The battlefield above Konoha had turned into a chaotic storm of wind, smoke, and screaming Chakra.
Members of the Shimura Clan stood shoulder to shoulder, their cheeks puffing as they unleashed Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, spitting out countless bullet-like blasts of compressed air. The sky thundered with the noise of their assault as the Wind bullets shredded through the Sky Ninja troops, tearing holes in their wings and armor. One after another, the airborne soldiers fell like broken dolls from the heavens.
Around them, Chimera Bugs—massive, grotesque fusions of insect and beast—filled the air with a low hum. Their chitinous pincers snapped like thunderclaps as their scorpion-like tails lashed out, skewering the Sky Ninja who dared approach.
Beneath their wings, Kikaichu swarmed like dark clouds, forming protective barriers around their monstrous allies. Every motion of their wings generated waves of Chakra-laced air that tore through the Sky Ninja's formations.
Watching this surreal scene, the Hyuga Clan Chunin and Genin stationed in Konoha could only stare in disbelief. The enemy was high in the sky—too far even for their Byakugan-enhanced eyes to strike effectively. Their kunai and shuriken fell uselessly back to the ground. Frustration and helplessness weighed heavily on their faces.
All the strong Hyuga—those capable of Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm—had already been sent to the front lines. The ones left behind were not elite warriors, merely defenders, and not even a single Jonin remained among them.
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Smoke Dragon Technique—!"
Five members of the Iburi Clan weaved through a series of hand signs in perfect unison. Their bodies melted into swirling smoke that twisted and merged, forming a massive dragon of vapor. With a mighty roar, the Smoke Dragon surged forward, its ethereal form smashing into a smaller Sky Ninja airship.
The metal hull screamed and burst into flames as it spiraled down to the ground.
But the dragon wasn't finished. It turned, its form rippling like a living storm, and lunged at another squad of Sky Ninja. Bullets and kunai fired from their aerial weapons passed harmlessly through the smoke. The dragon roared again and swallowed them whole in a swirl of gray haze.
"Multi-Size Technique!"
An enormous shadow loomed beneath the dragon. An Akimichi Clan ninja grew to titanic proportions, his arms swelling like tree trunks. With a swing that cracked the air, he struck a group of Sky Ninja out of the sky, sending them flying like rag dolls.
"Mind-Body Disturbance Technique!"
The voices of the Yamanaka Clan joined in. They clasped their hands together, their eyes glowing faintly. In an instant, several Sky Ninja lost control of their bodies, spinning midair and colliding with their own comrades, causing chaos among their ranks.
"Sharingan!"
From the rooftop of a nearby building, Uchiha En opened his eyes—scarlet orbs whirled into the three-tomoe pattern of the Sharingan. His gaze locked onto the enemies above, and in a blink, illusions wrapped around them like invisible chains.
"No…" one Sky Ninja gasped, his body stiffening mid-flight.
"Witness the power of the Uchiha!" En's voice boomed. "Feel despair beneath these eyes!"
In a flash, En leapt onto the back of the ensnared Sky Ninja, using his genjutsu to control the man like a puppet. With eerie precision, he sent the controlled enemy spiraling through the air, crashing into his comrades and striking them down.
Across Konoha, other Uchiha—members of the Military Police Force—followed his lead. Their Sharingan eyes glowed like a sea of red stars, manipulating the Sky Ninja midair, riding them like mounts and turning their enemies' advantage into a weapon of their own.
---
On top of the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado stared into the sky.
Above them loomed the source of the chaos—the Sky Ninja's Air Fortress—a colossal metallic castle that cast its enormous shadow over the Hidden Leaf.
"How… how can it be this big…" Hiruzen muttered, his voice trembling in disbelief.
Danzo's single visible eye narrowed. "No wonder we couldn't find their base. Who would have thought it was floating right above us all along?"
"We have to stop it," Koharu said gravely. "If that fortress has any form of weaponry, it could destroy Konoha in minutes."
Homura's face was equally grim. "Then we'll have to use the Four Red Yang Formation. It's the only barrier strong enough to hold something of that size. But if we do… we'll be trapped maintaining it."
Hiruzen clenched his teeth. "Then we'll have to destroy it before that happens!"
He bit his thumb and slammed his hand against the rooftop. "Summoning Technique!"
With a deafening bang and a puff of smoke, the mighty Monkey King Enma appeared. His fur bristled, his eyes fierce as he surveyed the chaos below.
"Hiruzen, what's happening—?"
"No time to explain! Transform into the Adamantine Staff!"
"Understood!"
In a burst of light, Enma transformed into a massive golden staff that landed in Hiruzen's hands. The Third Hokage gripped it tightly, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Danzo! Koharu! En! Lend me your strength!"
Danzo's expression twisted. "What are you planning, old fool?!"
But Enma already knew. Even in staff form, he could feel Hiruzen's intent—a reckless plan born of desperation. His single eye opened on the staff's surface.
"Wait—Hiruzen, you're not planning to—!"
"Hold on tight, Enma!" Hiruzen roared.
He surged forward, his muscles bulging as Yang Release Chakra coursed through his veins. The tiles beneath his feet cracked. His body swelled with power, his eyes fierce, his face flushed crimson.
"Hah!"
He swung the staff like a spear, driving it against the side of the Air Fortress. The impact made the sky itself tremble. The massive fortress groaned, its metallic structure screeching as it shifted slightly off balance.
"Wind Release! Gale Force Burst!"
Danzo joined in, his cheeks puffing as he exhaled a focused blast of compressed wind. The gust slammed into the fortress, helping push it farther away.
