Rampage

Konoha Village

Naruto and Sasuke had just left the snack street when they noticed several carts parked near the entrance.

A few Uchiha members were directing the crowd, guiding them into a wide passage that led straight to Konoha.

The evacuation was orderly, with people following the Uchiha's instructions.

Naruto initially intended to leave with the others, but an Anbu operative grabbed him.

"Naruto, there are too many civilians over there. We'll go this way," the Anbu explained.

Their reasoning was simple: if the enemy was after Naruto, staying with the civilians would put them in danger. It was better for the Anbu to move faster with fewer distractions.

One of the Anbu fired a signal flare into the sky, calling for reinforcements.

The Uchiha directing the crowd noticed the Anbu escorting Naruto and Sasuke toward the village. Relieved, they also fired a signal flare into the air.

The Anbu and Naruto's Group

The Anbu led Naruto and Sasuke along a pre-planned route.

They hadn't gone far when one of the Anbu suddenly shouted, "Watch out! Something's wrong up ahead!"

From the ground emerged two aloe-like leaves, parting to reveal a strange figure with a face split into black and white halves.

The four Anbu and the two boys instantly took defensive stances, kunai at the ready.

Naruto and Sasuke, meanwhile, regretted not having their ninja tool pouches.

Zetsu ignored their reaction, turning his attention toward the Uchiha clan grounds in the distance.

"A Time-Sealing Formation, is it?" Zetsu murmured.

He noted the Uchiha's preparations with mild surprise but wasn't overly concerned.

Obito still had Wood Release and Izanagi. If it came to it, he could sacrifice a Sharingan to escape.

The repeated failures of Obito had begun to frustrate Black Zetsu, though. Obito remained a valuable pawn, and it was becoming clear he might need a boost.

"Who are you?!" one of the Anbu demanded sharply.

The strange figure looked anything but friendly, with its bizarre half-black, half-white appearance.

"Oh my, isn't this the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?" White Zetsu said with a mocking tone.

His words caused everyone's expressions to change.

Sasuke's heart sank. They're after Naruto, just as I thought.

Naruto narrowed his eyes. So, they really are here for me.

The four Anbu began sweating. Of all days, the one time they were assigned to guard Naruto, something happened. What terrible luck!

They silently prayed for reinforcements from Konoha to arrive quickly.

Zetsu stomped the ground, and over ten pale, humanoid creatures emerged from the soil.

The creatures were grotesque, with misshapen bodies, gaping holes, and twisted faces. Their unsettling appearance resembled hastily molded clay figures.

As they climbed out of the ground, the creatures immediately charged toward Naruto and Sasuke.

The Anbu yelled and rushed to intercept. "Naruto, Sasuke, get out of here!"

As the Anbu clashed with the White Zetsu clones, they found themselves completely tied down.

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances and nodded firmly.

Sasuke began forming hand seals while shouting to Naruto, "There are too many of them! Let's help reduce their numbers!"

"Got it!" Naruto replied.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!

Dozens of Naruto clones suddenly filled the battlefield.

The four Anbu, momentarily stunned, couldn't believe their eyes. Naruto knew the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu?!

"Let's go, guys! Help them out!" Naruto shouted to his clones.

"Yeah!"

"Charge!"

The Naruto clones surged forward, engaging the White Zetsu clones in battle.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed one person could create so many clones.

As the clones grappled with the Zetsu, one of the Anbu managed to stab a Zetsu clone with his kunai. The clone crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

With Naruto's clones distracting the enemies, the pressure on the Anbu eased significantly.

However, the clones began vanishing one by one with the sound of poof, poof.

In the midst of the chaos, Naruto's real body broke through the clones, a Rasengan spinning in his hand.

Naruto charged directly at Zetsu. Seeing that the Anbu were handling the situation better, he decided to target Zetsu himself.

Zetsu extended an arm, and a massive wooden pillar erupted from the ground.

Boom! Naruto slammed his Rasengan into the pillar, leaving a large gouge in it.

But the pillar didn't stop. It continued to grow, slamming into Naruto and sending him flying backward.

Thud! Naruto hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.

"Chidori!"

Sasuke's shout rang out. His hand was surrounded by a brilliant blue glow, crackling with the sound of countless chirping birds.

Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly, enduring the heavy chakra drain of Chidori as he locked his gaze on Black Zetsu.

From the start, his target had been Zetsu, not the White Zetsu clones.

As Naruto was sent flying earlier, Sasuke had already finished his Chidori charge and launched himself forward.

