Within Konoha Village.
"What is that?!" Some sharp-eyed villagers were the first to spot the giant golden fox outside the village.
"The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!" The expressions of knowledgeable ninja turned grim. But even more terrifying than the Nine-Tailed Fox itself was the massive sphere of chakra condensing in front of it.
"Barrier Team! Defensive barriers to maximum!" Through Yamanaka Inoichi's Mind Transfer Jutsu, Nara Shikaku's voice appeared in the Barrier Team leader's mind.
The Barrier Team leader had just been about to order an investigation into why such terrifying chakra had appeared within Konoha's range when Shikaku's voice echoed in his thoughts.
As a fellow Konoha ninja, he naturally recognized this as the Mind Transfer Jutsu and responded, "I understand!"
"All Barrier Team members! Activate all defensive barriers! Wenyī, deploy the reserve chakra as well!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the same time, several ninja hawks soared into the sky, their sharp cries echoing throughout Konoha.
"Level One Combat Alert?!" Many Konoha ninja looked up at the hawks, their faces paling drastically.
The last time this had happened was during the Nine-Tails Attack.
"Evacuate the villagers first!" a chunin ordered, disappearing from his spot.
Led by Konoha ninja, a large number of villagers quickly made their way to the emergency shelters.
According to Konoha's wartime regulations, if an external enemy invaded, elite chunin to jounin level ninja were responsible for repelling the enemy. Weaker chunin and genin, after evacuating the civilians, would then proceed to the front lines to launch a counterattack.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya's voice was grave. "Are you really going to do this?"
"You know this is your hometown!"
"Four!" Naruto Clone One ignored him and continued the countdown.
"Three!"
"Naruto, Shikamaru and Sakura are still in the village. Are you really going to do this?" Kakashi also asked.
"…Two."
The Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, and the two advisors exchanged glances, both understanding the other's meaning.
"Konoha promises not to initiate large-scale warfare! A relevant statement will be issued tomorrow!" Lady Tsunade declared loudly.
Hearing this, the surrounding Konoha ninja, though resentful, also breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Facing a Tailed Beast Bomb of that magnitude at such close range, even with the buffer of the village barrier, Konoha would likely be mostly destroyed.
"I hope Your Excellency the Hokage and everyone here will keep your promise." Naruto Clone One withdrew the kunai from Shimura Danzo's neck.
Watching the shadow clone disappear from its spot again, Lady Tsunade and the others looked grim. The Flying Thunder God Technique was the true root of their coercion.
Possessing the Flying Thunder God Technique, Uzumaki Naruto was inherently in an unbeatable position.
Even if they had refused this time and even successfully defended against the Tailed Beast Bomb…
What about next time?
Uzumaki Naruto could leave Konoha at any time via the Flying Thunder God, find some unknown corner to lie low, and await the next opportunity.
There were only thieves who operated for a thousand days; there was no such thing as guarding against thieves for a thousand days.
If Konoha were to enter a Level One defensive state every day like today, repelling Uzumaki Naruto's attacks would naturally be no problem.
But what about Konoha's villagers? And what would become of Konoha's future?
One had to understand that entering a Level One defensive state consumed no small amount of manpower and resources.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had also considered this point, which was why they hadn't refuted her decision.
Something that could make even Uzumaki Naruto feel afraid…
Lady Tsunade glanced at the bandages wrapped around Shimura Danzo's face. Had that old geezer's eye been injured?
As she pondered, she led the Konoha ninja away from the main gate.
With Naruto's departure, Konoha's defensive barriers slowly returned to their normal state, and the quiet main gate gradually regained its usual bustling atmosphere.
No matter what happened, for the merchants coming and going from Konoha, life had to go on.
Outside Iwagakure – Village Hidden by Rocks.
"…So, Lord Tsuchikage refuses to issue a statement?" Naruto Clone Three looked at the small old man before him, his tone devoid of any emotional inflection.
"Brat, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you control the power of two Tailed Beasts," Onoki snorted.
"Tailed Beasts are nothing more than weapons of a ninja village!"
With a slight press of his right hand, numerous Iwagakure ninja suddenly appeared around Naruto Clone Three, surrounding him tightly.
"In that case, I respect Lord Tsuchikage's choice." Naruto Clone Three raised his sword fingers and, under everyone's watchful eyes, vanished from the spot.
"Sensor ninja! Find his position!" Onoki ordered, quickly flying into the air, attempting to use the vast aerial view to lock onto the shadow clone's location.
"Summoning Technique!"
Poof!
Among the distant, rugged rock peaks, Isobu's massive form suddenly appeared.
"Feigning Sleep Technique!"
Gaara uttered in a low voice. A large amount of sand quickly crawled over his body. In less than a moment, a tanuki, covered in violet patterns and no smaller than Isobu, appeared in the Iwagakure ninjas' sight.
Seeing that Gaara needed to use the Feigning Sleep Technique to 'deceive' the Jinchuriki seal to release Shukaku, Naruto Clone Three, standing on Isobu's head, said:
"When I have some free time later, I'll help you undo that Jinchuriki seal."
"The air of freedom!" Shukaku cackled maniacally.
"Didn't Kurama say you know sealing jutsu? How come it's been so long and you still haven't undone the seal?" Naruto Clone Three asked.
Generally, if a Jinchuriki could reconcile with their Tailed Beast, they could use the Tailed Beast's power without risk.
Furthermore, a Tailed Beast's power, unless intentionally recalled by the Jinchuriki or the Tailed Beast itself, would only disperse if they were defeated or their chakra was exhausted.
But Gaara and Shukaku, having entered the Tailed Beast state through the Feigning Sleep Technique, were different. As soon as Gaara was "woken up," the Tailed Beast state would be forcibly terminated.
"Just give me a few more months, and I'll be able to undo it!" Shukaku patted his large belly.
A few more months…
Naruto Clone Three was speechless. With Gaara not resisting, you still need several months to undo it?
Your sealing jutsu skills seem even wilder than mine…
"My initial goal in learning sealing jutsu was to seal that stinky fox in a rock, not to undo seals!" Shukaku bellowed. "Besides, this seal was specifically designed for me by those old bastards!"
"I seriously suspect those old bastards understood my abilities better than I did myself."
"I told you back then, learning that sealing jutsu was useless for you, but you just wouldn't listen," Isobu said, shaking his head.
"Useless?!" Shukaku slammed a paw on Isobu's shell. "Little turtle, believe it or not, I can take on two of you!"
Naruto Clone Three: "…"
Isobu: "…"
Kurama (via mental link): "Pfft…"
"Ahem, let's get to work!" Naruto Clone Three said, looking at the Iwagakure ninja rapidly approaching in the distance.
"Let's each start with a Tailed Beast Bomb!"
As he spoke, Naruto Clone Three couldn't help but glance at Shukaku. "Got enough chakra?"
Shukaku gave him a long, hard look, then directly turned his head towards the distant Iwagakure ninja. A massive amount of Yin and Yang chakra instantly condensed before him.
Seeing this, Isobu also began to condense a Tailed Beast Bomb.
"Isobu, you aim for the little old man in the sky! Shukaku, you take care of those Iwa ninja on the ground!"