Shukaku possessed the rare ability to speak—unlike most Tailed Beasts. Yet after hearing Richard's ultimatum, it said nothing, merely studying him with calculating eyes.
Though Wind Style: Air Bullet wasn't Shukaku's strongest technique, it was far from weak. Even Gamabunta would experience significant pain if struck by the compressed chakra blast. For ordinary humans, such an impact would be instantly fatal.
Shukaku wasn't surprised that Richard had neutralized its attack—but splitting the Air Bullet perfectly in half was another matter entirely. On the surface, this feat might seem unremarkable, but in reality, it was extraordinarily difficult. In fact, since its creation, Shukaku had never witnessed anyone cleave an Air Bullet in two.
Should I unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb? The thought flashed through Shukaku's mind.
Though the Tailed Beast Bomb represented a Tailed Beast's ultimate attack, deploying it wouldn't significantly tax Shukaku's reserves. As the tanuki contemplated this option, Richard channeled magical power through his body, preparing to use Judgement Cut End against the One-Tail.
Having already directed Shukaku away from the arena, Richard considered his obligation to Konoha fulfilled. Protecting the spectators from harm was justice enough. Moreover, he intended to make only one move before returning to observe the master-disciple battle between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage.
Shukaku made its decision quickly. Opening its massive jaws, it began condensing Tailed Beast chakra—a precise 2:8 ratio of yin and yang energies—compressing it into an ultra-dense sphere.
Richard paid Shukaku no attention. By the time the Beast began gathering chakra, he had already prepared his Judgement Cut End.
Given Shukaku's enormous size, Richard planned to unleash a massive spatial cut—just as he had against Orochimaru's Eight Branches Technique. While the tanuki concentrated on forming its attack, it remained acutely aware of Richard's movements.
Under Shukaku's wary gaze, Richard assumed a distinctive stance—pointing Masamune's tip backward as though sheathing the two-meter blade into an invisible scabbard.
What's he planning? Shukaku wondered, puzzled by Richard's gesture.
Before it could analyze further, Richard drew Masamune with lightning speed, slashing toward the Beast. Shukaku had expected a distant chakra wave, but instead, an overwhelming gravitational force suddenly manifested with itself at the center, locking the Beast firmly in place.
Simultaneously, the surrounding space began to distort.
Though Shukaku didn't understand what was happening, one certainty remained—it sensed the breath of "death." While conventional attacks couldn't truly kill a Tailed Beast, they weren't completely immortal. Compared to flesh-and-blood creatures, a Tailed Beast's enormous chakra construction was merely more difficult to destroy.
As the spatial distortion formed a spherical cage around Shukaku, crescent-shaped spatial slashes materialized, attacking from multiple directions. Against these dimensional cuts, Shukaku's sandy body proved as fragile as a sculpture, crumbling at the slightest touch.
In an instant, the mountain-sized Beast disintegrated.
Nothing remained but a rainfall of sand cascading from the sky—with one additional presence: Gaara.
When Richard's massive Judgement Cut End dismembered Shukaku, Gaara awakened from his induced sleep. Both Shukaku's chakra and consciousness instantly returned to his body. Though he'd been in deep slumber, he immediately understood everything that had transpired.
Upon regaining consciousness, Gaara didn't hesitate. He activated his chakra, controlling nearby sand to prevent his fatal plummet. The sand condensed into a cloud-like platform, supporting him as he descended.
Only after stabilizing did Gaara focus on Richard hovering in the distance.
Having completed his Judgement Cut End, Richard returned Masamune to his system inventory. Without a backward glance, he flew toward the arena. He had resolved the Shukaku threat and fulfilled his responsibility to Konoha. Whether Gaara chose to attempt another transformation was no longer his concern.
Watching Richard depart, Gaara frowned in confusion. Though he didn't understand why Richard had spared him, he recognized it as fortunate—he would live rather than being sliced to pieces.
Only after Richard completely vanished did Gaara shift his attention to Baki, Temari, and Kankuro in the distance. Like him, all three stood perplexed, unable to comprehend why Richard had made a single move before withdrawing.
Before they could speak, Gaara addressed them: "I'm returning to Sunagakure. If you wish to continue attacking Konoha, you'll do so without me."
With that, he condensed a cork of sand to seal his gourd, then turned and headed toward his village without another word.
The three observers exchanged glances, sensing something different about Gaara. The old Gaara would never have bothered informing them of his intentions—he would simply have departed alone. After exchanging silent looks, they followed him, abandoning Konoha together.
