Naruto: Limitless Sage

At that exact moment—

Naruto made his decision.

He allowed the endless barrage of saturation attacks to flood his vision, blurring it with the movements of countless shadow clones.

If the real Minato were to hide his true attack within this swarm of clones…

Naruto wouldn't be surprised.

And just as expected—

The real strike came.

Minato, hiding flawlessly among his clones, launched his true attack, seamlessly blending into the chaos.

But—

It was already too late.

At that very instant—

Naruto activated Ultra Instinct!

Saturation attacks? Naruto had many ways to handle them.

He could have simply dispersed the shadow clones in an instant.

He could have broken through the formation with a swift counterattack.

Or he could have unleashed high-speed ninjutsu.

But he didn't do any of that.

Because today, he wanted to test something else—

The power of Ultra Instinct!

With a thunderous boom—

A brilliant silver aura erupted from Naruto's body!

His hair and eyes turned a radiant silver-white.

His emotions disappeared into tranquil clarity.

His thoughts stilled, and his mind entered perfect focus.

Minato's true strike was just about to reach him—

But before Naruto's brain could even register it—

His body had already moved.

With reaction speed beyond human comprehension, Naruto dodged Minato's attack effortlessly.

At the same time, he slipped through the attacks of dozens—no, hundreds—of other shadow clones.

In that moment, Naruto floated among the clones like a weightless feather—untouchable.

No matter how many times they struck,

No matter how fast or fierce their moves—

None of them could hit him.

At that exact instant—

Naruto's figure shimmered into a streak of silver.

In a flash—

All the clones were wiped out.

The field fell silent.

Only Naruto and Minato remained.

From the sidelines, Kushina and Minato stared at their son—utterly stunned.

This Naruto—

He seemed like someone else entirely.

And then—

Naruto raised a hand and calmly gestured.

"Dad," he said, his voice unwavering, "come at me with everything you've got."

Minato heard the calm in his son's voice.

He knew—

The final round had begun.

He pushed his concentration past the limit—120%.

And at the same time—

He released the shadow clone he had hidden earlier: the one that had been absorbing natural energy from afar.

Yes.

Minato had planned for this.

While launching the saturation assault—

He'd secretly prepared a backup plan.

A shadow clone hidden from sight, silently gathering nature energy.

Now, that clone returned its chakra to Minato.

Sage Mode—Activated!

That's right—

Namikaze Minato had also mastered Sage Mode.

He was Jiraiya's student, after all.

He had contracted the toads of Mount Myōboku.

So of course, he had access to the power of the Sages.

However—

Minato's Sage Mode had its limits.

He couldn't maintain it for long.

And it required setup and precise timing.

That's why—

It was his trump card.

Now, infused with Senjutsu chakra—

Minato unleashed his full power against Naruto.

And Naruto, his mind's eye perception stretching across the battlefield,

Had already sensed the Sage Clone from the beginning.

That's why—

He told Minato to come at him with full strength.

And now—

The real fight begins.

Ultra Instinct Naruto Uzumaki vs. Sage Minato Namikaze!

Immediately after entering Sage Mode, Minato launched a fierce assault on Naruto.

Empowered by natural energy, every move of his radiated the overwhelming force of senjutsu. His strikes, drawn from the Frog Kumite style he learned at Mount Myōboku, were swift, fluid, and deadly.

Each blow carried enough residual force to tear up the ground and shatter the terrain.

However—

Naruto, in Ultra Instinct, was on another level entirely.

Every motion he made was just a breath faster than Minato's fastest attacks.

The silver aura that surrounded him shimmered with sublime calm, as though the world itself slowed down around him.

Ultra Instinct Naruto utterly outclassed Sage Minato.

At this moment, Minato found himself completely on the defensive.

Naruto hadn't even started attacking yet—

And already, Minato couldn't land a single hit.

He never expected this.

The silver-haired version of his son… was too much.

Minato had once believed he could still go toe-to-toe with Naruto if he gave it his all.

But now—

He had no choice but to admit it.

He couldn't win.

Watching from the sidelines, Kushina stood frozen in astonishment.

Her own son, Naruto—

Was beating his father, the Fourth Hokage—

Like a drum.

She knew Minato better than anyone. As his wife, she understood just how strong he really was.

In the entire shinobi world, there were only a handful who could match Minato's speed and technique.

And yet—

Their son had surpassed even him.

Kushina's mouth hung slightly open in disbelief.

But thankfully, after another exchange—

Minato raised his hand, smiling awkwardly.

He had no choice but to call it off.

If this spar went on any longer, he wouldn't just lose face as a Hokage—

He'd lose it as a father, too.

"Alright, alright, that's enough," Minato said, breathless.

"Let's call it a day, Naruto."

His voice was light, but the resignation was clear.

Seeing this, Naruto respectfully pulled back and let his Ultra Instinct state fade.

The silver aura dissipated.

He looked at Minato with a bright smile.

"So, Dad," Naruto grinned, "pretty cool, right?"

Hearing that, Minato froze.

Then his eye twitched.

This brat… he's still rubbing it in?

