At the Land of Fire's coastal border, one of Kirigakure's encampments served as a stronghold for their main forces. Many of their elite jonin, including Ao and Suikazan Fuguki, were stationed here, alongside the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
As the jinchūriki of the Three-Tails, Yagura brimmed with confidence in his enhanced power, believing he could perfectly control the beast, much like Kumogakure's Killer B with the Eight-Tails. Such was the assurance of a prodigy.
Inside the camp's command tent, Yagura and other Kiri-nin were holding a meeting when the ground suddenly quaked, startling everyone.
"What's happening?" Suikazan Fuguki demanded.
The other Kiri-nin frowned. An earthquake seemed unlikely in this part of the Land of Fire.
"What's that?" Shouts from outside reached them, prompting the group to stir. Something was clearly amiss.
"Let's go see." Yagura ordered.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama." The Kiri-nin replied, filing out of the tent.
"What…" As they emerged, they spotted several colossal samurai-like figures in the distance. Though far from the battlefield, the towering Susano'o were unmistakable.
The ground shook intermittently, trees rustling as if caught in a true earthquake.
"Is this the power of Susano'o?" Ao said, awestruck. He knew of Tengen's legendary Susano'o, said to rival tailed beasts, but legends paled compared to witnessing it firsthand.
The Kiri-nin had underestimated Susano'o's might, but now, seeing it, they realized its terror. Ordinary ninja stood no chance against it.
To counter such a force, Kirigakure might lose thousands of ninja, and even then, success was uncertain. Susano'o's casual strikes could cleave mountains, who could withstand that?
Despite the distance, the tremors reached them, underscoring the true horror of this power.
"The Uchiha clan's ultimate power?" Yagura said, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
"But the black Susano'o is Tengen's. Who commands the blue one?" A Kiri-nin asked, noting the anomaly.
Indeed, two Susano'o clashed, indicating two Mangekyō Sharingan users. Yet, no other Uchiha was known to wield this power, and Konoha ninja wouldn't fight each other.
The scene grew more astonishing as three blue Susano'o appeared, the four giants shattering the earth with their battle.
"Too powerful. If Tengen turned that power on us, what would happen?" A Kiri-nin murmured, trembling.
In clashes with Konoha, Tengen had relied more on the Flying Thunder God Technique, which, while devastating, lacked the visceral impact of Susano'o. Against it, a single ninja was like an ant.
Yagura, staring at the battlefield, knew the blue Susano'o belonged to Uchiha Madara, another Mangekyō user.
"Mizukage-sama, should we send aid to our outpost?" Ao asked, snapping out of his shock. That area was their fallback point, now under threat.
"Do you think you could withstand that power?" Yagura replied calmly, eyeing Ao. "Prepare the ninja to defend against an attack. Even if Susano'o is terrifying, its user's chakra is finite."
Yagura's strategy was clear: exhaust the enemy's chakra to defeat Susano'o. A naive plan, perhaps.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama." The Kiri-nin responded.
They quickly organized their forces, though fear lingered. If Susano'o attacked, their response was uncertain.
At another part of the camp, a shark-faced youth gazed at the distant battle, his eyes wide with shock.
"This is the Mangekyō's power, Susano'o?" Kisame Hoshigaki whispered. Such strength felt unattainable in his lifetime.
"Kisame Hoshigaki, assemble!" A nearby Kiri-nin called.
"Understood." Kisame replied, though the image of Susano'o's might was seared into his mind.
"Is that Tengen's power?" Elsewhere, Terumi Mei stared at the colossal Susano'o, its earth-shattering force overwhelming. Her kekkei genkai felt feeble in comparison.
"Tengen." Mei muttered, clenching her teeth. Since the Chunin Exams, she had dreamed of defeating him, but the Shinobi World War had begun soon after, and Tengen's prowess only grew, Flying Thunder God, Mangekyō Sharingan, and Wood Release.
These abilities terrified ordinary ninja and made even the great villages wary, fearing Tengen's wrath.
"I won't give up." Mei vowed, her eyes resolute.
Meanwhile, far from Kirigakure's encampment, Konoha's stronghold stood ready.
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