Naruto: Limitless Sage

Naruto's words still echoed in their minds.

Jiraiya and Tsunade stood in stunned silence, unsure how to respond.

When Naruto was just a boy, he had already forged a bond with the Kyūbi sealed within him. Not only had he befriended the beast, but he had gained the ability to draw upon its immense power—cooperatively.

Did this mean...

Naruto had completely mastered the power of the strongest Tailed Beast?

He had become... a perfect Jinchūriki!

As this realization sank in, their thoughts turned to the ultimatum Naruto had just given them.

And now... it seemed clear.

The balance of power had tipped—entirely in Naruto's favor.

Just moments ago, neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya had truly believed Naruto could succeed in deposing the Third Hokage.

But now, knowing he commanded over a thousand Jōnin and a thousand Chūnin—on top of having the Kyūbi's aid...

And with Kakashi by his side...

It no longer seemed like a reckless fantasy.

It felt possible.

No—likely.

Naruto might really succeed in taking the Hokage's seat.

Of course, Tsunade and Jiraiya knew the true core of this equation was the two-thousand-strong shinobi force behind Naruto.

They hadn't returned to the village in years.

But they still had a sense of Konoha's strength.

All of Konoha likely had no more than seven or eight hundred Jōnin... and maybe a thousand Chūnin.

And yet Naruto...

Had built a force to rival it.

On top of that, Naruto himself now wielded Kage-level power.

It was no exaggeration to say—

Naruto was now sitting at the same table as the Third Hokage.

Turning to the silent Sannin, Naruto began walking back toward the training field.

With his back to them, he spoke.

"I'll give you some time to think."

"Until the end of today."

"Make your choice."

"But remember—whether or not you support me, I will overthrow the Third Hokage."

"So choose wisely."

Jiraiya and Tsunade watched his back in silence.

Watched him return to training,

as if nothing more needed to be said.

But they could see it in him—Naruto's unwavering resolve. A will no one could shake.

They had no doubt.

Whether or not they stood beside him, Naruto would act.

Kakashi stood quietly at the side, watching Naruto resume his training.

Then he turned to Jiraiya and Tsunade and said,

"Jiraiya-senpai. Tsunade-senpai. I urge you to think carefully."

"Let me offer this reminder."

"Naruto's confidence... it doesn't come from commanding a thousand Jōnin and a thousand Chūnin."

"It's not because he has my support."

"It's something simpler—and much more terrifying."

"Naruto possesses a power that even you and I cannot fully comprehend. Not even the First Hokage—the so-called God of Shinobi—could reach it."

"He will overthrow the Third Hokage."

"He will become the next Hokage of Konoha."

"And when that happens, a new chapter will begin. For Konoha... and for the entire shinobi world."

"The chance to be a part of that future... is in front of you now."

"It may be your only one."

Kakashi's voice was calm, composed.

There was no hesitation in his expression.

Just as he had said—Naruto's greatest weapon wasn't the army behind him.

It was Naruto himself.

It was Naruto's own unimaginable, terrifying power.

Right now, Jiraiya and Tsunade were still reeling from the choice Naruto had placed before them.

And then, Kakashi's solemn voice broke the silence—a warning that carried even more weight.

Especially his claim that Naruto's true strength went far beyond what they had just witnessed.

That thought...

Jiraiya and Tsunade couldn't even begin to imagine what that meant.

It wasn't confidence born from commanding a thousand Jōnin and a thousand Chūnin.

No—Naruto's true strength lay in himself.

So terrifying, in fact, that even Kakashi—calm, composed Kakashi—was shaken by it.

Faced with Kakashi's words, Jiraiya and Tsunade remained silent.

Naruto had given them until the end of the day to decide.

And they intended to use that time to truly reflect on their choice.

After all...

They were being forced to choose between their old sensei—the Third Hokage—and Naruto, their student's child.

For both of them, it was a choice that couldn't be made lightly.

But just then—

Kakashi spoke again.

And what he said next completely stunned them.

"Oh, right," Kakashi added casually, as if it were just another detail.

"I figured the two of you might want to meet my sensei, Minato... and his wife, Kushina."

Jiraiya and Tsunade froze.

