Naruto: From Extra to Savior

When strength and skill reach a certain level, the results can be terrifying—something Kimimaro was demonstrating all too clearly. Even mastering just one of these two aspects could be incredibly formidable. In this world where chakra exists, supreme skill might not seem particularly impressive, but ultimate physical power does exist—the Eight Gates. Might Duy, Might Guy's father, had defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen with nothing more than a genin's strength. Rock Lee was able to stand his ground against the One-Tail jinchuriki. And when Might Guy unlocked the Eight Gates, he came close to saving the entire world.

Even if Kimimaro hadn't yet perfected either aspect, combining both was already enough to crush the vast majority of ninja. His Kekkei Genkai, the Shikotsumyaku, amplified his taijutsu prowess to an absolutely terrifying extent. With every bone in his body usable as a weapon, no ninja could get close to him. Numerical superiority meant nothing against Kimimaro. Long-range attacks like kunai or shuriken couldn't even graze him thanks to his supreme technique. As for high-level ninjutsu that could actually threaten him, with their large, slow hand seals, they might as well have been moving in slow motion before such an expert taijutsu user.

While Kimimaro was wreaking havoc on the battlefield, the situation at the Chunin Exams venue had stabilized somewhat. Manda's summoning time had ended and he returned to Ryuchi Cave. Without anyone to command them, the other giant snakes were merely tough beasts. Except for a few scattered ones, most had already been eliminated.

The Artificial Jinchuriki treating the wounded suddenly sensed someone behind him.

Although he knew there probably wouldn't be any enemies left here, Mizuki still turned around cautiously.

"Oh, it's you, Kakashi. Is everything okay on your side?"

Protecting helpless civilians required powerful ninja—something weaker shinobi simply couldn't do without hesitation or fear getting involved.

"Yeah. How are you holding up?"

"Not great," Mizuki said, shaking his head. "My chakra is almost gone—it's not my original body here after all. Also, we just don't have enough medical ninja…"

With so many injured, the existing number of medics couldn't possibly handle everything. Plus, the frontline battles hadn't ended yet; the situation there was likely even worse than here.

"Do your best. I wonder how things are going elsewhere… Earlier, Asuma and Kurenai went to reinforce the frontlines. Guy ran ahead chasing Orochimaru."

"Good plan," Mizuki nodded. "You've seen the Third, right?"

"Yeah," Kakashi replied. Wearing his mask, his expression was hidden, though surely wasn't good. "Same as usual…"

"You mean dying at the peak of his power?"

Before the potion's effects faded completely, he'd already died from the combined assault by Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi. Before the side effects fully surfaced, the Third Hokage had already passed away. As a legendary kage, dying in his prime seemed better than dying frail and decrepit—but…

"Being alive is the most important thing, Kakashi…" From Mizuki's perspective, talk about dying honorably always felt disrespectful toward the dead. Nobody truly deserves to die.

"Hmm..." Kakashi gave a noncommittal response. "I wonder how Naruto Uzumaki and the others are doing."

"Have some faith in your students, Kakashi. Besides, my original body is over there—I won't let anything happen to them." Mizuki said, "But you should be more concerned about the other side..."

Mizuki gestured slightly toward Danzo.

"What are you planning to do about that guy? Obey his orders for now?"

With Jiraiya away and the two advisors absent as well, after the Third Hokage's death in battle, Danzo Shimura not only had been the Fire Shadow's disciple but also teammate and companion—making him the most respected among those present. He was naturally the temporary supreme commander. If Jiraiya hadn't returned in time, Danzo would have had a very good chance of becoming the Fifth Hokage.

"Now isn't the time to worry about that," Kakashi replied. "Let's focus on repelling this powerful enemy first."

It indeed wasn't wise to get caught up in internal conflicts while facing such a formidable foe.

Danzo nodded in agreement. "You're right. Lord Jiraiya is back too..."

"I need to reinforce the frontlines. All our main forces are concentrated here, and the pressure there is enormous."

"Alright, go ahead. See you later."

Watching Hatake Kakashi leave, Mizuki stretched his stiff arms and glanced around.

"This situation is far worse than in the original storyline. So many lives could've been spared."

In this real world, human lives aren't just numbers or background extras anymore. Without the butterfly effect I triggered, they might still be alive today.

Mizuki felt sorrow for this, but not guilt—not because he had convenient excuses like unintentional mistakes, but because he truly believed the fault didn't lie with himself, but rather with the entire world itself.

"The value of life shouldn't be measured in numbers. That's not for humans to decide—it's something for gods to weigh."

Mizuki believed he'd done nothing wrong by trying to rescue the Third.

He raised his hand, observing the chakra wrapped around his palm.

"Humans need gods—but not gods walking among the human realm. Chakra—where exactly will it lead humanity?"

Shaking his head to dispel these thoughts, Mizuki watched Danzo Shimura walk toward the VIP section of the stands after properly arranging the Third's remains.

"So quick to rush over and greet the power brokers, making connections and showing off your presence? The position of Hokage actually depends on political power now? It seems Danzo Shimura has stayed in darkness far too long—he's unaccustomed to acting openly and has already lost the dignity needed to stand tall in daylight. Probably doesn't even know Jiraiya is in the village yet…though he'll find out soon enough…"

Inside a simple Genjutsu barrier deep in the forest near Konoha, Mizuki was treating Naruto Uzumaki when he suddenly sensed disturbances in his barrier.

"At this timing, someone familiar enough to recognize and break through my barrier—so Sakura Haruno must have arrived."

Sure enough, ripples spread through the air and revealed the figures of Sakura Haruno and Uchiha Sasuke.

"Why did you come here? Didn't I tell you to retreat?"

"I noticed the battle fluctuations had calmed down, so we came to check things out," Sakura explained, glancing at the three lying unconscious on the ground. "How's Naruto?"

"He's out of danger now."

"Mizuki replied, 'Sakura, go check on Gaara over there. His injuries are quite serious. Just make sure he doesn't die.'

'Yes, Teacher Mizuki,' Sakura replied, walking over and beginning to treat Gaara with some basic care.

Then Mizuki turned to Sasuke Uchiha and asked, 'Your injuries aren't serious anymore, are they?'

'I'll be okay for now, though I still can't use chakra.'

'That should be enough,' Mizuki nodded. 'The seal on your neck has stabilized. You'll just need to rest once we're back.'

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