Chapter 62: Puffed-Up Naruto, Mr. Perfect Timing

Chapter 62: Puffed-Up Naruto, Mr. Perfect Timing

Whoosh… whoosh…

The howling wind roared like a typhoon tearing through half the Forest of Death.

Candidates near Team 7 barely had time to turn toward the sound before the gale force winds slammed into them.

A shinobi mid-leap using Body Flicker was hurled backward, crashing into a Colossal Tree. Others walking on the ground were shoved violently, toppling to the earth like ragdolls.

Crack… crack…

Boom… boom…

Amid the cacophony, the sound of splintering wood and collapsing structures echoed faintly.

The scene zoomed in on a region where the air itself twisted like a whirlpool. Trees bent at impossible angles, then snapped under the strain, crashing down in unison and kicking up a storm of dust.

Thankfully, the wind carried no cutting edge. The Forest of Death’s ancient trees—each as thick as ten men clasping hands—were tough enough to withstand the force. Without their resilience, entire swathes of forest would’ve been reduced to barren wasteland.

Even so, this spectacle rivaled, even surpassed, the Fourth Great Ninja War’s iconic moment when Temari’s Wind Release clashed against the Ten-Tails’ chakra storm.

When the winds finally died, Team 7’s corner of the forest lay in ruins. Naruto Uzumaki’s three hundred Shadow Clones had vanished, obliterated by his own jutsu.

“This… this is Dead-Last’s power?!”

Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno crouched behind a fallen Colossal Tree, staring at the devastation. Sasuke’s voice trembled.

He hadn’t expected Naruto to be this strong.

"Is this a joke? Naruto’s actually this strong?!" Sakura clutched her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief.

Without Zabuza’s ambush in the Land of Waves, they’d never seen Naruto grow beyond the boy who bumbled through Kakashi’s bell test or froze in terror facing the Demon Brothers. His only real asset had been his massive chakra reserves—and that one Shadow Clone trick.

Now he’d summoned a storm capable of reshaping the battlefield!

If he was the dead last… what did that make her?

“Hahahahaha!”

A booming laugh cut through their thoughts.

They turned to see Naruto standing atop a fallen tree, arms akimbo, grinning like a fox. “You seein’ what I can do now?! This is my true power! Whether it’s Izayoi, Hinata Hyuga, you stuck-up Sasuke, or that bushy-browed weirdo—all of you’ll be my victims!”

“Clever combo,” a voice murmured beside him. “Almost got me killed.”

Naruto’s laughter died mid-breath. Before he could react, twin serpents coiled around his body, pinning his arms. Only his exposed stomach remained free.

From the earth rose Orochimaru, smirking. “Struggle all you want, little fox.”

Naruto thrashed, his eyes unconsciously shifting to crimson slits.

Orochimaru chuckled. “So it is you.”

“What’re you babbling about?!” Naruto snarled. “Fight me fair and square, you coward!”

“Oh please,” Orochimaru sneered. “If you hadn’t wasted your energy on that flashy trick, I’d indulge you. But now…” He yanked up Naruto’s shirt, his hand glowing with blue chakra shaped into the kanji for wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning.

“Let go of Naruto!”

Sasuke’s voice rang out as he materialized beside Orochimaru, foot lashing toward his head.

Too slow.

“Five Elements Sealing Technique!”

Orochimaru’s palm slammed into Naruto’s gut. With his other hand, he deflected Sasuke’s kick.

Naruto flew backward. Orochimaru skidded, but only slightly.

“Katon: Gōryūka no Jutsu!”

Sasuke’s seals flashed. A dragon of flame erupted from his mouth, roaring toward Orochimaru.

The snake sannin watched the inferno through the smoke, his gaze lingering on Sasuke’s Double Tomoe Sharingan. For a moment, he saw Itachi again—training in secret, that same terrifying potential.

This boy might even surpass his brother.

“Doton: Earth Wall!”

The ground erupted, a stone barrier swallowing the fire.

Sasuke, already channeling Lightning Release Chakra Cellular Stimulation, darted forward. Kunai in hand, he sliced through the serpents binding Naruto and yanked him backward.

“Where’re you takin’ me?!” Naruto bellowed, still struggling. “I’m not done with that snake freak!”

“You idiot!” Sasuke hissed. “Your wind jutsu barely scratched him. We’re outmatched.”

Naruto froze. Right—his combo move was a one-trick pony. All Orochimaru needed to do was burrow underground like a coward.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Orochimaru’s voice slithered through the air.

Sasuke’s speed was unmatched—alone, he might’ve escaped. But Naruto was dead weight.

Before they reached the forest’s edge, the pair saw Orochimaru’s serpentine form twisting toward them like an arrow, his grin a nightmare.

“Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!”

Naruto slammed his hands together, but only twenty clones poofed into existence. Chakra still unstable, their Wind Release jutsu sputtered—feeble gusts barely stronger than a sneeze.

“What the—?!” Naruto gaped.

“It’s the seal,” Sasuke muttered, dread sinking in. This wasn’t a genin’s power.

“Dead-Last, run for help!” Sasuke hurled Naruto aside.

“No way! I don’t abandon my comrades!” Naruto shouted, charging back.

“This isn’t the time to be stubborn!” Sasuke hurled shuriken at Orochimaru. “He’s not a genin! Proctors’ll notice the commotion—go find help, or we’re all dead!”

“If that’s true, then I’m staying!” Naruto’s eyes hardened. He slammed his palms together again.

“Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!”

Several clones burst into existence, scattering toward the forest’s edge. The real Naruto charged straight at Orochimaru.

His loyalty nearly doomed Sasuke.

Even with Lightning Release Chakra Cellular Stimulation and Sharingan-enhanced reflexes, Orochimaru could only match Sasuke with earth jutsu or snake techniques. Now, Naruto’s recklessness forced Sasuke to split his focus.

Orochimaru seized the opening.

Within moments, both boys were trapped—ankles swallowed by mud, bound in serpents.

As Orochimaru’s neck stretched like a cobra’s, hands forming seals for the Heaven-Cursed Seal, a fist smashed into his face.

Crunch!

The punch drove knuckles into bone. Orochimaru’s head snapped back like a baseball, body flying.

Izayoi stood where he’d struck, fists clenched.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end