Konoha's Genius is a bit Ordinary?

With Naruto's resounding shout, a violet-red Rasengan formed in his right hand and smashed into the black serpentine tendrils.

"Boom!!"

The collision of raw power engulfed the chamber, as black and violet-red energy clashed violently, even eclipsing the glow of the molten lava below.

When the blinding light finally dissipated, Naruto was seen sprinting toward Mōryō's main body, ignoring the black serpents swarming around him. The red chakra tails enveloping his body lashed out, clashing with the dark energy tendrils.

"No! Stay away!!"

Mōryō's voice trembled with fear. The sheer malevolence and overwhelming strength of Naruto's chakra startled it. It was a force not just strong but far darker and more terrifying than its own.

In that moment, Mōryō found the situation almost laughable. This boy claims to be righteous and accuses me of seeking world destruction?

Mōryō thought bitterly, Between the two of us, who's really the threat to the world here?

But Naruto paid no heed to the creature's panicked ramblings. He concentrated his chakra into a new Rasengan in his hand, this one larger and more menacing, its glow almost blinding.

"So powerful…"

Shion, cradled in Naruto's arms, stared at the massive Rasengan. Despite the turbulence and danger around her, she felt an inexplicable sense of safety.

"Giant Rasengan!!"

The obstacles blocking Naruto's path to Mōryō were obliterated by the Nine-Tails' chakra. Finally reaching Mōryō, Naruto thrust the Giant Rasengan directly into its body.

"Aaaaargh!!"

Naruto quickly retreated with Shion in his arms, watching as Mōryō howled in agony. Yet, despite the creature's screams, its form did not dissipate.

Naruto frowned. Even the Giant Rasengan couldn't kill it?

Could the Rasenshuriken work? Naruto wondered, but he immediately dismissed the idea. He recalled how Shali had warned him about the Rasenshuriken's dangerous side effects. Under Jiraiya's guidance, Naruto had barely managed to use the jutsu and couldn't yet throw it.

Resolving to act quickly, Naruto decided there was no time to waste. He needed to defeat Mōryō and return to the village to find out what had happened to Natsuro.

Naruto summoned two shadow clones, and together, they began shaping the Rasenshuriken. Chakra surged, unstable and wild, as Naruto struggled to maintain its form.

"Ha! You'll never kill me!"

Mōryō sneered, noticing that while Naruto's power was immense, it wasn't lethal to it. In fact, the energy seemed almost similar in nature to its own.

Though the growing chakra in Naruto's hands made Mōryō uneasy, it remained confident. "At most, you might hurt me a little. But kill me? Impossible!"

Watching Naruto struggle, Shion finally understood what he was trying to do. Her resolve hardened.

Smiling softly, she extended her hand toward the Rasenshuriken, mimicking the actions of the shadow clones. But instead of merely stabilizing the jutsu, Shion infused her own sacred energy into it.

In that instant, the Rasenshuriken, previously tinted crimson by the Nine-Tails' chakra, turned a brilliant white. It radiated a pure, holy light that seemed to illuminate the entire chamber.

"What… is this?" Naruto murmured in awe. He could feel the Rasenshuriken becoming something entirely new, as if it had been perfected.

"Thank you, Shion. This is amazing!" Naruto said with a grin.

"I'm just glad I could help," Shion replied, smiling back.

Mōryō, now staring at the radiant Rasenshuriken, finally panicked. It tried to flee, but its massive body made it an easy target.

"Together?" Naruto asked.

"Let's do it!"

"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!!"

Naruto and Shion hurled the completed jutsu together. The Rasenshuriken spun through the air, its holy light seeming to tear through the very fabric of space. Mōryō's desperate screams were drowned out as the attack struck it directly.

A brilliant explosion of light engulfed the entire chamber, akin to the birth of a small sun. The oppressive black energy that had once filled the room was obliterated, leaving nothing behind.

As the light faded, Naruto and Shion stood together, staring at the now-empty chamber. Mōryō was gone, erased completely.

They looked at each other and exchanged a relieved smile.

After defeating Mōryō, Naruto finally put Shion down. Given the earlier chaos, there was no safe place to leave her during the battle, as Mōryō's black serpents could strike anywhere.

However, while Naruto intended to set her down, Shion seemed reluctant to leave his embrace.

At that moment, Shion felt as though she were in a dream. The Mōryō, a creature that had troubled generations of priestesses, was not just sealed but utterly destroyed. Was it real? She turned her gaze to Naruto, who was smiling brightly, and slowly, a radiant smile appeared on her face as well.

As Naruto and Shion departed the sealed chamber, the magma beneath began to stir. The earlier battle had agitated the dormant volcano, and before long, the ancient mountain erupted, spewing fiery magma into the air.

From a distance, Orochimaru watched the eruption with a sly grin. He licked his lips and sneered.

"So, this is the legendary Mōryō? How pathetic. It couldn't even handle the Nine-Tails' brat. Compared to Natsuro, it's laughably weak. If he were here, I doubt there would've been any chaos with those ghostly soldiers in the first place."

