"If this is all you've got, then this battle ends here. I've been meaning to test out a new ninjutsu."
Kaito's voice was calm, but the weight behind it was suffocating. The moment the words left his lips, thunder and lightning surged from every direction, converging on him like tidal waves.
Natural energy fused with the lightning in an instant, like invisible raindrops merging into a storm. In the blink of an eye, the once-white bolts transformed into pure, ink-black thunder, radiating an ominous energy—devastation made manifest.
With a single wave of Kaito's hand, the black ocean of thunder coalesced, forming into four immense beasts, each radiating power that bent the air around them.
The first was serpentine, covered in thick, obsidian scales. Twin whiskers flowed from its mouth, antlers adorned its head, and five deadly claws curled beneath it.
The second took the form of a massive bird. Its beak resembled a hawk's, but it crackled with electricity. Two long head-feathers swayed with the charged wind as black flames ignited across its feathers.
The third was a mountain-like turtle with a serpentine neck. Though it remained still, the gleam in its cold eyes betrayed its lethality.
The last was a muscular black tiger with the kanji for "king" emblazoned on its forehead. Each swing of its tail tore jagged cracks into the ground, a regal force rolling off it like thunder.
These were the Four Thunder Beasts—creations from Kaito's past life—revived now with elemental fury.
---
In the forest some distance away, the leaders of Konoha's remaining clans looked on, stunned. Though far from the battlefield, they could still feel the oppressive force of Kaito's summoning.
"He's even more powerful than we thought," Choza muttered, his tone grim.
Shikaku nodded, his eyes narrowed in calculation. "And that power... it's not something even the Third Hokage can take lightly."
The other clan heads turned to him, silently asking what their next step should be.
"Konoha's in shambles," Shikaku said. "But if you noticed, Kaito only struck down the Sarutobi line. Everyone else—civilians, other clans—he left untouched. That means the village still stands."
"But the leadership doesn't," Choza said. "Tsunade has left. Orochimaru is on the front lines. Jiraiya and Minato are fighting alongside the Third. That only leaves…"
"Orochimaru," Shikaku finished with a sigh, rubbing his temple.
Everyone fell silent.
"There's one more possibility," he said finally. "We find Lady Tsunade. If anyone can convince her to return, it's now."
"But we don't even know where she is," someone muttered.
"We can try the borders of the Fire Country," Inoichi offered. "If she hears what's happening... she'll come back. She always cared."
"Try it," Shikaku agreed. "It's a long shot—but better than nothing."
The group nodded and dispersed to organize the search. But their attention was quickly pulled back to the battle as another thunderous roar tore through the air.
---
On the battlefield, Kaito stood tall as his thunder beasts launched themselves at the enemy.
Min the tortoise-beast, soared toward Homura Mitokado, who countered with a barrage of fireballs. Min curled into its shell, spinning like a drill of black lightning that consumed the fire before it could land.
Suzaku, the thunder phoenix, faced Hiruzen Sarutobi directly. It opened its beak and unleashed a bolt of pure, black lightning that tore through the Five Element Seal Jutsu like paper, surging toward the Hokage without slowing.
The dragon and tiger roared together as they crashed into Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze. The black dragon devoured Jiraiya's oil bomb mid-air, the flames flickering uselessly inside its maw.
The tiger, on the other hand, clashed fiercely with Minato. Each strike from the beast cracked the earth, forcing the Yellow Flash to rely solely on teleportation to evade.
Despite their Kage-level strength, the four were clearly on the defensive, overwhelmed by Kaito's creations. They dared not engage in close combat—one touch from those beasts could mean death by thunder.
The landscape around them was devastated. Craters ripped through the terrain, lightning crackled across shattered earth, and the air itself trembled from the clash of power.
Suddenly, a shout cut through the storm.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
From high above, Danzo Shimura launched a massive, compressed wind sphere. It cut through the air like a cannonball aimed straight at Kaito.
Kaito's eyes sharpened. "So you're finally showing yourself. I expected better patience from you."
He raised his hand, and the black lightning surged upward, forming a colossal hand of thunder that caught the wind sphere mid-air.
BOOM!
The impact exploded with a shockwave. The compressed wind chakra burst into blades, attempting to tear the thunder hand apart. But the giant black construct held firm, healing instantly as lightning replenished its damaged surface.
Then, without warning, Kaito vanished.
He became a black streak of lightning that streaked across the sky—heading straight for Danzo.
---
Thank you for the support.