Minato groaned and waved his hand, trying not to smile.

"Yeah, yeah, you got me. Don't push it."

He turned away, muttering under his breath.

Beaten by my own kid… can't even fight back…

And he still has the nerve to gloat!

Naruto laughed loudly, catching the look on Minato's face.

From the side, Kushina finally called out.

"Alright, that's enough, both of you!" she said, hands on her hips.

"Dinner time!"

Even though her son's strength had shocked her—

As a mother, her only concern was that her son ate properly.

Soon after—

The family sat together on the grassy field.

A checkered cloth was laid out.

Food containers opened. Steam rose.

They sat under the open sky, enjoying a simple family meal.

Kushina's cooking might not be up to Naruto's modern culinary genius, but it was packed with warmth and love.

Both Minato and Naruto dug in heartily.

As they ate—

Minato glanced at Naruto, curiosity in his eyes.

He finally asked the question that had been bothering him…

What Was That Silver State?

Minato looked at Naruto with curiosity and awe.

"…What was that silver state just now?" he finally asked.

Naruto didn't hide anything. With a casual smile, he replied to both his parents:

"That's called Ultra Instinct."

"It's a state where the body moves completely independent of the brain."

"In other words," he continued, "you react without needing to think. Your body does everything on its own."

"You can bring out the full potential of your physical capabilities."

He explained it simply—but even that was enough.

Minato and Kushina weren't novices.

They immediately understood how terrifying such a state truly was.

After all, even the most elite shinobi still need to process intention through the brain.

To dodge, for instance—

The mind first makes the decision.

Then, that command is sent to the body.

Only after receiving the signal does the body react.

That moment—however small—was the key difference.

In every battle, every millisecond mattered.

If one could remove that process altogether…

They'd be faster than anyone.

Minato's eyes widened slightly as it all clicked.

That's why he lost.

Now it made perfect sense.

He had always believed his speed was unmatched—perhaps not the fastest in the world, but certainly near the top.

Yet—

In that fight…

Naruto had made him feel slow.

That silver form had crushed him so decisively, it made him question everything.

But now, understanding what Ultra Instinct really was—

Minato could accept it.

With that level of instantaneous reaction, Naruto really was faster than anyone.

Seeing the look of admiration on his father's face, Naruto smiled and continued:

"I can show you how it works, if you're curious."

He had no reason to keep secrets from his family.

So, without hesitation, he shared the basics of how he trained Ultra Instinct.

But even as he explained it—

He knew the truth.

His father might not be able to use it.

Ultra Instinct required more than just physical skill.

It demanded extreme discipline of both mind and body.

A tranquil heart. A flexible, almost godlike physique.

Even in the world of Dragon Ball, only Goku and the angels had truly mastered it.

Even Beerus, the God of Destruction, had only partially grasped it.

Without a near-supernatural level of talent and comprehension—

It was impossible.

Minato, hearing the prerequisites, suddenly felt like a towering mountain had appeared in front of him.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly and sighed.

"Well… I guess I could give it a shot when I get the chance."

But deep down, he wasn't hopeful.

After the discussion on Ultra Instinct, the family returned to enjoying Kushina's home-cooked meal.

Naruto, however, finished his food quickly.

Without resting, he stood and quietly walked a short distance away.

And began training again.

Left behind on the grassy field were Minato and Kushina, sitting together.

They silently watched Naruto from afar—

Their son, standing tall beneath the sun, sparring against invisible enemies, sweat glistening as he moved.

There was a softness in their eyes.

Relief. Pride. Peace.

Because now—

Even without them, Naruto had grown strong enough to live on his own.

Minato and Kushina stood silently, pride welling in their hearts.

Naruto had grown.

No—he had surpassed them.

Seven Days Later

In just seven days, the results were astonishing.

Naruto had fully mastered Ultra Instinct.

Kakashi had successfully fused his Lightning Blade with the White Fang Sword Style, rekindling the legacy of Sakumo Hatake.

On the final day, with Naruto's guidance, Sasuke managed to extend the duration of his Sage Mode from two to three minutes—just enough to sustain a high-intensity battle.

While training, Naruto also had Kurama dispatch two shadow clones beyond Konoha.

Their mission?

To locate the remaining two members of the Legendary Sannin:

—Princess Tsunade, the unparalleled medical-nin.

—Jiraiya, the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku.

With the winds of change sweeping across the Shinobi World, Naruto understood that the Sannin could not remain absent. They were Konoha's pillars—and they were needed once more.

...

Finally, the day arrived.

The Chūnin Selection Exams had officially begun.

"Here—take your registration forms," Kakashi said with a casual smile, handing three sheets of paper to his students.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura accepted their forms.

"Today marks the beginning of the exam," Kakashi reminded them, "so give it everything you've got."

Sakura, bolstered by her training, responded with confidence, "Don't worry, Sensei. We're ready."

Sasuke stood silent, his expression calm—but his eyes held a sharp edge of anticipation.

Naruto grinned at Kakashi, his tone relaxed:

"Just sit back and watch, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi took a long look at the trio—Team 7.

