Chapter 36

A blood-red vortex of chakra erupted around Naruto, pulsating with raw power that distorted the very fabric of the atmosphere. The once serene weather twisted into chaos as gusts of wind whipped through the air, carrying with them the ominous aura of impending destruction. The temperature dropped as the air crackled with violent energy, the sky above swirling like a storm ready to burst. Dark clouds churned, and the very air seemed heavy, thick with tension. Within the swirling tempest, three tails of ethereal chakra materialized behind Naruto, each one crackling with untamed energy, casting eerie shadows across the battlefield.

As Naruto's transformation escalated, his presence became more formidable, his demeanor shifting into something primal and unyielding. It was as if another entity entirely had taken control, channeling through him with a ferocity unmatched. His body trembled with the power coursing through him, muscles bulging, and veins pulsating with an intensity that mirrored the violent chakra enveloping him. His eyes blazed with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the very soul of anyone who dared to meet his gaze, burning with an insatiable hunger for destruction. The power radiating from him twisted the very ground beneath his feet, the earth trembling as if in fear of the beast within.

Orochimaru, confronting the unleashed fury of Naruto's power, found himself locked in a staring contest with the embodiment of chaos itself. The swirling chakra and crackling energy made the air shimmer, distorting everything around them. Despite the overwhelming sensation of the Nine Tails' rage emanating from Naruto's form, Orochimaru remained eerily composed, his resolve unshaken even in the face of such overwhelming hostility. His cold, calculating eyes never wavered, as though he were studying the beast rather than feeling threatened by it.

'It appears the boy is about to lose it. A little more and I'm sure he'll go beyond,' he thought, his lips curling into a sinister smirk, anticipation flickering in his gaze.

As the tension reached its zenith, a deafening roar erupted from the Nine Tails within Naruto, shaking the very ground beneath them. The sheer force of the beast's fury manifested physically, sending tremors through the forest, as if the earth itself was reacting to the primal cry. The roar was not just heard but felt, vibrating through the chest and rattling the bones of anyone within range. The force of the beast's fury manifested physically, propelling Naruto forward with a gust of wind that barreled towards Orochimaru like a cyclone. The wind howled, kicking up debris and sending the trees around them swaying violently. Yet, despite the sheer power of the blast, Orochimaru remained unmoved, his stoic expression a testament to his unyielding resolve in the face of adversity.

Observing the unfolding spectacle, Sakura's mind raced with a mixture of awe and dread, the sheer magnitude of the horrifying chakra emanating from Naruto's transformed state sending shivers down her spine. The air around her felt heavy, suffocating, as if the very world was bending under the weight of Naruto's unleashed power.

"That's the Nine Tails' power? This... this horrifying chakra," Sakura thought, her voice trembling with apprehension, her body instinctively pulling back as the ominous feeling pressed upon her chest.

Meanwhile, as the realization dawned upon him, Kabuto's mind raced with urgency. He recognized the unmistakable cloak of the demon-fox enveloping Naruto, a testament to the danger they now faced. His thoughts were sharp, adrenaline coursing through him, his eyes narrowing as he watched Naruto’s transformation unfold. With determination etched on his face, he knew action was imperative, or the situation would spiral beyond their control.

"No doubt about it, that's the demon-fox cloak. And three tails already. I gotta do something," he thought, steeling himself for the impending confrontation, his hand already reaching for his weapons, ready to strike.

Behind Naruto, Kabuto seized the opportunity, sprinting towards him with lethal intent, his movements swift and precise. However, as Kabuto closed in for the attack, Naruto spun around, his gaze locking onto Kabuto with a primal intensity that sent a chill down his spine, freezing him in place for a fraction of a second. A second too long.

"Ahhhhhhh!!" He screamed in rage, the sound raw and guttural, fueled by pure emotion, shaking the very air around him.

Fooosh

With an earsplitting scream, Naruto unleashed a torrent of energy that reverberated through the air. The sheer force of his vocal outburst created a powerful shockwave, sending Kabuto hurtling backward. The wind howled around him, his body battered by the blast. The impact was so intense that it didn't stop at Kabuto – it tore through the entire bridge, leaving destruction in its wake. Wooden planks shattered, debris scattered like confetti, and the once-sturdy structure crumbled as if bowing to the might of Naruto's unleashed power. The bridge creaked and groaned under the force, its very foundations cracking apart, threatening to collapse entirely under the strain.

