Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

The One-Tailed Beast gathered the chakra in its belly into its mouth and spat it out as a powerful whirlwind!

Just like Naruto said earlier, with the appearance of the One-Tailed Beast, the Root guys don't have time to pay attention to Naruto right now.

……

the other side.

Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, two shadow clones of Naruto returned to the residential area of ​​Konoha and reappeared at Ichiraku Ramen.

"We're closed for today..."

He looked at the two Narutos who suddenly appeared in front of him, and they looked exactly alike.

He simply couldn't understand why anyone would come to eat his ramen when Konoha was in such chaos.

As expected... after running Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha for so many years, my ramen has become one with Konoha!

In the world of food, has it already become a representative of Konoha?

The shadow clones ignored Tsuteki's fantasy. They walked out of Ichiraku Ramen and looked toward the Hokage's office not far away.

"As expected, there is a barrier here as well."

When Naruto was reverse-summoned to the Konoha Forest, a barrier was created in the Hokage's office to isolate his senses.

"No problem. Just prepare your summoning technique according to the plan and wait for the opportunity to seize the Book of Seals. I'll take charge of the retreat route."

"Another shadow clone said."

The two shadow clones exchanged a glance, and the next second, they disappeared in front of Ichiraku Ramen.

But this time, their destinations were no longer the same.

……

The final arena of the Konoha Chunin Selection Exams, the Duel Arena.

"That kid... is not simple!"

Kakashi helped the heavily injured Genma Shiranui to his feet.

At this moment, Genma Shiranui was covered in holes and his life was hanging by a thread.

"Li, Neji, and Tenten! Take Genma to the hospital! This is not a battle you can participate in!"

Guy, who was standing in front of Kakashi and Genma Shiranui, gave instructions to Team 3.

The three members of Team 3 took Genma Shiranui from Kakashi and escorted him to the hospital for emergency treatment.

"That's a bloodline limit, isn't it? Attacking with bones—is it the Kaguya clan from the Land of Water?"

Kai stared intently at the white-haired boy standing next to Maki of Sunagakure.

The Jonin, Maki, was covered in dust and blood from a fierce battle.

But the boy from the Kaguya clan, who was around fourteen or fifteen years old, was unusually clean.

"That boy also has the strength of a Jonin, and he's even stronger than Maki."

Kakashi also came to Guy's side. Maki was the captain of the Sand Village's surprise attack force responsible for attacking Konoha, so his strength was beyond question.

However, the young man from the Kaguya clan was stronger than Maki.

"Compared to this young man, the ninja students we lead are simply no match for him."

Kai couldn't help but sigh.

"It's not too late to praise the enemy later. That boy's bloodline limit is a great counter to your taijutsu. You take care of Maki, and I'll handle the boy."

Kakashi and Guy assigned their respective opponents, and he lifted his headband, revealing the Sharingan in his left eye.

"Please wait a moment."

The boy from the Kaguya clan suddenly spoke up. He looked at Kakashi and Guy and suggested in a conciliatory tone, "If possible, how about we make a truce?"

Kimimaro, you!

Not only Kakashi and Guy, but Maki was also surprised by the boy's sudden action.

Young man, Kaguya Kimimaro ignored Maki's anger.

Kimimaro even took the initiative to explain the reason for the truce to Kakashi and Guy: "If you are worried that I will cause greater harm to Konoha in the future, you don't need to worry."

“I won’t live to see that time. A month, two months, a day, or two days—my life is already coming to an end. I’m not far from death even if you don’t help me.”

"The Copy Ninja of Konoha, Kakashi with the Sharingan and the Blue Beast, Might Guy—fighting the two of you would hasten my death, which is troublesome. Now that Kabuto-sensei has passed away, I am Orochimaru-sama's last pillar—if I die prematurely at such a crucial moment, it will only cause Orochimaru-sama more trouble."

Kimimaro recounted his death, but his tone was eerily calm.

He was not afraid of his own death, but he was worried about Orochimaru's troubles.

"What if we refuse?"