Wait—what did he just say?

Minato?

Kushina?

Did Kakashi mean...

They were alive!?

No—that was impossible!

The deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife had been widely known. Their sacrifice had been mourned across the entire ninja world. There was no way Konoha could have hidden them all this time.

And if they had survived back then—

Then why would Naruto have suffered as he did?

Why would he have been treated the way the Third Hokage allowed?

Kakashi saw the disbelief in their eyes.

He knew exactly what they were thinking.

So he explained—how Minato and Kushina had been "brought back."

It wasn't a true resurrection, of course.

Rather, it was the reappearance of chakra remnants—fragments of their souls, preserved by special seals.

And with Naruto's help—and the immense chakra of the Kyūbi sealed within him—they had taken form once more.

As fate would have it, at that exact moment...

Minato and Kushina appeared, walking toward them.

Carrying lunchboxes in their hands—meals they had lovingly prepared for Naruto.

Their figures came into view—

And in that moment, Jiraiya and Tsunade felt their breath catch.

It was as if time had turned back.

The sight of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki was just as they remembered.

Nothing had changed.

"M-Minato!?" Jiraiya's voice cracked in disbelief, his eyes wide.

Tsunade stared at Kushina, frozen in place.

She could hardly believe it either.

The dead—standing before them.

"K-Kushina...!"

Minato and Kushina looked at them and smiled warmly.

"Long time no see, Jiraiya-sensei," Minato greeted.

"It's been a while, Tsunade-senpai," Kushina added, her voice gentle.

And with that...

Jiraiya and Tsunade had to believe.

They were here—not alive, perhaps, but not gone either.

They weren't resurrected in the truest sense.

It was more like chakra echoes—will made flesh.

Through Naruto's power, and the Kyūbi's chakra, Minato and Kushina had returned to the world in a unique, miraculous way.

Even knowing it wasn't permanent...

Even understanding it wasn't truly life...

To see them again, to speak to them...

It filled Jiraiya and Tsunade with warmth, and stirred something deep in their hearts.

A flood of memories came rushing in.

The old days.

The bonds they shared.

The pain of loss, and now, the joy of reunion.

The four of them began to talk.

To reminisce.

To remember.

And during that heartfelt reunion, Minato and Kushina made one thing perfectly clear:

They both fully supported Naruto's plan to remove the Third Hokage.

And they believed, without hesitation—

He was the one who would lead Konoha into a new future.

Especially now that Tsunade and Jiraiya understood the depth of harm the Third Hokage had inflicted on Minato's family.

It wasn't just a political mistake.

It was a personal betrayal.

And that kind of wound...

Couldn't be forgiven lightly.

More importantly, they had no right to forgive it—not as bystanders.

Tsunade's gaze lingered on Naruto, still training in the distance—his parents by his side, unwavering in their support.

In that moment, a decision crystalized in her heart.

"Count me in!" she declared, eyes flashing.

"I've had enough of those rotten old men sitting on their power."

"It's about time someone like Naruto rebuilt Konoha from the ground up!"

Tsunade was fired up—her voice laced with conviction.

Jiraiya looked at her.

Then he looked at Minato and Kushina, both standing calmly, proudly behind their son.

All of Jiraiya's earlier hesitation…

Evaporated in an instant.

"Yosh!" Jiraiya exclaimed, grinning.

"Let's do it!!"

Jiraiya was never one to cling stubbornly to tradition. If Naruto was the Hokage of the future—

Then maybe, just maybe...

Konoha truly had a brighter tomorrow ahead.

Seeing both Tsunade and Jiraiya throw their support behind Naruto, Minato, Kushina, and Kakashi all exchanged relieved glances.

Even though…

They had already resolved to act, with or without the Sannin's help.

None of them wanted things to escalate into conflict between comrades.

Thankfully, that moment had been avoided.

Meanwhile, on the training grounds, Naruto sensed the shift.

He could feel it.

Tsunade and Jiraiya had chosen their side—his side.

He smiled quietly.

Now, the advantage was truly his.

He had a thousand Jōnin and a thousand Chūnin under his command—an elite force.

Many of them were not just skilled ninja, but also held positions within powerful clans across the village.

