Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 272 The Konoha Crush Plan Begins (Part 2)

Just then, Naruto Uzumaki's eyes suddenly snapped open, a flash of ferocious light appearing within them. Simultaneously, a powerful burst of chakra erupted from his body, sending surrounding trees and rocks flying. This chakra was so powerful that even the air itself was distorted.

Naruto Uzumaki felt his body brimming with power, as if he could destroy everything. He realized he had entered a completely new state, a state that filled him with immense excitement. He knew this was the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox within him at work.

At this moment, Yamanaka Fu was completely suppressed and unable to withstand Naruto Uzumaki's attack. Using the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Naruto easily broke through Yamanaka Fu's defenses and punched him in the chest. Yamanaka Fu coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Naruto Uzumaki stared at Yamanaka Kaze lying on the ground, his heart filled with confusion. He didn't know why he had suddenly become so powerful, nor how to control this power. But he knew that this power was extremely dangerous, and if used carelessly, it could harm him.

Just then, the violent chakra began to subside and finally disappeared completely. Naruto Uzumaki felt his body return to normal, but he still felt somewhat weak. He sat on the ground, panting heavily, trying to recover his strength.

Hyuga Kanan's eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Uzumaki Naruto. He keenly sensed that the originally surging Tailed Beast chakra was being suppressed by a powerful and mysterious force, gradually being sealed away. This sealing technique displayed extraordinary skill and complexity, as if two powerful souls were manipulating it, ensuring that the Tailed Beast chakra would only be released when Uzumaki Naruto faced mortal danger.

"So that's how it is. Back then, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki left behind such a contingency plan to protect their child. That couple really went to great lengths!" Hyuga Kanan murmured softly, a hint of admiration in his voice. He knew all too well that even Minato Namikaze wouldn't fully trust someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi. However, it was precisely because of this caution and parental love that they were able to create such a unique protective mechanism for Naruto Uzumaki.

As time passed, the Tailed Beast chakra within Naruto gradually calmed down, and the violent power vanished without a trace. Hyuga Kanan quietly observed everything before him, a surge of emotion welling up within him. He knew that this love and protection would become the strongest support on Naruto's path to growth. Perhaps, one day in the future, when Naruto truly awakens and masters the power of the Tailed Beast within him, he will become an incomparably powerful being.

The spectators on the sidelines were bewildered, only witnessing the blond brat suddenly unleash a burst of power, easily defeating his opponent and securing victory. This explosive win drew cheers from many spectators, who had come to watch a thrilling ninja battle. Naruto's ferocious attack had provided a powerful thrill for many. Only the elite Konoha ninja present let out a slight sigh of relief. They knew perfectly well what that burst of chakra was and were already prepared to defend themselves. As ninjas who had experienced the Nine-Tails' rampage in Konoha, they knew the consequences of losing control. However, seeing Naruto's triumphant expression, they finally relaxed.

Hiashi Hyuga relaxed slightly. He knew what that surge of chakra had been all about, and he had almost considered retreating with his two daughters. He only felt relieved after seeing the calm Hyuga Kanan beside him.

Hyuga Neji, however, wore a puzzled expression. He frowned, his eyes filled with doubt and wariness. He raised his head, his gaze fixed on Hyuga Kanan, and asked in a low voice, "Sensei, what was that chakra just now? When I activated my Byakugan, it felt like an extremely ferocious beast was about to burst forth from Uzumaki Naruto's body. That feeling made me uneasy. Moreover, that chakra was incredibly powerful; I had absolutely no idea how to deal with it. What kind of power is it? Why is it inside Uzumaki Naruto?"

Neji Hyuga's voice carried a hint of tension and worry. He was extremely curious about this mysterious and powerful chakra, but at the same time, he was concerned about the potential dangers it might bring. He knew his own strength, and he had to remain vigilant against any power he couldn't handle.

