["What's going on?" Even the usually clueless Ittai looked completely bewildered at Naruto's ridiculous entrance.]
[One of the Four also sounded suspicious: "Who charges in shouting without even trying to hide their presence? Is he some higher-up from our group?"]
["Look! Even the enemy is roasting him!"]
["Hahaha, totally stunned the opposition!"]
["Ah, so this is Naruto's strategy—pretend to be a big boss to demoralize the enemy without a fight!"]
["Yeah, yeah! Hahahaha, I can't breathe from laughing!"]
["Poor Konoha's reputation is getting trashed!"]
A vein popped on Naruto's forehead as he shouted at the sky screen. "I'm not an idiot! It was just an accident!"
In the Pure Land, Kushina smacked her forehead seeing Naruto's clumsy entrance. "Naruto, I told your dad I hoped you'd be more like Obito, but don't be so reckless!"
Thinking of Obito, she paused in the white void. "Is Obito here too?"
[Of course, even among the enemy, someone had Naruto figured out at a glance: idiot. The leader of the Four then sneered, finishing the obligatory pre-battle trash talk.]
[Naturally, Naruto wasn't going to take that lying down. He was about to retort when Ashihoko used the opportunity to escape with Shion through a secret passage. Naruto snapped back to his mission just in time, blocking the entrance. "Alright, you're not getting through here!"]
["You think you alone can stop us?" The Four clearly underestimated him, unaware this was a guy who could summon an army of clones at any moment.]
["I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I won't let you do as you please!" Naruto roared, forming a hand seal and unleashing his signature technique: "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"]
[The Four immediately bolted from the room, but hot on their heels was a massive crowd of identical Narutos.]
["Holy crap!! That many clones, seriously?!"]
["I thought this kid was just a clueless Genin, but now it looks like Konoha set a trap! That's so sneaky!"]
["Anyone who thought he was dumb is the real idiot. He's Jiraiya's student, obviously he's not that simple!"]
["Wait, didn't anyone notice his surname? Uzumaki! Of course he'd have that kind of chakra capacity."]
["Yeah! Only now people realize he's got that surname. I thought all the Uzumaki had red hair?"]
["That's not weird. One of his parents probably had blond hair."]
["The Uzumaki Clan was wiped out ages ago. A mixed-blood Uzumaki popping up is nothing special. Besides, Konoha and Uzushiogakure were allies."]
Naruto looked surprised. He hadn't realized his surname carried so much weight. He turned to Kakashi, hoping for an explanation.
Kakashi scratched his head. If he went into too much detail, he'd risk revealing Naruto's classified background—something the Third Hokage hadn't authorized.
After a pause, Kakashi decided to let Hiruzen handle it. "That's complicated. Let's finish watching the footage. Later, the Hokage can decide what information to share."
Naruto pouted. "That's so annoying!"
["I've never seen Shadow Clone Jutsu used as a human-wave tactic. Isn't it meant for intelligence gathering?"]
["He's got so much chakra, though. It's kind of eye-opening."]
["That many clones… He's no ordinary ninja." The leader of the Four finally got serious.]
[Naruto quickly caught up and surrounded them with clones. "Scared now, huh?"]
[But the Four showed no sign of panic. The leader ordered calmly: "Ittai, Shina, Shizuku—use the Earth-Fire-Wind combination jutsu!"]
["Got it—Earth Style: Earth Corridor!" Ittai pounded the ground, sending up earthen walls that completely encircled Naruto and his clones, leaving only a single circular opening facing the Four.]
[Naruto's voice echoed from inside as he and his clones searched for an exit. The leader smirked. "This one's yours."]
["Fire Style: Fire Dance!" Shizuku, the orange-haired one, spun on the spot, sending a ring of flames rolling into the opening.]
["Do none of these guys use hand seals for their jutsu?"]
["It's like they're dancing—so weird."]
["Hand seals depend on the jutsu. Most Jonin train hard on that, but some stick to proper seals."]
["Sorry, I'm just a Genin."]
"See what happens when you act on your own!" Sakura scolded Naruto as he got trapped onscreen.
"But—but if I hadn't shown up early, the priestess would've been in danger!" Naruto protested, though Neji shot him down coolly. "We were right behind you anyway."
"Ugh, you're so annoying!" Naruto muttered, turning his head.
[Naruto dodged the attack with a flying leap and taunted back: "First time I've seen such a lame Fire Style!"]
[But he celebrated too soon. Outside the circle, Shina formed a powerful gust with a single gesture. "Wind Style: Divine Wind!"]
[The wind fed the flames, creating an explosive blaze that incinerated Naruto's clones in seconds.]
[Watching with his Byakugan, Neji scoffed. "Naruto's getting what he deserves for disobeying orders." Then he turned toward the shrine. The Four's leader was already headed down a hidden path toward the priestess. Neji spotted Shion's presence near a waterfall. "She's near the shrine's waterfall. One of them is closing in."]
[Explaining the situation, Neji told Sakura and Lee, "I'll deal with him. You two get Naruto out, then join me at the waterfall!"]
["Got it!" *2]
(To be continued)