Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Seeing the tailed beast chakra rapidly climbing over Naruto Uzumaki's body, Yukito couldn't help but look unsettled. She had always believed her control over the Two-Tails was exceptional—but compared to him, her speed and fluency seemed sluggish.

She had originally assumed that the story of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki single-handedly killing 300 Cloud Ninjas was just Konoha's exaggerated propaganda. But now, witnessing his natural ease in wielding the Nine-Tails' power, she had to admit... it might just be true.

Even Killer Bee, the so-called "perfect Jinchūriki" of their village, didn't appear as innately synchronized with his tailed beast as this boy was with the Nine-Tails. It was as if Naruto was the Nine-Tails in human form.

He didn't need consent to access the beast's chakra. He simply took it.

In the next instant, the seventh tail behind Naruto's body flared out, merging with the white skeletal structure forming over his frame. Six chakra arms erupted from his back. The two outer arms formed massive Rasengan; the two central ones curled into clawed fists; and the two innermost arms formed slicing palm blades.

All six arms shot toward Yukito.

"Damn it!" she cursed under her breath. She was still channeling the Two-Tails' chakra, about a third of the way from achieving full transformation.

But battle waits for no one.

While continuing to absorb the Two-Tails' power, she leapt backward, quickly weaving hand signs.

"Fire Rat Jade!"

Taking a deep breath, Yukito released a stream of blue, rat-shaped flames from her mouth, each one darting straight toward Naruto.

Naruto dodged, but the flames curved unnaturally mid-air—they were tracking him.

Yukito exhaled, relieved. "Just a bit more time and I'll complete the transformation..."

Naruto's eyes narrowed, staring at the pursuing flames. Fire—but not in the Fire Style manuals. Is this one of the Two-Tails' abilities?

"Interesting technique," he muttered. "But that's all."

He clapped his hands and formed seals in rapid succession. Drawing chakra into his throat, he expelled a massive fireball—ten meters wide and burning hot.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Ordinarily a C-rank jutsu, but with the overwhelming chakra Naruto poured into it, the attack took on the scale and power of an A-rank technique.

And behind it came two of his large Rasengan.

"Is this really something a kid his age can do?" Yukito was stunned. "It's not just the Nine-Tails—his fire jutsu and chakra control are on another level."

Even as one of the top combatants in the Hidden Cloud Village, Yukito knew this level of execution took talent and brutal training.

Konoha's Jinchūriki wasn't just dangerous—he was a genius.

"Still, a genius who hasn't grown up yet is no threat," she muttered.

"Now that I've almost completed the transformation and have allies nearby, I'll win eventually. You walked into the wrong forest, kid."

Yukito exhaled calmly and watched the enormous fireball bear down on her.

"Roooaar!"

With a beastly shriek, her body exploded in size—blue flames engulfing her as she transformed into the enormous, flaming cat demon: the Two-Tails, Matatabi.

This wasn't a Jinchūriki cloaked in chakra. This was a full-tailed beast transformation.

Yukito was likely the only Jinchūriki alive—aside from Naruto—who had managed to subdue a tailed beast by force of will alone. Her strength was undeniable.

Matatabi countered Naruto's fireball with one of her own, then lunged through the dissipating flames with massive claws.

It would have worked—if not for the twin Rasengan Naruto threw up just in time.

The Rasengan exploded against Matatabi's claws, holding her off.

Now, it was a contest of endurance.

Meanwhile, the Cloud Ninjas battling Naruto's shadow clones took notice of the clash.

"Tch, Master Yumujin has already gone full beast mode," one sneered. "But you can't, huh? Poor little Nine-Tails."

"Can't even keep up with a real Jinchūriki!"

"Konoha's finished!"

They jeered at Naruto's clones, trying to undermine morale. The sight of the towering Two-Tails slamming claws down on the smaller red-chakra-cloaked figure made their confidence soar.

But Yukito, controlling the Two-Tails, knew the truth.

This was no mere show of power—Naruto's Rasengan had stopped her. If she hadn't focused chakra into her claws, she'd have been knocked back or worse.

