Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji had arrived on the battlefield—the new generation of Ino–Shika–Chō was finally here!
"Sorry we're late!" Ino said, narrowing her eyes as she assessed the situation.
Chōji looked serious. "It doesn't look good at all."
Shikamaru frowned. "That guy... why does it feel like Naruto's gone berserk?"
BZZZZZZZZT...
The sound of wind-chakra spinning rapidly filled the air. Naruto stood ahead of them, holding a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, and shouted, "Shikamaru, I'm not like him!"
Shikamaru smirked. "Heh. That's the first time I've been caught badmouthing someone."
Naruto narrowed his eyes, clutching the Rasenshuriken tighter. "I'm going in!"
CLACK, CLACK, CLACK—his feet slapped across the surface of the sea as he sprinted forward at full speed.
Kinkaku growled, clearly furious. "This guy again?! Damn Jinchūriki! All you do is throw wind bombs at me!"
He beat his chest like a beast. "Come on, show me what you've got!"
"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!" Naruto roared.
The massive chakra shuriken flew through the air. Kinkaku braced himself, slammed his palms against it, and roared. His chakra tails surged outward and wrapped around the sphere. With a deafening scream, he tore it apart.
"Haha! Come on! You got more? I'll take it all!"
Naruto clicked his tongue. That one shot had cost him all of his Sage Mode chakra. He didn't have enough left for another Rasenshuriken.
No choice. He'd have to rely on the Deva Path's powers to hold Kinkaku down.
Before the assault, Shikaku had linked with Naruto through Inoichi's mind transmission to relay the strategy: stall until Shikamaru and his team arrived.
Now that they were here, Naruto just had to buy a little more time.
Shikamaru scanned the battlefield, assessing the casualties.
"Not good… too many wounded," he muttered.
Ino nodded, visibly affected.
Chōji gulped as he glanced at the floating corpses of White Zetsu and allied shinobi alike. "This is war… it's horrible."
"Yeah," Shikamaru said grimly. "Life and death happen in an instant out here."
The air was heavy. But when the surrounding shinobi saw the three of them, hope surged.
"Hahaha! Look, the Fourth Division is finally here!"
"Yeah, reinforcements!"
"With them here, we might actually win!"
Shikamaru sweat-dropped. "Why do they sound so optimistic? Do we really seem that reliable?"
Ino sighed. "They probably think we're the old Ino–Shika–Chō formation…"
Chōji gulped again. "Now I'm even more nervous."
At that moment, Tsunade flashed onto the battlefield.
"You're here!" she called.
"Lady Tsunade!" the three greeted joyfully.
Shikamaru smiled. "Hokage-sama, I didn't expect you to come personally."
Chōji's face lit up. "Seeing you here is really reassuring…"
In times of war, seeing your Kage wasn't just morale-boosting—it was emotional armor.
Tsunade nodded. "Shikaku told me the plan. I'm here to make sure Konoha doesn't lose face. Handle this with pride."
Ino saluted. "Yes, ma'am! If I don't take down that monster, I'm not worthy of being called a woman!"
Tsunade chuckled and patted her head. "That's the spirit."
Nearby, other shinobi were murmuring.
"Huh? Wait… that's not the original Ino–Shika–Chō…"
"It's the kids?! Oh man, we're screwed."
"I thought it was Inoichi, Shikaku, and Chōza! Not the second-stringers!"
Shikamaru facepalmed. "Great… they were expecting our dads."
He understood why. During the Third Great Ninja War, their fathers were legends—respected almost as much as the Yellow Flash himself. The Ino–Shika–Chō formation had become synonymous with tactical brilliance and perfect synergy.
Tsunade looked at the trio, then flicked Shikamaru's forehead. "Didn't your fathers teach you anything? You're supposed to create new legends. Now get out there and make your mark."
The trio stood tall, emboldened by her words.
Shikamaru smirked. "Ino, Chōji—Team 10, let's go!"
"Right!"
"Got it!"
Meanwhile, Naruto struggled to suppress Kinkaku. He was using the Deva Path's repulsion to hold him down, but the chakra cost was staggering. He could barely maintain it for five seconds.
"Damn… he's already broken through!"
