"There are more than four."
"Forehead, you really can't even take care of Naruto and Sasuke — and they're supposed to be the powerhouses!" Ino Yamanaka stepped out of the bushes with a smirk, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. Her eyes twinkled with challenge as she locked eyes with Sakura. "If that's the case, Sasuke-kun might just fall for me instead."
"It's really troublesome," Shikamaru Nara muttered, emerging behind her with his hands in his pockets and a lazy straw dangling from his mouth. "But if Naruto's in trouble, we can't just sit around."
Chōji Akimichi followed, crunching on a fresh bag of chips. "Yeah, even if it's risky — we've gotta help him."
Sakura's eyes welled with tears as she looked at the familiar faces now standing beside her. "Everyone... thank you."
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Three more figures flashed through the trees, landing gracefully on a thick branch more than ten meters up.
"Sakura, where's Naruto-kun?!" Hinata Hyūga called out, her voice thick with urgency. The veins near her temples were swollen, her Byakugan fully activated. She had been tracking Naruto's chakra ever since the battle with Orochimaru began — the moment his body fell, her heart had clenched in terror.
Sakura pointed toward the dark hollow of a large tree. "He's in there."
"Thank you!" Hinata replied, even though she had already confirmed Naruto's presence with her Byakugan. She just needed to hear it aloud. Without another word, she sprinted toward the tree hole.
Neji Hyūga watched her with a shadowed expression, his clenched fists betraying something deeper. He said nothing.
"Geez, Hinata! Don't be in such a rush!" Kiba Inuzuka called, scratching Akamaru behind the ears as he jogged up with Shino Aburame. "Didn't you say Naruto's life wasn't in danger anymore?"
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, three cloaked figures stepped forward — the members of Team Duso, not allies, but traitors. The one leading them gave a disinterested glance at the gathering Leaf shinobi.
"Huh. Looks like Konoha sent the whole rookie squad." His voice was smooth, but dripping with contempt. He made no move to attack — not yet. For someone of his strength, these genin were more amusement than threat.
Inside the Tree Hole
"Naruto-kun, are you okay? How did you end up like this...?" Hinata dropped to her knees and grasped his hand, her eyes filling with tears at the sight of his still form.
"Hush, Hinata... I'm fine." Naruto opened his eyes and gave her a gentle smile.
After nearly three hours of rest, the burns and damage caused by Kurama's chakra had mostly healed. He had awakened earlier, right when Sakura was talking with Team Duso's lead member — but decided to observe quietly. He wanted to see how far his comrades had come. If things got too dangerous, he'd jump in.
"I'm just glad you're okay!" Hinata cried, throwing herself into his arms. Naruto blinked in surprise, but then chuckled and patted her back.
"Hey, don't cry now. What'll I do if you flood the cave?"
Inside Naruto's Mindscape
"Yo! Kurama, you awake?" Naruto called out mentally, expecting a response. Nothing.
He frowned. Just hours ago, Kurama had helped him control his chakra, limiting it to three tails. Why was he being silent now?
"Kurama? You big fuzzball, wake up!"
"SHUT UP!!" Kurama's roar echoed in his mind like a sonic boom. "If you call me one more cringey name, I'll rip your soul in half!"
Naruto grinned to himself. Finally, the fox answered.
"Alright, alright. Kurama. I just wanna ask — how did you give me chakra and still cap it at three tails?"
"And why didn't I lose my mind this time? Your chakra usually sends me into rage mode. But back there… I was calm. Almost in control."
"Hmph! Do you think that was easy? I had to use most of my energy to break through that stupid seal — then control my own darkness just to keep your little brain from melting!" Kurama snapped, clearly annoyed.
"Control your darkness?" Naruto asked, genuinely confused. "What's that mean?"
"Tch... No time to explain now. Just know that it drained the old man. I need a long nap. So don't bother me again for a while."
And just like that, Kurama's voice faded. No matter how many times Naruto called, he got no answer.
"Fine, sleep tight, your Grumpy Furball," Naruto muttered.
He didn't realize it yet, but Kurama's attitude had changed the moment Naruto had casually called him by an old name — Kurama. A name only one person in history had ever used:
The Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki.
That name stirred something deep within Kurama — a suspicion that Naruto was more connected to that legend than he appeared.
Back Outside
Tension crackled in the air as Team Duso stared down the Leaf genin.
"As Konoha shinobi… why are you trying to kill your comrades?" Rock Lee asked, stepping forward in his usual fighting stance, eyes burning with intensity.
"What we do isn't your concern," the lead member of Team Duso sneered. With a sharp flick, glowing blue chakra blades extended from both his hands, humming ominously.
Without warning, he dashed forward. The other two followed — a coordinated attack.
"Byakugan!" Neji activated his dojutsu, his eyes turning milky white as the veins bulged across his face.
"This guy's wielding something like chakra knives!"
"Lee — watch out!!" Neji shouted, surging forward to intercept.
The real fight had just begun.
(End of Chapter 49)