The Genjutsu cast by the Mangekyō Sharingan instantly seized control of the Jinchūriki and the Nine-Tails.
Even though Muren Uchiha wasn't particularly skilled in Genjutsu, it didn't stop the Nine-Tails from falling under its influence and going berserk. The illusion triggered painful memories of the past, and the Nine-Tails lashed out wildly, its nine tails smashing everything in sight.
The mastermind behind it all had long since vanished without a trace.
Minato Namikaze, holding his son in his arms, wore a grim expression.
He had managed to save Naruto—but his wife had gone on a rampage, and right in the middle of the village.
Taking a deep breath, Minato handed Naruto to a nearby ANBU who had just arrived.
"Protect Naruto."
Then he vanished, heading straight toward the rampaging Nine-Tails.
He tried using Flying Thunder God to get close, but the Nine-Tails' powerful chakra was interfering with his jutsu.
"Damn it... fine. Summoning Technique!"
A massive toad descended from the sky, giving the Nine-Tails a solid target on the ground.
Gamabunta hadn't even fully reacted when he felt the ground beneath him shift—rising slightly, trembling with raw power. The sinister aura left him stunned.
When he finally realized what he was standing on, he immediately cursed.
"Damn you, Minato! Jiraiya was bad enough, but now you, too?!"
"This is the Nine-Tails!"
Minato didn't respond—what was he supposed to say? If he could wake Kushina, he would, but with the Nine-Tails already out of control, suppression was the only option.
"Kushina..."
The only thing reassuring him was that Kushina was still alive—just consumed by the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Their enemy had vanished, so now they only had to subdue the beast.
"Minato, move!"
"Enma, push the Nine-Tails out!"
Suddenly, the Adamantine Staff thickened and extended, slamming into the Nine-Tails' gut and forcing it out of the village by sheer brute force.
Of course, everything in its path was obliterated.
One of the casualties? A critical building for Konoha.
The Ninja Academy.
Sakumo Hatake's eyes bulged at the sight, and a second later, his furious roar rang out.
"Damn Nine-Tails! My school!"
He shot forward like a beam of light, his chakra-covered short sword, White Fang, ready in hand.
His outburst made both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze shake their heads in exasperation.
Without hesitation, the two joined the battle, standing atop Gamabunta as they rushed after the Nine-Tails.
But before long, something else caught their attention.
On the other side of the village, a mass of red light lit up the sky.
A giant red serpent rampaged through the forest.
"Huh? That stench—snake?"
"Kazuyama's Senjutsu..."
Gamabunta spat disdainfully in the direction of the red glow. Minato looked over, brows furrowed, then took a deep breath and turned his focus back to the Nine-Tails.
The scale of Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu being unleashed this way only meant Kazuyama Gekkō was facing an overwhelming threat.
And he was—at that moment, Kazuyama was under siege.
After tossing the Nine-Tails into Konoha, Muren Uchiha had returned to Nagato's side.
A pitch-black Susanoo had stabbed its spear into Tagitsuhime's serpent body, immediately enraging her.
"Nagato, seriously? You still haven't taken out this bastard?"
"The Nine-Tails is rampaging already! Let's end this!"
Muren's Mangekyō Sharingan spun again, and the spear that had impaled Tagitsuhime's body suddenly surged with speed—driving itself all the way through.
"Tagitsuhime, are you okay?"
"Hmph, minor wound! Kazuyama, fall back! I'm going to devour both of them alive!"
The sneak attack only fueled Tagitsuhime's fury.
Now fully transformed, she revealed her complete serpent form. Her crimson vertical pupils were filled with killing intent.
The air itself grew cold and oppressive.
"The Ryūchi Cave Sage is formidable."
"Three of my paths have been wiped out."
Nagato clasped his hands together, sending stones flying toward Tagitsuhime once more.
Muren grinned.
"Sage? In front of absolute power, that means nothing."
"If a regular Susanoo isn't enough, then let's try this—"
"Complete Form!"
The pitch-black skeletal frame began to morph, growing taller, enveloped in dark armor wreathed in black flames.
In a blink, Susanoo transformed into a towering black warrior clad in full armor. With a flick of his wrist, the spear that had pierced Tagitsuhime flew back into his hand.
Fully formed Susanoo had arrived.
Muren stood on Susanoo's forehead, wincing through the stabbing pain in his eyes, a manic grin on his face.
"Damn... Tagitsuhime, we can't take this lightly."
"I'm joining in."
Kazuyama knew well how powerful Complete Susanoo could be. He wasn't sure if Tagitsuhime could withstand it alone.
So he unleashed his power too.
The Titan Python's body expanded under the flow of Senjutsu chakra. Everything around Kazuyama began to crystallize.
"Sage Art: Snake Fire!"
Tagitsuhime struck first, spewing a sea of fire—her signature fire poison.
"Crystal Release: Shinra Mandala!"
The massive Bagua diagram reappeared, followed by countless laser beams shooting outward.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Nagato dashed forward and thrust out his hand, unleashing a devastating repulsion wave that deflected both their attacks.
Then Muren launched his own strike.
"A stinking snake and a damn fool."
"Die!"
He hurled two spears at once. As his Mangekyō spun, the airborne spears instantly shifted—piercing through the red serpent and the Titan Python.
Boom!
They tore through both targets and pinned them to the ground.
"Shit!"
"His Dōjutsu is so damn annoying!"
Even though it was just their chakra constructs taking the damage, the interference still irritated Kazuyama and Tagitsuhime.
No-distance Dōjutsu—used with precision attacks, it was incredibly troublesome.
But Kazuyama wasn't one to sit and wait.
Just as Nagato and Muren were about to revel in their advantage—
The two giant snakes vanished.
A surge of blue light and red light engulfed them.
"Did you think I wouldn't do anything?"
"You destroyed my marked kunai, so you thought I couldn't use Flying Thunder God?"
"Ever heard of mobile, hidden coordinates?"
Kazuyama's cold voice echoed right beside their ears.