Naruto: This Genius is Somewhat Ordinary-Chapter 349

"Don’t cry," Uzumaki Mito said gently. "Don’t you still have work to finish?"

"...Mm."

Tsunade nodded, her voice thick as she continued treating the injured. While her hands moved with practiced precision, she spoke to her grandmother about her life now.

She didn’t mention the years she had spent drifting away from Konoha. She didn’t talk about running or hiding.

She only spoke of becoming the Fifth Hokage.

And of finding an exceptionally capable successor.

Finally, she mentioned herself and Jiraiya.

Only the good news. Never the pain.

"The successor... the Sixth Hokage?" Mito said softly. "Yes. He truly is a strong and worthy Hokage."

She had only met Fujimoto Tōma once, yet the judgment came without hesitation.

A man who had defeated all five of them alone... Mito had seen that kind of presence before. It reminded her of Hashirama.

Her Mind’s Eye of the Kagura had sensed something strange about him. Not wrong. Just... unreadable. As if he hadn’t even used everything he had.

When she heard Jiraiya’s name, Mito smiled knowingly.

"That boy liked you from the time he was young. He was just too scared to say it."

She shot Tsunade a sideways look.

After all, Tsunade’s monstrous strength had always been intimidating.

Still, that was only half the problem. If Jiraiya had possessed strength like Hashirama’s, would he really have been afraid?

Mito watched Tsunade move briskly among the wounded. Medical ninja from every village deferred to her instinctively.

"My little Tsunade really has grown into someone remarkable."

Mito felt at ease now. She had already accepted everything long ago. What bound her until now wasn’t regret, but awareness.

White light began to rise from her body.

Tsunade’s hands paused for just a moment. Moisture gathered at the corner of her eye.

Then she spoke firmly.

"Next patient."

Naruto and Sasuke had originally been assigned as mobile support.

They were meant to rotate between battlefields.

That plan lasted exactly one day.

Wherever they appeared, the balance collapsed immediately. Enemy lines broke faster than they could arrive. Their actual fighting time was shorter than their travel time.

But by nightfall, everything changed.

In the Limited Tsukuyomi world, the masked man hadn’t achieved his original objective. But he had discovered something far more troubling.

Naruto’s strength... he expected.

Sasuke’s, however—

That towering purple Susanoo, deployed without hesitation, reminded him of an old figure. Equally overwhelming. Equally absolute.

But no.

That man would never fight like this. He wouldn’t care about the lives of the weak, village or not.

At first, the masked man planned to wait until the next day.

Then he realized something dangerous.

Naruto and Sasuke had no intention of resting.

If left alone, the alliance might win before morning.

Unbeknownst to him, the reason was simple: Fujimoto Tōma had told them to perform well before the war began.

They took that seriously.

Otherwise, Sasuke wouldn’t need Susanoo. Naruto wouldn’t need to maintain that massive golden form.

Left with no choice, the masked man moved early.

He replaced one eye.

A single Rinnegan.

With Hashirama cells, one eye was enough to use most of its techniques. Two would drain him dry. Even Nagato, an Uzumaki, could barely sustain both.

The Rinnegan’s unique abilities weren’t his anyway. Only its original owner could use them fully.

Besides, his Mangekyō ability was no weaker.

Left eye: Mangekyō Sharingan.

Right eye: Rinnegan.

Afterward, he donned a different mask. Solid white. Built for combat. It encased his entire head.

He hesitated, then hid the second Rinnegan.

He never noticed Black Zetsu watching silently from the shadows, completely undetectable.

Weapon in hand, the Uchiha war fan, the masked man stepped onto the battlefield.

His first target was Naruto.

Naruto felt two things the moment he saw him.

Anger.

And excitement.

This man was the reason the war had begun. No matter how hard Naruto tried, people still died.

But if he could end it here...

The masked man wasted no time.

Hand seals. Palm to the ground.

"Summoning Technique — Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!"

The colossal form emerged.

But Naruto wasn’t staring at the statue.

He was staring at the figures standing atop it.

Nine of them.

His gaze locked onto the last.

Red hair. A woman he had seen before, with Tōma’s help.

"...Mom," Naruto whispered.

Uzumaki Kushina.

Alongside her stood the former jinchūriki of the Eight Tails, Seven Tails, Six Tails, Five Tails, Four Tails, Three Tails, Two Tails, and One Tail.

All reanimated. All empty-eyed.

Naruto didn’t know them personally, but he understood immediately.

The masked man had erased their minds.

This wasn’t just cruelty. It was caution.

Even Naruto couldn’t stop the killing intent that surged within him when he saw Kushina’s vacant eyes.

"Naruto," Kurama said heavily. "Stay calm."

"I know," Naruto replied, forcing himself to look away.

His eyes turned cold as he faced the masked man.

The masked man sat casually atop the statue and waved his hand.

All nine jinchūriki charged.

Naruto entered Sage of Six Paths mode instantly and met them head-on.

Kurama felt it too. Kushina’s chakra was vast. Empty, but powerful.

How had he gathered it?

The battle became overwhelming.

Even Naruto couldn’t withstand nine jinchūriki attacking nonstop. Tailed Beast Bombs, unique abilities, relentless pressure.

He was forced back. Again and again.

Kurama’s chakra wasn’t infinite. It was simply enormous.

And even that had limits.

Naruto fell back into his normal form.

The masked man smiled and descended, reaching for him.

Then—

A kunai.

His heart jolted.

Before he could react, space shifted.

Sasuke appeared.

Mangekyō Sharingan blazing.

"Chidori!"

It passed straight through.

No resistance. Nothing.

The masked man vanished and reappeared atop the statue.

"So that was the plan," he said coldly. "But it won’t work."

He looked at Naruto.

"Why resist? Give me the Nine-Tails. I’ll leave you alive. When the plan is complete, you’ll see your parents again."

His gaze flicked to Kushina.

Sasuke stiffened.

Naruto didn’t hesitate.

"No," he said firmly. "I’ve already met my parents. And if they were here, they’d never agree with you."

The masked man’s voice dropped.

"Then despair."

The jinchūriki attacked again.

"Sasuke," Naruto said quickly. "Buy me time. Kurama needs to gather chakra."

"...Fine," Sasuke said with a strained smile. "But don’t take long."

Naruto grinned and trusted him completely.

Sasuke inhaled.

A massive purple Susanoo erupted around him.

Black lines crept across its surface.

Like a thunder god donning dark armor.