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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Guts narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

"He mentioned the Second Tsuchikage's technique… Could it be that his split-body jutsu slipped past my Observation Haki?"

Orochimaru's final words echoed in his mind.

The Second Tsuchikage had a unique secret technique, Split Clone.

Unlike a regular shadow clone, this jutsu split the user's body into two independent, real versions. Even if one body died, the other remained alive and would eventually reintegrate.

The only drawback was that both bodies would be significantly weakened during the split.

But the critical point was this: both were the original.

Guts burst out laughing.

"Hah! So you used that to fool me? Orochimaru, you sly bastard… you're no idiot after all."

In a world where the abilities of One Piece and Naruto collided, Guts had relied heavily on his top-tier Observation Haki to detect deception.

And yet... Orochimaru had successfully slipped through.

Namikaze Minato, standing beside him, winced.

"Is this really the time to be laughing? The Third Hokage is in danger!"

Guts simply grinned, his arms crossed.

"And what does that have to do with me? Whether he lives or dies isn't my concern."

Minato gave an awkward smile. He had almost forgotten...Guts never held any respect for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Just then, Terumi Mei landed lightly on the rooftop behind them.

"What's going on, Lord Hokage? Guts?"

Minato quickly explained the situation.

"Orochimaru's real target is the Third Hokage. I have to go reinforce him immediately!"

BOOM!

A thunderous rumble interrupted them—the ground shook violently.

A massive summoning serpent appeared outside the village walls, its body towering like a small mountain.

Though not Manda, its size was nearly comparable.

Konoha's gate guards launched a barrage of jutsu at it, but the attacks barely made a dent.

"They breached the village barrier!?" Minato's brow furrowed.

But he quickly realized...Orochimaru, once a Konoha Sannin, would naturally know how to bypass Konoha's defenses.

BOOM!!!

Before the serpent could wreak havoc, a giant Katsuyu descended from the sky and crushed the beast beneath her massive weight.

There was no need to ask who had summoned her.

"Even if I think she's fine on her own, Mei! go assist Tsunade. I'd rather not take any risks."

Guts leaned toward Terumi Mei, his shoulder brushing against hers with a lazy smirk.

"Ugh. Helping her feels so weird to me," Terumi Mei pouted.

Squeeze.

Guts pinched her soft cheek before she could complain more.

Blushing, she reluctantly leapt away to join the battlefield.

RUMBLE—!!!

Moments later, a more ominous tremor erupted from the far end of the Konoha forest.

From the trees emerged a towering form a massive body of golden sand, stitched together with sealing marks and foul chakra.

Shukaku had arrived.

"That was fast." Guts blinked at the sight of the One-Tailed Beast.

Beside him, Minato clenched his fists, lips tight.

"Guts... please. Can I ask you to stop Shukaku? I need to reach the Third Hokage."

Guts let out a sigh. "Konoha's mine now. I don't want it turned to dust."

With that, he vanished...no flash, no mark, just pure speed.

Though he wasn't Hokage in name, everyone knew Guts held Konoha's reins now.

Meanwhile, Namikaze Minato raced across rooftops toward the Sarutobi Clan compound, now sealed within the deadly Four Violet Flames Formation.

Inside the barrier, civilians and clan members were trapped.

Sarutobi Asuma sat in a wheelchair, helpless beside his mother Biwako, both watching as Hiruzen Sarutobi...the once-mighty Third Hokage was beaten to the ground like a helpless old man.

At the center of the chaos stood Orochimaru, his eyes gleaming with venom.

Flanking him were three Reanimated Hokage:

Senju Hashirama

Senju Tobirama

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage

Years ago, Hiruzen had stopped Orochimaru from summoning Rasa.

But this wasn't the anime.

In this timeline, Hiruzen had long retired. His eldest son was killed, his younger son crippled, and his political power stripped away by Guts.

Even worse, Konoha's corrupted elders Danzo, Homura, and Koharu were long dead, slain by Guts.

Now Hiruzen was a relic of a fallen era.

Orochimaru yanked him up by the collar, sneering.

"What a pathetic sight, Sensei. Once the 'Professor of Ninjutsu,' now reduced to this."

Outside the barrier, Minato arrived just in time to see it.

"Orochimaru! Let go of the Third Hokage!"

Minato shouted, fury flashing in his usually calm eyes.

Orochimaru turned slowly.

"Oh? Minato. And here I thought you'd bring Guts with you... Guess I was right after all."

He smirked.

THUD.

With no hesitation, Orochimaru tossed Hiruzen to the ground like trash.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Minato barked.

Orochimaru chuckled.

"Simple. I used the remains of the Second Tsuchikage to master his Split Clone technique, one body escaped Guts's detection, the other was already here."

"While you were distracted, I activated the Four Violet Flames Formation and closed in on Sarutobi-sensei."

He leaned in, whispering to the beaten Third.

"And just like I predicted… Guts didn't come. Because he doesn't care about you. Not one bit."

Minato's eyes widened.

Orochimaru's entire plan hinged not on strength but on psychology.

And it worked.

"Rasengan!!"

Minato roared and hurled the spiraling chakra sphere toward the barrier.

BZZZZZT—BOOM!!!

But the attack rebounded with equal force, knocking Minato backward across the tiles.

Orochimaru's laugh echoed from within.

"Did you really think I didn't prepare for you too, Minato? This formation can only be broken by someone with destructive power on Guts's level. You're not enough."

He licked his lips, turning his eyes back to the old man.

"Now... watch from the outside, as I put an end to our dear professor."

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