"......" Naruto and Sasuke faced each other in silence, as if some iable event was about to unfold!

  Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with anticipation, his heart filled with longing: "The two winds I most look forward to are about to collide so soon..."

  Sasuke, of course, noticed Orochimaru's presence, a man who shouldn't be here. His expression remaioic as he thought: Orochimaru has returned as well. It seems like Naruto's doing. Was attag Jūgo part of this pn too?

  And earlier, when that woman from the Akatsuki blocked my path, was it to buy time to deal with Danzō? Naruto, with his identity, is doing the things I want to do. Is it just a ce? It's absurd. That idiot who only knows how to charge forward—why am I finding him harder to read? Damn it...!

  Frustrated, Sasuke ched his fists tightly.

  Whoosh!

  A strange vortex stirred, and Tobi, wearing his mask, desded upon the se!

  Everyouro look, their expressions varied.

  Konan's gaze was icy cold, her entire being on high alert.

  Orochimaru's thoughts were unreadable, but his guarded stance was evident.

  Naruto pulled his mask back over his face, his thoughts turbulent: Tobi... He's appeared soohan I anticipated. He's one of the very few I sider an SSR-level threat. I must tread carefully...

  (Note: During Boruto's era, a ninja card game became popur. The Seventh Hokage Naruto was cssified as an SSR-level card. Sihen, he has used "SSR" to describe those on par with him.)

  Tobi, who had been searg for Naruto, now found him standing right in front of him. Yet, upoing him, he remained unusually calm.

  "Go ahead and talk. Don't mind me..."

  He adjusted his robe and sat down leisurely, exuding an air of unshakable posure, as if he were a fisherman calmly awaiting a storm.

  The more he acted this way, the harder it was to ignore him.

  Rustle, rustle, rustle!

  The White Zetsu apanying Sasuke emerged from the ground beside Tobi, whispering in a voily the two of them could hear, "Is it alright? Nagato's Rinnegan is within reach."

  Tobi replied, "At this point, there's no rush. With Orochimaru and Konan here, it's not going to be easy to get it."

  White Zetsu asked, "How's the Five Kage Summit going?"

  After a moment of thought, Tobi said, "Naruto got there first. After some sideration, I realized now isn't the best time to decre war. Kisame has already goo hunt the Eight-Tails. With Naruto, the ails' jinchūriki, defeg from Konoha, he's bee a target for everyohe purpose of war is merely to capture the Tailed Beasts withiwo. If there's an easier way, why resort to full-scale war?"

  By a twist of fate, the Freat Ninja War, which should have begun immediately, was thus postponed.

  White Zetsu sighed, "I 't help but feel that sending Nagato to Konoha was a mistake. Our inal pn has pletely deviated from expectations."

  "Regret is useless now. I uimated Naruto back then. Who could have imagined he'd take Nagato's Rinnegan, resurrect Orochimaru, and even turn Konan— for me—over to his side..."

  As he spoke, Tobi's gaze grew profound. "Now, just how much has his prow me witness it myself...!"

  "It seems... he truly has no iion of making a move here."

  Naruto felt slightly relieved and withdrew his peripheral gaze. However, he tio monitor Tobi's as using Sage Mode's sensory abilities.

  Sasuke, indifferent to everything else, had his eyes solely on Naruto. He could no longer hold bad wao test Naruto's strength now!

  He anded, "Jūgo, Suigetsu, keep an eye on the Akatsuki woman and Orochimaru!"

  "Uood!"

  Whoosh! Jūgo fshed in front of Konan, his Cursed Seal activated to the brink of rampage.

  Konan's expression remained calm. She stayed vigint against Tobi and had no iion of holding back from the start.

  As for Suigetsu, gripping his most stylish bde, he said the most cowardly words, "Orochimaru-sama, I'm so happy to see you revived..."

  Orochimaru chuckled, teasing, "Heh heh, Suigetsu, my kawaii subordinate, you look quite spirited. I wonder if your skills have improved..."

  Suigetsu forced a smile. "You're joking, right? I'm just here to assist. Please don't make things difficult for me..."

  Orochimaru ughed, "Heh heh, that sounds iing. Should I ask Naruto-kun to spar with you for a bit?"

  Suigetsu quickly replied, "o ask! This is perfect as it is! Let's just maintain this temosphere and have a pleasant chat!"

  Karin adjusted her gsses and asked, "Sasuke... what about me?"

  Sasuke replied in a low voice, "Stay on the sidelines and provide support...!"

  Is Sasuke worried about me? Hee hee hee...

  Karin's inner monologue was dramatic, though her face remained ed. "If you get hurt, I heal you."

  "Hmph." Sasuke snorted coldly and closed his eyes. When he opehem again, his Mangekyō Sharingan shone brilliantly. "Get hurt? That's not going to happen!"

  Whoosh!

  His hands flew through hand seals, his chest swelling.

  ——*Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Teique!*

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  A series of fireballs shot out from his mouth, their trajectories resembling the fruit of a phoenix sage tree. They not only targeted Naruto but also sealed off all escape routes, leaving no room to dodge—only to defend!

  Though not a fshy teique, its practical effectiveness was outstanding, making it a favorite amoes like Itachi!

  "Here it es!"

  Naruto's eyes lit up as he drew the katana he had carried from the Five Kage Summit. Moving forward, he swung the bde to deflect the ining fireballs.

  Screech!!

  The chirping of Chidori echoed. Using the cover of the fireballs, Sasuke closed in with incredible speed, his eyes locked on Naruto as he thrust forward with lightning in hand!

  g!!

  Naruto's left hand swung the bde to repel the remaining fireballs, while his right hand instantly formed a Rasengan to meet the attack head-on.

  Boom!!!

  The csh of Rasengan and Chidori created a r shockwave!

  When the dust settled, both figures retreated simultaneously!

  "Hmph!" Sasuke smirked as he uhed his Kusanagi Sword and dashed forward.

  "Heh~" Naruto met him head-on, wielding his katana.

  g! g! g! g!!

  Their bdes collided fiercely, sparks flying. Even the falling snow couldn't approach their battlefield...

  The more Sasuke fought, the more shocked he became: When did the rough and reckless Naruto, who always relied on brute ford chakra reserves, master such refined swordsmanship?

  Naruto, too, was filled with admiration: Sasuke's swordsmanship, honed from a young age and enhanced by the Sharingan, was truly exceptional. Back then, after sealing Kaguya, I spent a lot of effort making up for my ck of basija skills!

  "How about this!" Frustrated by the stalemate, Sasuke infused his Kusanagi Sword with crag Lightning Release chakra.

  "I do that too..." Naruto followed suit, enveloping his katana with whistling Wind Release chakra!

  g!!

  Their bdes cshed, their eyes meeting!

  Sasuke coldly remarked, "Is your left eye just for show?"

  Naruto replied, "I don't want to use the power of this eye against a friend!"

  "Friend?" A flicker of emotion crossed Sasuke's eyes before it was repced by ess. "Still so naive. You'll regret it!"

  Buzz!

  Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan glowed ominously.

  ——*Genjutsu: Sharingan!*

  Naruto uzzled. "Why are you staring at me?"

  Sasuke was stunned: My genjutsu doesn't work on him!?

  Naruto's Rinnegan pletely nullified Sasuke's Sharingasu, to the point where he didn't even realize Sasuke had used it!

  Screech!

  "Enough..." Sasuke sheathed his sword and stepped back, his eyes radiating genuine ess.

  Drip. A line of blood trickled from the er of his left eye, falling onto the snow, where it spread like a spiderweb.

  "Naruto, if you don't get serious, you'll die!!!"

  ——*Amaterasu!*