"Oops."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had only been stunned for a heartbeat but in that instant, Shukaku's Tailed Beast Bomb had already fully condensed.
The massive sphere of chakra was spat out violently.
BOOM—!
The ear-splitting explosion shook the entire arena.
The sealing squad had been hastily assembled. Konoha and Sand shinobi had never coordinated like this before, and their lack of synergy showed immediately.
The barrier shattered.
The Tailed Beast Bomb canceled out in a violent discharge but the shockwave that followed was far worse.
Stone platforms surrounding the battlefield were blown apart like toys.
The shinobi reacted quickly, leaping away at the last moment.
The civilians weren't so lucky.
Screams echoed everywhere as debris rained down. Some were crushed instantly beneath falling stone. Blood stained the streets. Casualties mounted in seconds.
Chaos erupted.
In the face of a true disaster, order simply collapsed. Even with shinobi trying to maintain control, the panicked flood of civilians only caused more injuries—more deaths.
Watching all of this unfold, Sarutobi Hiruzen still didn't dare to act rashly.
Fear.
Yes—fear.
If he moved now, what awaited him wasn't Shukaku.
It was Namikaze Kirito.
That boy had been watching him this entire time.
And behind Kirito… was Orochimaru.
Judging by what had happened years ago, Orochimaru and even Uchiha Itachi were already standing on Kirito's side.
"Protect the civilians! All units—do everything you can!"
Just as despair threatened to swallow Konoha whole—
The Uchiha clan arrived.
They moved with frightening efficiency, as if they had anticipated this disaster long ago. Rescue teams spread out instantly, pulling civilians from the rubble, shielding them with chakra and bodies alike.
The proud Uchiha—so often feared—were unexpectedly gentle.
They looked like true saviors.
Seeing this, Hiruzen finally let out a long breath.
Prestige could be dealt with later.
Right now, only one thing mattered.
Shukaku.
"Hahaha! Die!"
Shukaku showed no intention of stopping.
Its massive body twisted as it turned toward the largest remaining platform—the one still packed with people.
Murderous intent burned in its eyes.
The Uchiha shinobi assembled instantly, forming a defensive line at the platform's edge.
Not a trace of fear could be seen.
"Die—!!"
"Wind Style: Air Bullet Barrage!"
Shukaku opened its mouth wide.
A hurricane erupted.
Empowered by a tailed beast's chakra, the wind tore forward like a natural catastrophe.
Several shinobi began forming Earth Style defenses, desperately trying to slow it down—
And then—
A black-cloaked figure appeared.
Namikaze Kirito.
"Lord Kirito is moving!"
"We're saved!"
"The title of Enma wasn't exaggerated—Shukaku is finished!"
"Lord Kirito, please save us!"
Earlier, people had seen him but survival had consumed them. There was no room for hope.
Now, standing at the forefront of destruction—
Tears of gratitude flowed freely.
His reputation spoke for itself.
Even the Konoha shinobi noticed him.
"Isn't that… big brother?!"
Uzumaki Naruto stared in disbelief, eyes shining. Years had passed since their last meeting but that figure had been the light in the darkness of his childhood.
Pride and excitement surged together.
"Naruto… you know him?" Haruno Sakura asked quietly.
By now, Namikaze Kirito's name echoed throughout Konoha.
Yamanaka Ino couldn't help the admiration in her gaze.
The rest of the Rookie Nine watched in silence—each with their own thoughts.
"…Is he Itachi's companion?" Sasuke muttered, eyes locked onto Kirito.
The wind blast was already upon them.
Kirito smiled faintly and pushed his palm forward.
"Dark Vortex."
The power of the Dark-Dark Fruit surged.
A towering black curtain formed in front of him, gravity warping violently as the incoming wind was dragged straight into it.
At this point, ordinary ninjutsu meant nothing to him.
Shukaku froze, black-and-yellow eyes dull with disbelief.
"Don't look so shocked," Kirito said lightly.
"I'll give it back to you."
The attraction vanished.
Repulsion exploded outward.
"Release."
BOOM—!
The wind attack reappeared—now reversed—slamming straight into Shukaku's face.
Dust and debris erupted as the massive body was sent flying backward.
Shukaku barely stabilized itself before hitting the ground, fury boiling over.
"How dare you use my own technique against me!"
"You deserve death, human!"
Before it could move again—
Kirito appeared directly in front of its face.
His fist darkened instantly.
BOOM—!
The punch landed.
A human blow—yet it rattled the tailed beast's entire body.
Pain exploded.
Shukaku crashed to the ground, completely overwhelmed.
Silence fell.
Then—
Shock.
"What kind of strength is that…?"
"Punching a tailed beast down?!"
"Lord Kirito! Lord Enma! Invincible!"
"As expected of the Fourth Hokage's son!"
"At a time like this—where was Hokage-sama?!"
"Quiet! ANBU are watching!"
"My wife died under that rubble! What do I have left to fear?!"
Kirito ignored the noise.
Standing at the platform's edge, his calm voice carried across the battlefield.
"Don't misunderstand, people of Konoha."
"If my father—the Hokage—hadn't ordered me to act…"
"I wouldn't have cared whether you lived or died."
The crowd froze.
Father?
Hokage?
The Fourth Hokage—Namikaze Minato—was supposed to be dead.
Before confusion could settle—
Uchiha Fugaku approached Sarutobi Hiruzen, flanked by his clansmen.
"Lord Hokage," Fugaku said respectfully.
"The civilians are secure. Thanks to Lord Kirito, Shukaku has been subdued."
"How should we proceed?"
Hiruzen exhaled deeply.
He hadn't expected Fugaku to support him so openly.
The resentment toward his earlier inaction faded instantly.
With the Uchiha acting under his banner, the village would believe this rescue had been his decision.
The crisis… was ending.
I'll need to reward the Uchiha appropriately, Hiruzen thought.
They placed the Hokage above all else… and bore the burden for it.
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