Kakashi squinted at Kimimaro. A powerful enemy who is not afraid of death—and who also has a bloodline limit—is always the most troublesome.

"If you refuse, I will die."

Kimimaro replied.

But he wasn't showing weakness; rather, he was emphasizing his own strength.

Black curse marks, like thorns, spread from Kimimaro's chest.

"A cursed seal!?"

Kakashi knew very well the origin of the mark on Kimimaro's body, and he had been trying to find a way to suppress the cursed mark on Sasuke's body.

Then, Kakashi and Guy heard Kimimaro finish speaking.

"But I can guarantee that I will kill one of you before my physical body dies."

Kimimaro's words were not just empty talk.

He wasn't fighting Kakashi and Guy alone; Maki was also by his side.

If Kakashi and Guy reveal any weaknesses in the battle, Kimimaro, who is fearless of death, will surely sacrifice his own life to kill either Kakashi or Guy.

"Someone like you should understand that death cannot intimidate a ninja."

Kakashi rejected Kimimaro's suggestion.

Kimimaro is a troublesome opponent, and he is also Orochimaru's subordinate who attacked Konoha, so he should be dealt with here.

"That's true... I apologize, please forget what I said just now that seemed to belittle you."

Kimimaro stretched out his hands, and sharp white bones grew out from his wrists.

Despite being enemies of Konoha, he treated Kakashi and Guy with such respect and apologized for his earlier slip of the tongue.

"Even though he's an enemy, he's a good kid..."

Kai suddenly made a comment.

Although Kakashi did not answer, he inwardly agreed with Guy's opinion of Kimimaro.

However, the battlefield is never short of unpredictable situations.

Kakashi, who had been keeping a close eye on Kimimaro's white figure, suddenly lost sight of Kimimaro.

It was not Kimimaro who launched the attack.

Instead, Kimimaro's white figure was blocked by a yellow figure that was extremely familiar to Kakashi.

Naruto?!

Why is Naruto here?

So surprised by Naruto's sudden appearance, Kakashi didn't even notice that Naruto was raising his hand, his index, middle, and thumb pointing at Kakashi's left Sharingan eye.

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

Gai gathered powerful chakra in his feet and kicked Naruto away, who was about to steal Kakashi's Sharingan.

Everything happened in an instant.

"Kakashi! What were you spacing out for?!"

Kai hurriedly checked Kakashi's body and breathed a sigh of relief after finding that Kakashi was unharmed.

After this sudden turn of events...

Naruto's attack just now was also a good opportunity for Kimimaro to launch an attack, but Kimimaro seized the opportunity and left with Maki.

It seems that his dying words were not a lie; he truly did not want to fight Kakashi and Guy.

The focus now is no longer on Kimimaro and Maki.

Kakashi stared in disbelief at Naruto, who had been kicked away by Guy.

He confirmed it again and again, and understood that Naruto's attempt to take his Sharingan was not a genjutsu, not a dream, not his own imagination, but a real fact.

Realizing Kakashi had lost his fighting spirit, Guy looked at Naruto, whom he had kicked to the ground, and demanded sharply, "As Kakashi's student, why did you suddenly attack your teacher?! And what exactly was that Body Flicker Technique just now?!"

But Naruto did not answer; he turned into a cloud of smoke.

That's... a shadow clone.

Kakashi's gaze remained fixed on the copy of "Icha Icha Paradise" that had just fallen out of his ninja tool bag, bearing the autograph of author Jiraiya, and he remained silent for a long time.

……

Konoha Forest.

Seeing the Root members struggling to deal with the One-Tailed Beast, Naruto suddenly sighed.

His face was filled with regret.

It's not surprising that Might Guy's terrifying physical reflexes allowed him to subdue the shadow clone that had instantly teleported to Kakashi's side using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Naruto just didn't expect Might Guy to be by Kakashi's side.

Generally speaking, when Konoha is invaded, two powerful Jonin should each go out separately to maintain the balance of combat power on the battlefield.

It seems I still don't have the luck to obtain the Mangekyou Sharingan.

But Naruto quickly regained his composure.

Of the four shadow clones he created, one is still by his side.