Outside Konohagakure.
Watching the roaring Nine-Tails, a White Zetsu fused with a tree let out an excited cheer: "Wow, it's finally starting!"
"As expected of the Uchiha!"
"But it looks like Konoha is well-prepared. It might be a bit difficult for him to snatch the Nine-Tails!"
Black Zetsu watched and said gloomily: "The Nine-Tails was supposed to be the last one to be retrieved according to the original plan. Even if this operation fails, it still has extraordinary significance."
Hearing this, White Zetsu chuckled: "Yes, the ninja world, which had just calmed down, will likely be at war again. It's truly something to look forward to."
"But speaking of which, I wonder if Obito's identity can be kept from that Sarutobi Asuma."
"His growth makes me feel something is not right."
Black Zetsu didn't care: "His combat power is still far from Senju Hashirama's."
"Although the Adamantine Sealing Chains can restrain the Nine-Tails, they can't stop the power of the Rinnegan!"
At this moment, White Zetsu exclaimed: "Wow, a Tailed Beast Bomb!"
The Nine-Tails opened its mouth, gathering power, and a dark purple chakra ball rapidly condensed.
But in the next moment, a giant figure descended from the sky.
Boom!
The ground cracked as Gamabunta sat down, pinning the Nine-Tails, and the Tailed Beast Bomb it was forming in its mouth exploded.
The Nine-Tails roared, trying to throw off Gamabunta. Jiraiya descended from the sky, the Rasengan in his hand rapidly expanding.
Sage Art: Super Giant Ball Rasengan!
Before it could even unleash its power, the Nine-Tails took another big hit.
Roar!
The Nine-Tails cried out in pain, but became even more frenzied, its nine tails entangling Gamabunta.
"Jiraiya, I can't hold on much longer! I don't have sharp claws!"
Gamabunta shouted.
The Nine-Tails' power was too great!
"I'll use the Transformation Technique to push him out of the village first!"
Jiraiya shouted, appearing on top of Gamabunta.
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived with Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Shinya, and other Anbu ninja.
"Leave it to me!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted.
"Understood!"
Jiraiya nodded.
Gamabunta beneath him immediately exerted force, breaking free from the Nine-Tails' tails, and leaped up, while also spitting two water cannons into the Nine-Tails' face.
The Nine-Tails grew even more enraged, opening its mouth and roaring. Its nine tails thrashed, stirring up a storm that sent Gamabunta tumbling through the air.
Then, looking at the tiny figure before it, the Nine-Tails raised its claw and brought it down.
Hatake Sakumo immediately turned into a flash of white lightning and slashed at the Nine-Tails' claw, causing blood to splatter.
The Nine-Tails roared, its ferocity intensifying. It changed the direction of its claw and swept towards Hatake Sakumo.
"Careful!"
Sarutobi Shinya, wearing a mask, immediately flew up, placing his hands on the ground. A three-meter-thick wall rose from the earth, dozens of meters high, blocking in front of Hatake Sakumo. The Nine-Tails' claw, crashing with overwhelming force, struck the wall.
Rumble rumble!
Sarutobi Shinya raised one hand. Before the Nine-Tails' claw could hit the Earth Flow Wall, the wall exploded, forming a shockwave that forcibly altered the trajectory of the Nine-Tails' claw.
Boom!
The Earth Flow Wall burst apart, and the Nine-Tails' claw passed by, almost brushing the scalps of Sarutobi Shinya and Hatake Sakumo.
Sarutobi Shinya leaped, catching Hatake Sakumo, who had no support in mid-air, and quickly retreated.
What seemed like a long explanation actually happened in the blink of an eye.
The Nine-Tails' attention was drawn by Hatake Sakumo and the others. Sarutobi Hiruzen raised the Adamantine Staff, which had transformed from Enma, and struck the Nine-Tails squarely in the chest.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The Nine-Tails was pushed back by the thick Adamantine Staff. Houses in its path were crushed into ruins, and then the Konoha wall was also smashed open with a huge gap.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone had already evacuated all the villagers in the entire area.
"As expected of the Third Hokage!"
White Zetsu, who was spectating, exclaimed, then added regretfully: "What a pity!"
Black Zetsu chuckled, "The Nine-Tails' power is far more than just this!"
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Namikaze Minato looked at Uchiha Obito and said, "Obito, let's see how much you've improved these past two years!"
"Then Teacher, you'd better be careful!"
Uchiha Obito was full of confidence, chains scattering from his hands.
The next moment, the two clashed.
...
On the outskirts of Konohagakure.
With the cooperation of Jiraiya and the others, Sarutobi Hiruzen made consecutive attacks, driving the Nine-Tails out of the barrier's range.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen was also exhausted and panting.
"I'm getting old after all!"
"Why hasn't that Asuma guy arrived yet? Did something happen?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a few breaths and immediately moved forward again, launching a Scorch Release attack, but it was swatted away by a claw from the Nine-Tails.
Most of Konoha's ninjas' attacks were like tickles to the Nine-Tails, instead further inciting its ferocity. It whipped up a gale that sent many Konoha ninja flying, then opened its mouth, a Tailed Beast Bomb reappearing.
