"Alright! Leave it to me!"
Naruto shouts loudly, charging alone toward Dragon Kabuto.
To protect the village, he must defeat Kabuto quickly!
"Hey! Kakashi, is it okay to let Naruto face that guy alone?"
"No problem. He’s grown up, no longer a kid we just protect. Trust him!"
Kakashi knows letting Naruto face Kabuto alone is risky. But as his teacher, he trusts Naruto implicitly.
Don’t forget those old Uchiha eyes, which have seen shades of Jiraiya and Minato in Naruto multiple times.
Rather than just shielding a student, truly believing in them is far more valuable!
"You’re right, Naruto’s become the village’s hero!"
"Then my youth can’t lose to him either."
Guy unleashes his ultimate technique again, single-handedly suppressing three Edo Kage: Third Raikage, Second Tsuchikage, and Second Mizukage.
Meanwhile, Kakashi, Gaara, and others hold off the remaining two Edo Kazekage, giving Naruto a chance to fight Kabuto one-on-one.
"Eight Gates, what incredible power! Even without bloodline limits, you can reach this level."
"To achieve this with just taijutsu—you’re the first!"
While praising Guy’s powerful taijutsu, Kabuto quickly heals his body.
His liquified body makes him immune to most physical damage, but not entirely—Hirudora still left him slightly injured.
Fortunately, he has Karin’s transplanted healing abilities, combined with Sage Mode’s enhancements, granting him terrifying regeneration speed, almost without seals.
Dragon Kabuto’s power is nearly flawless.
"And you, thinking you can defeat me alone?"
Seeing Naruto charge at him alone, Kabuto grins wider.
A weakling like Naruto, his opponent? He’s like a lamb delivered to a tiger’s mouth—Kabuto won’t hesitate to take him!
"Sage Art – White Rage..."
Kabuto prepares to repeat his old trick, unleashing White Rage Technique again.
But Naruto, having suffered greatly from it once, how could he let it succeed?
"Sage Art – Wind Release Rasenshuriken!"
A high-speed spinning Rasenshuriken shoots from Naruto’s hand, hurtling toward Kabuto atop Manda II’s head.
Kabuto’s pupils contract, shocked that Naruto can project such a high-density chakra entity, nearly comparable to a Tailed Beast Bomb!
With no choice, Kabuto halts his technique.
He controls Manda II to dodge swiftly, unwilling to stay put and take the hit.
But he still underestimates Naruto’s Rasenshuriken.
Though it doesn’t hit Kabuto directly, at the perfect moment, it expands dozens of times and explodes violently!
A ultimate technique rivaling a Tailed Beast Bomb is, of course, extraordinary.
An area spanning hundreds of meters is instantly engulfed in white light and an explosion. Despite Manda II’s speed and agility, it can’t escape the Rasenshuriken’s massive blast radius. Kabuto and a third of Manda’s body are swallowed...
Konoha’s ninja rejoice, filled with hope.
"No, his chakra aura’s still there!"
Naruto, with his extraordinary senses, is certain Kabuto isn’t dead.
Soon, the explosion subsides. Manda II, gravely wounded, lies paralyzed on the ground, half its body bloodied with massive wind-slashed wounds.
Yet, this snake withstood the Rasenshuriken’s blast, proving its defense is remarkable. At the same time, Kabuto emerges from Manda’s wounded body.
Using Orochimaru’s Body Replacement Technique, he dove into Manda’s body, escaping the explosion’s devastating force.
"Naruto, to develop senjutsu to this level?"
"Orochimaru-sama would probably praise you. But compared to me now, you’re still too naive."
Tayuya – Demonic Flute: Illusionary Sound Chains.
Kabuto’s abdomen churns, quickly sprouting half of Tayuya’s body, her gaze vacant.
This forbidden technique, created after transplanting cells, allows him to grow autonomous individuals from his body and control them to use specialized ninjutsu.
Under his control, Tayuya, using a flute made from Kimimaro’s bones, unleashes a rare auditory illusion—a deceptive flute sound!
This auditory illusion, enhanced by senjutsu, is even more astonishingly powerful.
It’s just as hard to counter.
Used now against Konoha’s stubborn ninja, especially Naruto with his weak illusion defenses, it’s perfect.
Sure enough, as the demonic flute’s sound rings out, Naruto, unprepared and readying another attack, is instantly ensnared by the illusion.
His entire body freezes in place, unable to move.
Unlike visual illusions like the Sharingan, auditory illusions let Naruto see the real world, and Kabuto can’t control his body. But in his mental space, his body is bound by illusory white snakes, rendering him immobile.
"What’s wrong? My body? I can’t move..."
Kabuto leaps down from Manda’s body, approaching Naruto step by step, grinning smugly.
"Of course. No matter how strong you are, as long as you have hearing, you can’t resist this demonic flute’s sound."
"Surrender, Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto struggles with all his might to break free from the illusion, but it’s futile.
At the critical moment...
Kurama jolts Naruto’s consciousness, instantly waking him.
The white snake bindings in his mental space are severed by Kurama.
Clearly, Kurama helped Naruto escape the illusion’s control.
Once caught in an illusion, breaking free alone is nearly impossible, but Jinchuriki are the exception to the exception.
Especially a Jinchuriki whose heart is linked with their Bijuu, who can help their host escape illusions anytime.
Thus, perfect Jinchuriki are almost immune to illusions!
Of course, if an illusion is strong enough to control both Jinchuriki and Bijuu, that’s a different story...
’My body can move? Was that you, Kurama?’
’Hmph! You’re still so reckless. If I hadn’t stepped in, you’d have lost...’
’Hahaha, thanks, Kurama!’
’Enough chatter, it’s disgusting! I only helped because that old man likes you—don’t get cocky!’
Kurama snorts arrogantly, its nine tails swishing behind, exuding pride.
’Hey! I’m sincerely grateful, why’re you getting all pouty?’
’Shut up, your enemy’s still there! Go fight!’
Kurama lifts its head, kicking Naruto out of the consciousness space.
In the real world, Kabuto, about to swallow Naruto in one bite, is suddenly blasted back by Naruto’s awakened Rasengan.
"How’s that possible? Breaking free from the illusion so quickly?"
"Naruto, you’re not to be underestimated!"
Kabuto grows more shocked, increasingly eager to claim Naruto.
"Kabuto, I’m sorry. For the village, I won’t let you hurt anyone else!"
"Sage Art – Wind Release Rasenshuriken!"
Naruto forms another wind orb, making Kabuto’s eyelids twitch.
This kid’s really out for blood!
"Fine, then let this guy play with you!"
Kabuto claps his hands, summoning another special coffin.
Inside lies Kabuto’s ultimate weapon, the Uchiha ancestor from the Warring States era: Uchiha Madara Edo Tensei!