Nara Shikaku rubbed his eyes hard, staring at the massive army in the distance.
"This… this is real!?"
The other Konoha shinobi were equally dumbstruck, frozen in place, unable to speak for a long while.
Reality spoke louder than words—the monstrous army stood before them.
Giants, twenty to thirty meters tall.
Shark-faced blue-skinned men with fangs.
Four-armed archers.
And more.
"…I told you it was real," Jiraiya snapped, glaring at them.
Shikaku swallowed, ashamed of doubting him. His lips dry, he asked, "Jiraiya-sama… where did these monsters come from? How could they all be so terrifying?"
All eyes turned to Jiraiya. He frowned, shaking his head.
"I don't know. But I suspect they came from some kind of laboratory experiment…"
"Impossible!" Orochimaru cut him off instantly, his golden eyes blazing with frenzy.
"No lab could create so many beings like this. I've tried—human cells resist manipulation…
"Besides, look at them. Every one of them is calm and composed. They aren't test-tube creations.
"They're more like entirely new races… though where these races were brought from, I can't say."
Orochimaru's voice dripped with obsession as he fell into speculation.
Hyūga Hiashi activated his Byakugan, scrutinizing the monsters. Suddenly, he sucked in a sharp breath.
"Something's wrong… these creatures have no chakra at all! If they were shinobi, it'd be impossible for them to lack chakra."
Orochimaru's fervor grew wilder.
"As I thought! These aren't shinobi—not even humans. They're entirely new species!"
The shinobi exchanged grave looks.
Shikaku turned to Akimichi Chōza.
"Chōza… if you used your Baika no Jutsu (Multi-Size Technique), could you match those giants?"
"That wouldn't be too hard…" Chōza muttered, frowning. "I can reach over a hundred meters if I push it. But I can't maintain it long—the chakra cost is insane…"
Shikaku's frown deepened.
So this wasn't ninjutsu trickery. These monsters truly existed. And from their savage appearances, they wouldn't be easy foes.
And yet, here was an entire legion, cutting through the Land of Fire straight from the Land of Fields…
Jiraiya's patience snapped.
"Shikaku! These things invaded our land and captured Tsunade. This is outright provocation. We need to stop them—and rescue her!"
The image of his first love, humiliated at the hands of that blond youth, burned in his mind. Rage boiled up—he wanted to kill.
Shikaku thought deeply. The others waited silently for his call. Normally, they would've followed Jiraiya's lead, but he was too unstable right now.
After several long seconds, Shikaku's eyes hardened.
"Fine. We'll probe their strength. Consider it reconnaissance—intelligence we may need for a larger war."
At once, he assembled the strike team: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, himself, Chōza, and Hiashi.
With a flicker of hand seals, they used Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) and closed in on the pirate horde.
"Hm?"
Naruto's brows rose as he turned toward the forest.
"So quick? I thought word wouldn't reach Konoha for another two or three days…"
"Lord Naruto, are those the enemies?" Some of the pirates had also spotted the shinobi.
"Yeah. Strong ones, too. Not weaker than Uchiha Shisui." Naruto's lips curled in a grin.
"Boys… take them out."
The pirates roared in excitement, eyes blazing as they turned toward the newcomers.
A giant pirate couldn't hold himself back. With just two thunderous strides, he closed in, swinging his massive hand down from above.
"So big…"
Jiraiya and the others gaped at the descending palm, blotting out the sky like a falling mountain.
"Chōza!" Shikaku shouted.
"I know!" Chōza bellowed back, his body swelling rapidly.
"Baika no Jutsu! (Multi-Size Technique!)"
In seconds, his body ballooned dozens of times, towering at thirty meters—now on par with the giant.
BOOM!!!
Their palms slammed together with a thunderous crack. The shockwave tore through the forest like a hurricane.
Chōza's face twisted as he staggered back, each step flattening colossal trees before he finally halted.
"What happened, Chōza!?" Shikaku shouted, stunned.
Even Tsunade herself would retreat before Chōza's giant strength—how could he be losing against an equal-sized opponent?
"This guy's strength… it's insane," Chōza growled, blood trickling from his lip. "Feels like fighting a tailed beast…"
He swung his fist at the giant pirate. The giant met him head-on.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Fist after fist collided in an earth-shaking barrage.
After dozens of blows, Chōza coughed blood, his enormous body hurled backward like a ragdoll, crashing through the forest.
"Chōza!" Shikaku roared, rage surging as his hands flashed through seals.
"You bastard! What kind of monster are you!?"
His shadow raced outward, snaking across the ground, linking with the titan's.
The giant's steps faltered. He froze, suddenly unable to move. Panic flickered across his brutish face.
"Lord Naruto! What's happening to me!?"
(End of Chapter)
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