"Gamabunta, jump into the air!"
Jiraiya shouted.
Facing a massive creature like the Nine-Tails, his sealing techniques were simply not enough.
"Understood!"
Gamabunta, whose attacks were casually swatted away by the Nine-Tails' tail, also felt helpless. He responded, exerted force with his limbs, and leaped up from the ground.
Hummmm!!!
Above Gamabunta's head, in Jiraiya's hand, Sage Art: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken appeared. The sharp, ear-piercing friction sound echoed through Konoha, and the dazzling white light illuminated all directions.
Boom!
The Tailed Beast Bomb from the Nine-Tails' mouth shot out.
Jiraiya hurled the Rasenshuriken in his hand.
Rooooooom!
The sphere and the vortex collided. Amidst the deafening roars, a fierce light erupted, forming a sphere of light that rapidly expanded, illuminating the entire Konoha as if it were daytime.
At this moment, Uchiha Shisui and others who were evacuating the crowd, as well as Kakashi and Might Guy, couldn't help but stop in their tracks.
The explosion of light was intense but dissipated quickly.
"Fall back!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted orders, his body landing on the ground as he pressed his palms onto the earth.
Earth Style, Multiple Earth Flow Walls!
Layer upon layer of stone walls rose from the ground.
Sarutobi Shinya and other ninjas who knew Earth Style also acted.
Layer upon layer of earth walls stood tall, but they were immediately torn to shreds by the incoming gale.
Sarutobi Shinya raised one hand, and before the earth walls could be destroyed by the gale, the walls exploded, creating shockwaves that countered the gale.
"What astonishing power!"
"As expected of one of the Sannin, to actually block the Tailed Beast Bomb!"
White Zetsu exclaimed, then chuckled, "But this is not enough..."
As the gale subsided, another Tailed Beast Bomb appeared in the Nine-Tails' mouth.
"What?"
"That Asuma guy, did negotiations break down..."
Jiraiya's forehead was covered in sweat; there was no time.
Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered, "Sakumo, Shinya, have everyone evacuate!"
Having said that, he leaped forward, appearing in front of the Nine-Tails.
He stuck his Ruyi Jingu Bang to the side, bit his finger, and placed his hands on the ground.
Summoning Technique, Four-Headed Rashomon!
The earth cracked, and colossal gates, each comparable in height to the Nine-Tails, rose up, four in total.
The next moment, the Tailed Beast Bomb was launched.
Bang!
Bang!
One layer after another, the gates collapsed and exploded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi broke out in a cold sweat. "Too strong, we can't stop it..."
At this moment, the red light in the Nine-Tails' eyes vanished, and its consciousness returned.
The third Rashomon was broken in an instant.
Just then, Minato Namikaze's figure appeared on the fourth Rashomon, holding his Flying Thunder God Kunai and opening his palm against the charging Tailed Beast Bomb.
Instantly, tadpole-like symbols spread from his palm, like an unfurling spider web.
The Tailed Beast Bomb collided, and time seemed to slow down. Space warped, and the Tailed Beast Bomb gradually disappeared.
The many Konoha ninja, who had been watching with wide eyes, waiting for death, snapped back to awareness.
"It stopped?"
"No, that... that's the Fourth Hokage!"
"The Fourth Hokage is here!"
The Konoha ninja cheered, and Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sakumo Hatake, and others all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Before the Nine-Tails could unleash another attack, Minato Namikaze appeared above the Nine-Tails' head. The next moment, both he and the Nine-Tails vanished.
Witnessing this, White Zetsu said with disappointment, "It seems it failed!"
Black Zetsu replied, "Next time, we'll need more preparation!"
...
On the Hokage Rock, Asuma Sarutobi's robes fluttered in the wind as he quietly watched Jiraiya and the others deal with the Nine-Tails.
He did not join the fray.
He could not steal the Fourth Hokage's thunder.
Besides, he was the director.
However, he would soon need to direct and act himself.
Watching Minato Namikaze disappear with the Nine-Tails, Asuma Sarutobi also vanished from his spot.
In a secluded clearing in Konoha, the Nine-Tails appeared.
"Human!"
The Nine-Tails' gaze fell upon Minato Namikaze above it, and it immediately swung its claws down.
But the next moment, Asuma Sarutobi's figure appeared beside Minato Namikaze. His Adamantine Sealing Chains whistled out, binding the Nine-Tails so tightly it couldn't move, and forming a massive barrier.
"Damn it!"
Fierce light flashed in the Nine-Tails' eyes.
"Nine-Tails, don't be so defiant. You should thank us for letting you out to stretch your legs."
Asuma Sarutobi chuckled.
"Brat, you..."
Before the Nine-Tails could finish speaking, its entire massive body suddenly slammed down with a boom, the ground beneath it cracking apart and forming a large pit.
Earth Style: Super Weighted Rock Technique!
"Impressive, just as expected from Asuma!"
Minato Namikaze praised sincerely as he watched Asuma Sarutobi easily subdue the Nine-Tails.
At this moment, Tsunade arrived with Kushina Uzumaki.
