"Are you sure about this? I still can't fully control the power of Chidori."
Sasuke's eyes glowed crimson, his two-tomoe Sharingan spinning to life. His voice was tense—clearly worried he might hurt Naruto too badly.
"Don't worry. Just don't kill him. I'm pretty sure this idiot can take a few hits."
Hinata frowned slightly as she scanned Naruto with her Byakugan. As expected, the Tailed Beast Cloak wasn't just for show. That dense chakra armor masked all of Naruto's vital points—rendering her Gentle Fist essentially useless. Unless she had Kaguya-level power, acupuncture wasn't an option.
"RAAAHHH!!"
Suddenly, Naruto roared and rose from the ground in a blur of motion. His claws gleamed as he crossed his arms in front of him—Hinata's expression tightened instantly.
"Everyone, hit the deck!!"
The pressure pouring from Naruto was overwhelming. Thanks to combat training, the others didn't hesitate—they dropped flat to the ground, arms covering the backs of their heads.
Then it hit.
A sonic shockwave in the shape of a perfect arc blasted from Naruto's crossed arms—the Sonic Blade's Slash he'd been trying to master. Except this time, powered by the Nine-Tails' chakra, it was complete—and far more devastating.
The air split with a screech as the three-meter-wide crescent shot over their heads, tearing through the forest behind them like a buzz saw. Trees snapped and collapsed in its wake like dominoes.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
Amid the settling dust, Shikamaru clenched his jaw and made his move—his shadow shot forward, snaring Naruto just as he froze in his post-attack recovery.
"Mind Stun Jutsu!"
Ino followed up like a synchronized dance partner. Naruto's body jerked, then stilled as she took hold.
"CHIDORI!!!"
With a sharp cry and a burst of lightning, Sasuke burst from the smoke, his left hand crackling with blue energy. Even as Shikamaru and Ino cried out from the backlash, Naruto couldn't move in time.
CRACK!
Sasuke's hand pierced Naruto's right shoulder—but the chakra cloak dulled the blow. His hand barely sank in before Naruto's monstrous strength seized his wrist, locking him in place.
"NOW!!"
Hinata's voice rang out from Naruto's flank. She dashed in, fire blazing around her fist. With perfect timing, she slammed her fiery punch directly into Naruto's abdomen—right where the Seal lay.
BOOM!
Naruto's pupils dilated, his body bent like a shrimp around her fist, and he was launched nearly ten meters into the air.
"WAKE UP!!"
She roared as Naruto's body arced skyward. The red chakra cloak began to fade visibly, his eyes reverting from slit pupils to their usual blue.
Then—he dropped.
"Gotcha!"
Chōji slid under him just in time, catching him in a soft but solid landing.
Hinata landed nearby, breathing heavily. That one punch had drained almost all her chakra—but it worked.
"Is everyone okay? Sakura, start emergency treatment!"
Sakura ran over and pressed her hands to Naruto's abdomen. Her healing jutsu wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.
"I'm just tired. Otherwise, I'm good..."
Shikamaru, face covered in dirt, helped Ino to her feet. Shino added calmly, "The strange chakra is gone. My insects have settled down."
"Tch... damn dead-last idiot."
Sasuke scowled, glancing at the claw marks on his glove. But his tone lacked true anger—just irritation.
"Well, that's a wrap."
Hinata stood, shaking out her sore arm. "Let's call it a night. Tomorrow, we're going for full roast beef. Naruto's treat."
Chōji hoisted Naruto onto his back, and everyone fell in step behind Hinata, heading home.
From the shadows of the forest, Asuma watched in stunned silence, his cigarette falling from his mouth.
"They... they actually pulled it off?"
Kakashi clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Looks like we underestimated them. Not just their strength—but their Will of Fire."
He turned, voice steady. "Let's go report to the Hokage. Maybe... the Nine-Tails won't be a threat to the village after all."
---
"I'm telling you! I don't remember anything from last night!"
Naruto knelt in the middle of the Hinata Squad's hall, his posture one of total defeat. In his eyes, this was the greatest injustice—ambushed, beaten up, made to pay for everyone's food... and now facing judgment.
"We can't just take your word for it," Hinata said lightly, picking her teeth with a toothpick.
"You've done enough pranks that this wouldn't even be your worst."
To her, the real news was that no one had come to arrest Naruto. The Third Hokage clearly intended to let the incident slide. Which meant one thing: their group's influence in Konoha had quietly climbed another rung.
"Well, judging by how remorseful he is, I'd say it really was the real Naruto."
Shino adjusted his glasses and nodded. "But... there's always a chance it was some shape-shifting monster trying to fool us."
"So... do we rough him up again?" Sakura cracked her knuckles, grinning with forced sweetness. Ever since losing the female lead role to Naruto, she'd been itching for revenge.
"Come on, give him a break. He's paying for the roast beef."
Chōji was firmly in Team Naruto.
Shikamaru sighed. "Honestly... we made that much noise, and no one's come knocking. Talk about lucky."
Of course, it wasn't luck. The memory of the Nine-Tails was still too fresh. As long as it stayed sealed, the village would prefer to pretend this never happened.
Kakashi and Asuma, no longer bothering to pretend to be cameramen, now sat in full ninja gear.
"Alright, Naruto," Hinata continued, "You say you don't remember anything. Fine. But you skipped an important team meeting with a Shadow Clone and then turned into a walking disaster."
She leaned forward, tone sharp.
"You offered to cover damages with your pay—but punishment is still necessary. Choose: two weeks of cleaning the academy bathrooms... or one week in a dress."
Naruto paled. The second half hit him like a kunai to the chest.
Graduation exams were only two weeks away. If he was still scrubbing toilets on his big day, that would be the most humiliating start to his ninja career imaginable.
But crossdressing... a full week...
"C-Can I pick something else?"
He tried to plead, but Hinata raised an eyebrow.
"These punishments are light. No physical harm, just psychological reinforcement. Very reasonable."
Shino added calmly, "And honestly, the second option allows you to avoid humiliating yourself on graduation day."
"I get it!!" Naruto shouted, smoke practically coming from his ears. "I'll take... the second one. The dress..."
"Perfect."
Hinata smirked. "Ino. Sakura. Take him away and give him the full makeover. And no Transformation Jutsu this time—we want him to understand the true meaning of shame."
Naruto's scream of despair echoed through the compound.
And so, justice was served.
---
(Hinata is petty)