"Naruto Uzumaki!" Gaara became extremely excited. "After I've transformed into this state, you're the only one left with the ability to fight me."
Naruto didn't want to pay attention to Gaara. He said to Gamabunta, "Don't use the short sword. Use Water Release for a long-range attack."
"Hmm? You actually know I can use Water Release. Did Jiraiya tell you...?" Gamabunta spat out a water column, charging straight towards One-Tailed Shukaku. "Water Release! Iron Cannonball Jutsu!"
The huge water column slammed into One-Tailed Shukaku's body. Since Shukaku's body was entirely made of sand, after being hit by the water column, its chubby body actually shrank a few sizes.
This attack completely caught Gaara off guard. He never expected that Naruto could command an ultra-giant frog to fight. He had no chance of winning in this way.
"Damn it!" Gaara thought to himself, "I can't control Shukaku well. Only if I fall asleep and let Shukaku wake up completely can I defeat Naruto... Otherwise, I'll definitely lose to Naruto..."
Gaara began to form hand seals and said in a deep voice, "Feigning Sleep Technique!"
"Uh-oh!" Gamabunta explained, "The One-Tailed Jinchuriki has used the Feigning Sleep Technique."
"Got it, got it." Naruto interrupted, "Gaara is hypnotizing himself. Once he falls asleep, One-Tailed Shukaku will fully awaken."
"Do you think you can beat a Tailed Beast?" Gamabunta roared, "You're making such a serious matter sound so trivial. You don't even know how you're going to die."
"Humph." Naruto laughed, "How could I fight this kind of monster head-on? Let someone else do it."
"Oh?" Gamabunta looked puzzled.
"Ha ha ha ga ga ga ga—ga ga ga—" One-Tailed Shukaku's pupils suddenly lit up. The once dull and stupid One-Tailed Shukaku seemed to regain its spirit in an instant.
"I'm finally out! I'm free again!" One-Tailed Shukaku danced with joy, raising its hands high, wiggling its chubby body, and stamping its feet on the ground, causing the ground to tremble.
"..." Gamabunta grabbed his short sword again. The Tailed Beast in front of him was truly terrifying.
Naruto reminded, "Gamabunta, don't use the short sword."
Gamabunta was sweating profusely and under great pressure.
"I've spotted the one to kill at a glance." One-Tailed Shukaku pointed at Gamabunta and said, "Ga ga ga ga ga ga—So lucky."
"Naruto!" Gamabunta said under pressure, "I'll take command of the next battle." After saying that, Gamabunta leaped into the air in a frog-like jump.
"Wind Release Jutsu! Drill Air Bullet Jutsu!" One-Tailed Shukaku punched its abdomen, as if using its body as a bellows. As its bulging abdomen was punched, a violent gust of wind shot out from Shukaku's mouth.
Thankfully, Gamabunta had already leaped high into the air and avoided Shukaku's Wind Release Jutsu: Drill Air Bullet Jutsu.
"Water Release Jutsu! Iron Cannonball Jutsu!" Gamabunta adjusted his posture in mid-air, opened his frog mouth towards Shukaku, and spat out another huge water column.
"Wind Release Jutsu! Drill Air Bullet Jutsu!" One-Tailed Shukaku launched two consecutive Wind Release Jutsu attacks without even catching its breath.
The water column clashed with the storm, instantly triggering a howling gale and a torrential downpour within a radius of several hundred meters.
Sasuke was taking shelter behind a massive boulder. The tempest was so fierce that he couldn't lift his head. Gnashing his teeth, Sasuke muttered, "What a terrifying battle!"
The gale and the downpour also swept Shikamaru and Temari away. Naruto was standing on the head of Gamabunta, still having the mood to look around.
Naruto noticed that Shikamaru was clutching Temari as they were being blown down the hillside. Naruto mused to himself, "It seems Shikamaru's pulled it off. He's snagged a powerful ninja for Konoha."
"Where's Hinata?" Naruto quickly looked around for Hinata's figure.
"Found her." Naruto directly jumped off Gamabunta's head and rushed towards Hinata.
Initially, Hinata and Sakura were teaming up against Kanpo. But after Gaara fully [transformed into that of a tailed beast], Kanpo was so terrified that he dropped his puppet and bolted.
Now only Hinata and Sakura were shivering in the storm.
Just then, Naruto landed between Hinata and Sakura.
"Naruto - kun!" Hinata was extremely happy to see Naruto.
"Naruto." Sakura was no longer panicking because Naruto was not only powerful but also dependable.
"Sakura, Sasuke is hiding behind that huge rock. Go find him by yourself," Naruto continued. "The [Chunin Exams] are over. Now Konoha is being invaded by the [Sand Ninjas]. It's time to resist the invaders."
"I, Naruto Uzumaki, hereby issue an A - rank [mission]. Relay this to all the [Genin] from Konoha who took part in the [Chunin Exams] and tell them to take on my [mission]."
"Those with the chops, defend the village and wipe out the invaders. Those still finding their feet, safeguard yourselves. Everyone's gotta make it out alive."
After Naruto finished speaking, he directly picked up Hinata and turned around, quickly moving towards Gamabunta.
Sakura seemed torn. She felt she'd finally got what she'd always craved, but at the same time, she'd lost something.
In the old days, Naruto was always hounding Sakura, which really bugged her. Sakura knew that from this moment on, Naruto wouldn't be bothering her anymore. That was what she'd always wished for.
But seeing Naruto grow so powerful, leaving his peers in the dust in terms of strength and even being able to issue an A - rank [mission].
Watching Naruto carrying Hinata away, Sakura felt that she had lost something.
In fact, Naruto had no authority to issue an A - rank [mission] whatsoever. But with the village under attack, no one would nitpick his bluster. Naruto just wanted to win people over.
Naruto carried Hinata and bounded forward all the way. After a few leaps, he carried Hinata onto Gamabunta's head.
Hinata stared wide - eyed. The wind buffeted her cheeks, and her hair billowed in the rain. The fiercest battlefield was right before her eyes.
"Hinata - chan, this is the battlefield of top - notch ninjas. I'm taking you to experience it in advance," Naruto said with a big smile.
"Gaaagaaagaaa!" The [One - Tailed Shukaku] let out a strange cry. It felt like it was on the verge of victory because Gamabunta had already burned through a lot of his energy.
"Puff puff puff..." Gamabunta gasped for air, closing one eye. "Naruto!" he wheezed. "You're in charge now. If you can't pull it off, you're staying here today."
Gamabunta's intention was obvious. As a Summoned beast, if it couldn't beat Shukaku, it'd just go back to Mount Myoboku.
Then the folks in Konoha Village would be in deep trouble. Shukaku is like a force of nature and will surely make Konoha pay dearly.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata looked a bit nervous. Being right at the front line of such a high - level battle, she felt a bit lost.
"Don't fret. I'm here," Naruto soothed Hinata. Then he stomped hard on Gamabunta and roared, "Duh! If we can't win, we skedaddle!"
"This is Konoha. Where the heck can we go?"
"To the southwest corner of Konoha Village."
"Why head there?"
" 'Cause the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village's there!"
"What!" Gamabunta exclaimed in shock. When did Konoha get a Fifth Hokage?
<><><><><><><><>
~ 80+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
p-atreon.com/Tansnovel
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
~ Every 50 Powerstones = 4 Bonus Chapters on the weekend!