"Relax, that's the power of a tailed beast. It's an extremely pure and vast collection of chakra, and you can't handle it at your current level. But once you break through and adapt to the power after the breakthrough, you should be able to deal with that kind of power. Although you might not be able to defeat it, you'll be able to protect yourself without any problem. Of course, if you can make your innate flower bloom, even just one, you should be able to defeat it. You must understand that that kind of power is ultimately just an external thing. Although it can bring ninjas considerable power, it's never truly their own. If you want to grow further in the future, you can only rely on your own training and growth," Hyuga Kanan instructed. He had, of course, noticed the slight impatience in Hyuga Neji's heart.

After all, Hyuga Neji was still a child, and his competitive spirit was still very strong. Since returning to Konoha, he had been able to defeat not only his peers but also the middle-aged generation of Konoha. The sudden appearance of someone younger than him who possessed such terrifying power made him somewhat uneasy.

Hearing Hyuga Kanan's words, Hyuga Neji didn't refute them, knowing he had indeed been too hasty. He needed to calm his mind. He needed to train even harder, constantly improving his strength to face the upcoming battles. At the same time, he understood Kanan's point: while the power of the Tailed Beasts was immense, over-reliance on this external force could hinder his growth. Therefore, he had to learn how to correctly utilize this power and integrate it into his own strength to truly unleash its potential. Furthermore, Neji realized the power of the Innate Flower was equally important. Successfully awakening one would greatly enhance his strength. However, awakening the Innate Flower was no easy feat; it required even more effort and time in his training. But with enough perseverance and determination, he believed he could achieve it. Finally, Hyuga Neji took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said to Hyuga Kanan, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I understand. I will continue to train diligently, striving to break through my bottleneck and improve my strength as soon as possible. As for the Innate Flower, I will do my best to try and unlock it. No matter what difficulties I encounter, I will persevere." With that, Hyuga Neji regained his composure. Hyuga Kanan quietly looked at his still very youthful face, a relieved smile on his own. He believed that after this lesson, Hyuga Neji would become more mature and composed.

When the final qualifying match was announced to begin, everyone present erupted in enthusiastic cheers. Most of them had come to watch the final battle.

Hyuga Kanan glanced up at Hiruzen Sarutobi on the high platform, a hint of admiration creeping into his heart. Hiruzen Sarutobi, this Hokage, was truly shameless to the extreme. To amplify the impact of the Chunin Exams, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been relentlessly promoting the identities of both sides in this battle. Gaara needed no introduction; he was the son of the Fourth Kazekage and the strongest of the new generation from Sunagakure. His promotion of Sasuke Uchiha was particularly interesting, constantly emphasizing the Uchiha clan's past power, even bringing up their victory over Kirigakure. He further claimed Sasuke was the last remaining Uchiha, a top-tier genius from childhood, consistently ranked number one in the Ninja Academy, and receiving the best educational resources in Konoha. This effectively drew everyone's attention to Konoha, filling everyone with anticipation for the battle.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the mastermind behind the Uchiha clan's annihilation, is now using the Uchiha clan's prestige in the ninja world to attract attention for this assessment, truly taking the Uchiha clan to the extreme.

With Sasuke Uchiha's arrival, the atmosphere in the arena reached its peak. As the most arrogant member of the Uchiha clan in the ninja world, he naturally couldn't resist showing off. Winning the cheers of everyone present greatly satisfied Sasuke's arrogant personality.

In the past month, under the strict tutelage of Kakashi Hatake, Sasuke Uchiha's strength has improved unimaginably. Especially with Kakashi's unreserved instruction, his true talent has truly blossomed. He is now brimming with confidence, believing he has undergone a complete transformation and that with some more time to improve, he will definitely catch up to Neji Hyuga's strength.

Hyuga Kanan's gaze, however, fell upon Gaara. He sensed an aura from Gaara similar to that of Naruto Uzumaki. He knew without a doubt that Gaara was a Jinchuriki of Sunagakure. However, he noticed that Gaara's emotions were in turmoil, seemingly influenced by the Tailed Beast's chakra, and he was practically on the verge of losing his mind.

"It seems Orochimaru and the Sand Village have done a lot to provoke Gaara lately, almost turning him into a mindless beast. To unleash his full destructive power, he needs to completely unleash the Tailed Beasts. It seems Orochimaru has really done something to harm the Sand Village," Hyuga Kanan thought to himself.