Gritting his teeth in frustration, Deidara yanked a lump of clay from his pouch and shoved it into the mouth on his chest—his C0 self-destruction technique, a last resort in the manga. His body began to expand grotesquely as he swallowed it down. Veins bulged, and the skin around his torso stretched like an overinflated balloon. Cracks of chakra ran across his flesh, and the earth trembled beneath him.
"This idiot's really going to blow himself up, huh?" Naruto muttered under his breath, hoisting Gaara's limp body and immediately leaping back at full speed.
The more Deidara's body swelled, the more unstable it became—until, with a final pulse of chakra—
BOOOOM!!
A blinding white explosion ripped across the sky, far greater than his C2 or even C3 attacks. The shockwave incinerated trees, shattered cliffsides, and obliterated everything within a kilometer. It was the exact same technique Deidara had tried to use on Sasuke in the manga—a suicide blast with a radius of ten kilometers.
But Naruto was already gone.
Thanks to Sage Mode's enhanced sensory perception, Naruto had sensed Deidara's intent the moment he began preparing the explosion. He had escaped with Gaara in time, leaping to a safer zone miles away.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and sighed. "So he used his C0 technique and self-destructed… but in Sage Mode, I can still feel him."
Naruto sniffed the air, locking onto the subtle fluctuations in Deidara's chakra. "Huh. That bastard used a clay clone again."
He set Gaara's body down gently on a patch of clean earth and crossed his arms. "Didn't Deidara act all suicidal when he fought Sasuke? He blew himself up for revenge. What happened to that resolve?"
A frown tugged at Naruto's lips. "Now he's running away from a fight? That's weak, man."
What Naruto didn't know was that Deidara's hatred wasn't for Jinchūriki. It was for the Uchiha, for the eyes that humiliated him—Itachi's Sharingan. Even the idea of those eyes had haunted Deidara, mocking his so-called 'art' with illusion and logic.
But Naruto? His chakra reserves were monstrous. Endless. The boy fought like a demon possessed—hundreds of Shadow Clones, massive Rasengan, unrelenting pressure. For Deidara, it wasn't about pride anymore. It was survival.
Ten kilometers away, Deidara collapsed under a tree, gasping. "Damn it… That Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is on another level."
He clenched a fist, whispering to himself, "My life is meant to defeat Uchiha Itachi. Not die here to a chakra beast in human form."
When Naruto returned to the battlefield, Gaara still cradled in his arms, he found the fight already over. Rubble littered the ground, scorch marks and broken puppets scattered everywhere.
But what truly caught his eye was Kakashi-sensei, collapsed and unconscious.
"Sakura! What happened?!" Naruto called out in confusion.
He glanced at Chiyo and Sakura, then at Kakashi's limp body. "The three of you should've had no problem handling Sasori. Why is Kakashi-sensei down?"
Sakura looked away, guilt shadowing her face. "Naruto… Kakashi-sensei came to assist us near the end. He used his Mangekyō Sharingan twice."
Naruto's brows twitched. "Mangekyō…? So that's why he's completely out."
He remembered the toll that technique took. Kakashi must've used Kamui to send away Deidara's arm or bombs—as he had in the manga—to protect the team.
Naruto sighed. "He must've overestimated himself, trying to rely on that new power."
He gently placed Gaara's body down. His eyes lingered on the lifeless form for a moment, before kneeling beside him and placing both hands over Gaara's chest.
"Sakura," Naruto said firmly, "help me. Channel chakra."
"Ah! O-Okay!" she stammered, quickly joining him. Her hands overlapped his as they both poured chakra into Gaara.
She glanced sideways at Naruto. The Gaara she was touching had no pulse. No breath. And yet Naruto refused to give up.
Over the past two years, she realized, Naruto had changed. This wasn't just some loud kid anymore. He was calm, focused—resolute.
"Gaara!" Naruto shouted. "I won't let it end like this! You just became Kazekage, dammit! Your people believe in you! I believe in you!"
"You've worked so hard to be acknowledged! You can't die here… not now!"
His voice cracked. Tears slipped down his cheeks and landed on Gaara's pale face.
Both Sakura and Chiyo were shaken.
Sakura gritted her teeth. "Naruto… it's no use. Sometimes… some things can't be changed."
"If you collapse too, what will we do…?"
Chiyo, who had stood silently watching, finally stepped forward. She looked at Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki who had fought like hell for a friend from another village.
A boy who had risked everything to bring one life back.
"Konoha boy," she said quietly, "let an old woman try something."
She knelt beside Gaara, placing her withered hands over his heart.
"I know a forbidden technique… a reanimation jutsu passed down in Sunagakure. It exchanges the user's life force for the life of another."
Naruto's eyes widened. "You… You'd do that?"
"Thank you, Granny Chiyo."
At that moment, Team Guy—Neji, Lee, and Tenten—arrived on the scene. They gathered around silently, their expressions heavy with fatigue and anticipation.
Chiyo began the reincarnation technique, her chakra draining rapidly. She winced with effort. Sweat ran down her brow. Her hands trembled.
But the jutsu's effect was slow—her old body could barely keep up with the chakra output needed.
Naruto instantly pressed his hands over hers. "Let me help."
The moment their chakras linked, Chiyo felt a torrent of chakra flood through her. Naruto's reserves weren't just vast—they were limitless.
It was like trying to channel a storm.
"You're… incredible," Chiyo whispered.
Neji watched, amazed. "Naruto… he really does have the power to change people."
"A miracle will happen," he added quietly.
"I believe it will too," said Lee, giving a thumbs up.
"Don't distract them," Tenten snapped, eyes focused.
As Naruto continued pouring chakra into Chiyo, the technique began to manifest. Glowing energy passed from Chiyo's palms into Gaara's body. A warm golden light spread over his skin.
Gaara's fingers twitched.
Everyone held their breath.
A miracle was unfolding before their eyes.