At the center of Konohagakure, flames soared into the sky and explosions erupted one after another.
Dense volleys of kunai were thrown out by the shinobi, each one attached with an explosive tag.
But these attacks were not even enough to scratch the Nine-Tails. Explosive tags detonated on its face, and it did not even blink—after all, it was a chakra lifeform, and its eyes would not dry out anyway.
Some bold shinobi rushed in close to attack, only to be swept away by a casual swing of the Nine-Tails' claw.
On a nearby street, Kakashi and Guy were just about to step forward to help when Kurenai's father, the jōnin Yūhi Shinku, stopped them, forbidding these minors from joining the battle.
Near the Nine-Tails, the Third arrived and immediately issued orders.
"We must prevent the village from being destroyed. Drive the Nine-Tails beyond the walls. Buy me time to launch my ninjutsu—your attacks must not slacken for even a moment."
"Yes!"
Many shinobi acknowledged the command and began launching dense waves of attacks. But this kind of harassment posed no threat to the Nine-Tails and only provoked its fury further.
Higashino Jirō and Uzuki Yūya were also among the attacking crowd, but after so many years surviving in the shinobi world, they had never felt as powerless as they did now. Ordinary shinobi attacks simply had no effect on the Nine-Tails—they only added to the casualties.
The enraged Nine-Tails slammed its claws into the ground again and again. Countless chunks of earth mixed with shattered building debris shot toward the shinobi like artillery shells.
If someone failed to dodge, even a jōnin struck by one would be sent straight to the Pure Land.
The two of them darted left and right, avoiding the flying debris while also slashing apart massive fragments of ruined buildings nearby with Vacuum Blade, saving some companions whose strength was insufficient and who had fallen into danger.
Suddenly, a figure flashed beside Jirō—Makoto appeared on the front line.
Naturally, his father also carried a Flying Thunder God kunai.
After arriving, Makoto had no time to exchange words with the two of them. He immediately raised both hands and blocked all incoming attacks.
Sage Art: Earth Release: One-Horn Great Wall!
A massive earth-colored chakra release spread outward from Makoto as its starting point, extending to both sides and forming a curved, semi-transparent wall like a fortress rampart.
The ninjutsu formed a semicircular barrier, blocking all the incoming flying projectiles.
After rescuing Konohagakure's companions at the fastest possible speed, Makoto shot up into the sky and swiftly arrived above the Nine-Tails' head.
Sage Art: Wind Release: Two Forms Wind King's Barrier!
This ninjutsu, which already possessed barrier properties, had been improved by Makoto and combined with the Two Forms Seal, forming a massive Wind Release cage of swirling black and white that completely enclosed the Nine-Tails.
Outside the cage, the two colors intertwined like an ink-wash landscape painting, while the Nine-Tails struggled wildly within.
But it would not hold for long. If the great fox fired a Tailed Beast Ball inside, not only would the barrier shatter—it would also blast the center of Konohagakure into the sky.
Makoto immediately used the Flying Thunder God, transferring the barrier together with the entire Nine-Tails to the forest outside Konohagakure.
For the moment, the danger was gone.
"The Nine-Tails… disappeared?"
"Did we win?"
"Doesn't matter. We're saved anyway—what a close call."
"Quick! Where are the medical ninjas? Hurry and save my wife!"
The one shouting for help was named Umino Ikkaku, a jōnin of Konohagakure. At this moment he completely ignored the injuries covering his own body. In his arms he held his wife, Umino Kairi. Her condition was severe, and she had already fallen unconscious.
Very soon, shinobi from the medical unit arrived. They lifted her onto a stretcher and ran in the direction of the hospital.
Yūya nudged Jirō beside him.
"Hey, that kid Makoto disappeared together with the Nine-Tails. Your son's gone."
"Mm," Jirō responded. His eyes stared blankly at the ruins left behind by the Nine-Tails. He had once thought his son was merely an ordinary genius.
Later he realized that the boy was a bit too much of a genius—so much so that even jōnin like them could not understand him at all.
Is that really my son? Maybe I should go home and try having another one.
Old Enma had been summoned by the Third Hokage. He had just seen the Nine-Tails, and then the creature had been wrapped up like a rice dumpling before disappearing.
Blinking his eyes, he turned to look at his old companion.
"Just now… was that little Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Hiruzen let out a breath of relief.
"It was Flying Thunder God, but it wasn't Minato who used it. It should have been that child Makoto. Truly astonishing talent—he even learned that technique."
"In that case, if there's nothing else, I'll go back."
"No. The battle isn't over yet. First transform into the Adamantine Staff."
"Alright!"
The Third Hokage grabbed the staff in one motion and shouted to the shinobi: "Follow me. We're going to provide support."
There was no need to ask where they were going, because from the distant forest south of Konohagakure, the roar of the Nine-Tails had appeared again.
...
After transferring the Nine-Tails out, Makoto changed his hand seals and altered the ninjutsu.