Kinkaku's eyes blazed with fury. "You're dead, brat!"
His chakra tails surged like spears.
Naruto's Shadow Clone sighed. "Guess I'll have to poof here and let the real me summon another clone."
But just before the tails struck—
"Onii-san!"
"Gentle Fist Twin Lion Fists!"
BOOM!
The tails were blasted away.
Kinkaku's eyes widened. "What?!"
Neji landed on the water and smirked. "Naruto, aren't you the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? Why are you getting pushed around by a fake?"
Hinata landed beside him and said gently, "Naruto-kun must be exhausted."
Naruto's Shadow Clone chuckled. "Neji… Hinata… good timing."
Kinkaku snarled. "More pests? I'll kill you all!"
He charged again.
"Hinata! Now!" Neji called.
"Right!"
Hinata dashed to Naruto's side and helped him retreat.
Neji threw a smoke bomb and vanished into the mist.
"Idiots! You think you can hide from me?!"
Just then—
"Human Boulder!"
BOOM!
Chōji smashed into Kinkaku's face, his massive, rolling body spinning like a wrecking ball.
"ARGH! You bastard!"
Kinkaku caught him mid-roll and hurled him skyward. Chōji's jutsu dispersed mid-air, and he fell into the sea with a splash.
Kinkaku growled, preparing to crush them all.
But he froze.
"Wha…?! I can't move?!"
Not far away, Shikamaru crouched, forming a hand sign.
"Shadow Imitation Jutsu—success."
Kinkaku screamed. "I'll break free in a second, you weakling!"
Shikamaru clenched his teeth. Controlling a Tailed Beast-class opponent was like trying to hold a hurricane.
"Tch… too strong!"
Kinkaku roared and broke the shadow hold, sending his tail lashing out toward Shikamaru's head.
"Ino! Are you ready?!"
A soft buzz echoed through the battlefield. Ino had already closed her eyes and was facing him.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu—success!"
Kinkaku suddenly halted.
Ino's consciousness had entered his body and taken control.
From Kinkaku's mouth, her voice echoed: "Got him!"
Shikamaru caught her falling body gently. "Nice job, Ino."
Tsunade shouted, "Darui—now!"
Darui stepped forward, already holding the Amber Purifying Pot.
"Been waiting for this."
Samui stood beside him, assisting.
Darui opened the lid and shouted, "Kinkaku!"
Ino, still inside Kinkaku's body, responded, "Yes, I'm here!"
WHOOOMMM!
The Amber Pot glowed, emitting a blinding light. A vortex of suction pulled Kinkaku forward.
He struggled, trying to grab hold of a large boulder on the beach.
"No… I won't go back! I won't!!"
Tsunade appeared, her fist glowing with chakra.
"Ino, release it!"
Ino's soul exited Kinkaku's body.
Tsunade brought her fist down.
CRASH!
The boulder shattered. Kinkaku lost his grip and was pulled forward.
"Noooo!!"
"You talk too much," Tsunade muttered.
Desperate, Kinkaku extended one final chakra tail, wrapping it around Tsunade.
"Fine! I'll take you with me!"
Shikamaru's eyes widened. "Lady Tsunade!"
FWOOOSH!
The chakra tail was pulled toward the pot.
Tsunade's body vanished.
Darui panicked and sealed the lid. "Damn it!"
Samui gasped. "Did the Hokage… get sealed too?!"
Shikamaru stared blankly, paralyzed. Ino stirred in his arms, blinking awake. "What's wrong? Did we succeed?"
Chōji rushed over, breathless. "Where's Lady Tsunade?!"
On the other side, Naruto panted heavily.
"Granny Tsunade… you better be okay… If something happens to you, Ero-Sennin won't forgive me!"
Hinata gently rubbed his back. "Naruto-kun…"
Neji crossed his arms and scoffed. "Tch. That woman is always so reckless."
Suddenly—
"Yo."
Tsunade appeared behind Naruto, rolling up her sleeve. A Flying Thunder God seal glowed faintly on her arm.
Naruto blinked. "Granny Tsunade?!"
She squatted beside him and pinched his cheek playfully. "Aww, so you do worry about your elders."
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