Though only three chakra tails had manifested, their power far exceeded Uchiha Fugaku's expectations. Only a tailed beast could condense chakra into a tangible, protective cloak with such abundance.
"I'll repel the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki!"
The pattern in Fugaku's eyes shifted again into the Mangekyō Sharingan's form. But the moment he attempted to use his ocular power, searing pain shot through his eyes.
While Uchigami no Mi could restore Fugaku's injuries and chakra, it couldn't replenish the Mangekyō's power. He had already overused it tonight—activating the Mangekyō multiple times and unleashing the Susanoo to slaughter ANBU operatives. Now, his Mangekyō was nearly exhausted.
Yet even if it meant blindness, he had to subdue the Nine-Tails.
Taking a deep breath, Fugaku's Mangekyō spun rapidly as a skeletal Susanoo, over ten meters tall, materialized around him. This time, however, he stopped at the first stage, merely forming the bones without advancing further. The agony in his eyes was unbearable—pushing to the third stage would leave him unable to sustain it for long.
"Tekka!" Fugaku shouted urgently as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki showed signs of attacking.
Understanding his role, Uchiha Tekka activated his Mangekyō ability.
"Ikari!"
An immense restraining force instantly locked the Jinchūriki in place. Even the chakra cloak couldn't disperse—everything within Tekka's gaze was immobilized, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki no exception.
Seizing the moment, Fugaku's Susanoo drew its bow and loosed a massive chakra arrow straight at the Jinchūriki.
But just then, Uzumaki Kushina, battered and bloodied, broke through the ANBU blockade. At the sight of Naruto shrouded in the dense chakra cloak, she screamed in terror:
"Naruto!"
BOOM!
The chakra arrow struck Naruto directly, erupting in a blinding flash and deafening explosion. The shockwave obliterated everything within a hundred meters, hurling nearby Root ninjas through the air like leaves in a storm.
The entire village felt the tremor. Many had tried to stay neutral after the elders' discreet warnings, but this was impossible to ignore. The sheer chakra disturbance and the unmistakable roar of a tailed beast forced every clan to act—whether to defend their territory or investigate, they couldn't risk the Nine-Tails ravaging Konoha.
Kushina, frantic, ignored her injuries and forced herself into Curse Mark Sage Mode (Stage One). Before ANBU could react, she lunged toward Naruto.
Yet before she reached him, another bestial roar tore through the smoke. A second shockwave blasted outward, clearing an even wider crater. The Uchiha compound was now unrecognizable. As the dust settled, the Jinchūriki stood gripping the arrow, its tip lodged against Naruto's chest—but his hands and the chakra cloak had absorbed the impact.
Then, a fourth tail emerged. The Nine-Tails' chakra grew wilder, pushing Naruto toward full transformation.
"Clan Head…" Tekka moved to Fugaku's side, ready to combine their Susanoo against the Jinchūriki.
"Such durability?" Fugaku wiped blood from his eyes. "Keep your strength, Tekka. I'll hold the Nine-Tails. Support me with ninjutsu."
He refused to exhaust Tekka here. The Uchiha still faced ANBU, Root, and Konoha's elders. If both spent themselves on the Jinchūriki, their clan would be defenseless.
"Understood." Tekka conserved his chakra, opting for tactical strikes.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The ground beneath the Jinchūriki liquefied into a vast bog, swallowing him instantly.
"Earth Release: Heaven-Shaped Clay!"
Clay rained from above, burying the Jinchūriki completely.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Flame Technique!"
Fugaku's flames baked the clay and swamp into a solid prison.
"If the first stage won't work, we escalate."
Blood streamed from Fugaku's Mangekyō as his Susanoo's skeleton gained sinew, growing larger. He nocked three arrows simultaneously.
The Nine-Tails' chakra grew fiercer. Four tails already posed a dire threat—if Naruto reached five or six, even Fugaku's third-stage Susanoo might fail.
Meanwhile, Kushina, blasted back by the shockwave, crashed at Hyuga Mirai's feet.
"How pitiful, Lady Kushina."
Mirai shook his head. Had she listened to Ayaka Uzumaki, she wouldn't be in this state.
"If Minato saw this, would he side with Konoha—tightening Naruto's seal and returning him as a weapon—or defend his family?"
"Hyuga… Mirai?"
Kushina's eyes lit with desperate hope. "Please… save Naruto. Danzo manipulated him!"
"I know. But your injuries are worse."
Poison, burns, fractures, internal trauma, and overuse of natural energy—Mirai assessed her as his palm glowed with healing chakra.
"Still clinging to Konoha? Danzo moved faster than I expected. He's truly the 'Darkness of the Shinobi World.'"
He'd invested resources in Kushina. Letting her die now would be wasteful.
"Take us away from Konoha," Kushina whispered weakly. "I'll do anything. Just… protect Naruto."
Once Naruto was safe, she'd never return. Even if the Third revived Minato, it wouldn't matter. If Minato still chose Konoha over his son, she'd crush him too.
Konoha's betrayal had shattered her faith. Minato had given his life for this village—and this was their gratitude?
Mirai chuckled. "You make me sound like the villain. Very well. I accept."
BOOM!
The four-tailed Naruto, now a miniature fox demon, clashed with Fugaku's Susanoo. Each collision reshaped the terrain, shockwaves rivaling A-rank wind techniques.
Konoha's civilians cowered in their homes. With ANBU preoccupied, no one evacuated them—they could only pray for survival.
Before the next shockwave hit, a black Truth-Seeking Orb materialized before Kushina and Mirai, shielding them effortlessly.
Mirai stabilized Kushina's injuries, then sent two more orbs streaking forward—one repelling the Susanoo, the other piercing Naruto's chakra cloak.
"GAAAH!"
The orbs' universal chakra suppressed the Nine-Tails' power instantly. Even with Danzo's loosened seal, Naruto reverted within seconds, the tails vanishing.
"Clan Head Fugaku," Mirai called. "I'll handle the Jinchūriki. Kushina has just defected to the Sand Federation after Root's attack."
Fugaku glanced at Kushina's battered form. Her silence confirmed Mirai's claim. With the Nine-Tails subdued, he dismissed his Susanoo.
(End of Chapter)