"Lord Third Hokage! Lord Third! The Nine-Tails, it's—!"
"There is no Third Hokage here."
At the Hokage's office, Homelander stood before the full-length window, his expression venomous.
The chūnin who came to report the emergency stumbled back in fear.
Sometime during the chaos, Homelander had changed into a brand-new variation of the Hokage's robes. No longer a traditional cloak and hat — he had refashioned the garb into a flowing cape.
A ring of blazing red flame embroidered the collar, radiating outward from a glowing white "火" (Fire) kanji on his back. His shoulders bore golden Konoha insignias, and instead of a typical sash, his belt was a tied Konoha forehead protector.
This was his new image.
A bold, dramatic visual — designed to leave an unforgettable impression on the people of Konoha, and elevate him to the status of a living legend.
At that very moment, his gaze stretched toward the edge of the village…
Where the Nine-Tails rampaged in full fury.
Compared to the one in the original timeline, this version was far more vicious.
Good.
Just as he hoped.
"Not bad at all, Obito."
Homelander smirked inwardly, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face.
"Tell the villagers their Fourth Hokage is preparing a forbidden-level jutsu to subdue the Nine-Tails. Let them know salvation is on the way."
He waved dismissively, and the chūnin rushed off.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Once the room cleared, a shadow emerged.
It was Shisui.
He knelt behind Homelander in silent deference.
Homelander already knew what he wanted.
Eyes still closed, he said:
"Go, Shisui. Let your clan prove themselves."
His effortless permission shocked Shisui.
He had expected the usual: a Hokage forcing the Uchiha to stay away, to protect children, or guard the perimeter.
But now—To be trusted as an Uchiha…
To be given frontline duty against the Nine-Tails?
It was deeply moving.
"Understood, Lord Hokage! The Uchiha will not let you down!"
And just like that, he vanished into the shadows.
Unlike the original timeline — where the Uchiha were sent away — this time, the Uchiha joined the battle.
And the battlefield became much more interesting.
---
The Third Hokage led the elite forces of Konoha's major clans in a desperate, all-out assault against the Nine-Tails.
They had no idea why the beast suddenly appeared in the village, but they followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's command without hesitation — ready to lay down their lives.
In the chaos:
The Nara clan unleashed a Shadow Demon Binding Technique, locking the Nine-Tails in place.
Choza Akimichi, using Super Expansion Jutsu, became a towering titan. With sumo-like momentum, he threw his full weight forward and slammed the Nine-Tails onto the ground.
In that instant—
The Inuzuka clan's Fang Over Fang technique drilled into the beast's skull.
The Aburame clan followed up with a Massive Insect Sphere, unleashing thousands of kikaichū bugs to swarm the fox's body.
"Now! Fire Style!"
Using the Yamanaka clan's wide-range telepathy, the Third Hokage's grizzled voice thundered across Konoha's skies.
A colossal golden staff descended — the Adamantine Staff — smashing down on the Nine-Tails' skull with earth-shaking force.
BOOM!!
"ROOOAAARR!!!"
The Nine-Tails reeled, stunned for a brief moment.
But only for a moment.
By then, the entire village's shinobi had prepared their Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Fireballs rained down like meteor showers — each one exploding in glorious brilliance.
But they didn't even singe a single strand of the Nine-Tails' fur.
"Heh… hahaha…"
From the vast night sky, someone laughed with malicious delight.
The insect swarm on the Nine-Tails' body was burned to ashes by its immense chakra.
Freed from the Nara clan's shadows, the beast rose — and in one violent sweep of its tail, smashed Choza's giant form to the ground.
BOOM!!
The earth shook.
Dust and rock erupted.
A giant had fallen.
Civilians screamed in terror, scattering in every direction.
The Hyūga clan's Palm Rotation shielded as many as it could, escorting them into emergency shelters hidden within the Hokage Monument.
But falling debris still crashed into crowds, crushing many before they could escape.
In the cold, desolate night, the air was filled with wailing and despair.
"Damn it… it's not enough…"
The Third Hokage panted heavily, armor cracked and body exhausted — yet the Nine-Tails remained unharmed.
"Lord Third! What do we do now?!"
The clan leaders turned toward him, desperation in their voices.
A heavy weight settled in Hiruzen's chest.
He clenched his jaw.
"Fall back. I'll seal the Nine-Tails myself."
Everyone's faces changed.
They knew what that meant.
There was no stopping him.
"I'll go call the Fourth!"
Someone turned to leave.
But—
"Don't bother."
Hiruzen's voice stopped them.
He knew Senju Homelander's abilities well enough.
The man was a political puppet — raised only to prevent Danzo from seizing power.
At best, a decent ninja with slightly above-average chakra reserves.
Sending him to face the Nine-Tails?
A joke.
"Has anyone seen Minato? Namikaze Minato?"
The Third finally asked.
But all the clan leaders shook their heads.
The Yellow Flash was a ghost — he came and went like lightning.
No one knew where he was.
"Don't tell me… I'll have to use that…"
Hiruzen's expression twisted with hesitation.
The Reaper Death Seal.
He'd only learned its rough theory — barely a crude imitation.
Even sealing two hands would exhaust him.
How could he possibly seal the Nine-Tails?
Just then—
The Nine-Tails' pupils suddenly contracted.
Its eyes — once glowing with Obito's genjutsu — reverted to their natural state.
Minato had severed the link.
Using a Contract Seal, he had locked away Obito's chakra and broken the control over the beast.
Now fully unleashed, the Nine-Tails regained its will — and its hatred.
"DIE! YOU IGNORANT FOOLS!!!"
After centuries sealed away, the beast's rage boiled over.
It leapt high, then came crashing down — crushing homes and people in a single stomp.
Then, it began to charge a dark purple sphere of energy—
Not just a Tailed Beast Ball…
this was a Tailed Beast Cannon — designed to level the entire village in one sweep.
At that moment—
Everyone froze.
The dark violet glow illuminated the terrified, helpless expressions of every man, woman, and child.
"It's over…"
"We're finished…"
"We're going to die here…"
"SOMEBODY HELP US!!!"
The villagers screamed.
Tears were vaporized by the intense heat.
Elders sat quietly, remembering their youth.
Young lovers embraced and kissed for the final time.
Children clung desperately to their mothers, refusing to let go.
A living hell.
Hiruzen's forehead dripped cold sweat.
He dropped the Adamantine Staff and began weaving the long, complicated seals for the Reaper Death Seal.
But it was too late.
The Tailed Beast Cannon was nearly complete.
The moment it fired—
Konoha would cease to exist.
---
…
…
"Enough… Nine-Tails!!"
Suddenly, just as hell was about to erupt—
Satan— no, Homelander descended.
There, atop the towering Hokage Monument, stood Homelander.
His silhouette tall and unwavering.
The wind caught his billowing cape —
the blazing "火" kanji on his back shone like a beacon of hope.