That moment — when Ash first laid his hand on the masked man — he activated the Eternal Mangekyō's unique ability:
a one-time copying power.
He copied Kamui.
—————————————
"What do you think you're doing?"
The masked man slid backward across the rubble, voice low and cold.
"You don't get to order me around." Ash replied, his tone like honed steel.
"Without that space-time ninjutsu, you're nothing but a coward hiding behind a stolen identity—clinging to Madara's name to survive."
The masked man's pupils trembled.
At that instant — Ash's gaze widened — and a crushing bloodlust surged forward.
A fear the masked man had never felt before struck him.
This kid… is hiding power.
He didn't yet know Ash had stolen Kamui from him the moment they first clashed.
Without Kamui active, he could feel Ash's threat directly — and it unsettled him.
With a silent glare, a swirling vortex of space-time consumed his form — and he vanished.
—————————————
"Kushina…"
As the masked man retreated, Ash appeared beside the colossal Kurama. Without another word, he turned toward Konoha.
From the rocks, a weakened voice whispered:
"Ash…"
He paused only for a heartbeat.
"I'm sorry. If you weren't from Konoha… maybe you could have been one of the few I'd call a friend."
His eyes dimmed with a hint of sorrow.
"But life is cruel. And Minato will learn — he will regret this decision."
He walked away — Kurama's massive form lumbering behind him.
Ash was right.
As a Hokage, Minato would become a hero.
But as a father and husband… he had already failed.
Kushina would someday understand what Ash meant.
—————————————
Just moments later, Minato appeared beside his collapsing wife — but too late.
Kurama and Ash were already gone.
The sight of her unraveling seal made Minato's chest tighten.
If she weren't an Uzumaki… she would already be dead.
Clutching her close, cloak of the Fourth Hokage fluttering behind him, Minato triggered the Flying Thunder God and flashed away.
—————————————
Meanwhile — Konoha remained peaceful.
Unaware of the burning chakra approaching.
Unaware that disaster had already been unleashed.
…With a few exceptions.
—————————————
"Kakashi!! Come on! We're young! We should be burning with youth! Don't hide behind mission excuses!"
Might Guy waved his arms dramatically under the lantern-lit street.
Kakashi sighed. The fresh jōnin wore his signature mask and headband — casually covering his Sharingan.
"You and your challenges… Guy, we have a mission tomorrow," he muttered.
But suddenly, Kakashi froze mid-step.
His chakra spiked — instinct screaming.
Guy frowned.
"Don't ignore me in the middle of my youthful speech!"
"…Guy. The air. It's getting… colder."
The Sharingan warned him: the Nine-Tails was coming.
—————————————
Uchiha Compound
"What is this feeling…?"
Young Itachi held infant Sasuke gently, brows knitting.
The imbalance in the air made his skin crawl.
—————————————
Sarutobi Compound
"It shouldn't be like this…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi — the Third Hokage — exhaled a thin stream of smoke from his pipe as he stared out the window. Although retired, he was one of the few aware that Kushina was giving birth tonight. His vigilance over Konoha's security was absolute.
Meanwhile, the village remained lively — unaware of the storm about to explode upon them.
Suddenly, in a quiet alley, a spiraling distortion in space tore open. Ash emerged from the Kamui vortex.
"As expected of Kamui… damn, this ability is too convenient."
He cracked his neck, surveying the village.
"Time to begin the summoning."
Ash slammed his palm to the ground — sealing patterns spiraled outward.
BOOOOM!!!
The earth ruptured.
An enormous impact split streets apart.
Buildings toppled instantly.
Screams pierced the night.
"Ahhh!!!"
"What—!?"
"What's happening!?"
Then—
ROOOAAARRR!!!
In the heart of Konoha, Kurama — the Nine-Tails — materialized in a blast of chakra and smoke. His massive form cast a hellish shadow over the village.
One swing of his tails — and dozens of homes turned to rubble.
——————————————
"What… what is that!?"
"It… it can't be—!"
"No way…"
As the dust cleared, villagers stared in horror at the towering, crimson-furred beast.
Eyes wide.
Bodies shaking.
The Nine-Tails — in the very center of Konoha.
...
TN:
⚡ Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)