As chaos erupted around them, Sakura struggled to maintain her balance amidst the sudden destruction of the bridge. With a gasp of surprise, she stumbled backward, her world spinning before darkness consumed her as she hit her head, rendering her unconscious. The bridge around her seemed to disintegrate as the force of the blast swept through, sending pieces of wood and rubble flying in all directions. She barely registered the sounds of destruction before everything went black.

In the midst of the turmoil, Travis materialized out of nowhere, swift as a shadow, and caught Sakura just before she could plummet further. His arms wrapped around her with practiced ease, pulling her close to his chest. His presence was a calm amidst the storm. With a deft maneuver, he landed on the nearest wall, securing her safely against him. The crash of the surrounding chaos seemed distant as he focused entirely on Sakura’s unconscious form. His expression was tense, though his grip on her was gentle, a stark contrast to the violence around them. With a silent signal, Travis gestured to Yamato, who nodded in understanding before swiftly retreating to a safe distance, ensuring Sakura's safety from any further danger.

Meanwhile, Naruto, consumed by a tempest of rage and determination, launched himself at Orochimaru with blistering speed, his entire being enveloped in the ominous aura of the demon-fox's chakra. The air around him seemed to warp and bend as his movement shattered the calm. In an instant, he closed the gap between them, his hand transformed into a lethal weapon as he struck Orochimaru with the force of a raging storm.

Bang

The impact sent Orochimaru hurtling through the air once more, a mere plaything in the face of Naruto's unleashed power. The force of the blow left a crater where Orochimaru had once stood, and trees splintered and earth trembled as Orochimaru carved a path of destruction through the forest. Dirt and rocks exploded in all directions as Orochimaru crashed through the terrain, finally coming to a stop before causing further devastation. His body slid along the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

"You're using the power of the Kyuubi, and that's all you have to show? You still have a ways to go before you can catch up to Sasuke," Orochimaru taunted, his voice dripping with mockery as he shed his old skin, revealing the sinister truth beneath. His form twisted, serpentine, his snake-like features creeping out from beneath the layers of his disguise.

Meanwhile, within Naruto's mind, a battle raged on, his very being torn between conflicting forces. His consciousness felt distant, as though he were trapped behind a wall of smoke and mirrors. Suddenly, his skin began to peel away, revealing blood-red flesh underneath, as his eyes lost their luster, turning blank like a canvas devoid of emotion. His lips trembled in a silent scream, the transformation tearing at him from within. Around him, the chakra coalesced into a spear-like formation, encasing him in a shroud of power that reached towards the heavens, a beacon of destruction. His body convulsed as if the very essence of the Nine Tails' power was consuming him from the inside out.

Boooom

The earth trembled as a shockwave rippled outward, leveling everything in its wake. Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and the very ground cracked apart. The energy from Naruto's transformation surged outward, carving a path of devastation through the landscape. Orochimaru's smirk widened, his anticipation building as he witnessed the unfolding chaos, a testament to the true extent of Naruto's untapped potential.

'Did he lose it?' Orochimaru thought, his mind working rapidly as he calculated his next move. The sight of Naruto's transformation was unnerving, but it presented an opportunity. He was no stranger to chaos.

Yamato and Travis met up on the other side of the bridge as they checked on Sakura, who was still unconscious, her breath shallow but steady.

He turned towards the direction Naruto and Orochimaru were in and saw the red beam of chakra in the sky, its unnatural hue casting a sinister light across the darkening landscape. The beam seemed to pulse and shift, as if alive, a reflection of the twisted power Naruto now wielded.

"I've got a bad feeling about that," Travis said, his voice low and grim, his eyes narrowing as he watched the unfolding scene with growing concern.

'Wood Style- Wood Clone'

A wooden clone detached itself from Yamato and began to sprint towards the scene. The clone’s movements were fluid, but its purpose was clear – to assess the situation and determine the next course of action. When it arrived at the scene, it saw Naruto, his face being peeled off, as if the Chakra was eating away at his very being, each pulse of power slowly eroding his physical form.

'He must be in a lot of pain,' the clone thought, its expression darkening in sympathy. The sheer suffering Naruto was enduring was palpable, and the clone could feel it in the air, the desperation of a boy losing himself to the chaos inside.

" Aaahhhhh!!!" Naruto screamed again, his voice hoarse and ragged, each cry more desperate than the last.

Boooom

This time, as Naruto's primal scream reverberated through the dense forest, it was as if nature itself quivered in response. The very air seemed to tremble with the intensity of his vocal onslaught. In that very same second, a shockwave of unparalleled power erupted from his voice, tearing through the tranquil surroundings with ruthless efficiency. Trees were uprooted, the forest itself seemed to recoil from the force, and the very earth trembled as if in fear of the raw, untamed power that now poured from Naruto. It was like a force of nature, unstoppable, unyielding.

