Great Sage! Who’d turn down a chance to learn from Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin?”

With that, he hurried away.

Once he was gone, Fukasaku and Shima turned to the Great Toad Sage.

“Great Elder, what did you see in your dream this time?” they asked. “Was it something troubling?”

The Great Toad Sage sighed.

“I saw a calamity that will destroy this world. Even our three great sage regions will struggle to survive it.”

“What?!”

Fukasaku and Shima exchanged stunned looks.

“The three great sage regions have stood for thousands of years,” they said in disbelief. “We’ve survived so many dangers. Are you saying we won’t be able to escape this one?”

The Great Toad Sage offered no answer.

He merely sighed again, closed his eyes, and fell silent.