Looking at the Nine-Tails, Kushina Uzumaki smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "Asuma, well done!"
Minato Namikaze then exchanged a look with Asuma Sarutobi, and then went to bring Naruto over.
Kushina Uzumaki's expression changed, and then she became emotional. "Naruto... Minato, you're going to make our child a Jinchuriki too, to bear such a heavy responsibility!"
Tsunade also hadn't expected this turn of events. In her opinion, even if the Nine-Tails were to be split, besides sealing half back into Kushina's body, the most suitable candidate for the other half should have been Asuma Sarutobi, or Minato Namikaze himself.
"Fourth Hokage, Naruto is so young. Even half of the Nine-Tails would likely be too much for him to bear!"
Tsunade couldn't help but say.
"With Asuma's Fūinjutsu, there won't be any problems."
Minato Namikaze said, then looked at Kushina Uzumaki with an apologetic expression. "I am truly sorry, Kushina. I made this decision without consulting you."
Asuma Sarutobi quickly took the blame. "Sister Kushina, it was actually my suggestion to make Naruto the Jinchuriki."
"I believe Naruto will be able to utilize the Nine-Tails' power very well in the future."
"Moreover, whether it's me or Brother Minato, we are too conspicuous. Naruto, however, will not attract too much attention."
"If our original plan encounters unforeseen circumstances, then Naruto will be the one to save everything!"
Asuma Sarutobi said with a smile, "Of course, we will do our best to resolve the issues ourselves and not leave them for Naruto's generation."
"But no matter what, please believe me, Naruto is special!"
Tears welled up in Uzumaki Kushina's eyes, and she looked at Naruto with affection. "Naruto, Mommy will protect you!"
Namikaze Minato looked at Sarutobi Asuma. "Asuma, let's begin!"
"Understood!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded.
Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails was practically bursting with rage.
These scoundrels were discussing splitting him up right in front of him.
"Human brat, you're despicable!"
"I've got you, you bastard!"
The Nine-Tails glared hatefully at Sarutobi Asuma.
"Kurama, don't be angry, I'm doing this for your own good."
Sarutobi Asuma's expression, as if he were acting in the Nine-Tails' best interest, made the Nine-Tails freeze for a moment before roaring, "You bastard, how do you know my name?"
Sarutobi Asuma floated before the Nine-Tails, not answering him, but instead saying, "The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, the husk of the Ten-Tails, has already been summoned to the ninja world by the Rinnegan. I imagine you know what that means?"
The Nine-Tails' pupils constricted.
"Kurama, you wouldn't want to become a part of the Ten-Tails, would you?"
"So, it's best if you cooperate with us and get along with Kushina-nee-san and Naruto."
As he spoke, Truth-Seeking Balls appeared one after another behind Sarutobi Asuma.
The Nine-Tails was shocked again. "This brat, he's even with that Six Paths old man..."
Sarutobi Asuma, however, manipulated the Truth-Seeking Balls to merge together, forming a black chain.
With a flick of his right hand, one end of the chain plunged into the Nine-Tails' body.
"Brat, I'm not someone who just obeys orders!"
The Nine-Tails roared, but he gave up struggling.
After all, the guy in front of him was too powerful. He couldn't resist at all, so he could only lie down and accept it.
Instantly, his soul was pulled out by Sarutobi Asuma's Truth-Seeking Ball chain.
"Kushina-nee-san!"
Sarutobi Asuma called out softly.
"Understood!"
Uzumaki Kushina gritted her teeth, and chains shot out from her back, binding the Yin Nine-Tails and pulling it into her body.
Sarutobi Asuma immediately created a Shadow Clone that went in front of Uzumaki Kushina and pressed down on her abdomen.
Sage Power Eight Trigrams Seal!
With the sealing complete, Uzumaki Kushina immediately received a surge of chakra from within the seal. It was gentle and full of vitality, instantly replenishing her depleted state.
On Sarutobi Asuma's main body's side, he placed the Yang Nine-Tails into the young Naruto's body, and Minato then set up the sealing.
Thus, the Nine-Tails was divided and sealed!
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others arrived outside the barrier.
After removing the barrier, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others rushed forward.
"How is it?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked quickly.
"Don't worry, the Nine-Tails has been resealed."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled.
Everyone looked at the unharmed Uzumaki Kushina and breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Especially Sarutobi Hiruzen.
This grand performance was finally over; it was too intense.
He was getting old and couldn't handle it.
On the other side.
Uchiha Obito met up with Zetsu.
"You're injured!"
White Zetsu was very surprised seeing Uchiha Obito.
"I underestimated Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Asuma!"
Uchiha Obito said.
This statement was half-true and half-false.
My recent battle with Teacher Minato Namikaze, he truly held nothing back.
If this wasn't acting, and if he didn't have Hashirama Cells, I probably would have been killed.
"Let's go, the Nine-Tails has been resealed into the Jinchuriki by Asuma Sarutobi, we need to accumulate more strength and collect the other Tailed Beasts first!"
With that, Obito Uchiha turned and left.
Ten thousand words updated today, I'll continue writing for tomorrow!
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