Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

The wind was rising, and clouds were spreading.

The moment the Rasenshuriken repelled the Raikage and saved Tsunade, the entire battlefield fell into absolute silence.

A single figure stood amidst the dust, his body radiating dazzling golden light—like the center of the world had suddenly emerged from darkness.

He stood there quietly, watching the chakra storm in front of him. All eyes turned to him.

In a daze, Kakashi Hatake seemed to see the shadow of his teacher—the nearly invincible Minato Namikaze.

"Sensei…"

"No… that's Naruto!"

Once he saw the face clearly, Kakashi's expression grew awkward. He had just been scolding Naruto in his mind—only for Naruto to appear a second later, like a deliberate slap to the face.

But even if Naruto had done it on purpose, Kakashi didn't mind. As long as the battle could be turned around, he was more than willing to be humbled.

Killer Bee, who had been dueling with Kakashi, also froze mid-attack. His eyes widened as he looked toward Naruto.

Inside his mind, the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, spoke up, shocked.

"That's definitely a perfect Jinchūriki. I never thought that arrogant furball Kurama would ever acknowledge someone like this… and it's just a kid!"

"Tsk, tsk… I want to ask how the hell he pulled that off."

Killer Bee blinked, stunned.

"A perfect Jinchūriki? No wonder Yugito lost… she still had a long way to go."

To become a perfect Jinchūriki, the host and the tailed beast must be fully in sync. The beast must willingly lend its power, and the host must completely trust and embrace it.

But Yugito had relied on brute force to suppress the Two-Tails. It wasn't enough.

Until now, Bee and the Eight-Tails had thought only they had achieved such harmony. Yet here stood a golden-haired boy who proved them wrong.

"This just got interesting," Gyūki growled. "Bee, let's wrap this up with the Sharingan guy—I want to test myself against the Nine-Tails!"

Bee grinned. "I'm pumped too, you fool! You punk! You white-haired chump! I'm gonna school you and then go play with Uzumaki Naruto—yeah!"

Kakashi frowned, watching Killer Bee suddenly burst into wild rap.

This guy really thinks I'm a warm-up act?

He clutched his aching Sharingan and said grimly, "I may not look like much, but I'm no pushover. If you think you can get past me that easily—think again."

"Then come at me, fool!" Bee roared, wrapping seven short swords around his limbs before charging forward.

His speed was blistering—so fast that Kakashi would've stood no chance without the Sharingan.

Bee smirked as he attacked. "Ever heard of Samui from the Hidden Cloud? I taught her how to handle a blade. She made jonin just by learning a few of my moves."

"So even with just one sword, I can fight a Kage. And don't forget—I'm a perfect Jinchūriki!"

"I just didn't want to kill anyone alongside my brother, so I was playing with you, you idiot."

A shallow slice opened on Kakashi's cheek.

Kakashi's chest tightened, but he quickly countered, "I admit, you're strong—but I'm not going down that easy."

He stepped forward, lightning dancing across his hand. Raikiri hissed as it activated.

When it came to swordplay, Kakashi Hatake refused to be outclassed.

The duel reignited in an instant.

Meanwhile, back at the center of the giant crater…

"Thunder Release: Thunder Torment – Level Chiyomai!"

The Fourth Raikage had activated his strongest Lightning Release Armor. His speed was now so fast that even Kakashi's Sharingan couldn't keep up.

Fighting him was like swinging in the dark. If your guess was wrong, death was certain.

But there were two kinds of exceptions.

One: shinobi with overwhelming defensive capabilities—like the Uchiha's Susanoo.

Two: those with absurd vitality—like Tsunade Senju with her Hundred Healings Technique.

Relying on regeneration and medical ninjutsu, Tsunade had managed to fight the Raikage head-on using a strategy of mutual injury.

She'd already severed over ten of his meridians. But the Raikage's monstrous body shrugged off the damage and pressed harder.

Tsunade didn't flinch. She even gave up most defense, guarding only her heart and head.

Her tactic: take the hit, then counterattack at full power.

BOOM!

A loud blast sent them both flying. Tsunade took a kunai to the wrist. The Raikage was struck in the chest by her Tenshūkick. They each crashed dozens of meters away.

They were evenly matched—Raikage's speed versus Tsunade's medical advantage.

But Raikage was growing anxious.

Tsunade also deployed her slugs to heal allies, making her far more valuable in group combat than him.

He realized: if he didn't eliminate her fast, this battle would spiral out of his control.