The once serene forest became a chaotic battleground as trees were uprooted, leaves scattered like confetti, and the very ground quaked in protest. The shockwave, akin to the devastating impact of a nuclear explosion, left nothing untouched in its path. The deafening roar of destruction echoed through the trees, announcing Naruto's unleashed might.

Yamato, swift in his response, conjured a Wood barrier that encased him in a protective cocoon. The wood manifested like a fortress, shielding him from the impending devastation. The branches twisted and curled, forming an impenetrable wall that stood firm against the force of the shockwave.

The shockwave, however, was relentless, obliterating everything in its trajectory. Sai, in the midst of preparing to take flight and observe Naruto's prowess, had his ink bird disintegrated in an instant. The force of Naruto's scream was not just a sound; it was a cry that resonated through the very essence of nature itself, disrupting the calm and scattering all who dared to be in its path.

Yamato got out the barrier, his expression pale as he saw Naruto in the distance. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

'The fourth tail,' he thought, his mind racing with concern.

Naruto was standing on all fours, his entire form consumed by the chakra. His whole skin was dark red, his body contorting with the force of the transformation. His eyes glowed bright yellow, filled with an eerie, almost animalistic fury. Behind him, four thick tails moved as if they were a part of him, each one swishing and crackling with power, as if ready to lash out.

Naruto and Orochimaru stared each other down from a distance, both of them exuding an aura of death, as if ready to kill one another. The atmosphere between them was thick with animosity, the air crackling with the tension of an impending battle to the death.

Orochimaru spat out his many snakes, which slithered toward Naruto like an unstoppable tide. The serpents hissed and writhed, creating a towering wall of venomous creatures that moved with lethal intent. The sheer number of snakes seemed infinite, a living ocean of danger that surged directly at Naruto.

Yet Naruto simply waved off his hand.

Boooom

All the snakes were completely destroyed in an instant, as if they had never existed. The force of Naruto’s chakra swirled around him, annihilating the serpents in a single, violent gust. The air cracked with the sound of raw energy, the remnants of the attack scattered in a thousand directions, leaving no trace of the deadly serpents that had once posed a threat.

On the other side, Travis was thinking about what he wanted to do next. He could stop the fight—after all, why not? Or he could do nothing and let the battle continue. He mulled over the options, but in the end, he decided to stop the fight. So he hid Sakura somewhere in the forest and covered her with a barrier, ensuring her safety. After that, he vanished, reappearing high above the two combatants. His movements were swift, a blur against the chaos of the battle.

With a blur, Travis shot down to the ground, his descent a blur of motion.

Booooom

The force in which he landed in destroyed most of the already leveled ground, creating a huge crater in the earth. The ground shattered beneath him, splintering like glass under the force of his impact. Travis stood tall, his hand right on Naruto's neck as he pinned him to the ground with overwhelming force.

For a moment, the battle seemed to freeze, the intensity of the moment hanging in the air like a taut wire. Travis suddenly frowned as he found himself standing in front of the Nine Tails, its massive form towering above him.

"Yo!" He said, addressing the mighty creature with an almost casual tone.

"Roaaarrrr!!"

A strong gust of wind blew into his face as the giant orange fox roared at him, its massive jaws snapping open in a thunderous display of power. The force of the roar was enough to send shockwaves through the air, but Travis remained unshaken, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Man, you need to brush your teeth. Well, I pray you start getting along with this mf. He's not really like other people who only wish to misuse you for their only personal needs. Remember what old man Hagamoro said," he said, his voice mocking yet strangely reassuring.

Kurama stared at Travis in shock, his immense eyes narrowing as he processed the words.

'How does he know the old man?' he thought, the question lingering in his mind.

"How do you know that?" he asked, his voice low with confusion.

"Well, umm, just listen to what I’m telling you," Travis said, his tone shifting to one of rare seriousness. "Remember what they used to do to you. Especially Madara, I'm sure just hearing his name makes you sick. Well, think about Naruto. He's nothing like that guy or any other guy who's tried to control you before. So, I recommend that you at least befriend him, since you're lonely. Well, I'm leaving now. Don't tell him I came here."

With that, Travis vanished, leaving Kurama alone in his thoughts. The Nine Tails sat in stunned silence, wondering just who this mysterious figure was, yet he knew he couldn’t receive those answers now.

'Me befriend that kid? I'd rather die,' he thought, his pride refusing to even entertain the possibility.

TO BE CONTINUED