Chương 58: Coward

At that moment, Uzumaki Naruto's face twisted with fierce anger. His red pupils glowed intensely, and the whisker-like marks on his cheeks became more pronounced. He looked less human and more like a wild beast, fierce and powerful.

The terrifying force sealed inside him had finally awakened, releasing energy through Naruto's body. Though only a fraction of its true strength came through, it was enough to make Naruto's punches shake the thirty-meter-long snake to its core.

"Is that... really Naruto?" In the distance, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura looked on in stunned silence. Naruto was fighting with an incredible power, each blow landing on the snake like thunder, forcing the massive creature to retreat. It was clear to them both that Naruto had become something entirely different—stronger and more terrifying than they could ever have imagined.

The female ninja's expression turned serious as she urged the giant snake forward. Despite its massive size, the snake moved with incredible speed, striking at Naruto from every angle. But Naruto met each attack head-on, his fists moving faster and faster, each one landing with an explosive "bang" that echoed through the forest.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

Naruto's attacks grew stronger and more relentless. It was as though the creature within him was adapting to his body, allowing him to use even more power. Soon, he had completely turned the tide of the battle, forcing the giant snake to writhe and crash into trees with each blow, leaving the forest in chaos.

"That's not just physical strength," Lee observed from his hiding spot. "His fists are charged with powerful chakra." He realized how versatile chakra could be, and how different it was from the energy of the martial arts world he remembered.

Then, with one massive punch, Naruto struck the snake's head. The power of his blow sent the snake flying backward, rolling and crashing through the forest, leaving a path of destruction behind it.

"Is that... Naruto?" Sasuke whispered, watching Naruto with wide eyes. The power he was displaying was far beyond anything Sasuke could muster.

"Naruto's totally out of control," Sakura said quietly, unable to believe her eyes. "But... how did he get this strong?"

Lee watched with interest, but he knew Naruto's situation was still dangerous. The female ninja hadn't moved the entire time; she was simply observing Naruto, as if studying him. She seemed aware that there was something unusual within him.

"Ah!" Naruto roared, rushing the snake again, his rage building. But at that moment, the female ninja smirked, a cruel glint in her eyes.

"Oh no! Naruto's in danger!" Lee thought, his heart racing.

Just as Naruto closed in on the snake, the female ninja raised her right hand and opened her mouth, sending out a massive fireball, over two meters in diameter, directly at him. Naruto, taken off guard, was engulfed in flames, his screams filling the air as he fell from the attack, the fire scorching his body. The energy within him had kept him alive, but he was severely injured and couldn't continue fighting.

"So... this is the power of a Kage-level ninja," Lee thought, staring at the female ninja with a sense of awe. She hadn't even used hand seals, yet she'd launched a fireball with devastating power.

The female ninja's eyes narrowed as she watched Naruto lying on the ground. "I came here looking for Sasuke," she murmured, "but it seems I've also found the son of the Yellow Flash. And with... that sealed inside him. This is becoming very interesting."

"Naruto, are you okay?" Sasuke shouted from a distance, unable to get closer because the female ninja was so near. He wanted to help, but he was paralyzed by fear.

"Don't worry. You're next." The female ninja smirked, directing her snake toward Sasuke. "Now, Uchiha Sasuke, let's see what you're capable of."

The giant snake lunged at Sasuke with terrifying speed. Sasuke stood frozen, his mind going blank as he faced the massive creature barreling toward him.

Just then, a flash of yellow appeared in front of Sasuke, blocking the snake's advance.

"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled. "What are you doing? Get out of here! Who asked you to butt in?" His voice was harsh, but his eyes betrayed a hint of gratitude.

"Are you hurt, coward?" Naruto, covered in bruises and burns, smirked at Sasuke, lifting his head with a look of defiance.

"Coward..." The word struck Sasuke like a thunderclap. It echoed in his head, his face growing hot with shame. That was the same insult he had thrown at Naruto before, to look down on him. Now, Naruto was giving it right back to him, and it stung deeply.

Sasuke had always seen Naruto as nothing more than a failure, the weakest of their group, the dead-last at everything. But here Naruto was, standing in front of him, risking his life to protect him and calling him out for his own weakness.

It was an unbearable insult to the proud name of Uchiha.