Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 266

To his left was a giant man, as muscular as a small mountain, with a bulging physique and an expressionless face.

On the right is a female ninja with an extremely exaggerated afro hairstyle, white hair like a lion, and a cruel smile on her lips.

"A Konoha ninja? Hmph, just a nobody."

Shi Li's voice carried a hint of sinister mockery: "Unfortunately, this will be the place where you fall!"

Without uttering a word, King Kong's enormous fist, accompanied by a whistling sound, slammed towards Naruto like a battering ram!

Jin Lianhua chuckled strangely, forming hand seals, and several chakra threads flashing with dangerous light wrapped around Naruto's limbs like a spider web!

Naruto's eyes narrowed; these three were far stronger than the sand bandits and ordinary samurai he had encountered before!

However, his eyes subtly shifted, revealing both disdain for Shi Li and a hint of other thoughts.

He then created two shadow clones to meet King Kong and Golden Love Flower, while his main body went straight for Shi Li, who appeared to be the leader!

Chapter 286 Naruto's "Defeat"

The fighting was extremely fierce.

King Kong's strength is astonishing; he can destroy Naruto's shadow clone with a single punch.

Golden Love Flower's chakra threads are exceptionally tough and tricky, and have a paralyzing effect;

Shi Li's movements were extremely unpredictable, as slippery as an eel, and he would occasionally shoot out poisoned swords from his hands.

Naruto had to protect the terrified Mangetsu and his son, as well as his three genin.

While facing the siege of three powerful enemies, they were temporarily "held back".

"Konohamaru! Take them and get out of here! Run down the mountain!"

Naruto struggled to block Kongo's heavy punches while yelling at Konohamaru.

He must create an opportunity for them to escape!

"But Naruto-sensei!" Konohamaru cried out anxiously.

"Go now! That's an order!" Naruto's tone was more stern than ever before.

Just then, Shi Li found an extremely subtle flaw—

To shield Udon from a stray arrow, Naruto turned to the side, creating a very brief opening in his defense!

"Die! Secret Technique: Petrifying Gaze!"

A red eye opened on Shi Li's palm.

Immediately afterwards, a cold, deathly, and eerie energy, like that of Medusa, enveloped Naruto!

Naruto felt his body stiffen suddenly, and an irresistible chill and heaviness spread rapidly from the part of his body that was being stared at!

His movements faltered instantly, and his skin turned ashen at a visible speed.

It lost its luster and its texture began to harden like rock!

Naruto was shocked and tried to struggle, but it was too late.

"Naruto-sensei!"

Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon watched in horror as Naruto began to petrify rapidly from his feet upwards.

In just two or three seconds, it completely transformed into a gray-white stone statue maintaining a fighting posture!

Even the look of astonishment on his face was clearly frozen!

"Hmph, nothing special." Shi Li snorted dismissively, as if he had only done something insignificant.

"Naruto-sensei!!!" Konohamaru cried out in anguish and rushed over.

"Let's go!"

Although Moegi was also terrified, her face turning pale and tears welling up in her eyes, she still retained some rationality.

She held onto Konohamaru tightly, and together with Udon, they seized the moment when the enemy's attention was drawn to the petrified Naruto.

They forcibly dragged along the completely terrified Full Moon Prince and the equally stunned Little Prince Hikaru.

He smashed through two samurai blocking his way and ran frantically toward the downhill steps on the other side of the cable car platform!

Behind them came the frantic pursuit and shouts of the enemy.

Within the space of consciousness:

Kushina's phantom was the first to pounce on Naruto.

Looking at the cold stone statue outside, his face was filled with anxiety and worry: "How are you?! That technique...!"

Naruto smiled and said, "It's alright. That technique only petrified the surface of the chakra. If it doesn't break, I should be able to log off like this."

Minato frowned, carefully observing the situation outside: "What a bizarre sealing spell, directly affecting the physical body and forcibly altering its life form..."

"Similar to the ultimate application of Earth Release, this ability actually belongs to a wandering ninja?"

Nine-Tails flicked its tail: "Aren't you afraid of being truly petrified?"

Naruto said with a grin, "I sensed that strange chakra a long time ago. As long as I isolate it, it won't work. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to use this method."

