A sharp buzz sliced through the air as chakra chains brushed past Orochimaru's hair, the metallic sound echoing through the battlefield. Four chains snapped around Shinno's massive form, binding his limbs tightly.
Each chain led to a different master — Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado — all forming hand seals with one hand. Their voices rang in unison.
> "Four Symbols Sealing!"
The chains pulsed with power, glowing with vibrant chakra that forced itself into Shinno's body. The air quivered as the sealing formula spread across his skin, forming glowing symbols that shimmered like molten iron.
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed.
This chakra… similar to the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques.
His curiosity sparked. So Konoha developed their own version from the Uzumaki methods. Fascinating…
Shinno roared, his voice cracking the air like thunder.
"Again with this seal?! Is that all you can do?!"
Despite his rage, his massive body trembled as the Four Symbols Sealing drained the last of his chakra. His movements grew sluggish under the combined power of the four elders.
"Enough!" Orochimaru shouted, sprinting forward. "We'll end this now!"
He thrust his palm directly into Shinno's chest.
Shinno sneered, even as his body shook from the impact. "Useless! Your attacks—"
His words froze. A complex web of glowing seals spread from Orochimaru's hand, wrapping around his entire body. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"W–what did you do to me?!"
Orochimaru's tone was calm, almost amused.
"This is a Contract Seal. The Zero-Tails isn't sealed inside you—it's bound to you through a contract. I merely… terminated that agreement."
A strangled scream erupted from Shinno as the connection snapped. The Zero-Tails, a swirling mass of black chakra, tore itself from his back, screeching as it was forced out into the open air.
Freed from its host, Shinno's body began to shrink rapidly, his once-mighty physique collapsing like a deflating balloon.
The Zero-Tails turned its eyeless head toward the nearest massive chakra presence — Uzumaki Mito. Its body quivered with hunger, sensing the Nine-Tails sealed within her.
It lunged forward with terrifying speed.
"Grandma Mito!" Hiruzen shouted, eyes wide. He and the others released their chains, rushing to intercept the monster.
Golden Adamantine Sealing Chains burst from Mito's back, glimmering in the sunlight. She prepared to counterattack — but before she could, she noticed Orochimaru forming a series of hand seals behind her.
The chains vanished, retracted by his will.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
The ground rumbled violently. A colossal wall of rock surged upward, towering hundreds of meters high. The Zero-Tails crashed into it with a guttural roar, its black aura bursting against the surface. It struck again and again, trying to break through to the Jinchūriki beyond.
Shinno laughed weakly, watching the chaos unfold.
"Without my control, the Zero-Tails goes wild! You'll regret this—ha ha ha!"
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, his expression cold.
"An instinct-driven beast is easier to seal than one with a mind of its own."
His fingers flashed through hand signs.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Two identical Orochimarus appeared beside him, both emanating the same Sage Mode aura. The clones flanked the Zero-Tails, slamming their palms to the ground in perfect sync.
Intricate sealing symbols rippled outwards like waves, forming a vast circle around the beast.
> "Ryougi Sealing!"
This was an ancient sealing art of the Uzumaki Clan, designed for binding summoned creatures. Slightly weaker than the Four Symbols Seal, yet far more effective for suppressing monsters of chakra origin. However, it demanded two masters of Yin and Yang Release — a condition the Sage clones fulfilled perfectly.
Under the combined pressure, the Zero-Tails' writhing mass began to shrink. The seal tightened until its form compressed into a swirling black-and-white Taiji sphere of balanced chakra.
Orochimaru studied it thoughtfully.
"Now then… where should I keep you?"
He smirked.
I certainly won't seal you within myself.
His mind flashed to Naino, and the life force she had spent using forbidden jutsu.
If this thing's vitality could be harnessed, perhaps… it could help her recover.
After a moment of consideration, Orochimaru took out his tea thermos — the same one he used to brew medicinal tea. Since the Zero-Tails was a being of living chakra, similar to a Tailed Beast, it couldn't simply be sealed in a scroll. But for a short time, a sturdy container would suffice.
"Perfect."
The sphere of light shrank, slipping into the thermos with a soft pop. Orochimaru bit his thumb, drew a sealing formula on a paper talisman, and pressed it onto the lid.
The thermos glowed faintly — the Zero-Tails was contained.
Across the field, Uzumaki Mito felt the Nine-Tails' agitation fade, as if the presence of the Zero-Tails had truly vanished.
"How could it be…" Shinno's voice trembled, his hollow eyes fixed on the thermos. "My Zero-Tails… sealed just like that? In that little cup?!"
