Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 346 The Battle Begins

In that instant, the barrier talisman seemed to lose all its power and silently drifted down. At the same time, the once indestructible outermost barrier vanished without warning, like a thin sheet of paper. At this moment, Sakura Haruno was already poised to strike, her fists clenched tightly, her eyes flashing with determination and resolve.

She moved with lightning speed, rushing towards the boulder. With a roar, she unleashed a punch with all her might. This punch contained boundless power, like a shooting star streaking across the sky, slamming into the boulder with unparalleled force.

In an instant, the entire world seemed to tremble. Unable to withstand such terrifying force, the boulder exploded into countless fragments with a deafening roar. These fragments flew everywhere like raindrops, some even soaring high into the air before crashing back to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

The scene before them was astonishing; Sakura Haruno's strength was truly terrifying! She stood there, slightly panting, but the light in her eyes burned even brighter. Clearly, this successful attack filled her with confidence. The few people who witnessed it all wore expressions of astonishment, secretly marveling: this seemingly delicate woman possessed such terrifying destructive power!

However, after only a brief moment of reflection, Naruto and his companions transformed into dazzling streaks of light, hurtling towards the deep and mysterious cave at astonishing speed. These streaks of light seemed to possess inexhaustible energy and power; they pierced the sky with unparalleled momentum, like a group of brave and fearless warriors charging into battle. Each streak of light shimmered with dazzling brilliance, like the brightest stars in the night sky, a breathtaking spectacle.

In that brief moment, time seemed to freeze, and everything around became eerily quiet. Only the whistling sound of the streaks of light darting through the air and the sharp screeching as they rubbed against the air broke the silence. These sounds intertwined, forming a stirring symphony, as if proclaiming to the world the unwavering determination and indomitable will of these brave individuals.

As the streaks of light drew ever closer to the cave entrance, a powerful aura swept over them. This aura was filled with the unknown and danger, but Naruto and the others showed no sign of retreat. On the contrary, their eyes revealed a resolute and unwavering determination, as if they had long been prepared to face any challenge. Finally, when the first streak of light rushed into the cave, the rest followed closely behind, disappearing together into the darkness. The entire scene was dreamlike and breathtaking, leaving everyone in awe.

The expected fierce and overwhelming attack did not arrive as anticipated; instead, an eerie silence fell over the surroundings. However, Naruto and his companions dared not let their guard down. They knew that their enemies were members of the infamous and extremely dangerous Akatsuki organization, and that the slightest carelessness could lead to their annihilation. Therefore, they had to remain highly vigilant at all times and could not afford to be complacent in the slightest.

A tense and oppressive atmosphere filled the air, like the calm before a storm. Naruto's eyes were fixed on what lay ahead. He could sense the powerful aura emanating from his opponent, but he also knew that this was only the beginning. Facing such a formidable foe, any carelessness could lead to disastrous consequences.

Sasuke stood to the side, gripping a kunai tightly, radiating a chilling killing intent. He, like Naruto, knew the difficulty of this battle, but his fighting spirit burned ever brighter. Sakura, meanwhile, intently observed her surroundings, ready to respond to any unexpected situation. Kakashi, meanwhile, silently gathered his chakra, gathering his strength.

Time ticked by, and everyone's nerves tightened. Although things appeared calm on the surface, everyone knew that the real test might be just around the corner…

However, just as Naruto Uzumaki widened his eyes and focused intently on understanding the internal situation, an indescribable shock surged through his mind like a tidal wave, as if an invisible force had instantly drained all his reason and vigilance. In this breathtaking moment, Naruto forgot the overwhelming strength of the enemy before him, abandoned the high level of vigilance he should have maintained, and even disregarded the crucial element of composure.

At this moment, Gaara lay motionless on the cold ground, like a lifeless doll. And atop his battered body sat a figure. This person possessed dazzlingly long, golden hair, flowing freely in the wind, radiating a mysterious and radiant light. Even more striking was the black robe with red clouds—the iconic symbol of the Akatsuki organization, representing terror and evil. Its unique pattern resembled burning flames, sending chills down one's spine. This robe seemed to contain boundless dark power, filling the surrounding air with a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

Naruto's eyes instantly became bloodshot, a terrifying crimson, and his face was twisted and distorted with extreme rage, making him look exceptionally ferocious and horrifying. He screamed at the top of his lungs, "Gaara! Gaara! What's wrong with you?" But when he saw that Gaara was unresponsive, an uncontrollable rage erupted like a volcano, and he roared furiously, "You despicable bastard, get off Gaara's body right now!" His roar was deafening, echoing through the heavens, seemingly trying to shatter all obstacles in the world.

His dazzling golden hair fluttered in the wind, yet this member of the Akatsuki seemed completely oblivious to Naruto's furious roar. Not only that, a sly, smug smile played on his lips as he turned his gaze to a mysterious figure standing in the shadows nearby. He exclaimed with delight, "Scorpion-senpai, look! It's exactly as Itachi Uchiha described! Haha, it's heaven's help! Now, not only can I successfully capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but I can also use this opportunity to showcase my unparalleled, flawless masterpiece! Let them all witness my unparalleled brilliance!" As he spoke, his eyes gleamed with confidence and pride, as if he could already foresee his glorious victory.

"Deidara, can what you call perfect art truly be called perfect art? True perfect art should be eternal and enduring!" With these words, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows. His face was extremely ugly, as if eroded by time and darkness, twisted to the point of being unbearable to look at; his appearance and physique were also completely different from ordinary people, not resembling what one should look like. His whole being was shrouded in a wide robe, completely concealing his body like a mystery.

"Sasori-senpai, you are utterly mistaken! Only that fleeting, dazzling light can be considered the ultimate, flawless art! And this so-called art is nothing but a cataclysmic explosion!" Deidara's face flushed crimson, his eyes wide with rage as he shouted angrily at Sasori, who was completely shrouded in a black robe. His voice was filled with undisguised dissatisfaction and indignation, as if he had been greatly misunderstood and wronged. It seemed that Deidara was incredibly disappointed and angry at what Sasori-senpai had just said, to the point that his emotions were so agitated and uncontrollable.

Just then, a heated debate suddenly erupted! The two seemed to be engrossed in their own world, completely oblivious to the presence of those around them. They stared intently at each other, their eyes gleaming with determination and confidence, as they rattled off various viewpoints and arguments, trying to prove that what they were pursuing was the true meaning of art.

Those who had just entered the cave were ignored by the two men, standing silently to the side like a group of unsuspecting bystanders. They had expected a strong attack or at least some attention, but instead found themselves completely overlooked. This sudden sense of neglect ignited a nameless anger within each of them, making them feel like superfluous characters being looked down upon.

However, the two people, engrossed in their debate, remained oblivious to the changing emotions of those around them, continuing their discussion about the true meaning of art. At times they were passionate and eloquent, at others calm and reserved; sometimes they were sharply opposed, sometimes they showed mutual respect... The whole scene was filled with a tense and enthusiastic atmosphere, as if time itself had frozen.

Naruto's anger was like a volcano about to erupt, with molten lava churning within him, threatening to burn the entire world to ashes! At this moment, only one thought occupied his mind—no matter the cost, he had to take Gaara back!

Meanwhile, standing to the side, Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with a chilling light. His already murderous gaze now resembled two incredibly sharp blades, piercing straight at his enemy. He could clearly sense the other's contempt and disdain, and this feeling of being looked down upon fueled his uncontrollable rage.

"Damn it..." Sasuke cursed under his breath, emanating a powerful aura. He secretly vowed to prove his strength to everyone, especially to this guy who dared to underestimate him!