Naruto Zaraki

Chapter 5: Naruto's evolution

The forest was silent, a tense atmosphere thick with the oppressive presence of reiatsu and chakra as the two sides faced each other. Yachiru, perched on a low branch nearby, was happily swinging her legs. Her bright smile and carefree demeanor contrasted sharply with the impending chaos. 

"Go, Kenny!" she cheered, pumping her fists in the air. "Show 'em what you've got!" 

Naruto's grin widened at her encouragement. His yellow reiatsu flared slightly, causing leaves to rustle and the ground to crack beneath him. His battle instincts screamed for him to test himself against these two. 

Kisame let out a low chuckle, resting Samehada on his shoulder. "This kid's got guts, I'll give him that. But guts alone don't win battles." 

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he analyzed Naruto's reiatsu. "This energy... It's not chakra. It's oppressive."

"Are you sure about this, Itachi?" Kisame asked, not taking his eyes off Naruto. "This might be overkill for a kid, but I won't complain if we get to have some fun." 

"We proceed with caution," Itachi said calmly, activating his Sharingan. "This isn't a normal opponent." 

Yachiru tilted her head, her bright eyes locking onto Itachi. "Oh, your eyes are pretty! But Kenny's stronger than you. Right, Kenny?" 

Naruto laughed. "Damn right!" He cracked his knuckles, his reiatsu flaring again. "You two better not hold back. I don't want to be disappointed!" 

---

Naruto dashed forward with explosive speed, his raw instincts driving him. Kisame was ready, swinging Samehada in a wide arc to meet him. The blade hummed, eager to devour chakra, but Naruto ducked at the last moment, his reiatsu creating a pressure that disrupted Kisame's balance. 

Naruto's fist connected with Kisame's ribs, sending the shark-like man skidding backward. "Tch," Kisame grunted, steadying himself. "Kid's got some power." 

Naruto didn't stop, immediately launching himself at Itachi. The Uchiha deftly sidestepped, his Sharingan tracking every movement. Naruto's strikes were wild, guided by his growing instincts. Itachi blocked with minimal effort, his hands deflecting each attack with precision. 

"Predictable," Itachi said as he caught Naruto's wrist and spun, throwing him toward Kisame. 

Kisame grinned, swinging Samehada again. This time, the blade's scales extended, aiming to tear through Naruto. But Naruto's reiatsu flared, forming a barrier that deflected the blade. 

Kisame's grin widened. "Well, this is interesting." 

Itachi moved swiftly, his Sharingan glowing ominously. He formed a series of hand signs and muttered, "Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes." 

Naruto froze mid-strike as the world around him darkened. Shadows enveloped him, and he felt phantom stakes pierce his limbs, immobilizing him. His body was unresponsive, and his vision blurred. 

"Not bad," Kisame commented, leaning on Samehada. "Guess that wraps this up." 

But then, inside Naruto's mind, Kurama stirred. The Nine-Tails growled, its massive form radiating disdain. 

"Brat," Kurama's voice boomed, "wake up. This pathetic illusion won't hold you." 

Naruto's vision shifted as Kurama's chakra surged, breaking the genjutsu. His reiatsu flared wildly, shattering the illusionary stakes and restoring his senses. 

"Nice try," Naruto said, his voice dripping with defiance. His reiatsu intensified, creating cracks in the ground and sending shockwaves through the forest. 

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "So the Nine-Tails is corporating with him"

---

Naruto's movements became sharper, his instincts refining with each exchange. He began to predict Kisame's strikes and Itachi's evasions, his reiatsu adapting to block and counter their attacks. 

"Oi, Kenny!" Yachiru called from her perch. "You're getting better! Keep going!" 

Naruto laughed, the thrill of battle overtaking him. His reiatsu surged, and for a moment, even Kisame and Itachi felt the weight of it pressing down on them. 

Kisame licked his lips, his excitement growing. "This kid... he's something else. Itachi, if you're not careful, he might actually take us out." 

"We'll see," Itachi replied, his voice calm but his tone cautious. 

Naruto grabbed a discarded blade from one of the fallen root Anbu and charged Kisame. The clash of steel echoed through the forest as Naruto's raw power met Kisame's refined kenjutsu. Samehada hummed, trying to absorb Naruto's reiatsu, but the energy was too volatile, causing the blade to recoil slightly. 

Itachi moved in to assist, but Naruto's instincts kicked in, forcing him to shift his focus. Naruto's blade met Itachi's kunai, the two exchanging rapid strikes. 

Yachiru giggled. "Go, Kenny! Beat em both! You're the best!" 

---

As the fight continued, Naruto began to feel a shift within himself. His reiatsu grew more stable, more controlled. He started using it to bolster his attacks, increasing their force and speed. 

Itachi and Kisame both noticed the change. 

"This isn't just raw power anymore," Itachi said, his Sharingan analyzing every movement. "He's learning. Adapting." 

Kisame grinned. "Good. A real fight's no fun if they don't put up a challenge." 

Naruto's grin widened as he felt the shift within him. His instincts screamed for more, for greater challenges. 

"Come on, you two!" Naruto taunted. "This can't be all you've got!" 

---

The forest trembled under the weight of their battle, the sheer power and skill of all three combatants reshaping the terrain. Yachiru clapped her hands excitedly, cheering for Naruto with unrelenting enthusiasm. 

"Kenny, Kenny, Kenny!" she chanted, her voice cutting through the chaos. 

The battle was far from over, and Naruto's thirst for growth and challenge burned brighter than ever. 

Tbc