Konoha: Naruto of Sekiro

Regarding chakra.

A long time ago, Naruto had come to understand a truth that didn't much matter whether he understood it or not—

His chakra reserves and other people's were two entirely different things.

Especially after Kurama taught him Ninshu, Naruto gained an even clearer understanding of the vastness of his own chakra.

Take Shikamaru, for example. Naruto could replenish all of Shikamaru's chakra using less than one percent of his own.

And that was without Kurama's help.

Although Kurama currently only possessed his Yang half, even that half's chakra reserves were something Naruto could only dream of achieving on his own.

So, when he heard that Nagato needed to recover his chakra, his feelings were complicated.

"Is this enough chakra?" Naruto slowly withdrew his fist and asked.

"…Enough, it's enough." Recalling the inhuman amount of chakra he had just felt, Nagato nodded, trembling.

Honestly, as someone possessing the Uzumaki clan's bloodline, he had never imagined that one day someone could use their own chakra to 'recharge' him.

"That's good." Naruto nodded slightly, a sigh of relief escaping him internally.

Truly terrifying, he thought. Helping Nagato recover his full chakra reserves actually consumed 'five and a half' of his own units of chakra.

If not for Kurama's support, Naruto seriously suspected he would have been drained dry here today.

"Nagato, your Rinnegan?" Yahiko suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone looked intently. Nagato's two Rinnegan were emitting a hazy purple glow, giving off a feeling of…

Being 'satiated.'

"Are you okay?" Konan asked nervously. This sensation was far too bizarre.

"I'm fine. In fact, I feel more relaxed than ever before," Nagato said, looking at his own hands in disbelief.

Previously, whenever he used the Rinnegan, there was always a sense of obscurity. He had originally thought it was because he hadn't truly mastered the Rinnegan.

But after receiving the infusion of Naruto's inhuman chakra, he finally understood. It turned out that for all these years, he hadn't been 'feeding' the Rinnegan enough; he'd been keeping it on a tight budget.

Witnessing this, how could Naruto not understand what had just happened? He couldn't help but cover his face.

So, the thing that had nearly drained him dry was a pair of eyes.

"Nagato, do you want to rest a bit more?" Yahiko asked quickly when he saw him stand up.

"No need." Nagato shook his head.

Naruto also rose, strapping Kusabimaru to his waist, and slowly followed behind him.

The people inside the cave spontaneously saw them off.

After they had traveled a considerable distance from the cave, Nagato suddenly stopped, raised a hand, and aimed it at a nearby man-sized boulder.

Just as Naruto was wondering what was happening, a powerful repulsive force erupted from Nagato.

Boom!

The boulder instantly shattered into countless small stones, and the ground itself was scoured several inches deep.

In the distance, Naruto, who had dodged on instinct, watched this scene with amazement. What was that? Awakening a new ability?

Back at the spot, Nagato also stared at his right hand in disbelief.

Clearly, this was the first time he had used this move, and he too was shocked by its power.

"Next time you experiment with a ninjutsu, please tell me in advance so I can get further away," Naruto teased.

"My apologies." Nagato smiled sheepishly. "I didn't know this move would be so powerful either."

"Let's go. You'll lead the charge!"

Naruto brushed the grass clippings off his clothes, walked over to Nagato's side, and clapped him on the shoulder.

Amegakure.

The negative impacts of the Land of Rain's successive years of war had not spared even the Hidden Rain Village.

Compared to other hidden villages, the villagers of Amegakure might have faced some hardships, but compared to most citizens of the Land of Rain, they were affluent.

After all, in a way, incessant warfare provided fertile ground for the survival of ninja.

Miataro stared at the tightly closed door, somewhat at a loss. He had heard plenty of rumors on his way here.

The pillar of Amegakure, the 'Demigod' of the ninja world, Hanzo of the Salamander, had actually been defeated by a nameless ninja.

This was something no Amegakure ninja, including himself, had ever imagined.

Even if the Amegakure ninja sent to surround the enemy had suffered heavy losses, they had at least anticipated that possibility.

"Miataro, how is Lord Hanzo's condition?" Eiyu, another Jonin who had remained behind, walked to his side and asked in a low voice.

Miataro pointed at the closed door and shook his head slightly.

He wouldn't dare knock on Lord Hanzo's door.

Eiyu walked to the door, gritted his teeth, and was about to pull it open to ask what had happened. But his hand stopped halfway in mid-air. After a moment's thought, he slowly withdrew it and retreated to his companion's side, waiting with him.

Lord Hanzo, in his later years, wasn't known for his good temper. He was also thinking for Amegakure's sake; there weren't many Jonin left in the village now.

Several more Jonin arrived one after another. Like them, they only dared to look at the closed door, not daring to do anything.

Just as the few of them were quietly discussing whether to call out and ask, an old and feeble voice suddenly came from inside the room.

"Come in."

"Lord Hanzo, are you alright?" Miataro, walking at the forefront, asked nervously when he saw the wounds still seeping blood on Hanzo's body.

Even if he harbored numerous dissatisfactions with this old undying relic, at this moment, he had to be concerned about his injuries.

Once they lost the 'Demigod,' Amegakure would not be far from ruin.

"I won't die." Hanzo's eyelids lifted slightly. He naturally understood why these men had come.

"What… what exactly happened? Why…" Pushed repeatedly by the person behind him, Miataro gritted his teeth and voiced the question burning in his mind.

"…"

For Miataro at this moment, nothing was more terrifying than this sudden silence.

He would have preferred a harsh scolding over this utter lack of response.

"As you've seen, I failed," Hanzo finally said after a long pause. "Failed utterly. Basically, apart from myself, no one else survived."

"Who… who exactly was the opponent?" Miataro's pupils contracted. Despair. He actually saw despair on this man.

What exactly happened in that battle? What could make a titan of an era display such unprecedented despondency?

"What happened?" Recalling those purple eyes, Hanzo gave a contemptuous smile, directed perhaps at himself, perhaps at others.

Probably mostly at myself…

After all, he had been afraid…

That's right, the renowned 'Demigod' Hanzo of the Salamander had felt fear towards a brat not even half his age.

"As you saw, I fled in disarray."

He laughed, but this laughter only intensified the terror Miataro and the others felt.

"Perhaps, the moment I met those eyes, I had already lost…"

Was that red-haired youth truly that powerful? He asked himself.

If I hadn't had so many thoughts back then, could I have died like a samurai, without regrets? "Lord Hanzo…"

Just then, a bloodcurdling scream came from outside the room.

The Jonin focused their gazes. They saw a blond youth slowly pulling the door open, a sharp blade in his hand, his azure eyes meeting theirs.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen!" he said, offering a polite greeting.

But everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.