He gave a slow nod.

"Very good. Then let's go."

Team 7 walked together toward the Konoha Ninja Academy, where the first stage of the exam would be held.

From afar, they could already see the crowd.

At the academy gates, Genin teams from Sunagakure and other nearby villages had gathered, their gazes sharp, a quiet tension in the air.

Each one here had come to stake their claim.

They were rivals.

But for Team 7?

This was just the beginning.

Unfazed, they passed through the gathered Genin and entered the school with quiet confidence.

Following the directions posted inside, they made their way toward the third floor.

But as they approached—

A commotion.

A loud bang echoed through the corridor.

Team 7 arrived to find a crowd blocking the hallway. In the middle of it was a boy in a green jumpsuit, covered in dust and bruises, lying on the floor.

His hair was bowl-cut, and his eyebrows thick—instantly recognizable.

Rock Lee.

Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly.

One of the future "Konoha 12", Lee was the disciple of none other than…

Might Guy, the passionate Blue Beast of Konoha—

The man who once opened the Eight Gates and nearly kicked Madara Uchiha out of existence.

Beside him was Tenten, Lee's teammate, looking frustrated but ready to act.

Before them stood two older Konoha Genin, arms crossed, blocking the stairway to the third floor.

"Tch. You really think you're ready for the exam, looking like that?" one sneered.

"Better go home, kid," the other added, his tone mocking.

They weren't just taunting Lee and Tenten—

They were speaking to everyone gathered.

This was a subtle test—a psychological filter.

Their goal wasn't just to block the path.

It was to sow doubt.

To eliminate the weak-hearted before the exam even began.

And it worked—some of the Genin began to waver, whispering nervously.

But Naruto?

He immediately saw through it.

An illusion. A test. A ruse.

Just like in the original story, the academy had staged this scene to weed out those without resolve or observation skills.

He glanced at Lee and Tenten.

Their attempt to "play weak" in front of the crowd?

It was well-intentioned, but kind of unnecessary.

Naruto couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

Clever, but pointless.

Just like in the original timeline, Sasuke could easily see through the illusion set up at the exam site.

But now—after Naruto's "special training"—Sasuke's insight had reached a level even higher than his counterpart from the original story.

The illusion before him was child's play.

Sakura, too, had grown. The genjutsu placed by the gatekeepers didn't escape her notice either.

She saw through it instantly.

"Boring," Sasuke muttered as he eyed the two Konoha chūnin standing in front of the crowd—Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane.

"Drop the genjutsu and move aside. We need to get to the third floor."

At his words, some of the Genin in the crowd finally caught on.

Only now did they realize…

They had been tricked.

Izumo chuckled as he looked at Sasuke. "So you figured it out, huh?"

With a wave of his hand, the illusion was dispelled. The "third floor" sign shimmered and vanished—revealing the truth:

They had never left the second floor.

But Kotetsu wasn't quite done.

Though the illusion was broken, he sneered, "So what if you saw through the genjutsu?"

Without warning, Kotetsu lunged at Sasuke, aiming to knock him out of the exam then and there.

But before Sasuke even lifted a finger—

A green blur flashed by.

Rock Lee, who had been quietly observing from nearby, intercepted Kotetsu's attack with a precise block.

Having noticed Sakura earlier, Lee had dropped his act.

He no longer bothered hiding his strength.

Sasuke, calm as ever, didn't even react. He hadn't needed the help—Kotetsu's attack wouldn't have landed anyway.

But now, thanks to Lee's sudden move, the Genin around them realized something crucial:

Rock Lee had been holding back.

...

From the crowd, Hyuga Neji, Lee's teammate, frowned.

"I thought we agreed to keep a low profile," he said quietly.

Lee flushed with embarrassment.

The moment was enough for Tenten and even Hinata to pick up on what had happened.

Lee wasn't trying to show off—

He was trying to impress Sakura.

Just like in the original series, he boldly confessed his feelings to her right then and there.

Of course…

Sakura rejected him immediately.

Harshly.

The illusion-test gatekeepers, now thoroughly ignored, awkwardly cleared the way and walked off.

The foreign Genin teams stared on, exasperated.

"Seriously?" someone muttered.

"We're about to take the Chūnin Exams, and this guy with the watermelon haircut is trying to flirt?"

"Thankfully the girl turned him down."

Still…

Even if Rock Lee didn't win Sakura's heart, his attention shifted.

His eyes locked onto the two boys beside her—Sasuke, and especially—

Uzumaki Naruto.

Lee, like others, had done his homework.

He knew the names in this year's crop of Genin.

And he knew that Naruto Uzumaki's accomplishments already surpassed even Sasuke Uchiha, the reputed genius of the Uchiha clan.

Fueled by a burning desire to prove himself, Rock Lee challenged Naruto directly:

"To show who is the strongest Genin in Konoha!"

Naruto stared at him flatly.

He wasn't interested in theatrics.

"We're not here to mess around," he said calmly.

Then glanced at his teammate.

"Sasuke, you deal with him. But make it quick—we've still got an exam to take."

...

TN:

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