After a brief but amicable discussion, the four Tailed Beasts, led by the Nine-Tails, willingly signed a mutually beneficial cooperation agreement with Hashirama.
"Release."
"ROAR!!"
With Hashirama dispelling the Four Pillar Prison, the four freed Tailed Beasts raised their heads high, letting out deafening roars. The sound waves, mixed with powerful air currents, kicked up clouds of dust, forcing the spectators to shield their faces.
In the very first moment of freedom, a glint flashed in the Nine-Tails' eyes. Watching Hashirama through narrowed lids, it quietly took a step back, its massive beastly gaze filled with cunning, waiting for a chance to escape.
Help humans fight? Keep dreaming!
However, just as the Nine-Tails was about to bolt, thick wooden branches suddenly shot up from the ground. Startled, it stiffened, instinctively clenching tight and nearly losing control.
Huh… I haven't even moved yet, and this human's sensory abilities are already this sharp?
Grumbling inwardly, the Nine-Tails closed its eyes, bracing for the suffocating grip of the wooden bindings.
"Rrgh~"
But instead of feeling that tight pressure, it heard a familiar scream. Its eyes snapped open toward the source of the cry.
There, the Five-Tails, Kokuō, was struggling on the ground, its four slender legs bound tightly by thick wooden branches. The pained cries spilling from its mouth made the other Tailed Beasts tense.
"A beast should keep its word—no less than a man should."
Hands clasped, Hashirama's voice was stern as he stared down the Five-Tails. It turned out that right after being freed, Kokuō had started scheming.
Its eyes had rolled slyly, thinking that as the fastest runner among the Tailed Beasts, escaping from this human would be a piece of cake. Getting caught before was just a fluke.
With that thought, it lifted its hooves to bolt toward the clear ground.
But it hadn't expected the human to be prepared. The instant it lifted one leg, wooden branches lashed out at lightning speed, binding it tight.
Caught off-guard, Kokuō lost its balance and fell heavily to the ground, left trembling like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"Cough, cough—I wasn't trying to run, just… warming up."
Being completely countered by Wood Release drained Kokuō of all its strength. It barely raised its head, offering a feeble excuse to the displeased Hashirama.
"Oh, you should've said so earlier. I thought you were trying to run."
Hashirama chuckled, giving Kokuō a way out. Relaxing his hands, the wooden bindings loosened and turned to rotting wood.
"You all hang in there—the real freedom is just ahead."
His expression softened as he clapped his hands, offering encouragement to the four visibly shaken Tailed Beasts.
Leading them along, Hashirama approached Madara, who was sitting with his eyes closed. Scratching his head awkwardly, he said, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Madara."
"No matter. Let's begin."
Opening his scarlet eyes, Madara's cold face actually broke into a rare smile, eager for Hashirama's challenge.
At that moment, a flash of blue lightning streaked across the clear sky. A familiar white-haired figure appeared.
"Then allow me to be the referee."
With arms crossed, Tobirama appeared between the two contestants, his scarlet eyes glinting as he introduced himself.
He, Tobirama, was absolute justice.
"Booo—!"
The moment his words fell, the arena erupted with jeers instead of the thunderous applause he had imagined.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Frowning, Tobirama scanned the crowd, his gaze locking especially on Izuna, who made an obscene gesture to show his disdain.
Calmly rising from his seat, Gin met Tobirama's sharp gaze without flinching, then turned to the silent members of the allied clans.
"It's always someone from the Senju clan acting as referee—that's hardly fair, don't you agree, Sasuke?"
Caught off-guard, Sasuke Sarutobi could only nod stiffly. "Uh… I suppose so."
Gin waved for him not to worry. With the Uchiha clan as his backing, he addressed Tobirama in a tone that brooked no refusal. "Since everyone feels that way, why not let the Uchiha provide the referee this time?"
"That's right!" chimed in Itama, happily stirring the pot.
Tobirama felt a pang of sadness as his sister once again undermined him.
"If that's the majority's will, I'll comply. The Uchiha can provide the referee."
He sighed inwardly and stepped back, nodding to Gin.
The younger cousin, eyes bright with excitement, tugged Gin's arm. "Big bro! Let me do it—I'll make sure it's a rigged match in our favor!"
Glare.
"Ahem, Izuna, how could you say something so disgraceful?"
Gin brushed off his hand, feigning sorrow as though seeing a child go astray.
"Fine, let this elder host the match fairly."
With Izuna out of the running, only Gin remained as a suitable choice.
"You?" Tobirama raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? There's no license needed for refereeing, is there?"
"None at all. If you're the referee, I've no objection."
Surprised Tobirama wasn't protesting, Gin glanced at him curiously—this was the same man who would even sabotage Uchiha eggs at the marketplace.
"Then I'll head up."
Gin turned to the two contestants. "If Gin's the referee, I'm fine with it," Hashirama said with an easy smile.
Madara stayed silent, which was as good as agreement—but his expression said he expected trouble.
With a serious face, Gin reached into his bag and drew out an ornate golden staff, leaping into the arena.
"First: never act on impulse.
Second: never overlook wrongdoing.
Third: referee with perfect fairness."
Planting the staff, he declared loudly, "Uchiha Captain, reporting for duty!"
The crowd erupted in applause—Itama clapping so hard her hands turned red. "As expected of the man I admire!"
Some Uchiha, like Mitsu and Osamu, exchanged embarrassed glances—what a shameful line to shout.
"I never knew you were so fair-minded, Gin-san," Sasuke Sarutobi said in admiration.
"Hmph! If he's not biased, I'll eat ten pounds of crap standing on my head!" sneered Shimura Kenichi.
"Can we start now?" Madara asked through clenched teeth, feeling each second was torture.
"Gin, you set the rules," Hashirama said brightly.
"Alright. With both sides' agreement, I declare the First Konoha Pokémon Masters Tournament—begin!"
Tossing his staff into the air, it split into four, embedding at the corners of the arena. Golden ripples spread across the ground, forming a vast ring big enough for multiple Tailed Beasts. A shimmering golden barrier enclosed the space.
"What is this?"
Wiping imaginary sweat, Gin explained vaguely, "A ninja tool barrier. Once activated, no one can enter or leave, and attacks can't cross it."
In truth, it was a modified version of the Four Red Yang Formation, transformed into the "Four Radiant Yang Formation" using Yang Release chakra to replace Fire Release—making it safer, stronger, and self-repairing.
The Tailed Beasts, however, noticed something odd—especially the Nine-Tails, who sensed traces of "the old man" and his "perverted brother" from Gin's chakra.
Pushing aside their suspicions, the rules were set: each side would send out one Tailed Beast at a time in a king-of-the-hill match until one side was completely defeated.
Madara chose the Two-Tails, Matatabi, to prove that tail count didn't matter. Hashirama's side sent out Kokuō, the Five-Tails.
"Match one: Two-Tails versus Five-Tails—begin!"
Matatabi dashed forward, claws aimed at Kokuō's head, but Kokuō met it head-on with its horns, knocking the Two-Tails flying into the barrier.
Recovering, Matatabi spat a massive fireball. Kokuō responded with a Tailed Beast Bomb. Matatabi followed suit—both bombs collided in a deafening explosion.
When the smoke cleared, Matatabi wavered, then collapsed, eyes spiraling in defeat.
"First match: Five-Tails wins!"
Hashirama beamed. "Sorry, Madara!"
"Hmph! Useless," Madara snarled, turning to the hulking Four-Tails. "Can you win?"
"I've never feared a fight!"
"Then get in there and crush that arrogant white-haired mule!"
(End of Chapter)
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