The battlefield was still trembling from the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' rampage. Mountains of rubble, scorched earth, and shattered buildings bore witness to the colossal struggle between man and beast.
Senju Tobirama arrived slightly behind schedule, his pace hurried but calculated. His eyes scanned the chaotic scene, taking in the sheer power left in the wake of Uchiha Madara's Susanoo. Even in its weakened state, the remnants of its chakra radiated an aura of deadly precision. Tobirama knew immediately what had to be done:
Prevent Madara from escaping Konoha at all costs.
Despite the urgency of the moment, Tobirama's mind was clear. He quickly dispatched orders to ANBU squads across the village, instructing them to block every possible escape route. No alley, no bridge, no secret passage was to remain unchecked.
Once the perimeter was secured, Tobirama's thoughts shifted. His priority now was to assist Emiya Shihara. If the cursed seal could be lifted from Shihara in time, he might pursue the weakened Madara and deliver the fatal blow that had eluded him before.
Yet as he approached, Tobirama realized with some surprise that he had arrived just a step too late.
It was Emiya Shihara who had taken the initiative, engaging directly with the Nine-Tails and containing its rampage with remarkable composure. For Konoha, this intervention could not have been more timely. Hashirama Senju had not yet fully recovered from his injuries, and Mito Uzumaki, though immensely skilled, was weakened from suppressing the Nine-Tails' energy. Tobirama himself, known as the fastest shinobi of his time, found his chakra partially blocked by the residual effects of the cursed seal.
In such circumstances, it was only natural that Shihara Shihara step forward.
---
"Sasuke!" Tobirama called out, his voice cutting through the roar of the Nine-Tails. "Take your men and assist the ANBU squads. Search every sector of the village! We will handle the Nine-Tails once the perimeter is secure."
"Yes!" Sarutobi Sasuke responded immediately, gathering his team to execute Tobirama's orders.
Hashirama, meanwhile, could not tear his eyes from Shihara Shihara's battle. There was something oddly familiar about him. His profile, the way he moved, the aura surrounding him—everything hinted at a memory long past.
"Brother…" Hashirama whispered softly to Tobirama. "Do you see him? That boy… or man… I feel as though I've seen him before, as a child perhaps. Is this real… or merely an illusion?"
Tobirama's jaw tightened, his expression stoic. He remained silent, unwilling to acknowledge the flicker of a memory that unsettled him.
"Brother, how dare you question such a thing?" Hashirama continued, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Have you forgotten our childhood? How we would sneak past Shihara Shihara's crystal coffin, where Father would educate us so rigorously? You—"
"Enough," Tobirama interrupted, forcing the discussion to a close. His mind returned to the present threat. "Forget Shihara Shihara for now. What of Madara? How did he escape death? Was this yet another of his schemes? I suspect he has been observing Konoha in secret. If he intended to strike, this is exactly how he would have done it."
Tobirama's instincts told him the truth. Madara's timing and his sudden appearance near Shihara Shihara were no coincidence. Perhaps he had some unfinished business with the man. Perhaps he sought to capture or eliminate him.
If that were the case… the village itself could be in grave danger.
Shihara Shihara was the only one who understood Hashirama's condition. He alone possessed the knowledge necessary to preserve Hashirama's life. If Madara had acted against him, the consequences could spark a war that would engulf all the ninja nations.
Hashirama's face fell silent. He could only nod slightly, his mind heavy with the responsibility of the moment.
"Let's deal with the Nine-Tails first," Hashirama said quietly, his voice calm but resolute. "Once this battle ends, I will track down Madara myself. If he still intends to threaten Konoha… I will stop him. At any cost."
---
On the battlefield, Emiya Shihara faced the Nine-Tails with absolute focus. The beast roared, its colossal form bristling with malice, yet it had not even attempted to form a Tailed Beast Ball. Shihara Shihara, ever calm and calculating, raised his left hand and pointed toward the creature.
"Earth Release!"
