Naruto: The new beginning

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"I can't do it," Natsuhi said sadly. "Like Sumaru's father, I overused the star's chakra. Sumaru's father passed away a few years ago because of it... and I don't know how much time I have left."

"Mother..." Sumaru cried out, gripping Natsuhi's hand tightly. "It can be cured! Tsunade-sama of Konoha must know a way to save you!"

"That's right," Sakura interjected, standing up decisively. "Tsunade-sensei will have a solution. We can't let a mother and son, who've just reunited, face such tragedy."

Moved by her son's pleading, Natsuhi finally agreed to go to Konoha to seek help.

"Hey, listen up!" Naruto's voice suddenly broke the heavy atmosphere. "One of my shadow clones just reported that a Kumogakure team is five kilometres from Hoshigakure. They've got a jinchūriki with them there are four of them in total."

Naruto added, "The clone marked the location with the Flying Thunder God Jutsu before dispelling itself. The others self-terminated after completing their task."

Kushina clenched her right fist into her left palm and smirked. "So, they've finally arrived!"

"Kumogakure team? What's going on?" Natsuhi asked, confused. She hadn't been in the village for long and wasn't aware of recent developments.

Naruto explained, "They're here to steal your 'star.' Our mission is to protect it."

Kushina waved at the group. "Sumaru can explain everything later. Let's take care of these intruders first. Come on, Naruto."

Natsuhi and Sumaru stood frozen, watching the Konoha shinobi vanish with incredible speed.

They had never seen such advanced techniques before.

At the location of the marked clone, Kushina quickly sensed the presence of a four-person team steadily approaching.

Naruto summoned four shadow clones, positioning them strategically around the area.

He had each clone place Flying Thunder God markers, ensuring there was no escape route for the Kumogakure team.

Soon, the Kumogakure squad arrived. The group consisted of the jinchūriki Yugito Nii and her three teammates: Samui, Omoi, and Karui.

Naruto immediately recognized them. Samui was a composed kunoichi with short blonde hair, fair skin, and an impressive figure rivalling Tsunade's.

She often complained of shoulder pain due to the burden of her… assets, a habit depicted even in certain games.

Omoi, with his short white hair and dark skin, was easily identifiable by his obsession with lollipops and his anxious, pessimistic demeanour.

Naruto remembered hearing a rumour about him trading a lollipop for Ringo Ameyuri's Kiba swords during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Karui, with her fiery red hair and similar skin tone to Omoi, had a temper to match.

Naruto recalled seeing her alongside Choji Akimichi in the future, though he still couldn't understand how that pairing came to be.

All three were disciples of Killer B, the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, known for their exceptional kenjutsu skills.

However, their presence alongside Yugito this time seemed unusual.

As Naruto studied the Kumogakure team, they were also observing the Konoha group.

Yugito immediately recognized Kakashi Hatake for his iconic look and reputation.

Next, her gaze fell on Kushina Uzumaki, wife of the Fourth Hokage, who was rumoured to have aided in sealing the Nine-Tails.

Kushina's display of strength during the Chūnin Exams left no doubt that she was the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.

The rest of the group consisted of younger shinobi. Yugito's initial glance overlooked Kiba and Akamaru, but she quickly realized the seriousness of the formation.

Yugito stepped forward, attempting diplomacy. "Konoha shinobi, this is a mission. Can we avoid unnecessary conflict?"

Kushina sneered and cracked her knuckles. "If you're here to steal something, just say so. No need for excuses about a mission."

Yugito sighed. "So that's how it is…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Naruto acted. Forming a series of hand seals, he unleashed a massive technique:

"Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave!"

A towering wall of water, over 30 meters high, surged forward like a tsunami, uprooting trees and smashing everything in its path.

The Kumogakure team was caught off guard. They couldn't believe a seemingly ordinary Konoha shinobi could execute a jutsu of such magnitude.

In unison, they gasped, "You call this Water Release!?" (Sorry! About this & if you don't understand just read further)

Kakashi and Sakura sighed, accustomed to Naruto's disregard for subtlety.

However, even they were surprised by the sheer scale of the attack.

Shino and Kiba stared in disbelief. Despite having seen Naruto's abilities during the Chūnin Exams, they still found this display over the top.

Hinata blushed, clutching her chest. "Naruto-kun… you're amazing."

Meanwhile, Kushina smirked. "Why didn't I think of starting fights this way? Maybe I rely on my fists too much."

Faced with the impending wave, Yugito acted swiftly. Her body glowed as the blue, flame-like chakra of the Two-Tails enveloped her.

Transforming into the massive form of Matatabi, she scooped her teammates onto her back just as the water surged past.

Matatabi's chakra flames shielded them from the water's force without harming her teammates.

As the waves receded, the surrounding area was submerged in several meters of water though this barely reached Matatabi's knees.

The Konoha group stood calmly atop the water, Naruto having ensured his allies were unharmed by manipulating the currents.

Naruto grinned at the sight of the majestic blue feline. "There you are! A super-cool blue kitty!"

But then, tilting his head, he added cheekily, "As a cat, shouldn't you be meowing?"

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