Under the Nine-Tails' attacks, the Two Forms Wind King's Barrier was already on the verge of collapse and could no longer hold. Makoto simply canceled the barrier himself, turning the chakra into curse marks that bound the Nine-Tails like chains.
Using a pure Two Forms Seal to tether the Nine-Tails.
At this moment, the Nine-Tails was struggling against the curse-mark chains wrapped around its body. Its strength was astonishing, and Makoto found the suppression extremely difficult.
Since the Two Forms Seal could reconstruct the balance of yin and yang, it could naturally also disrupt that balance.
Destroying was always far easier than constructing.
Right now, the Nine-Tails' chakra had been thrown into disorder by the Two Forms Seal—only disturbed, nothing more. It prevented the beast from gathering chakra to spit out a Tailed Beast Ball, forcing it to rely solely on brute physical strength to break free.
Suddenly, the struggling Nine-Tails quieted down. The confusion in its eyes vanished, and its pupils returned to their vertical shape. The control over it had been lifted, and its reason returned.
But it was still furious.
Damn it—this Nine-Tails-sama had been exploited by the Sharingan again. That familiar feeling… Uchiha Madara, damn you!
The Nine-Tails struggled once more and discovered that its entire body was being restrained. Lowering its head, it spotted an ANBU brat whose scent felt familiar, though it did not recognize him.
"Hey, brat, you smell really good. Hurry up and release this lord. Come over obediently and let me take a bite."
Damn it, your mouth is that big—if you take one bite, I'll be gone.
"Sure. Wait a moment. I'll use Water Release to wash myself first so I'll taste even better when you eat me."
"Bastard, release this lord at once! I'm going to destroy Konohagakure!"
The Nine-Tails not only hated Uchiha Madara, it also hated Senju Hashirama, who had lifted it like a little chick. Neither of them were good people.
The Konohagakure they had established had no reason to exist either.
Makoto shouted back, "Sure. But can you handle all that work by yourself? Want to hire me to help? My wages are very low."
"Brat, you're mocking this old one!"
"How could I dare? I'm trembling all over with fear right now."
Makoto was indeed trembling, but not from fear—he was exhausted. Suppressing the Nine-Tails was truly hard work.
The reason he was bantering with the Nine-Tails was simply to stall for time.
Very soon, a ripple of chakra appeared beside him, and the Fourth flashed over.
"How is it, Minato-senpai? Did you eliminate that guy?"
"Sorry, I failed. I only managed to cancel the summoning contract between him and the Nine-Tails, and then a strange figure emerged from the ground and rescued him."
"That kind of thing happened?" Makoto thought it was probably Black Zetsu's doing. After all, Obito was still the operational director of his nested schemes—rings within rings of conspiracies—and still had his uses. He had to be saved.
"I didn't sense his appearance at all. He must possess some secret technique that can block perception."
"Then forget about it for now. Come deal with the Nine-Tails first—I'm about to lose control."
Minato glanced at the Nine-Tails bound by Makoto. The Nine-Tails was also looking at him.
This man was far too familiar to it. He often slept beside its jinchūriki—how could it not recognize him? Therefore, he deserved to die as well.
It seemed that, in the Nine-Tails' view, everyone in the shinobi world deserved to die. After all, it had been at home eating hot pot and singing songs when Uchiha Madara suddenly abducted it. Then it spent decades imprisoned. Anyone in that position would develop endless hatred and want to wipe out all these creatures called humans.
Minato said, "Right now the only option is to seal it again. The problem is—where do we seal it?"
"There's no time to think about that. Go bring Kushina-senpai here first. Help me suppress it, and then we'll think it over slowly."
After considering it, Minato agreed. He teleported home and brought his wife over.
Absurdly, she was holding Naruto in her arms. Ever since becoming a mother, she had not been willing to let go of her son for even a moment, nor could she bear to leave him alone at home.
So you brought little Naruto directly in front of the Nine-Tails?
You go through life-and-death battles while carrying your son?
This was even more outrageous than Uchiha Fugaku. At least when Itachi went to the battlefield, he was already over four years old. Naruto had only just been born.
People in the shinobi world really know how to play wild.
As soon as Kushina arrived, five chains burst out from her body. On top of the Two Forms Seal, they bound the Nine-Tails with another layer of restraint.
Just as the Nine-Tails was about to open its mouth and curse, a chain shot forward and wrapped its mouth tightly shut.
The poor great fox was now filled with grievances. Damn it, this was simply too much bullying of a fox.
Sensing the Third and the village's shinobi approaching, Minato immediately said, "Kushina, deploy the barrier. Don't let them come in."
Kushina did not speak, but she quickly expanded the barrier, blocking the reinforcements outside.
Something she could accomplish even while half-dead was now even easier while she was lively and full of energy.
No one knew what Minato was thinking, but before the matter was resolved, he did not want others interfering. There was also the intention of protecting them.
After all, the Nine-Tails was not something ordinary shinobi could deal with.
What came next was the troublesome part. The three of them looked at each other.
Where exactly should this thing be sealed?
That was the question.
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