Kakashi let out a clear breath after finishing everything and lifted his head to face Yuto.
He was clearly planning to stake his life to buy time for Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura to escape.
Seeing this, a rare flicker of surprise crossed Yuto's face.
"As expected, people who don't play by the rules create all sorts of surprises."
He rubbed his forehead, chiding himself for taking things for granted.
His plan had been to pressure Kakashi into making a choice. Of the three—Naruto and Sasuke mattered greatly to the Leaf. With Kakashi's strength he could only drag two away by force. The leftover would naturally be the one with no backing—Sakura.
If Kakashi did that, Naruto and Sasuke would be utterly disappointed in him, and the fallout would be disappointment in the Leaf itself.
Normally, veterans of war choose the maximized-profit option—the one Yuto laid out—best for themselves and the village.
But Kakashi didn't. He used this special method to break the deadlock.
Thinking it over, it was also within expectations.
"Good thing I prepped a second route."
Watching Kakashi a short distance away, ready to fight to the death, Yuto smiled and formed a few seals one-handed.
Riding a ninken's back, Naruto suddenly went rigid.
Inside him, the Kyūbi snapped its eyes open and roared:
"Yuto!!!"
A blast of malice surged off the beast. The sealing tag Yuto had half torn away earlier still blocked most of the power, but a portion of chakra bled out.
A red chakra cloak raced over Naruto's body; his pupils narrowed to a feral slit.
Bang!
One swipe and the ninken under him burst apart.
The other two skidded to a halt, bristling around the half-tailed Naruto.
"Naruto…"
Sakura clapped a hand over her mouth at the sight.
"This chakra… no way," Sasuke muttered, swallowing hard as the red cloak writhed.
ROAR!!
In moments, the single tail behind Naruto split into two.
With the second tail, the last glimmer of clarity in his eyes drowned under savage fury.
Boom!
He stamped down and blurred into a red streak straight at Sasuke.
Even with the Sharingan, Sasuke saw nothing but a smear of red—too fast.
An instant later, Naruto loomed in front of him and smashed down with a clawed red hand.
Sasuke flew, slammed into a tree. Another swipe shattered the ninken Kakashi had summoned.
"Sasuke! Naruto, what are you doing?!"
Sakura's face drained as she shouted at him.
Naruto's head whipped toward her voice.
"Run!" Sasuke rasped, clutching his chest.
The ninken under Sakura finally reacted, wheeling to sprint the other way—
Wham!
Naruto was too fast. Pain burst through her and she was swatted into the dirt.
The cloak raged off him in waves. In this two-tails state, Naruto was beyond what Sasuke and Sakura could handle.
The Kyūbi's chakra kept pouring out. If no one stopped it, a third tail would soon appear.
—
Sensing that all-too-familiar chakra nearby, Kakashi—still facing Yuto—blanched.
Why did Naruto suddenly enter Bijū-ka (Tailed-Beast Transformation)?!
He couldn't spare another second holding Yuto's group. He spun and sprinted toward Naruto.
"Yuto-sama, do we go?" Ameyuri asked, watching Kakashi's retreat, a hint of regret in her voice.
"It didn't go perfectly, but the result's about the same. In his current condition, against Naruto on the cusp of three tails—Kakashi will end up unconscious and badly hurt, if not dead."
Seeing the regret on Ameyuri's face, Yuto tapped her lightly on the head. "Relax. The Leaf has plenty of opponents for you. You'll have more than enough to choose from."
Ameyuri flushed, eyes shining.
"The prelude to war has begun. Leaf… show me your depths."
"That guy Madara definitely left counters against me. And you, Hashirama? Did you leave something for me too?"
Excitement edged Yuto's smile as he gazed toward Konoha.
For all his top-tier power, Hashirama wasn't actually a fool.
After a moment, the gleam faded. He turned to Ameyuri and Haku. "The show's over. Let's go."
A light breeze passed, and the three were gone.
—
BOOM!
The world shook under violent chakra.
"Kuh—"
Kakashi coughed up blood. He didn't bother wiping his mouth; he flickered aside—
CRACK!
The spot he'd stood exploded. Naruto's beast form landed there, bellowing.
Blood soaked Kakashi's clothes dark red. He cradled the unconscious Sasuke and Sakura, luring Naruto while retreating, inch by inch, toward the Fire Country border.
Naruto had reached three tails. A fourth was already half-formed.
Drawn by the brazen chakra and Kakashi's baiting, border squads from the Leaf began to take notice.
Sweat mixed with blood and burned his eyes, but he didn't dare slow.
His chakra and stamina were almost gone. One misstep and not only he but the two in his arms would die.
"Konoha Gōriki Senpū (Leaf Strong Whirlwind)!!"
A familiar voice snapped through the air and into Kakashi's ear.
With a heavy thud, a green-clad figure appeared out of nowhere and kicked the tailed Naruto flying.
A smile touched Kakashi's lips—then the world went black and he collapsed.
//Check out my P@tre0n for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810