Chapter-128

Across town, Toph helped Naruto get up.

"Are you OK?" The blind girl didn't like it at all, the warm blood that slid between her fingers when she touched the boy's face, afraid that he was hurt more than she thought.

"No, I'm not." He couldn't even collect his thoughts; those few blows had destroyed him. He felt like Grandma Tsunade had beaten him. "He's strong, too strong."

Toph had no reason not to believe him. She felt something strange about that guy – his heart rate and body were something she had never felt in another person. "It's coming!" She could feel the vibration of the earth due to the powerful footsteps of the enemy.

He came running at them at full speed and raised his fist to punch the earthbender, who barely managed to raise a large wall of earth.

To the horror of the blind bandit, her barrier was destroyed as if it were paper, and the breeze blew her hair when the warrior's fist was close to hitting the girl's face.

Everything was in slow motion.

When the girl was pulled out of the way before she could be hit, she was grabbed by her clothes by Naruto, who threw her back with his left hand, and in his right, he carried a Rasengan, which he slammed against Shòukǔ's large fist.

Everything happened in a second, and the result ended in a loud explosion, sending both sides flying in different directions.

Shòukǔ dragged his feet until he could stop and stand, with a curious look in his eyes, which focused on the small burns and scrapes on his fist.

Was this what I thought it was?

Interested, he looked into the distance at the boy who was holding that earthbender in his arms, who didn't even know what had happened.

Gulping, the shinobi clenched his fists. That was one of his best Rasengan, and it had barely burned his opponent's hand a little.

"You're strong."

"That?" Naruto was confused as he saw how the warrior's posture relaxed and, for the first time, saw him smile.

"You are strong," he repeated calmly, looking once more at his hand. "It's been years since I've felt pain; I always thought the Avatar would be the only one who would make it."

"Well, what a pity, Aang doesn't have time for someone like you; you'll have to settle for facing a shinobi!"

"Shinobi?" The word piqued the warrior's interest, and he gave the teenager a penetrating look. "You're a long way from home... Aren't you?" He asked mockingly, making the Uzumaki frown.

"Do you care?"

"No," shaking his head, Shòukǔ maintained a relaxed expression. "It's funny to see it happen again."

"You..." Naruto looked at the giant warrior in disbelief.

Past again?

Was the guy like him?

Did he come from the elemental nations?

"Naruto..." The boy was taken out of his thoughts when he felt Toph's hand grab his jacket.

This was frowned upon by Shòukǔ, who gave the earthbender a dark look.

"The others are still fighting... and from what I see from my feet, they are not doing well." The worried expression was enough for the Uzumaki to focus again.

"I don't know who you are..." With a deadly look, the shinobi crossed his fingers forming a hand seal. "And I don't care..."

"What is this?" Toph couldn't describe in words what she felt now. It was like a strange warm breeze coming out of Naruto. Her heart was pounding, and all her muscles were tense as that warm breeze became hotter. "No... it's not wind."

Shòukǔ stared as a faint but powerful blue energy enveloped the boy in a strange hand position. In an instant, the entire town was shrouded in a cloud of white smoke.

"But..." Naruto stood his ground within the dissipating smoke, shielding Toph. As it cleared, it revealed not just his surroundings but also countless new people on the battlefield. Toph sensed their presence – many individuals with the same weight, heartbeat, and warmth.

Shòukǔ smiled brightly, observing all the copies of the ninja boy with the same defiant look as the original.

"If you hurt the people I love!... You'll regret it!"

It was the collective cry of all the clones and the original. In a burst of speed, they launched themselves into the attack, with Shòukǔ welcoming them with a deafening war cry and powerful fists.

In a massive blast, the warrior effortlessly dispatched the clones – smashing through the first clone's head, stepping on the second like a bug, and breaking the third in half. The cloud of smoke grew as the clones faced the formidable threat.

"That?" Shòukǔ noticed blood on his hand when he touched a cheek, dodging fists and avoiding blows with ease. "It's learning."

The original learned from the eliminations of his clones and, to worsen matters, created more every second.

It had to come to an end for the original...

A long chain surrounded Shòukǔ's neck as dozens of clones attacked, hitting, kicking, and even biting him. Despite the assault, the giant stood his ground.

Until he saw hundreds of large four-bladed shuriken coming at him from the sky. With increased muscles, he broke the chain and freed himself from the clones, but it was too late.

Naruto watched as the shuriken hit their targets, only to break upon touching the warrior's unharmed skin, the rain of weapons obscuring the sun above.

"No harm?" Naruto couldn't believe that after all that, the warrior didn't have a single wound. The plan didn't work as expected, or maybe it did. His eyes focused on a small drop of blood coming down from the giant's cheek as he slowly brought his hand up to his face, staring at the small drop of blood between his fingers.

"All this for a drop of blood?" The warrior's question sent shivers down Naruto's spine as he watched his opponent advance, decimating every clone in his path.

Reflexively, he shielded his face with crossed arms, his feet sinking into the ground upon receiving the devastating blow. Bones in his arms splintered, and a cloud of dust filled the air.

Despite the monstrous strength of Shòukǔ pressing against him, Naruto stood, utilizing all his strength to resist being crushed.

"You..." The concealed fervor in the warrior's smile revealed his satisfaction, witnessing the boy endure an unmatched force. He could hear muscles tense and bones crack, yet Naruto continued to resist. "... you really are very well."

Naruto, focused on survival, couldn't find words.

No.

He focused on overcoming.

With determination, he started pushing back against his opponent's fist, eliciting excitement from Shòukǔ.

"I'm excited to see that you're not dead yet!" Shòukǔ's smile widened, relishing the boy's defiance, that gleam in his eyes, the fighting spirit refusing to succumb.

Naruto nearly stumbled forward when his opponent ceased pushing. However, respite was short-lived as a brutal horizontal kick sent him sprawling, breaking his left arm and several ribs. Crashing into a well, he felt warm blood trickle down his neck from the impact.

Narrowing his eyes, Naruto formed a Rasengan with his right hand, striking Shòukǔ's foot as it attempted to crush him again. The chakra spiral pushed the warrior away.

Breathing heavily, Naruto stood, ribs broken, left arm useless. "Despite broken bones, I'm still standing," Shòukǔ declared, approaching the resilient Uzumaki.

"Heh... I could do this all day..." Naruto retorted with a defiant smile, still forming hand seals.

"On the entire continent, no one has rivaled me in recent years," Shòukǔ continued, meeting Naruto's gaze. "Many have tried, but they all fell into the same despair, overwhelmed by my power... It made everything very boring."

Although Naruto couldn't see it, he sensed the heavy aura, overshadowing the sun, and felt the ground shake beneath the battle-thirsty warrior's smile.

"You are worthy! Worthy of being my opponent!"

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PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]