"Enemy attack?!"
"Could it be Big Brother Nagato and the others? This is bad, I've got to get there now!"
Startled, Naruto immediately dashes toward the sound of the whistle.
Sakura hurriedly follows him.
At the same time, the entire Konoha Village, jolted into action, erupts into chaos.
Civilians begin evacuating, while many ninja rush toward the invasion point, preparing to confront the enemy.
Naruto's speed is incredible. Even without Sage Mode, he's now a true Kage-level fighter.
He swiftly passes through most of Konoha's main city and leaps onto the outer wall.
Looking into the distance, he sees that the attacker is a colossal summoning beast, larger than Manda.
And standing atop the giant snake's head is none other than Kabuto, Orochimaru's former disciple!
This giant snake is Manda II, bred by Kabuto using Manda's cells and enhanced with various medicinal catalysts. Not only is it larger, but its strength and speed are also astonishing. It has even sprouted four dragon claws, nearly fully transforming into a dragon!
With a single flick of its tail, it creates a massive impact, demolishing a large section of the wall and repelling dozens of Konoha ninja.
"Kabuto! You—!"
Naruto steadies himself, shouting loudly, immediately drawing Kabuto's attention.
"Well, if it isn't Naruto? Finally meeting someone I know. But to recognize me in my current form right away—you've really improved!"
Kabuto halts Manda II's attack, greeting Naruto cheerfully.
"How are you—?"
"Surprised I'm still alive? Or shocked by my beloved Manda II?" Kabuto, cloaked in a red robe, speaks with a tone brimming with confidence and pride.
This is because he now possesses power surpassing even Orochimaru-sama.
At this moment, more of Konoha's top brass and main forces arrive at the scene.
Kakashi, Gaara, Might Guy, the Hyuga Clan head, the three Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads, the Aburame Clan head, and others.
Almost all of Konoha's peak combat forces have gathered.
Clearly, everyone is terrified, assuming Akatsuki, led by Nagato, is attacking again, prompting their urgent arrival.
Everyone knows Konoha can't withstand another major war!
But upon closer inspection, they realize the attacker isn't Nagato at all—it's Kabuto alone.
Wait—!
Didn't Edo Tensei Itachi previously say that Kabuto was the one controlling them from behind the scenes?
In other words, is Akatsuki really the one attacking?
Kabuto, who's been manipulating Akatsuki from the shadows, has finally stepped into the spotlight!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Seeing so many familiar faces gathered, Kabuto grows even more excited.
"Quite a crowd! But some are missing? Looks like Pain's impact on Konoha was no small matter!"
"And the newly appointed Hokage, Shimura Danzo, met a tragic end at the Five Kage Summit."
"Who's actually in charge of Konoha right now?"
Kabuto's gaze sweeps over the Konoha ninja, laced with mockery and jest, utterly infuriating.
Kakashi steps forward, shouldering the heavy responsibility. Signaling the other Konoha ninja to stay calm, he questions Kabuto:
"Kabuto! You're attacking Konoha—what do you want?"
"What do I want? Naruto, of course. Here's the deal: if Konoha hands Naruto over to me, I won't trouble the entire village. How about it?"
"Your target is the Nine-Tails?"
"Exactly!"
"That's impossible! I won't hand Naruto over to anyone!" Kakashi declares firmly.
Konoha is indeed weakened and can't endure a major war; Kakashi might reluctantly accept many conditions.
But Naruto? Betraying him is absolutely out of the question!
Kakashi's father, teacher, and close friends have all left him.
Even if it means dying in battle, Kakashi will never abandon his student again!
"You won't reconsider? With Konoha's pathetic state right now, do you really want to make an enemy of me?"
"Sacrificing just one ninja for the safety of the entire village—isn't that a great deal? Konoha's done this sort of thing plenty of times before!"
Uchiha Shisui, Nono, Hyuga Hizashi, and others—weren't they all betrayed to their deaths by the village?
Kabuto only wants Konoha to feel the pain and punishment his adoptive mother, Nono, once endured!
"No!"
"We won't hand Naruto over to you!"
"Naruto is the village's savior!"
"Don't try to divide us!"
"To get to Naruto, you'll have to step over my dead body!"
From atop the wall, voices of rejection ring out in unison. Hundreds of Konoha ninja unanimously choose to support Naruto.
There may be wolves in sheep's clothing in this world, but they're surely a minority.
After Pain's invasion, nearly all Konoha ninja saved by Naruto have shed their past hostility toward him, now seeing him as a savior and hero.
Asking them to betray the one who saved their lives? Almost no one would agree!
Even the highly calculating clan heads silently choose to back Kakashi and Naruto.
After all, if they can betray a comrade today, they might betray themselves tomorrow!
No one wants to follow a leader who can't share in both joy and hardship.
The last Konoha leader who betrayed Hyuga Hizashi lost the people's hearts, and even before dying in battle, not a single major clan head was willing to aid him.
Some things go unsaid, but that doesn't mean they're forgotten.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Everyone!"
Naruto's eyes redden, once again feeling the warmth and bonds of the village.
In this moment, he seems to understand why, generation after generation, so many ninja inherit the Will of Fire, willing to die to protect the village!
Seeing this, Kabuto curls his lips slightly, frowning.
He loathes seeing these people act self-righteous.
They never gave a shred of warmth to orphans like him back then, yet now they act like they share boundless bonds, ready to live and die together—utterly disgusting!
"Such a pity! In that case, I'll just have to take him myself!"
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
Kabuto forms hand seals, casting the Summoning Jutsu.
The next moment, five coffins slowly rise from within a barrier formation, appearing before Kabuto.
Then, all five coffins open simultaneously, revealing several figures:
Second Tsuchikage Edo Tensei, Second Mizukage Edo Tensei, Third Raikage Edo Tensei, Third Kazekage Edo Tensei, Fourth Kazekage Edo Tensei.
These are Kabuto's proud recent achievements as a "grave-digging expert," perfect for showing off here.
Seeing this, the faces of everyone in Konoha pale.
"No way it's you, reviving so many of the Five Kage with Edo Tensei. Kabuto, your sins are unforgivable!"
This further solidifies Kabuto's role as the mastermind behind the scenes. After all, in the entire ninja world, theoretically, only Kabuto currently masters Edo Tensei.
If not him, then who?
And these revived Five Kage—aren't they the best proof?
"The Third and Fourth Kazekage?"
"Damn you, Kabuto, as vile as Orochimaru!"
"But no matter what, you're just a fraud inferior to Orochimaru. Someone like you is utterly unworthy of controlling the Five Kage!"
Seeing his father, Rasa, also revived via Edo Tensei, Gaara is furious.
He doesn't have much affection for his father, but toying with past Kazekage like this would enrage any Sunagakure ninja.
"Is that so?"
"A fraud? Then come at me together!"
"It's time you see my power!"
"This true power—shedding my snake skin, I've transformed into a dragon!"
Kabuto removes his red hood, revealing his new appearance, as a terrifying surge of chakra pressure radiates outward.