The supercharged Nine-Tails Tailed Beast Bomb, pushed to its absolute limit, was so massive that from a distance it looked large enough to cover the entire bottom of the meteor.
Konoha's forces erupted with excitement.
"Amazing!"
"That Tailed Beast Bomb will definitely blast the meteor straight through!"
"More than that—when it explodes, the impact will turn the meteor into dust!"
"More than half of us here fought in the Fourth Great Ninja War!"
"You think using that trick will scare us and boost your reputation?!"
"That only proves you're afraid!"
"That's right! You're only shooting yourself in the foot!"
"Uchiha Akira is running out of moves!"
"Lord Hokage, please clear the skies and restore Konoha's honor!"
"What a waste though… such a powerful Tailed Beast Bomb has to be used on the meteor first."
"If it hit Akira directly, he'd be vaporized instantly!"
Shikamaru still reminded Naruto carefully.
"If this is the same Heavenly Obstacle Shaking Star Madara used…"
"Then you already know the trick behind it, right?"
Naruto's voice was cold and determined.
"Yeah."
"I know it very well."
"There are two meteors."
"So I'll return the favor with a double package."
"WHOOSH!"
A second Tailed Beast Bomb of equal size emerged from deep within Kurama's throat.
It pushed the first forward.
The two blasted upward in succession toward the meteor's underside.
— Ultra-Weighted Rock Technique!
"BZZZZT!"
At that moment, as Akira (in Kurotsuchi's form through Twin Flower) completed the seal—
faint super-heavy lines spread across the entire meteor.
"RUMBLE…!"
The first Tailed Beast Bomb struck the meteor.
But instead of piercing through—
the dark sphere only embedded one-third of the way before the unbelievably dense rock stopped it completely.
It couldn't move even an inch further.
Under the pressure of the second bomb behind it—
it detonated.
"BOOOOOM!"
The explosion triggered the second bomb as well.
Two massive fireballs formed beneath the meteor like a gourd-shaped blast of flame.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
Hundreds of Konoha shinobi directly below were blown into the air by the shockwave.
The army's formation collapsed into chaos.
Fox-cloaked shinobi ran in every direction, covering their heads.
Inside Kurama's chest, Naruto clenched his fists in disbelief.
"What's going on?!"
"I calculated the chakra ratio based on my experience!"
"One Tailed Beast Bomb should be enough to destroy a meteor!"
"So why couldn't two combined bombs even destroy half of it?!"
Shikamaru shouted urgently.
"Naruto!"
"Add more attacks!"
"Now!"
Naruto didn't have time to think.
He fired a third Tailed Beast Bomb.
"BOOOOOM!"
The meteor was finally destroyed by half.
Naruto forced himself to continue.
But his condition was deteriorating.
Starting from the fourth bomb, the power dropped to about half of the earlier ones.
In total—
it took nine consecutive Tailed Beast Bombs to finally destroy the first meteor completely.
But Shikamaru's prediction proved true.
From the sky behind it—
a second meteor descended immediately.
Naruto gritted his teeth, preparing to fire again.
Inside his consciousness, Kurama sat cross-legged, palms together, desperately refining chakra.
"Stop, Naruto!"
"If you keep firing Tailed Beast Bombs, the chakra cloaks protecting everyone will collapse!"
"If Akira launches another wide-range attack after that…"
"Everyone will die!"
"…Then we'll have to hold it up."
Naruto nodded.
"…Yeah."
"That's the only way."
"Don't be discouraged, Naruto."
"You're not fighting alone."
"Just like before—defeat the impossible enemy with everyone's help."
Naruto smiled faintly.
"I will."
"I'll protect you too, Kurama."
Kurama returned the smile.
But deep within his eyes—
there was a bitter resolve Naruto didn't notice.
Naruto…
This time…
I might have to protect you.
Just as despair began to spread through Konoha's ranks—
Kurama suddenly lifted his forelegs.
Then the massive golden fox stood upright on two feet.
Under countless stunned gazes—
"RAAAAAAAHHHH!"
Naruto roared.
Kurama's massive golden arms rose and pressed against the bottom of the descending meteor.
"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"
Four additional chakra arms extended from Kurama's shoulders.
Together they pushed against the meteor.
"BOOM!"
The golden giant's body instantly bent under the weight.
Naruto's hair stood on end.
"No…!"
"It's too heavy!"
"Uchiha Akira, what did you do to this meteor?!"
Shikamaru's face was pale with cold sweat.
Back in the war…
Ōnoki reduced Madara's meteor's weight with Lightened Rock.
Then Gaara's sand helped stop it…
Did Akira do the opposite…?
Did he increase its weight?
But how?!
The Heavy Rock and Lightened Rock techniques are secret jutsu passed down through the Tsuchikage's bloodline!
They're not even kekkei genkai—but they're harder to obtain than one!
Even cell transplantation can't replicate them!
"BOOM! BOOM!"
Just as Naruto was about to collapse—
two figures suddenly expanded beside him.
Their bodies rapidly grew until they matched Kurama's size.
It was the former Akimichi clan head Akimichi Chōza—
and the current head Akimichi Chōji.
Both burned their calories to unleash Super Expansion Jutsu.
"Hokage!"
"Let our father and son help you!"
They raised enormous hands and pressed them against the meteor.
"RUMBLE…!!"
Instantly—
their faces twisted into expressions of agony.
Cracks spread across the ground beneath their feet.
The enormous weight forced them backward.
"No…!"
"We can't step back!"
"Our comrades are behind us!"
"RRRRAAAAHHH!"
"AAAAAHHH!"
"Hang on!"
"Don't lose!"
"Damn it!"
"Isn't there anything we can do?!"
The shinobi shouted through tears.
Then—
Shikamaru suddenly realized something.
"Everyone!"
"Climb onto the shoulders of the three giants!"
"Attack the meteor!"
"Even the smallest attack might slow its descent!"
"Go!"
"Help the Hokage!"
"Show the enemy the united will of Konoha!"
Golden fox-cloaked figures shot into the air.
Some ran along Kurama's massive body.
Others climbed the bodies of Chōza and Chōji.
Standing atop the giants' shoulders—
they formed hand seals.
"RUMBLE!"
Water Release.
Fire Release.
Earth Release.
Lightning Release.
Wind Release.
Under the amplification of Kurama's chakra cloak—
the five nature transformations blasted upward like a storm of light toward the meteor.
"BOOOOOM!!!"
"AAAAAHHH!"
"STOP!"
"STOP!!!"
"We're almost there!"
Naruto gritted his teeth.
At the final moment—
Kurama's nine golden tails stabbed into the ground like anchors.
"SHHHH…"
Dust slowly fell.
The shinobi opened their eyes, drenched in sweat.
And what they saw—
was the massive meteor suspended in the air.
They had stopped it.
"Hahaha!"
"We did it!"
"This is the power of unity!"
"Long live Konoha!"
"Long live the ninja!"
The overwhelming release of tension flooded their bodies.
Dopamine and endorphins surged through their veins.
Their minds detached from the battlefield as they celebrated wildly.
Even Naruto momentarily forgot about Akira—
smiling with the Akimichi father and son beside him.
From far away—
Akira watched the entire scene quietly.
He always evaluated his opponents fairly.
Before.
And now.
"You managed to stop that."
"I'll admit…"
"You're impressive."
"Whoosh."
High in the sky—
something moved again.
Akira slowly raised his gaze.
"So…"
"What will you do…"
"about the third meteor?"
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