Naruto: Reborn with the Template System

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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At the end of Konoha's 45th year, not long after the start of the Third Great Ninja War, White Fang passed away.

Unlike in the original timeline where he died dishonored as a man who "abandoned the mission," here, he was remembered as a hero,one who had laid down his life to save his comrades.

It was, in a way, a better ending. At least, that's what Guts told himself.

But from Konoha's perspective, the loss was devastating. White Fang's death struck at the very core of their morale.

Orochimaru had been severely injured in the last major battle, leaving Namikaze Minato to temporarily take over command on one of the active frontlines. And as the news of White Fang's death spread like wildfire…

The Third Raikage made his move.

He understood perfectly well the weight that White Fang's name carried within Konoha. And now that that symbol of strength and fear had fallen, their morale would crumble.

So he acted swiftly, decisively.

That very night, upon receiving the intelligence, the Third Raikage summoned his son, A, and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki—Killer Bee.

Without hesitation, he diverted a significant portion of his logistical force to the front.

Cloud Shinobi had amassed nearly 2,800 troops.

That was more than Guts currently had under his command.

"Sensei! The Third Raikage is marching straight toward us!" Shisui burst into the command tent, his voice sharp. "Hyuga scouts report more than 2,500 enemy ninja approaching fast!"

Guts stood from his chair slowly, his crimson eyes narrowing, a dangerous smirk forming across his face.

"That ugly relic should've been buried long ago. Looks like I get to do the honors myself."

Shisui swallowed nervously. His teacher's mood was clearly foul, someone was about to suffer.

Even though Guts hadn't yet awakened his Conqueror's Haki, his presence alone was suffocating.

In the distance, across the open plain, Cloud Shinobi war cries echoed through the night, brimming with confidence, as if victory was already theirs.

"Should I bring the shells, Sensei?" Shisui asked carefully. Since Guts's Meteor Strike tactic had been so effective in the last engagement, the Hokage had authorized special shipments of artillery shells from the Konoha Armory, just for Guts's squad.

Guts shook his head.

"Not this time. I'll be doing things the old-fashioned way, bare fists."

He cracked his knuckles slowly. The death of White Fang had left a sour taste in his heart, and now he had the perfect excuse to vent.

With a single wave of Guts's hand, hundreds of Konoha shinobi behind him launched a barrage of ninjutsu, an overwhelming storm of elemental fury, streaking across the battlefield like falling stars.

The Cloud front line, led by the veteran Dodai, had anticipated such an onslaught.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

"Lava Style: Rubber Wall!"

Dozens of shinobi erected defensive barriers, layers of stone and bubbling rubber absorbing the first wave. It wouldn't hold for long—but it didn't need to.

"Push forward!" the Third Raikage roared.

He and A, his son, charged headfirst into the chaos, their chakra cloaks crackling with pure lightning. Killer Bee followed close behind, his Eight-Tails chakra already flaring.

Seeing their approach, Guts raised one leg high, and brought it crashing down like a guillotine.

"Rankyaku!"

A towering blade of compressed air and energy, ten meters tall and glowing blue, sliced through the battlefield toward the advancing Cloud forces.

"Take cover!" the Third Raikage shouted, stepping forward.

With lightning-cloaked fists, he struck.

"Lightning Straight!"

BOOM!

His punch collided with the Rankyaku, the resulting shockwave blasting several weaker Genin and even Chūnin off their feet. Dust and chakra fragments scattered like shrapnel.

A's eyes lit up with excitement. "Heh, old man! Let's double team that freak, give him the full combo!"

He didn't get to finish his sentence.

In an instant, a blur appeared behind him.

Both the Third Raikage and Killer Bee turned in alarm.

"Iron Fist Impact!"

Guts's fist slammed into A's back like a meteor. Armament Haki laced his strike, and A was sent flying hundreds of meters through the battlefield.

"Ai!" the Raikage shouted, horrified. "Damn it!"

"Big bro!" Killer Bee snarled. "I got you, fool! I'm about to end this duel, yeah!"

Eight long, muscled octopus tentacles erupted from Bee's back and wrapped around Guts, tightening with crushing force.

"You ain't goin nowhere! I'mma twist you up like a beat in my verse! Feel the squeeze, you chakra-burstin curse!"

Guts didn't respond.

A calm voice rumbled from within the coils.

"Third Gate: Gate of Life—open."

BOOM!!!

In the next instant, the octopus limbs exploded outward, cleaved apart like overripe fruit.

"Nani?!" Killer Bee shouted in shock, barely able to react as Guts broke free.

The blackened, crimson-veined figure rushed forward.

Guts's fist was already swinging, laced with Haki and raw fury.

But before it could connect with Bee's face—

The Third Raikage appeared.

He blocked the blow with his lightning-covered palm, his entire arm trembling under the impact.

Even so, the force sent him skidding backwards, trenching a groove into the earth beneath his feet.

As the dust settled, Guts stood tall in the middle of the battlefield, his skin a blend of dark Haki and flushed chakra, his presence unnatural.

To the Cloud Shinobi watching, he no longer looked human.

To them… he looked like a devil.

Ay coughed, blood dripping from his lips as he struggled to rise from the broken terrain.

"Tch… damn bastard… What the hell is he made of?" he muttered bitterly.

Guts pointed at the Third Raikage with one blackened finger.

His voice was calm, a gentle smile on his face, but behind it was unshakable certainty.

"You're not walking off this battlefield alive, Third Raikage. You'll die here...today."

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