The night remained dark, but chaos erupted outside Konohagakure.
Gamabunta, battered and covered in wounds, sat slumped to the side, breathing heavily.
"Damn it, ever since I met Jiraiya, then ran into you... I've had nothing but terrible luck."
"Ow, that hurts... damn you, Minato. I'm heading back to rest."
Minato Namikaze, just as disheveled, gave an apologetic nod.
"Thanks, Bunta. Really, thank you."
"Hurry up and get some rest."
With a puff of white smoke, Gamabunta disappeared.
"Minato, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Lord Third. How are the casualties?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced around, then let out a breath, a hint of relief in his voice.
"Hmph, casualties? No one died. The elite ANBU attacked from range, and with your Flying Thunder God support, there were no fatalities—though we do have a number of serious injuries."
"Thankfully, Sarutobi's Adamantine Staff gave us solid defense."
"I have to admit, that little brat Kazuyama taught them well. 'Always protect yourself first'—they've got his Body Replacement Technique down."
"Damn Nine-Tails... destroyed my ninja academy! This isn't over!"
Sakumo Hatake, originally ANBU Commander before taking over the ninja academy after retirement, felt some comfort seeing ANBU members capable of protecting themselves mid-battle. Still, he knew Kazuyama Gekkō's training style was intense. The fact he used One Thousand Years of Death as a punishment... brutal stuff.
Minato held Kushina close, reinforcing the seal. Worry filled his eyes as he looked at her unconscious face.
"How's Kazuyama?"
"The Nine-Tails is down. His battle ended too."
"Did you send a search team?"
Hiruzen nodded at Minato's question.
"They're already out. One ANBU squad, with his disciple Kakashi—he'd know his teacher's movements best."
"We also sent the Yamanaka Clan to assist."
Suddenly, a signal flare shot into the sky—the red light signaling the highest-level alert.
Minato, Hiruzen, and Sakumo all froze.
The next second, they all moved at once.
"Deploy the medical team!"
"Move!"
Minato felt his heart lurch. A red flare? Why red?
He tried to activate the Flying Thunder God Technique—only to find that the marker he'd left on Kazuyama was gone. His heart sank.
When everyone reached the flare's location, they were stunned.
On the tree, Kazuyama Gekkō hung motionless, drenched in blood. A pitch-black spear had pierced his chest, nailing him to the trunk. Not a hint of life remained.
The surroundings were in ruins—worse than even what the Nine-Tails had done.
"This can't be..."
"Sensei..."
Kakashi stood frozen, unable to move a single step. Everyone else was just as shocked.
One of Konoha's Twin Stars—Kazuyama Gekkō—dead?
"Where's the medical team? Hurry!"
Minato felt like the blood in his veins had stopped flowing. The man before him wasn't just anyone. He was his best friend. His brother.
How could this be? What happened?
"No... no way! Sensei, he wouldn't...!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind, and two figures rushed over. Just as one of them tried to run to the body, Kakashi grabbed him.
"Obito..."
Yes, it was Obito Uchiha. With him was Rin Nohara. As part of the medical team, they'd rushed to the battlefield the moment they were ordered. Obito had personally asked to join to protect Rin.
But what did they arrive to see? Their teacher—Kazuyama Gekkō—dead before their eyes?
"Kakashi, tell me this isn't real. That's not Kazuyama-sensei, right?"
"Sensei was a sneaky, devious guy. His first reaction in a fight was always to run. He'd never fight without a solid chance at victory!"
Obito's face was etched with disbelief. Impossible. Absolutely impossible. But there he was—Kazuyama, lifeless, pinned to a tree.
"Obito..."
Kakashi didn't want to believe it either. No one did.
Kazuyama's strength was undeniable. He was a legendary warrior—his undetectable Perception Shield, unpredictable Flying Thunder God, and status as heir to Ryūchi Cave all made him a force to be reckoned with.
And now he was dead? Tonight?
Everyone lowered their heads—even the medical team. Not because they refused to treat him. But because... was there any point?
Then Minato stepped forward. Under everyone's gaze, he pulled Kazuyama down from the tree and laid him flat on the ground. He even pulled out the black spear lodged in Kazuyama's chest.
Even for someone used to death, Minato's heart ached. What had he done as Hokage?
An invasion. The Nine-Tails' rampage. Now, his best friend had died before his eyes.
Grief began to spread through the group.
"Obito..."
"Your eyes..."
Rin, always observant, whispered next to him.
Obito's whole body trembled. His Sharingan began to spin wildly—then started transforming into a different shape.
"Ah!"
"So it really works!"
"Good evening, everyone! Surprised?"
Just as everyone had begun to accept Kazuyama's death, his eyes suddenly snapped open—and he sprang up like a jack-in-the-box.
"Ahhhh! He's back from the dead!"
"God! A zombie!"
"The legendary zombie!"
Even though everyone here was an elite, their reactions were instantaneous.
Minato retreated dozens of meters with Flying Thunder God. Sakumo smoothly backstepped away. Hiruzen? He straight-up performed a standing staff trick with his Adamantine Staff—extending it skyward as he jumped back.
The rest all wore expressions of horror, retreating from the "zombie" at top speed.
"Idiots! How the hell am I a zombie?!"
"I was just exhausted and taking a nap!"
"Morons! And you, Minato Namikaze—you didn't even come help me! I almost died out there!"
Kazuyama stood there casually with his hands in his pockets, as if nothing had happened—then immediately launched into a full verbal assault.