Orochimaru looked at him, shaking the thermos lightly. "Sorry, what was that? Mind repeating yourself?"
Before Shinno could respond, a thunderous explosion erupted from above.
The Sky Fortress — the colossal airborne base of the Sky Ninja — was burning. Flames engulfed its hull as it began to descend rapidly, its engines exploding one after another.
"It's falling! Everyone, move!" Hiruzen yelled.
He grabbed a chain to pull Shinno along but froze when he saw the man's twisted grin.
"Come die with me!" Shinno hissed, yanking the chain violently.
But he had overestimated his strength. The contract's severing had drained his chakra — he was no longer the monster he had been.
"Die alone if you wish."
Hiruzen released the chain and leaped away without hesitation. His duty as Hokage outweighed any sentiment. If he died here, Konoha would descend into chaos.
Shinno screamed as the Sky Fortress plummeted.
"AHHHHHH!"
The structure struck the ground with a deafening BOOM, shaking the earth for miles.
Far below, Konoha's shinobi cleaning up the battlefield looked up to see the flaming wreckage crashing down. A wave of triumphant cheers erupted across the ranks.
They had done it — Konoha had survived the Sky Ninja's invasion.
Children in the underground shelters felt the tremor beneath their feet. Some snuck out, standing atop Hokage Rock, watching in awe as the massive fortress crumbled in the distance.
In the chaos, a small, unnoticed white snake slithered through the debris, a scroll marked "Confidential" clutched in its mouth.
---
In the Hokage's Office
"Hokage-sama," an ANBU reported, kneeling before Hiruzen. "We've returned from the Whirlpool Country. We… found the ruins of Uzushiogakure."
Hiruzen frowned, his pipe slipping from his lips and scattering embers across his desk. "Ruins? What are you saying?"
The ANBU's tone wavered. "Uzushiogakure has been destroyed. We found corpses bearing the insignias of the Four Great Shinobi Villages — Mist, Cloud, Rock, and Sand."
The pipe clattered to the floor. Sparks flew, igniting the papers on Hiruzen's desk.
"This… this can't be." His voice trembled. Uzushiogakure had been Konoha's long-standing ally for generations. To imagine it wiped out… was unthinkable.
He slumped into his chair as ANBU rushed to extinguish the flames, his eyes blank with disbelief.
---
Later — Uzumaki Mito's Residence
The quiet clink of porcelain echoed as Mito's teacup fell from her hand and shattered. The faint scent of herbs filled the air — the same tea Orochimaru had brewed for her.
"Hiruzen… what did you just say?" she asked, voice trembling.
Hiruzen bowed deeply. "Grandma Mito… Uzushiogakure is gone. When I sent ANBU there, the village had already been destroyed. From the evidence, the attack was a joint operation by the four major hidden villages. It seems your identity as the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki was leaked."
Mito closed her eyes, her expression unreadable. "I see… Thank you, Hiruzen. That will be all."
Her tone was calm, but her heart bled. She understood why the four villages had moved — the Uzumaki Clan's sealing arts were unmatched, and her mastery of the Nine-Tails had made them fearful.
Whether it was their bloodline, their power, or their knowledge… all of it had made the Uzumaki a target.
And I… I was the reason they perished.
Hiruzen hesitated but eventually bowed and left. He planned to have Biwako check on her later; he feared what grief might drive her to do.
As silence filled the room, Mito rested her trembling hands on the table, staring blankly ahead. Memories of Uzushiogakure — her home, her people — flooded her mind. Tears streamed silently down her face.
Even the Nine-Tails within her remained quiet, feeling her sorrow. It dared not mock her.
---
A soft voice broke the silence.
"Grandma Mito, crying won't help your health."
She looked up. Orochimaru stood before her, holding out a white handkerchief.
"Orochimaru… what are you doing here?" she asked, taking it.
"I came because there's something I need to tell you — something I hope you'll keep secret."
Her brows furrowed. "Very well. You have my word."
Orochimaru nodded, his expression serious.
"The survivors of Uzushiogakure… are safe. They're in the Land of Waves, under the care of the White Snake Pharmaceutical Company."
Mito froze, eyes widening in shock. "You're certain of this?"
"Yes," Orochimaru said firmly. "Before returning to Konoha, I traveled there myself. I sent them to the company — my company. They were taken in and are safe… for now."
Her hands trembled, a faint glimmer of relief breaking through her sorrow.
"Thank you, Orochimaru…"
He smiled faintly — a rare, human smile.
"Don't thank me yet, Grandma Mito. Keeping them safe will only get harder from here."
The candlelight flickered between them, casting long shadows against the wall — two figures burdened by secrets, tied together by the same tragedy.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)