In other words—

Naruto now held partial support from the clans of Konoha.

And beyond that…

He controlled the village's economic lifeline.

Merchants, landowners, business magnates—they were all under his influence.

And beside him stood Kakashi.

Now, also Jiraiya and Tsunade—two of the most respected figures in Konoha's history.

But the Third Hokage was no mere relic.

He still commanded the ANBU directly.

He had the backing of the Sarutobi clan, along with unwavering loyalty from many veteran Konoha shinobi.

He was also supported by his long-time council allies: Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and the remnants of Danzo Shimura's faction.

And then, there was his towering reputation.

The Third Hokage—The Professor—was still regarded by countless villagers as the true heart of Konoha.

To many, he was the only one fit to bear the Hokage's mantle.

But to Naruto...

That didn't matter.

The approval of Konoha's villagers meant nothing to him.

After all...

These were the same people who had sneered at him, reviled him, and cast him out during his darkest years.

In his vision for the future—

There was no place for them.

No place for their blind loyalty to false peace.

Now...

The moment he had been waiting for was nearly here.

Soon—

He would overthrow the Third Hokage.

He would seize control of Konoha.

And once he had the village firmly in his grasp...

He would use it as his foundation.

To conquer the shinobi world, step by step—

Until he unified it under one banner.

His banner.

The world will be united.

That was Naruto's ambition.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

And with it came the final stage of the Chūnin Exams—the last and most anticipated test of the joint selection tournament.

Over the course of this month, each member of Team 7 had undergone tremendous growth.

Naruto, in particular, had focused on refining a strange new power—one that mimicked the abilities of a Quincy, a force manipulation style entirely different from traditional chakra use.

Sasuke had devoted himself to deepening his Sage Mode, extending the duration he could remain in that empowered state.

Kakashi had spent his time perfecting his Lightning Blade techniques and further integrating the White Fang Sword Style he inherited from his late father.

Meanwhile, Sakura had begun her formal tutelage under Tsunade, learning the basics of medical ninjutsu and the terrifying superhuman strength technique that Tsunade was famous for.

In just a few short weeks, Team 7 had undergone a dramatic transformation.

During that same month, a wave of visitors descended upon Konohagakure.

Daimyō from various countries, envoys, and dignitaries arrived in steady streams, filling the village with activity and anticipation.

Konoha was more vibrant than ever.

The streets buzzed with energy, merchants lined the walkways, and shinobi patrolled the village with pride.

For the average villager, seeing nobles and foreign shinobi visiting their homeland inspired a deep sense of pride—like hosting relatives from afar and showing them how far one had come.

And now, the day had arrived.

The third and final round of the Chūnin Exams.

At the entrance to the colossal coliseum-style venue, crowds of spectators—locals and foreigners alike—queued under the watchful management of Konoha's shinobi forces.

Even many of the local shinobi had taken leave to watch the tournament unfold.

Inside the arena, the atmosphere was electric.

Candidates from across the nations stood ready within the circular battlefield, calm and composed as the stands filled around them.

High above, the most distinguished guests were already taking their seats.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat beside the man believed to be the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure.

Sarutobi turned politely to his guest.

"Thank you for making the long journey."

The man wearing the Kazekage's robes gave a slight nod.

"It's nothing. Better for the exam to be held here in Konoha."

"Though… you're not as young as you used to be, Lord Hokage. Perhaps it's time to consider selecting a successor."

There was something almost mocking in the Kazekage's tone.

Sarutobi noticed, of course.

But decades of leadership had forged in him a temperament that didn't rise to provocation.

He chuckled lightly.

"Hahaha, don't treat me like some frail old relic just yet."

"I've still got at least five more years in me."

Five more years—that was his plan.

By then, his son Sarutobi Asuma would be strong and experienced enough to inherit the title of Hokage.

And Naruto, the boy under everyone's watchful eyes, would have matured—ready to assist Asuma in leading the village.

That was how Sarutobi envisioned Konoha's future.

A future still governed by his clan's influence.

A future shaped by his legacy.

The man posing as the Fourth Kazekage—Orochimaru in disguise—kept his face composed, but inwardly scoffed.

