Chapter 19

The sinister and foreboding aura emanating from the red chakra sent shivers down Sakura's spine and filled her heart with panic.

"Is that Naruto!?"

"Why is he so powerful and... terrifying?"

If this was the same Naruto who had stolen her first kiss earlier in the day...

Sakura didn't dare to confront Naruto directly, and she wouldn't find the courage to resist!

Strangely, Sakura couldn't help but feel that this terrifying Naruto was handsome and captivating...

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Sakura quickly dismissed it.

"Perhaps it's because of the same vibe as Sasuke, yes, it must be that!"

"What did you say?"

Sasuke frowned and turned back, not understanding why Sakura was acting erratically again.

"Oh, nothing!"

"Look over there, Naruto is on the move again!"

Trying to divert attention from her slip of the tongue, Sakura quickly focused on the battlefield ahead.

Sasuke paid no further attention and turned his gaze back to the front.

Meanwhile...

Upon hearing the name "Nine-tailed Fox" being called out again, Kaze was exasperated.

"How boring. Can't you refer to me differently?"

"For example, the Fourth Hokage, or the consciousness of the previous Jinchuriki?"

Hearing Kaze's words, Torune was momentarily taken aback.

Or rather, he was slightly biased in his thinking.

Maybe the presence before him truly represented the chakra left behind by Minato or Kushina.

Their sole purpose: to protect their only offspring, Naruto!

However, the more he pondered this speculation, the more inconsistencies he found.

How could those two individuals rely solely on Taijutsu and Nine-Tails Chakra?

If it were truly them, he should have been facing the Flying Thunder God Technique or the sealing technique of the Uzumaki Clan!

"Damn Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, you're quite cunning. I almost fell for your deception!"

"Talking so much during battle and not finishing me off directly."

"That means the power you can currently harness, just as you've shown, is the chakra of a single tail."

"You're bluffing and stalling for time, hoping for Anbu reinforcements from the Third Hokage."

The more he spoke, the more he felt that his analysis was correct.

The panic on his face gradually subsided, and he regained his composure.

Upon reflection, he realized that he had been injured earlier due to Kaze's surprise attack.

And because he was unnerved by the Nine-Tails Chakra, he had fought against Kaze without utilizing any ninjutsu at all!

He was not a physical combatant; his true strength lay in ninjutsu!

"So I've been stalling for time?"

Kaze couldn't help but laugh at the Aburame's deduction.

He dared to underestimate someone who had incapacitated him with a single strike!

"You're quite confident, but you have no idea how long your strength will keep you confident!"

As his words fell, the ground beneath Kaze's feet suddenly cracked.

In the next moment, he reappeared in front of Torune, his tail sweeping down vertically behind him.

Meanwhile, he had long prepared himself for the situation.

He bit his glove and removed it, revealing a palm with a vivid purple complexion.

Following this, both palms moved swiftly toward the split fox tail.

Zizizi!

The moment the foxtail made contact with the palm, a scorching sound resonated.

The light red color was instantly engulfed by the purple hue, forming purple spots.

"Phosphorus bugs, nanoscale poisonous bugs that I have cultivated. It's a ninjutsu I take pride in," Torune declared.

"How does it feel?" He asked, his tone calm yet laced with arrogance.

As Danzo's right-hand man, his ninjutsu posed a significant threat even to Kage-level ninjas. Accidental contact with his bugs would result in severe injuries or death.

"It's nothing more than bugs that can be crushed," Kaze sneered, retracting the reddish fox tail behind him.

The purple spots on it swiftly disappeared, visible evidence of his resilience. He wasn't Naruto who relied on the power of the Nine-Tails; this was his own limitless chakra.

With his entire body covered in it, he resembled the Nine-Tails itself, a being made of chakra. As long as he didn't deplete his chakra, even being engulfed in these phosphorus bugs would have no effect.

It was simply unfortunate for Torune to have crossed paths with him. As an elite Jōnin might have been compelled to fight him head-on.

"I hope my lord won't fault me for disabling the Jinchuriki," Torune whispered, raising his hands in front of his mouth, his eyes cold and his cheeks puffed up.

"Secret technique: Poisonous Dust!"

He blew forcefully from his protruding cheeks, and instantly, a purple mist billowed forth, enveloping Kaze.

Kaze neither dodged nor evaded; instead, he willingly stepped into the poisonous mist.

"Is that all?" Kaze shook his head disappointedly.

Torune's face contorted with fury as he continued spewing poisonous mist.

"Impossible!"

"Even with the chakra protecting you, my poisonous insects should penetrate deep into your flesh and bones!"

"What have you done?"

"Why aren't you dead yet?"

His once proud demeanor was now replaced with embarrassment and rage, realizing his potent poisonous insects had no effect whatsoever.

"I'm not dead, but you're about to be," Kaze said casually, having navigated through the poisonous fog.

While Torune was distracted by his own disbelief, Kaze appeared right in front of him, swiftly gripping his arm.

Simultaneously, the Nine-Tails chakra extended, seizing Torune by the neck and hoisting him into the air.

"You... you bastard!" Torune exclaimed, attempting to break free as soon as he was caught by Kaze.

But Kaze's grip was unyielding, like an iron vice, rendering escape impossible.

Helplessly suspended by his neck, his life now hung by a thread.

After dispelling the poisonous mist surrounding him using the Nine-Tails chakra, Kaze examined the captured root member with indifference, raising him to eye level.

"Tell me, who sent you to deceive us?" Kaze asked in a detached tone. "Be honest, it might just save your life."

Although Kaze knew that Danzo was the mastermind behind the scenes, he maintained the pretense of seeking information.

"Heh, didn't they teach you the ninja code in the academy?" Torune sneered, displaying no signs of concern or fear about being captured.

"Do what you will, but I suggest you hurry. Otherwise, reinforcements will arrive, and you won't stand a chance."

As Danzo's right-hand man, Torune was anxious, knowing there would be danger if he delayed.

However, the true danger lay in the capture of him, as Hiruzen Sarutobi would seize the opportunity to rebuke and reprimand Danzo.

Moreover, being caught after a failed mission meant his life was forfeit anyway.

So, his only solution was to die to prevent any future complications. Once dead, the tongue-bane mark on his tongue would destroy his head, erasing any traces.

"I admire your resilience," Kaze remarked, tightening his grip on Torune's wrist with his fox tail, piercing it with precision.

Torune winced in pain, his eyes locked with Kaze's, a defiant smile on his lips.

Unrelenting, Kaze continued his assault. He thrust his fox tail three more times, creating gaping wounds in the joints of Torune's hands and feet.

Without immediate medical ninjutsu treatment, his hands and feet would be rendered useless.

Torune understood the gravity of his situation. His face turned pale, and his eyes filled with despair, he wasn't going to have a peaceful death, was he?

Even his once defiant shouts ceased, leaving him resembling a lifeless puppet at Kaze's mercy.

Yet Kaze showed no signs of stopping, reveling in his sadistic curiosity. He continued to impale Torune's body with his fox tail, puncturing it with precise and deliberate strikes.

In Naruto's consciousness, the anger had dissipated, and there were no reminders of the increasing blackening value on Kaze's side.

[Current blackening value: 4500]

Observing the pitiful state of the captured root member, Naruto felt a mixture of admiration and sympathy.

"Kaze, he's already been punished enough. He's received what he deserved."

Naruto pleaded, his compassion overriding Kaze's blackened persona, which was fueled by his painful memories.

*******

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