Naruto watched Sasuke with anticipation, his eyes wide.

The sharp chirping of Chidori grew louder. Closer. Closer! Almost there!

Sasuke's face lit up with excitement. He was sure this attack would land.

But just as Chidori was about to pierce Zetsu's body—

Zetsu shifted to the side and hooked Sasuke's ankle with a quick sweep of his foot. Sasuke stumbled, completely losing his balance, and was flung forward.

Panic spread across Sasuke's face as the Chidori dissipated. His hand plunged straight into the ground with a sickening crunch.

Crack.

The sound of his finger bones breaking was clear as day.

"AHHHH!!!" Sasuke screamed in agony.

The excruciating pain hit him like a tidal wave, tears and snot pouring down his face. He nearly passed out on the spot.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled in alarm.

Damn it!

Naruto quickly formed another Rasengan with the help of two clones.

Zetsu extended his hand, summoning thick wooden branches that shot toward Naruto.

Naruto barely dodged the attack, but the sickening sound of wood piercing flesh behind him made him freeze in place.

Turning stiffly, he saw the Anbu who had been fighting the White Zetsu clones impaled by the wooden spikes. Their torsos were torn open, and they collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

"You bastard!" Naruto roared, his chakra surging with a dark, sinister energy.

Thump-thump!

A massive heartbeat echoed in the air, shaking everyone to their core.

Naruto's face twisted with fury, his eyes tinged red.

With the Rasengan complete and a fiery red chakra cloaking his body, Naruto charged at Zetsu like a raging beast.

Zetsu noticed the red chakra spilling from Naruto, and for a brief moment, he saw the menacing visage of the Nine-Tails looming behind him, snarling like a demon.

"Interesting," Zetsu muttered.

He reached out and effortlessly grabbed Naruto's wrist, deflecting the Rasengan. Naruto lost his balance and was flung backward.

But in the split second before he hit the ground, Naruto's left hand, tipped with sharp claws from the red chakra, swiped across Zetsu's arm, leaving three deep gashes.

Thud!

Naruto crashed to the ground, his Rasengan creating a small crater as it dissipated.

"Naruto!" Sasuke called out, gritting his teeth through the searing pain in his shattered hand.

The chakra drain from Chidori and the sheer agony of his injury left Sasuke weak and trembling.

Seeing Naruto knocked down and unable to move, rage filled Sasuke's heart.

Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over him. His mind felt lighter, clearer. The pain in his hand dulled slightly.

Looking ahead, he saw his Sharingan evolve—from a single tomoe to two tomoe in each eye.

A surge of energy coursed through Sasuke, and he forced himself to stand.

But it wasn't enough.

Zetsu stomped Sasuke back to the ground, slamming him hard against the dirt.

Thump.

Blood spilled from Sasuke's mouth as he coughed violently.

Even so, he struggled to rise, his body wracked with pain.

Zetsu frowned and summoned a wooden stake, driving it downward with brutal force.

Sasuke caught the motion in his peripheral vision and twisted his body desperately. The stake impaled his shoulder instead of his chest.

"ARGH!" Sasuke's scream echoed as he fell unconscious.

Ignoring Sasuke, Zetsu turned toward Naruto, who had just managed to get to his feet.

Extending his hand, Zetsu sent thinner branches spiraling around Naruto's body, binding him tightly like a cocoon.

Naruto was helplessly tied up, unable to move. He looked over at Sasuke, his eyes widening in horror.

In an instant, his pupils narrowed into vertical slits.

Boom!

A fierce red chakra erupted from Naruto, surging like an inferno.

The overwhelming energy tore apart the wooden bindings around him.

Zetsu's expression darkened slightly. "Is he losing control?"

Naruto lunged forward with feral intensity, like a predator going in for the kill. The gust of wind from his movement howled through the air as he clawed at Black Zetsu.

Zetsu jumped back, narrowly avoiding the attack.

As Naruto's strike missed, a red chakra tail extended from his back. Using it like a whip, he tore the wooden spike out of Sasuke's shoulder.

Though unconscious, Sasuke's body shuddered in pain, letting out a faint groan.

Naruto landed on the ground, scooped Sasuke into his arms, and immediately sprinted toward Konoha.

For all his rage and chakra, there was no sign of mindless violence—Naruto's focus was clear.

Zetsu stood there, momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Naruto to maintain his sanity despite the Nine-Tails' influence.

Sensing reinforcements approaching from Konoha, Zetsu narrowed his eyes and slowly sank into the ground, vanishing without a trace.