"Damn it, how's he still in the air? Twenty seconds and counting?!"

Can he fly like the Tsuchikage...?

What Yukito didn't realize was that Naruto wasn't actually flying.

Behind her line of sight, two chakra arms extended from his waist, spewing a jet of fire downward—an improvised propulsion technique.

It was the same move he once used to light a cigarette for Hinata Mari, now modified with massive chakra output—like a rocket launch.

To the Cloud Ninjas below, it looked like the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was airborne, spewing fire, locked in combat with the Two-Tails mid-air.

"Holy—what kind of jutsu is that?!"

One of the Cloud jonin couldn't hold back laughter, even on the battlefield.

But that lapse cost him.

A shadow clone silently appeared behind him, kunai already drawn. The blade gleamed—and in a flash, slit his throat.

Blood sprayed, drowning out his chuckle.

In under three minutes, three of their elite ten-man squad had already died. For most villages, that would be catastrophic.

Yukito had intended to bring everyone home safely—but now she could only watch her comrades fall.

Anger burned through her like magma.

"You brat... YOU DESERVE TO DIE!"

"You're mistaken," Naruto retorted. "I haven't even started yet."

Taking advantage of a brief opening, Naruto released the Rasengan from his chakra arms, threading them between Matatabi's claws. The Rasenshuriken ignited in his palm, forming a transparent, rotating blade of compressed wind.

"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"

Its howl sliced the air, blowing snow and leaves as it spiraled toward its mark.

Yukito's face paled. "This jutsu… it's dangerous."

She considered using the Tailed Beast Ball to counter it—but her allies were too close. One misstep could kill them all.

Gritting her teeth, she chose to dodge instead.

Matatabi leapt high into the air, letting the Rasenshuriken detonate below, ripping apart trees and earth in a colossal storm of wind chakra.

When she landed, the forest shook as if hit by an earthquake.

"Not bad, little boy," Yukito mocked, trying to cover her retreat. "But your flying technique needs work."

Her playful tone brought cheers from the remaining Cloud Ninjas.

"You're just a toy to Master Yumujin!"

"Little mouse, running around in a game of cat and mouse!"

Naruto's clones ignored the taunts, their faces blank and unbothered.

But two of them suddenly burst into mist.

At that exact moment, Naruto adjusted his trajectory with another chakra flame burst. He turned southeast—where two Cloud Ninjas stood in a line.

"One's 40 meters, the other 60. Perfect."

They were his next targets.

If left alive, they'd become a problem. So they had to go.

Yukito saw his trajectory shift. She looked to where he was headed—her comrades!

"RUN!" she screamed.

Too late.

The Rasenshuriken struck the first target. Wind chakra exploded outward, obliterating everything in its path.

The second followed a moment later.

Not even high-level jonin could survive a direct hit from the Rasenshuriken. Even Kage would struggle—only Tsunade and Raikage might endure it.

The forest shuddered.

When the wind cleared, there was nothing left—just blood, charred clothing, and silence.

Naruto smirked.

"Did you see that, pretty sister?" he called out. "Your decision to dodge killed your companions."

His voice struck Yukito like a blade.

She hesitated—and Naruto capitalized.

Yukito's fury boiled over. "You damned brat… YOU DIE HERE!"

The Two-Tails roared, launching a barrage of fireballs like a meteor shower.

Naruto's eyes narrowed.

"That's it? Just fireballs? Not even the Tailed Beast Ball?"

He was mildly disappointed. He had hoped she'd risk it and kill her own comrades. That would've broken her morale entirely.

Still, this worked too.

He whispered, "But you have hesitations. I don't."

That's why Naruto had come alone. His troops were far behind—no distractions, no risk of friendly fire.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Three shadow clones appeared and immediately launched enormous Great Fireballs to meet the oncoming inferno.

Meanwhile, Naruto opened his mouth—gathering dark energy, building chakra.

A Tailed Beast Ball began to form.

He didn't plan to spare anyone except Yukito.

He had offered them a chance to flee.

They didn't take it.

Now they would burn.