Richard landed on the rooftop where Orochimaru and the Third Hokage battled, watching their conflict with interest. Though he could easily break through the Four Violet Flames Formation erected by the Sound Four, he had no intention of interfering.
Regardless of whether Orochimaru's fate matched the original timeline, Richard would remain a spectator. If Orochimaru still ended up with his arms sealed despite Richard's earlier warning, then he deserved his punishment.
By now, Orochimaru and the Third Hokage had completed their initial testing phase and engaged with their respective weapons. Orochimaru wielded the Kusanagi Sword, while the Third Hokage had summoned Enma, the Monkey King—transformed into his adamantine staff form.
Though classified as close combat, Kage-level battles remained spectacular to behold.
After exchanging blows for some time, Orochimaru withdrew strategically, preparing to deploy his ultimate technique. He casually set aside the Kusanagi, rapidly forming hand seals that summoned three purple-black portal doors before him.
From these dimensional gates, three coffins slowly emerged.
Though they hadn't fully materialized, the Third Hokage's expression changed dramatically as he recognized their significance. He immediately formed counter-seals, attempting to prevent Orochimaru's summoning.
Unfortunately, his response came too late. As in the original timeline, he managed to block only the Fourth Hokage's coffin, while the First and Second Hokage emerged successfully.
When the summoning completed, Richard examined the contents with his enhanced vision. As he'd anticipated, the Fourth Hokage's coffin contained not Minato Namikaze but a Sound Village ninja serving as a decoy.
Superficially, the Reanimation Jutsu required only two components: a fragment of the deceased's body and a living sacrifice. Logic suggested that with these elements and mastery of the technique, anyone could summon the Fourth Hokage.
Reality proved more complex. The Reanimation Jutsu functioned as a spiritual medium, targeting the soul of the departed. If that soul resided in the afterlife, it could be bound to a sacrifice's body, which would then transform into the deceased's appearance.
However, the Fourth Hokage's soul remained sealed within the Death God's stomach—no longer in the afterlife. Orochimaru couldn't summon what wasn't there to be found.
Though the Third Hokage had blocked the Fourth's coffin, Orochimaru showed no disappointment—the occupant hadn't been Minato anyway. The entire charade stemmed from his twisted sense of showmanship. With four Hokage in Konoha's history, witnessing the Third's expression as his predecessors and successor appeared would provide perverse entertainment.
Orochimaru had calculated correctly. The Third Hokage's face registered profound shock as the coffins of the First, Second, and Fourth appeared simultaneously.
When the successfully summoned coffins opened, the First and Second Hokage emerged. Orochimaru approached them from behind, embedding control talismans into the backs of their heads—erasing their consciousness and emotions. Without this precaution, he couldn't guarantee their obedience.
Preparations complete, he commanded them to attack the Third Hokage.
A magnificent battle ensued between the Hokage.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bomb!"
"Water Style: Water Wall!"
"Water Style: Water Shock Wave!"
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"
"Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness Technique!"
Though outnumbered, the aging Third Hokage demonstrated prowess befitting his title. Using taijutsu, ninjutsu, Enma's staff form, and explosive tags, he fought his predecessors to a standstill.
Seeing the First and Second Hokage unable to quickly overcome Hiruzen, Orochimaru frowned slightly. Gripping the Kusanagi, he joined the assault personally.
Predictably, facing three opponents simultaneously pushed the Third Hokage into a defensive position. Had the First and Second Hokage retained their consciousness and emotions—or had Orochimaru used higher-quality sacrifices to grant them greater power—any one of them might have defeated the elderly Third.
Though the battle differed somewhat from Richard's memories, the general progression remained consistent. As a spectator, he found the display satisfying.
Several ANBU in animal masks also observed from outside the barrier, desiring to intervene but lacking the necessary power. Richard possessed that power but chose to remain uninvolved.
Realizing conventional methods couldn't overcome the combined might of Orochimaru and the reanimated Hokage, the Third made his decision.
Reaper Death Seal!
This remained his only option. If even this failed, he had nothing left.
Without hesitation, the Third performed the Shadow Clone Technique, dividing his already diminished chakra reserves. This didn't concern him—the Reaper Death Seal consumed minimal chakra. Its primary cost was the user's life, making chakra expenditure insignificant.
After creating two shadow clones, the Third began forming unfamiliar hand seals.
Upon seeing these unknown signs, Orochimaru suddenly recalled Richard's earlier warning:
Reaper Death Seal!