The ground trembled as chunks of rock and mud surged upward. The earth itself seemed to obey Shihara Shihara's will, coalescing into a solid mass that rapidly enveloped the Nine-Tails' body. The beast struggled, claws raking at the earth, but the technique held firm.
Beneath his feet, the cursed seal manifested, spreading through the dirt and rocks like a black river. The combination of natural and forbidden energy transformed the mound into an unbreakable prison. The Nine-Tails' movements were restricted entirely, its massive body immobilized except for its thrashing head and one claw barely missing Shihara Shihara's position.
A faint smile crossed Shihara Shihara's face as he gazed at the restrained creature. Nostalgia flickered in his eyes.
"It still feels the same as when I was a child… always a little short at the critical moment," he muttered softly.
Hashirama and Tobirama watched in awe. Even the legendary Hashirama Senju could not hide his surprise.
"Too strong…" Hashirama remarked casually, a subtle edge of sarcasm in his tone.
"Indeed," Mito Uzumaki added, her voice carrying quiet admiration. Even she, a master of sealing techniques, recognized the depth of Shihara Shihara's skill.
Tobirama analyzed the technique further, noting its sophistication. "No hand seals… yet such a powerful earth-style ninjutsu, seamlessly integrated with the cursed seal's energy. Incredible."
In this era, even a medical ninja could wield power that rivaled the strongest warriors, shaping both battlefield and fate with precise chakra control.
---
Shihara Shihara moved once more, stepping directly in front of the Nine-Tails. He raised his finger, focusing the Sharingan's genjutsu to clarify the creature's perception, purging the lingering influence of Madara's control.
"Release!" he commanded.
The Nine-Tails, freed from external manipulation, roared in fury. Yet the rage that had defined it for centuries was now tempered by memory and recognition. Shihara Shihara snapped his fingers near the beast's ear, a small motion that carried the weight of familiarity and authority.
The Nine-Tails froze. Ancient memories stirred within it, resurfacing as fragmented images of a past long forgotten.
"Kurama, are you awake?" Shihara Shihara's voice was soft, yet resolute.
The tailed beast blinked, recognition dawning. Sleepy eyes, forged in the distant past, now regarded the small, fragile human who had once been part of its world.
"Let me sleep a little longer…" Kurama murmured, a habit carried from centuries past, when it had been forced into servitude by humans and summoned against its will.
The realization struck both of them simultaneously: this was no longer the ancient era. The fragile, mortal human Kurama remembered should have been long dead. And yet… here he stood.
"Emiya Shihara…" the Nine-Tails' voice trembled with disbelief, eyes spinning with recognition and emotion.
Shihara Shihara's face reflected mild surprise. "Almost forgot we were old friends," he said quietly, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
[SSS-Level Mission: Quell the Nine-Tails Rebellion in Konoha. Mission Complete. Reward: Nine-Tails Chakra (SSS-Level Chakra) and Tailed Beast Ball. Currently inaccessible due to Impure World Reincarnation.]
Even in ancient times, such power had been available to him, yet he had chosen restraint. He had nearly become the first Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, yet he had refrained—for reasons known only to himself.
Kurama's eyes flared suddenly, sharp and piercing. "You… have forgotten?" it growled, the beast's fury now tempered by the familiarity it felt. Its tail flicked angrily, teeth bared.
"You have learned to curse as well…" Shihara Shihara said, glancing at the beast with curiosity.
Kurama stared, a mixture of wariness and long-suppressed affection in its gaze. "Do you think I dare not kill you?" it hissed.
Shihara Shihara merely extended a hand, scratching the Nine-Tails' chin lightly—a gesture of both familiarity and authority.
"It seems you have not had a good life these past thousand years," he said quietly.
The beast's immense form shifted slightly, acknowledging the words. Even the most ferocious creature in the ninja world, bound by hatred and pain, could sense the bond they once shared.
And for the first time in centuries, the Nine-Tails remained still, its rage momentarily at peace, recognizing a friend in the world of men and legends.
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