IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

Naruto Uzumaki closed his eyes, and the fiery red Nine-Tails Chakra surged over him, coating his body like a second skin. The chakra sharpened his senses, and suddenly the movements and locations of the two Kirigakure ninjas became crystal clear in his mind.

Inside Naruto's mind, Shiro's voice echoed with a stern tone. "Now is the time to prove your worth, Naruto. This is your first step toward becoming a true ninja. Kill them."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly. "Kill… them?"

"Yes," Shiro replied coldly. "This is the reality of being a ninja. You must overcome the hesitation in your heart. Only then will you have the strength to challenge Sarutobi Hiruzen or anyone else who stands in your way."

The Nine-Tails' chakra flared even brighter, coursing through Naruto's body as Shiro observed. He smirked. "Let's see how you handle this, Asura's heir."

With newfound speed and power, Naruto launched into action. Kunai flew through the air, aimed precisely at the two fleeing ninjas.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A swarm of Naruto clones appeared, blocking the Kirigakure ninjas from every direction.

"Why are you running?" Naruto said, his voice calm but chilling as he stepped toward them.

The two Kirigakure ninjas turned, panic written on their faces. "How is he so fast? How did he find us so easily?!"

They backed away, but everywhere they turned, another Naruto appeared. The panic in their eyes grew.

"What do we do?" one ninja whispered.

"We fight! Break through and kill him!" the other ninja barked.

They charged at Naruto with a desperate roar, but Naruto smirked. "Too late."

With a snap of his fingers, his clones swarmed them, pinning them to the ground.

Step by step, Naruto walked closer. The fear in the ninjas' eyes grew as they struggled futilely against the clones.

"Please!" one of them cried out. "We're just ordinary men! Spare us!"

"Have mercy!" the other begged.

But inside Naruto's mind, Shiro's voice cut through their pleas. "Pick up the blade and end it, Naruto. You're a ninja. This is the path you chose."

Naruto's body trembled as he bent down and picked up a bloodstained kunai from the ground. He gripped it tightly, his hands shaking.

"Spare us!" the two shouted again.

But Naruto's eyes hardened. Slowly, he raised the kunai.

At that moment, a foreign chakra surged within him, conflicting with the Nine-Tails. Shiro's eyes narrowed as he recognized the interference.

"Ah, Asura's chakra," Shiro muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "So, you've finally made an appearance."

The Nine-Tails Chakra in Naruto surged, quickly overpowering and devouring the remnants of Asura's chakra. The balance shifted, and Naruto's body pulsed with overwhelming energy.

As the chakra settled, Naruto's trembling stopped. His eyes burned with resolve.

He swung the kunai down.

Slash!

The cries of the two ninjas were cut short as their heads rolled to the ground. Blood splattered across Naruto's face, but his expression remained eerily calm.

Naruto picked up the severed heads, his pale face betraying his inner turmoil. He dropped the kunai and began walking out of the mist.

Outside the fog, Hatake Kakashi, Sasuke Uchiha, Haruno Sakura, and Tazuna waited anxiously.

From the mist, Naruto's silhouette emerged, carrying the two severed heads.

"Naruto!" Sakura called out, waving.

Sasuke, seeing the grisly trophies in Naruto's hands, turned pale and began retching.

Kakashi's gaze was solemn as he watched Naruto approach. He didn't speak, his expression a mixture of understanding and unease.

Sakura squinted at the objects in Naruto's hands. As he stepped closer, the heads turned, revealing their lifeless faces.

"AHHHHH!" Sakura screamed, stumbling backward. She turned and vomited, joining Sasuke.

Tazuna, wide-eyed, trembled in fear.

Naruto walked up to Kakashi, his face set like stone. He dropped the heads at Kakashi's feet.

"The intruders have been dealt with," Naruto said, his voice flat. "Here are the spoils of war. Please confirm."

Kakashi knelt, examining the heads. His Sharingan scanned their features. Kirigakure Chunin. His expression darkened.

"This was supposed to be a C-rank mission," Kakashi muttered. "A Chunin wouldn't normally appear in a mission like this."

Kakashi turned to Tazuna, his voice rising in anger. "This is your C-rank mission?! Do you realize what could have happened if this team weren't capable enough?!"

Tazuna stammered, his face pale. "I—I didn't have the money to pay for a higher-ranked mission! I thought… I thought…"

Kakashi's jaw tightened. "Thought what? That it wouldn't matter? That you could lie and no one would get hurt? If another team had come, you'd all be dead by now!"

Naruto stepped forward, his voice steady but tired. "Kakashi-sensei, I'll take this mission. I want to test my abilities."

Kakashi's eyes flicked to Naruto, then back to the terrified Tazuna. After a moment, he sighed. "Fine. We'll continue. But from now on, be honest."

Naruto knelt next to Tazuna, his pale face cracking into a small grin. "Don't worry, old man. I'll protect you."

Tazuna nodded hesitantly, still shaken by the sight of the bloody heads.

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