When Naruto is no longer able to use chakra, the shinobi of Konoha come together to help him. Even Orochimaru offers to assist with scientific ninja tools. While directing the people around him with all the dynamic ferocity of a mighty whirlpool, Naruto stands tall, facing this trial with an unbreakable spirit!

Read an excerpt from Naruto: Naruto’s Story—Uzumaki Naruto and the Spiral Destiny, the new light novel from the iconic manga Naruto.

“Mom, is the Lord Hokage going to come out soon, maybe?”

Her small hand clutched the hem of the skirt fluttering next to her face.

“I’m sure he will. We’ll be able to see him soon,” the mother said gently, turning her gaze toward the sacred site at the top of the hill.

Inside of the humble sandstone shrine, the Seventh Hokage himself was meeting with the daimyo of the Land of Kizahashi. A large crowd had gathered below to get a glimpse of the hero on his first visit since his appointment as Hokage.

The air along the smooth diagonal of the slope was rippling with excitement, and smoke arose from orange flames. However, no one was burning anything. This hill had been aflame for more than its four thousand years of recorded history. The inextinguishable fire was seen as both a blessing of the gods and the curse of a demon. And it had been the subject of worship and fear since ancient times.

When the Fourth Great Ninja War ended and a pact among the Five Great Nations brought peace to the world, news of the Uzumaki Naruto and the Spiral Destiny mysterious, eternally burning fire reached the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi, and a survey team was dispatched to investigate. Using both science and ninjutsu, a vast pocket of natural gas was discovered to be seeping out from beneath the hill, which was ignited by the surface heat, creating the eternal flame.

The eternal bonfire moved the air, creating a breeze that constantly rustled the dark grasses and the neat petals of the gently blooming violets.

The Seventh Hokage and the daimyo of the Land of Kizahashi emerged from the shrine exactly on time. The conference had ended without incident.

“Hokage!”

“Lord Seventh! Over here!”

“Do the Rasengan!”

Cheers rang out from the crowd gathered at the foot of the stairs.

In response, the Seventh Hokage raised his arms as if to actually produce the Rasengan, and the Konoha guard behind him hurriedly pushed them back down.

“Lord Hokage, please don’t use the Rasengan like that! This is a matter of national defense!”

“Come on. It’s fine. Just let me,” the Seventh Hokage said sulkily, and then reluctantly lowered his arms.

Read more of Naruto: Naruto’s Story—Uzumaki Naruto and the Spiral Destiny here.