"Sensei…"

"It's your own greed that brought everything to this point."

In truth, Orochimaru himself was now in his fifties.

His former teacher, Hiruzen, was nearing seventy.

For a ninja, those years carried weight—years that dulled speed, strength, and reaction.

Orochimaru suspected his old master's combat power was less than half of what it once was.

And on top of that—his obsession with retaining power had only grown stronger.

In Orochimaru's eyes, Hiruzen was no longer fit to lead Konoha.

That was why he had carefully laid out today's plan—

To raze Konoha to ashes…

And see it reborn.

Back in the arena, the crowd had settled.

Standing at the center of the coliseum was Shiranui Genma, the special jōnin assigned as the proctor for the final exam.

As the sun reached its zenith, Genma raised his eyes toward the observation stand.

The Third Hokage and the disguised Fourth Kazekage were seated.

The daimyō had all taken their positions.

The stage was set.

The exam…

Was about to begin.

As the last of the spectators settled into their seats, a hush of anticipation fell over the stadium.

Shiranui Genma, standing at the center of the arena, glanced around at the filled stands. His eyes swept over the audience—villagers, shinobi, daimyō, and foreign dignitaries alike.

Then he raised his voice clearly for all to hear:

"Esteemed guests—thank you all for gathering here today for the final stage of the Chūnin Selection Exams, jointly held by the Hidden Leaf and Hidden Sand villages."

"Now, the official matches between the qualified candidates… begin!"

As his words echoed through the arena, the atmosphere instantly grew tenser.

Match One: Nara Shikamaru vs. Temari of the Sand.

Just like in the original events, Temari's wind-style jutsu was formidable—sharp, wide-reaching, and tactically aggressive. Her massive fan unleashed powerful gusts that could shred most Genin defenses.

But even so…

She was still no match for Shikamaru's intellect.

Shikamaru calmly analyzed every step of the battlefield, manipulating Temari's movements into a trap. With minimal effort and a brilliant setup, he used his Shadow Imitation Technique to secure victory.

The crowd erupted into cheers. Even those unfamiliar with strategy-based fighting were impressed.

A ninja who could outwit a stronger opponent—

That was the true spirit of a shinobi.

Match Two: Hyūga Hinata vs. Inuzuka Kiba.

Both were members of Team 8 and knew each other's fighting styles intimately. Normally, Kiba, along with his partner Akamaru, had the advantage with his overwhelming physical attacks and near-perfect synergy with his ninken.

But things had changed.

Under Naruto's encouragement and direct support, Hinata had grown far stronger than she had been at this point in the original timeline.

Her mastery of the Hyūga Clan's Gentle Fist had reached a new level—every strike precise, every block fluid.

Even with Kiba's aggressive tactics and Akamaru's support, Hinata managed to overwhelm him with pinpoint chakra strikes and graceful counterattacks.

With a final blow that sealed several of Kiba's chakra points, Hinata secured the win.

The audience watched in awe.

The elegance and lethality of the Hyūga Clan were on full display today.

Match Three: Uzumaki Naruto vs. Gaara of the Sand.

The atmosphere in the stadium instantly shifted.

A sense of unease spread through the air as Naruto and Gaara leapt down from the waiting platform into the arena, landing silently on opposite ends of the field.

This was the match everyone had been waiting for.

Genma stood between them, casting a wary glance toward both contestants.

Naruto's expression was calm, yet firm. Gaara's eyes, cold and bloodthirsty, were locked onto Naruto with lethal intent.

This was no ordinary Genin bout.

High above, Orochimaru, still cloaked in the identity of the Fourth Kazekage, leaned forward slightly in his seat.

He watched Gaara carefully.

'It's almost time…'

This battle was key.

Not only was Gaara an unstable jinchūriki, ready to unleash the One-Tailed Beast, but Naruto—whose growth had surprised even his mentors—was now an unknown variable.

Orochimaru's gaze flicked toward Naruto.

'He's Sasuke's teammate… let's see just how strong this child has become.'

At the same time, Orochimaru subtly sent chakra signals to his men already embedded throughout the venue.

It was nearly time.

The Konoha Crush Plan was set in motion.

And everything…

was about to descend into chaos.

…

TN:

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