A deafening roar echoed throughout Cloud Village.
It sounded like a longing for freedom.
Or perhaps the venting of long-suppressed resentment.
Boom!
Inside the seal space, Kushina sat atop the still-bound Nine-Tails' head.
"Behave yourself and get moving. If you don't, I won't let you out for fresh air anymore. I'll do it myself."
The Nine-Tails didn't dare complain anymore.
Damn Kushina. She could now draw on its chakra whenever she pleased, without needing its consent.
In front of her, it had absolutely no dignity left.
Come to think of it, what happened to that plan to split it in half?
Looking at things now, that plan would have been for its own good.
At least half of it could have escaped this abyss.
Outside...
The Nine-Tails charged straight at the Eight-Tails.
I don't want to fight you either, but I've got no choice.
The Nine-Tails hammered its fists into the Eight-Tails over and over.
"Bee, it's the Nine-Tails."
"I know, Eight. Give it everything you've got."
"Got it."
"Tailed Beast Eight Twists!"
The Eight-Tails spun its eight tails like turbocharged propellers and charged forward.
The two colossal beasts collided in a brutal clash.
The real victims were the surrounding buildings.
A mere graze meant major repairs.
One solid hit rendered them completely unusable.
...
At the gathering place of Cloud Village's upper leadership—
"Damn it. The Nine-Tails. Konoha did this."
A's eyes burned with rage. He had never imagined Konoha would attack Cloud Village directly.
"A, since we've already done it, there's no point fearing retaliation. We expected something like this the moment we decided to hunt down Jiraiya. Call for reinforcements. Cloud Village can't handle Konoha alone."
Dodai spoke calmly.
Ever since the Four Nations Alliance was formed, he had anticipated this day.
He simply hadn't expected it to come so soon.
Konoha had truly become ruthless in seeking revenge. Nothing like the Konoha of old.
A nodded.
"Use the Heavenly Transfer Technique and send messages to all the Kage. Cloud Village can hold them off for three days. If they don't arrive within three days, Cloud Village will withdraw from the alliance."
"Understood."
"A, watch out for the Fourth Hokage. He can retreat at any moment. Bee's Tailed Beast Bomb suddenly appeared in the center of the village earlier—that had to be his doing."
Dodai reminded him.
"Don't worry. As long as I find Namikaze Minato, he won't have time to worry about anyone else."
A replied confidently.
After all these years, he hadn't been standing still.
Cloud Village's Heavenly Transfer Technique truly excelled at delivering messages.
...
Ōnoki of the Hidden Stone Village had already set out.
"Sigh... Konoha found out after all. What a shame we barely managed to inflict any damage."
Meanwhile, Karatachi Yagura and Terumi Mei departed from the sea and headed toward Cloud Village.
"Terumi Mei, you're the biggest variable in this battle. Konoha won't expect you to have broken through to Kage level in such a short time. Stay hidden and wait for the decisive strike."
"Understood, Mizukage-sama."
...
Over in the Hidden Sand Village, Rasa, Pakura, and Karura also departed.
However, their destination didn't seem to be Cloud Village.
It was Konoha.
"Karura, Pakura, this mission is only meant to intimidate Konoha. We don't need to fight. We just need Konoha to know we're nearby."
"Got it, dear."
"Tch. Do I really have to go on a mission with you two?"
Pakura complained bitterly.
Why did she have to accompany a married couple?
Rasa laughed.
"Because the three of us are the only ones in the village with Kage-level strength."
Karura affectionately wrapped an arm around Pakura's shoulders.
After his opening statement, Rasa wisely kept his mouth shut.
When your wife and her best friend are talking, it's best not to interrupt.
Otherwise...
You know what happens.
...
Zetsu of the Akatsuki also received Cloud Village's message.
"The Nine-Tails has appeared in Cloud Village. This is our best opportunity. Once it returns to Konoha, we may never get another chance to capture it."
"Mm. We're leaving. Cloud Village."
"Understood."
After reporting to Pain, Zetsu found a way to pass the information to Obito as well.
"The Nine-Tails is in Cloud Village. Come immediately."
Working several jobs by myself is exhausting.
...
Without anyone noticing, Cloud Village had become the center of the entire shinobi world.
All manner of monsters and schemers were converging on it.
...
Hatake Kakashi watched the Nine-Tails wreak havoc.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
"Shiken-niichan, when are we making our move?"
The moment Kakashi asked, Itachi, Guy, and the immobilized Uchiha Shisui all turned toward Aburame Shiken.
As if waiting for the same answer.
"Making what move?"
???
"If we're not fighting, then why are we here?"
"To learn, obviously. A bunch of barely-qualified jōnin like you want to participate in something like this? Aren't you overestimating yourselves?"
Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui, and Might Guy all thought:
What's wrong with being jōnin? Reaching jōnin level isn't easy! How many jōnin does Konoha even have? We're already among the elite!
Then they looked around.
...Okay.
Compared to the people here, jōnin really were nobodies.
Kakashi sat down on the ground in frustration.
Aburame Shiken chuckled.
As expected, Kakashi was still the most fun to tease.
"Why are you sulking? Come here, I will give you a hug."
"Get away from me! If we're not fighting, why bring us here? Just to watch Kushina-san show off?"
"It's a Tailed Beast battle! A classic spectacle like this! Don't tell me you wouldn't watch it. Do you know how hard it is to see a Tailed Beast battle these days?"
That was true.
At the moment, only the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails were still alive.
The others were all in the process of being revived.
"And besides, something even better is coming soon."
"Something better?"
...
"Fourth Hokage! Get out here! I know you're hiding somewhere nearby!"
Wrapped in crackling lightning, A appeared in the area—
And immediately disappeared.
As he sprinted away, he repeatedly pounded his own chest.
"I saw that wrong. I had to have seen that wrong. What the hell is that lineup?"
That was terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
After receiving an educational lesson from veteran victim Ōnoki, A had learned exactly who these people were.
The white-haired Ryoha—Kage-level powerhouse capable of transforming into a gigantic hundred-headed wolf.
The sunglasses-wearing Aburame Shiken—another Kage-level powerhouse who commanded endless seas of insects.
Hyūga Hiyasu needed no introduction. An old acquaintance.
Senju Hideki.
So that guy really hadn't died. That strange monster hadn't lied to him.
And the man whose eyes were wrapped in bandages...
That had to be the legendary Uchiha Kamito.
But hadn't they said he'd fallen below Kage level? Why was he here too?
A refused to believe Uchiha Kamito had simply come sightseeing.
And among everyone he had just seen, only Kamito carried a ninja sword.
Uchiha.
Fire Release.
A ninja blade.
Combined with the slash that had split Cloud Village in two earlier, followed by the sea of flames that erupted afterward...
"Damn that Ōnoki! Does this look like someone who's fallen below Kage level?!"