Orochimaru held an item called Corrosion of the Evil God—a one-use consumable that eroded all forms of energy, destroying special equipment, unique skills, and… seals.
"Nine-Tails, come out and play," Orochimaru said, tossing Naruto downward. "Show me what kind of power you possess."
Many coveted the tailed beasts' strength, Orochimaru included. Previously, he'd focused on physical vessels, deeming the tailed beasts' power unsuitable. But now, with time and newfound abilities, he could indulge his curiosity.
As Naruto fell, Sasuke lunged to catch him, only to be yanked back by Jiraiya.
"Wait," Jiraiya said, his face grim. "That chakra… it's unmistakable."
Sasuke didn't need the warning. He saw it.
Naruto, silent, had passed out, his consciousness locked within. From his body, the Nine-Tails let out a massive, gleeful roar. Terrifying chakra erupted like bubbling lava, slamming him into the ground.
Then—
ROAR!
A thunderous bellow shook the air.
Under the villagers' horrified gazes, orange-red chakra enveloped Naruto, forming a fox-like shroud. Behind him, tails emerged—one, two, each new tail amplifying his terrifying aura.
"It's the Nine-Tails!" a villager screamed in fear.
"The Nine-Tails!"
"That demon fox killed my family!"
"It's back!"
"The beast that took the Fourth Hokage!"
To Konoha, the Nine-Tails was hatred incarnate. None could forget that tragic night, the countless lives lost, the revered Fourth Hokage's sacrifice.
Now, the roaring monster reignited their terror.
"He never should've stayed in the village," someone whispered shakily.
Iruka overheard, his fists clenching. He stared at Naruto, now unrecognizable, his gaze dimming. Naruto was such a good kid!
The shock wasn't limited to Konoha. Sunagakure's ninja gaped, glancing at Gaara. Compared to this horror, Gaara's rampages seemed trivial.
Gaara ignored their stares, fixating on Naruto. He wanted to see if this monstrous Naruto would still be accepted by his comrades, as he'd claimed.
Naruto, called a monster, lived up to the name.
Without moving, his wild chakra cracked the earth, sending soil and stones flying aimlessly. And this was only at five tails.
"This is… the Nine-Tails," Sasuke murmured, feeling the raw, hateful power.
He finally understood what lurked within Naruto—a seething mass of malice.
"You kids, get back!" Jiraiya clasped his hands, his own chakra flaring. "Unless you want to end up a badge like Danzo, stay clear!"
"Damn it!" Sasuke gritted his teeth, hating his weakness.
But he retreated with Neji and the others. Dying to Naruto's hand would be pathetic.
"Rare materials, those," Orochimaru said, eyeing Sasuke's group. With a wave, the two skeletal corpses swelled, writhing into death knights wielding shields and bone-spiked greatswords. They charged Sasuke's group with alarming speed.
Skill: Bone Enhancement—a Level 3 can ability.
"What is this evil power…?" Tsunade muttered, goosebumps rising. Her holy light surged, warning her of a malevolence that could threaten the world if not stopped.
"Tsunade," Jiraiya said, turning. "Help Sensei with Orochimaru, or help me seal the Nine-Tails?"
His tone was questioning, but his expression hoped she'd join him. They hadn't fought together in years, and their bond ran deep.
Tsunade glanced at him, deciding. "I'll help Sensei!"
"...('°ω°｀)" Jiraiya's face fell.
Watching Tsunade leap toward Orochimaru, he turned to the roaring, six-tailed Naruto, his aura growing more savage.
Taking a deep breath, Jiraiya shouted, "Who pulled a sealing skill?"
The group exchanged looks. Silence.
"Then we use ninjutsu!" Jiraiya bit his thumb, slamming it to the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"
Boom!
Smoke cleared, revealing a massive toad with a pipe and short sword—Gamakichi's boss, Gamabunta.
"What the—?" Gamabunta gaped at the scene. "Is this the end of the ninja world? Konoha's in ruins? Why are people floating? Wait—that's the Nine-Tails?"
His toad face was pure bewilderment, as if he'd woken to an alien world.
"I'll explain later. For now, seal the Nine-Tails!" Jiraiya pointed at Naruto, now sprouting a sixth tail, his aura increasingly feral.
"Don't make it sound easy," Gamabunta said, drawing his blade. "I'm not sure I can handle this monster. Its chakra alone is terrifying."
"Lord Jiraiya, I've got your back!" a voice called. "Gourmet Cells: Hyper-Expansion Jutsu!"
It was Dingza Akimichi. Not only did his body grow gigantic, but his Gourmet Cells transformed him from a hefty man into a muscle-bound titan, his sheer size a visual shock.
Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka leaped up beside him.