Naruto: The new beginning

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"And watch your back as you go with the wind," Naruto said, his words carrying an air of confidence.

The three teammates halted simultaneously and turned around, startled. Emerging from the sand were three Sand Ninjas, their leader stepping forward with a smirk. "Konoha Ninja, it's your misfortune to cross paths with me, Daimaru-sama. Prepare yourselves!"

Naruto stared at the man with a bandaged head for a moment before asking, "Your name's Daimaru?"

Daimaru, surprised, responded, "Oh? Has the great Daimaru's reputation already reached Konoha? If so, hand over your scroll!"

Sakura tilted her head in confusion and asked, "Is he supposed to be famous?"

Naruto nodded solemnly. "Of course. Daimaru, also known as 'The Scarlet Sand,' is rumoured to have been Temari's childhood friend. It's said he'll become a trusted ally of the Kazekage in the future. We can't take him lightly."

Daimaru's two teammates looked at him in astonishment. "So Daimaru's that powerful? We had no idea!"

Feigning humility, Daimaru laughed awkwardly and waved his hand. "Oh, it's nothing, really. But since even outsiders recognize my strength, maybe I am stronger than I thought…"

"Let's find out," Sasuke muttered. His Sharingan flared to life as he charged forward, delivering a spinning kick that sent Daimaru crashing to the ground.

Turning back to Naruto, Sasuke said with a smirk, "So, this is the Kazekage's right-hand man? That's all?"

Naruto glanced skyward, avoiding eye contact. "I… might have exaggerated a bit," he mumbled.

Daimaru's two teammates hesitated before kneeling abruptly, pressing their foreheads to the ground.

"We're sorry! Please spare us!" they exclaimed, surrendering the Scroll of Heaven as they hastily dragged Daimaru away.

Sasuke picked up the scroll without a word, ignoring the fleeing group. "Well, that's one scroll down," he remarked casually.

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With both scrolls secured, the trio decided to slow their pace. As they traversed the desert, they encountered an unexpected obstacle: a ten-meter-long giant scorpion bursting from the sand.

"Dinner's here," Naruto quipped, and the group worked together to defeat the creature. Sakura confirmed the meat was safe to eat and even nutritious. Sasuke reluctantly used his fire-style jutsu to grill the scorpion, proving that the Uchiha clan could thrive as barbecue chefs if they ever left the ninja life.

The night passed uneventfully around the fire until the ground began to rumble at dawn. Naruto woke groggily. "What's going on? An earthquake?"

"I didn't notice anything unusual during my watch," Sasuke said, his expression serious.

Naruto activated his sensory abilities. "Wait… someone's headed this way. It's Tenten, and someone's chasing her!"

The team quickly doused their fire with sand and ran toward the commotion. They soon spotted Tenten and a kunoichi from the Hidden Rain Village, fleeing a massive swarm of ants, each over two meters long.

Naruto shouted, "Tenten! What's happening?"

"No time to explain just run!" Tenten yelled, grabbing Sakura as she passed.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke stared at the swarm in shock. Thousands of giant ants filled the horizon, an unbelievable sight in the arid desert.

As they ran, Naruto asked, "What did you do? And who's she?"

"She's Hydrangea from the Hidden Rain," Tenten replied between breaths. "Neji and Lee are searching for me. As for the ants…" She recounted her story quickly.

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Earlier, Tenten's team had come across a ruin where they encountered Hydrangea's group. After confirming their scrolls didn't match, a battle broke out. Tenten was surprised to learn that Hydrangea specialized in summoning ninja tools, much like herself. Excited to face a similar opponent, Tenten took her on.

The fight escalated when Tenten used explosive tags, inadvertently collapsing the ground and sending them into the ruins. Forced to cooperate to escape, the two formed a tentative friendship.

However, Hydrangea's attempt to capture a giant ant as a summoning creature backfired, drawing the swarm's attention. The duo fled the ruins and pursued relentlessly until they ran into Naruto's team.

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As the story concluded, Naruto asked, "So why are we still running?"

Tenten stopped abruptly, leaving skid marks in the sand. "You're saying we can fight them?"

Naruto sighed. "Yes, we can handle it."

Relieved, Tenten caught her breath while Hydrangea hesitated. "Are you sure you can take on that many ants?"

Sakura stepped in, healing their minor injuries. "Naruto and Sasuke are strong. Trust them."

Hydrangea nodded, recalling her mission to observe talented ninjas from other villages. If these two were as capable as they seemed, she needed to see them in action.

Naruto grinned. "Let's end this!"

Sasuke's Sharingan glowed as he prepared for battle. The trio faced the swarm with confidence, ready to turn the tide.

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