Kabuto, standing nearby, adjusted his glasses and asked, "Orochimaru-sama, shall we head to the Sand Village to verify Natsuro's fate?"

"No need," Orochimaru replied with a sinister smile. "If he's is dead, my standing within the Akatsuki won't look good. Who's to say they won't turn on me next? And if he isn't dead, then the Leaf has a highly competent intelligence officer in him~."

"I see. Still, it seems like you're rather eager for Natsuro to survive, Orochimaru-sama."

"Heh heh~"

Orochimaru didn't answer and instead began walking into the distance, leaving the now unstable sealed grounds behind.

Elsewhere, Kakashi's eyes widened as he listened to Naruto recount what Orochimaru had said.

"Orochimaru said Natsuro is in danger?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei. Is it true? Could Natsuro really be in trouble?" Naruto pressed, visibly anxious.

Kakashi sighed after a moment of thought and explained, "It's possible. Here's what happened: Gaara was captured by the Akatsuki, and the Leaf, short-handed due to the events with Mōryō, sent Natsuro, who had just finished his training, to aid the Sand Village."

Naruto's eyes widened further. "So Natsuro really could be in danger?"

"It's possible. And knowing Orochimaru…" Kakashi trailed off, struggling to find the right words. The situation felt almost tailor-made to target Natsuro.

"But don't worry too much," Kakashi reassured Naruto, who was growing increasingly agitated, his eyes beginning to glow red. "Natsuro knows the Flying Thunder God Technique. If he wants to retreat, very few can stop him."

"But," Naruto countered, "wouldn't the enemy already know that he can use the Flying Thunder God? Wouldn't they plan for it?"

Kakashi fell silent.

"We need to get back to the village, now!" Naruto clenched his fists. "Not just Natsuro...Gaara too. We have to get to the Sand Village as soon as possible!"

"Wait, Naruto…" Shion suddenly called out, stopping him in his tracks.

"Huh?" Naruto paused, turning to Shion. Though he was in a hurry, he decided to hear her out.

"I know you're anxious, so I'll keep this brief," Shion said, taking a deep breath. "The issue with Mōryō isn't fully resolved. As long as darkness exists in people's hearts, Mōryō could one day return.

"To prepare for that possibility, I must pass on my power to the next generation of priestesses. Naruto, in the future, will you lend me your strength again if I need it?"

The others looked on with wide eyes, curious about how Naruto would respond.

Naruto, however, didn't seem to think too deeply about it. Flashing his signature grin, he gave her a big thumbs-up.

"Of course! If you ever need help, just let me know!"

Shion's face lit up with a smile, but those who knew Naruto well collectively rolled their eyes.

They could all tell, he hadn't fully understood the meaning behind her words at all!

...

"What did you say? Orochimaru really said that?!"

In the Hokage's office, Tsunade's furious voice echoed as she slammed her hands on the desk, glaring at those present.

"Yes, Granny Tsunade! We need to head to the Sand Village and help them immediately!" Naruto shouted in urgency.

Tsunade gritted her teeth, her expression dark and heavy. Naruto couldn't fully grasp the situation, but as Hokage, Tsunade knew better.

Natsuro had just finished his training and returned to the village, only to be sent on a mission that now appeared to be a trap. It was clear: there was a traitor in Konoha, and not just any traitor. It was someone with significant influence and far-reaching connections.

Tsunade pieced everything together in her mind. The timing was too perfect.

The moment Natsuro returned, the Mōryō crisis erupted, forcing most of Konoha's forces to be dispatched to handle it. With the village stretched thin, Natsuro was the only option to send to the Sand Village.

This wasn't a coincidence. Someone had planned this meticulously.

Tsunade clenched her fists, anger boiling in her veins, but she also knew she couldn't act rashly. She had a suspect in mind, but without evidence, her hands were tied.

Taking a deep breath, Tsunade forced herself to stay calm. In the past, she might have stormed off and taken impulsive action, but now…

"Hokage-sama, as the leader of the village, you must not let your anger cloud your judgment. Acting recklessly will only give others leverage against you."

She recalled Natsuro's advice from a previous incident. At the time, she had seemed dismissive, but deep down, his words had left an impression.

"Kakashi's team and Guy's team will head to the Sand Village immediately. Your mission is to locate Natsuro and rescue Gaara!" Tsunade's voice carried both authority and urgency.

"Yes!" The assembled ninja responded in unison, ready to depart at once.

"Hokage-sama, I want to join the mission too," came a voice. It was Ino, her expression firm and resolute.

"Ino…" Tsunade turned to look at her student, seeing the determination in her eyes. She knew there was no stopping her. With a sigh, Tsunade nodded in understanding.

The others glanced at Ino, recognizing her connection to Natsuro, their faces reflecting both concern and respect for her resolve.

"Ino will temporarily join Team Seven under Kakashi's leadership for this mission," Tsunade ordered.

"Understood!" Kakashi and Ino replied in unison.

"Then, everyone... Move out immediately!"

"Yes!"

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Currently on Chapter 250 - A Decision and the Air Fortress