Koharu and Homura rushed behind them, channeling Chakra into Hiruzen and Danzo's backs to support their bodies. "Yes, Hokage-sama! We'll lend you everything we've got!"
The combined effort made the air ripple like water. The fortress shuddered violently.
From within the flying castle, the Sky Ninja leader, Shinno, felt the tremor. His eyes widened. "What's going on? Why is the fortress moving?!"
He turned to his subordinates. "Keep it steady! We must remain above Konoha!"
But before they could react, a massive shockwave rippled through the structure. The Air Fortress tilted violently, throwing soldiers off balance.
Back on the ground, Hiruzen let out a mighty roar and heaved with all his might.
"Now, Enma!"
The Adamantine Staff groaned under the strain. Enma's voice echoed in his mind. "Hiruzen… I can't hold this form much longer!"
"Just a little more!"
With one final, earth-shattering push, Hiruzen drove the Air Fortress away from Konoha. The metal beast lurched backward, drifting off the village's border before it tumbled into the distance.
When it finally cleared the sky above the Hidden Leaf, the Adamantine Staff dissolved into smoke, leaving behind a gasping, exhausted Enma who collapsed beside Hiruzen.
For a moment, silence blanketed Konoha—then a wave of triumphant cheers erupted.
"Konoha has pushed them back!"
"The Hokage-sama did it!"
The Leaf shinobi's morale soared, and they redoubled their attacks against the remaining Sky Ninja, cutting them down with renewed fury.
Danzo staggered beside Hiruzen, panting heavily. "Hah… that's the most Chakra I've ever used for a single Wind Release…"
Koharu smiled faintly despite her exhaustion. "You did well, Hiruzen…"
But above the clouds, Shinno only laughed. His red eyes gleamed with madness as he turned to the center of the fortress—a vast cylindrical chamber pulsing with dark, fleshy growths.
Inside the writhing mass, something was awakening.
"Don't misunderstand, Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is still alive—Uzumaki Mito!" he hissed, his eyes bloodshot. "With the flesh and blood of the Nine-Tails as sacrifice—arise! Zero-Tails! Consume Konoha's Nine-Tails and become the Sky Ninja's ultimate weapon!"
As Shinno's chant echoed, a chilling roar shook the chamber. A monstrous being took shape—its body serpentine, its face masked, and the character "零" ("Zero") glowing on its forehead.
"Come, Zero-Tails! Together, we will conquer the Shinobi World!"
The creature coiled and swallowed Shinno whole. Dark purple Chakra erupted from its body, staining the skies above like an ominous dawn.
---
Far away, in the Whirlpool Country, a tragedy of its own was unfolding.
The proud Uzushiogakure—Village Hidden in Whirlpools—was burning.
Armies from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure had descended upon the village like vultures. Their goal was clear: the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques.
They showed no mercy. Scrolls, books, and sacred artifacts were stolen, homes burned, and civilians slaughtered. The peaceful island had become a sea of fire and blood.
At the center of the chaos, Uzumaki Chigusa, leader of the clan, stood defiantly amidst her people. "Stand your ground!" she cried. "Protect our home!"
Chains of pure Chakra erupted from her back—Adamantine Sealing Chains—lashing out and binding the enemy. Several Mist and Cloud ninja screamed as their Chakra was sealed.
But there were too many. Even as she fought, she knew—it was already too late to call for Konoha's help.
"For the future of our clan…" she whispered, determination hardening her eyes. "I will protect as many as I can!"
From the shadows, a Mist Ninja's watery form lunged, his arm transforming into a cannon. "Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"
A bullet of water pierced Chigusa's abdomen. She coughed blood but did not fall. With one hand clutching her wound, she raised her other and summoned her chains again, impaling the Hozuki assassin where he stood.
"Chief Chigusa!" cried Uzumaki Naino, her faithful retainer, unfurling a massive scroll. Sealing formulae poured out, ensnaring more enemies in glowing chains of kanji.
But then—a blade slid through her chest.
Naino's eyes widened. She coughed blood onto her scroll, her life bleeding into the seals. The ink flared crimson as her forbidden technique activated.
"Cursed Seal Blood Imprint!" she screamed.
The seals turned blood-red, flying at her attackers. The elite ninja shrieked as the seals pierced their bodies, draining their Chakra and life until they collapsed lifelessly.
Naino's red hair dulled to gray. She smiled weakly through the pain. "Even at the cost of my life… this is the pride of the Uzumaki."
But the tide did not stop.
From every direction came water dragons, lightning blades, and puppet projectiles. The village was being annihilated.
Chigusa knew there was only one option left.
With her remaining strength, she unleashed all her Adamantine Chains, creating a massive sealing barrier around the village. The barrier expanded outward, pushing all surviving villagers to safety while trapping the invaders inside.
Her people screamed, "Chief Chigusa! Come with us!"
She smiled sadly. "Don't worry about me. Run! You are the future of the Uzumaki Clan!"
The light of the barrier flared one final time—then the Whirlpool Village was consumed by fire and silence.
---
And somewhere, far away, Uchiha Madara sat on a rooftop, gazing at the inferno with cold amusement. His hand rested under his chin as his lips curved into a faint, cruel smile.
"No matter the era," he murmured, "the strong will always be feared… even that fool Hashirama was no exception."
He remembered the day of Hashirama's funeral, when every Hidden Village had sent false condolences, all while plotting wars in secret.
"How entertaining," he chuckled softly, watching the flames devour Uzushiogakure. "Fear, greed, destruction… nothing ever changes."
As the final seal ignited and the Whirlpool Village vanished into a sea of red light, the name Uzumaki was carved forever into the tragic history of the ninja world.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)