He glanced at his struggling subordinates. Killer Bee had a slight edge over Kakashi, but across the field, Cloud shinobi were being pushed back.

And it was all because of Tsunade's healing.

He clenched his fists. If I'd just taken her offer during negotiations with the Fire Daimyo…

They could've avoided this bloodbath.

He muttered in frustration, "What the hell are Samui and Darui doing? They're late!"

"If they'd joined earlier—Darui could've stalled Kakashi, Samui could've blocked the others, and Bee could've helped me finish Tsunade…"

She would've been dead by now.

Tsunade, meanwhile, was putting on a brave face. But internally, she was in agony.

Her regeneration may heal her flesh, but not the pain. Worse, every use of the Hundred Healings Technique damaged her body and shortened her lifespan.

She'd come to accept it: in a direct clash, she couldn't win.

Her new strategy? Delay.

The longer she could hold Raikage, the more time the others had to win their battles.

But every second cost her dearly.

She also wondered:

Didn't Kakashi say Naruto was nearby? Where the hell is he? Waiting for me to get pounded to death?

If he showed up now, we might be able to beat Raikage together.

But she had no time to complain.

Suddenly, Raikage's gaze narrowed—he noticed Tsunade only guarded her heart, head, and throat.

He smirked. "So that's where you're vulnerable."

Tsunade's heart dropped.

No matter how strong her regeneration was, a fatal blow to one of those three areas meant death.

Raikage laughed. "Hokage, your heart, head, and throat… I'm coming for all three!"

Tsunade's face darkened. He'd seen through her.

She had no choice now. She couldn't fight injury for injury anymore. From here on, pure defense.

Still, she kept her expression calm.

"Come on, then," she challenged.

Raikage grinned. "Pretend all you want. Let's see how your healing handles this!"

He shouted loud enough for everyone to hear—even Killer Bee.

"Yo yo! The Hokage's got a weakness!" Bee sang while spinning his swords at Kakashi. "Konoha's about to lose, now ain't that sweetness?"

Kakashi was briefly stunned—then adapted quickly.

Under Bee's pressure, he continued refining Raikiri: channeling it into kunai, syncing it with clones, making it deadlier by the second.

Still, he risked a glance toward the two Kage.

Tsunade was now completely on the defensive.

And he himself was steadily being pushed back by Bee.

If it weren't for the healing slug Tsunade had left on him, he'd be done.

Damn it! We need reinforcements. Or this war's as good as lost.

He thought of Naruto again.

Not as a student—Naruto had made it clear Kakashi no longer deserved that title.

Is it because of me? Is that why he hasn't shown up yet?

"Where are you, Naruto…?" he whispered. "Tsunade doesn't deserve this."

Driven by loyalty to Konoha, Kakashi pressed the attack, determined to find a weakness in Killer Bee's rhythm.

But Bee was just too strong.

Back in the crater…

The Raikage smashed deeper and deeper into the ground with every blow. Tsunade was battered and nearly spent.

He sneered, "Thirty seconds. That's all I need to kill you."

Tsunade growled back, blood dripping from her mouth, "Shut up and fight!"

"The next one's aimed for your head!" Raikage roared, leaping high into the air.

Lightning surged down to his feet.

"Lightning God's Furious Thunder Axe!"

Enough force to cleave a mountain.

Tsunade's internal organs churned from the earlier barrage. She could barely stay standing.

Her life flashed before her eyes—her clan, her brother, her lover Dan, the traumas of war, the blood that haunted her…

Then that grinning brat Naruto… the one who always teased her.

That idiot actually confessed last night…

I'm old enough to be his grandma… and he…

She chuckled weakly.

Guess I won't get to watch him grow after all.

But Konoha still had Jiraiya. It could survive without her.

Just one last stand.

She squared her feet. If she could take Raikage down with her, it would all be worth it.

A final gift to the village.

Just as Raikage's axe descended—

WHOOOSH!

A golden flash tore through the battlefield, faster than lightning itself.

Naruto Uzumaki appeared mid-air, slamming a Rasenshuriken into Raikage's chest with a glowing chakra arm.

BOOOOOOOM!!!

A violent shockwave exploded outward, blowing Raikage away and sending a gale across the battlefield.

Naruto landed softly, standing tall with his back to Tsunade.

He said gently, "Sorry I'm late."

Then—

WHAM!

Tsunade slugged him square on the head.

"You little brat! Were you seriously just watching me get beat up, waiting to make a flashy entrance?!"