Madara crossed his arms, his crimson Mangekyou Sharingan coldly sweeping over the chaos outside and the fleeing Konohamaru and his companions.

Finally, it landed on the stone statue and sneered, "They at least have some self-awareness; they know they can't win, so they should run away as soon as possible."

Kushina watched as Konohamaru and his group fled in disarray, pursued relentlessly by their enemies.

Anxious and worried: "Is it alright to send those three children to deal with the enemies? And what about that minister and those three ninjas...?"

Naruto uses his sensory abilities to observe the outside world.

The voice carried a sense of determination: "There's no other way! Those three ninjas aren't strong enough. We have to help Konohamaru and the others grow stronger quickly."

He paused, then his tone regained its usual firmness: "Don't worry, I will always protect them, just as you protected me back then!"

Looking at Naruto's expression, Madara felt a surge of fatherly emotion.

However, he didn't show it, and simply said, "Young eagles always have to fall off a cliff to learn to fly. If they die, it only proves that they are nothing special."

Minato nodded, his eyes gentle yet firm: "Naruto is right, this is their trial, and all we can do is silently protect them."

But a barely perceptible hint of worry still flickered deep in his azure eyes.

Kushina watched the three small figures outside, running hard while trying to protect the two burdens.

His hands clasped tightly, he finally nodded, his voice tinged with prayer: "Please, everything must be alright..."

Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon, along with Mangetsu and his son, frantically ran through the intricate palace staircases and alleyways.

The shouts of battle behind us grew closer, and arrows whizzed past overhead from time to time.

The full moon prince had long lost his previous arrogance. He was so frightened that his face turned pale and his fat body trembled. He was almost dragged away by Konohamaru and Udon.

Little Prince Hikaru's face was also filled with fear as he tightly gripped the hem of Meng Huang's clothes.

Just when they were about to be surrounded by pursuers and were in despair!

Suddenly, several soldiers wearing traditional Moon Kingdom guard armor, but with a special crescent family crest on their armor, rushed out from a side alley!

They moved swiftly and ruthlessly, instantly cutting down the few warriors chasing in the lead!

"Over here! Quickly!"

The middle-aged guard in the lead shouted at Konohamaru and his group, his eyes sharp and anxious.

Konohamaru was taken aback, but noticed that the family crest on the other side's armor was different from that of the soldiers of Nasadaba.

And while attacking the pursuers, they immediately realized this might be a turning point!

"Follow them!"

Konohamaru made a decisive move, leading everyone to rush into the complicated alleyway following the group of guards who had suddenly appeared.

The guards were clearly very familiar with the palace layout.

Leading them through a maze of twists and turns, they quickly shook off most of their pursuers and finally slipped into a hidden underground passage.

At the end of the passage was a brightly lit secret room.

Inside were dozens of guards dressed similarly, their faces filled with sorrow, indignation, and determination.

Upon seeing Prince Manyue, they immediately knelt on one knee: "Your Highness! It's so good to see you're alright!"

"We are the royal guard loyal to the old king! We will never believe that Sadaba's nonsense!"

Konohamaru and his two companions finally breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing to the ground, panting heavily, their faces still showing lingering fear.

Prince Manyue collapsed to the ground, unable to utter a word.

After a brief moment of safety, Konohamaru suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of the secret room entrance.

His eyes were filled with pain and determination, and his fists were clenched tightly.

Naruto-sensei... is still there... turned to stone...

This heavy thought weighed on the hearts of the three ninja who had just escaped, like a boulder.

Having lost their pillar of support, they were forced to grow up overnight.

The upheavals in the Moon Kingdom have only just begun.

The heavy responsibility of saving Naruto unexpectedly fell on their young shoulders.

Chapter 287 Full Moon's Growth

Deep inside the dark and damp cave, the torchlight flickered, casting distorted and swaying shadows on the rough rock walls.

The air was filled with the scents of earth, herbs, and an indescribable, decaying aroma, like that of weathered rocks.

The captain of the guard, carrying a torch, walked at the very front with a sorrowful expression.

Leading the still-shaken Konohamaru, Moegi, Udon, and the distraught Prince Mangetsu and Prince Hikari.

Heading towards the deepest part of the cave.

The further you go in, the stronger the strange sense of petrification and decay becomes.