"Captain Guy, something's happening!"
An ANBU shinobi suddenly came to a halt and pointed toward the forest on the left.
Guy followed the direction of his finger.
At the edge of the woods, several pale white figures were moving rapidly.
Their speed was incredible, but they were not traveling like ordinary shinobi. Instead, they seemed as though they were sprouting directly out of the earth itself.
"There are enemies..."
Before he could finish speaking, a figure burst out of the darkness.
It was a red-haired young man whose delicate appearance seemed almost unreal.
He raised one hand, and chakra threads as fine as strands of hair shot out from the tips of his five fingers.
Red Secret Technique: Performance of a Hundred Puppets!
Dozens of puppets surged out of the darkness, instantly surrounding Might Guy and his ANBU squad.
Every puppet had a different appearance. Some resembled humans, while others looked like beasts. Every single one carried gleaming blades in their hands.
"Be careful!"
Might Guy shouted.
"It's a puppet master!"
The moment his warning ended, the puppets charged.
Flashes of steel filled the air as the sharp sound of colliding metal echoed beneath the night sky.
Guy kicked one puppet flying before smashing another apart with a single punch.
But there were simply too many.
They flooded in from every direction.
No matter how many he destroyed, more immediately took their place.
"Damn it!"
Guy gritted his teeth.
Third Gate... Gate of Life, Open!
His skin flushed crimson.
Bulging veins spread across his body as muscles swelled beneath his skin, stretching the ANBU uniform until it looked ready to tear apart.
His figure vanished from where he stood.
In the next instant, he had already appeared before the foremost puppet.
Leaf Great Whirlwind!
His right leg swept horizontally.
The kick moved so quickly that only an afterimage remained.
The top of his foot crashed violently into the puppet's waist.
BOOM!
The puppet exploded into fragments.
Just then, another figure descended from the sky.
Kisame landed while carrying an enormous bandage-wrapped sword over his shoulder.
His shark-like face wore a bloodthirsty grin.
"Konoha's ANBU?"
He bared his sharp teeth.
"Perfect. I'll use you to test my new sword."
Kisame lifted the massive blade and brought it crashing down toward Guy.
Guy sidestepped at the last moment.
The sword smashed into the ground.
A gigantic crater instantly split open beneath the impact.
"Captain Guy, watch out!"
An ANBU shinobi rushed forward while forming hand seals.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Ever since Kiyohara had become Hokage, the Uchiha Clan was no longer confined to serving only in the Konoha Military Police Force.
They were now free to join the ANBU as well.
Among Guy's current subordinates were two Uchiha shinobi.
In an instant, blazing flames surged forward.
Kisame calmly formed hand seals.
A Water Release technique burst forth and extinguished the massive fireball head on.
Immediately afterward, countless White Zetsu emerged from beneath the ground.
The white monsters clawed and screeched as they rushed toward the ANBU.
Within moments, the eastern side of the village had descended into complete chaos.
The explosions of ninjutsu.
The ringing clash of metal.
Screams.
Roars.
Every sound intertwined into one deafening battlefield.
At the same time...
Kiyohara was holding Rin in his arms.
However, his sensory abilities had long since spread out like an invisible web, completely enveloping all of Konoha, including every inch of the surrounding outskirts.
At that moment, he sensed the chakra fluctuations coming from Kushina's delivery location.
"So they've finally arrived."
Kiyohara slowly opened his eyes.
He immediately strengthened his sensory perception to determine roughly how many chakra signatures had appeared.
'Most of them are White Zetsu, I think.'
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Many White Zetsu had once been humans transformed thousands of years ago by the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
However, quite a number of them were actually clones.
Madara had created these by mixing Hashirama's cells into a White Zetsu host, allowing the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to continuously produce more.
As a result, those clones all possessed extremely similar chakra signatures, allowing Kiyohara to distinguish them almost immediately.
"Sasori has arrived as well."
He continued stroking his chin.
At the same time, he sensed another enormous chakra source.
Although it was nowhere near his own level, among shinobi it was still considered exceptional.
"Kisame?"
Kiyohara lifted his gaze toward the window.
According to the official databooks, Kisame possessed a perfect ten in chakra reserves.
He was known as the Tailless Tailed Beast.
A moment later, Kiyohara withdrew his senses and lowered his head toward Rin, who was still resting against him.
"Rin, something's happened."
He slowly rose from the bed.
"What is it?"
Rin immediately propped herself up.
The blanket slipped from her shoulders, revealing her fair skin and the thin straps of her nightdress.
"I need to head out."
Kiyohara replied.
"What happened?"
Rin asked anxiously.
"Kushina-san is giving birth tonight, right? Did something happen over there?"
"More or less."
Kiyohara nodded.
He gently patted her shoulder.
"The location where Kushina is giving birth is under attack."
"Under attack?"
Rin gasped.
"Who's attacking Konoha?"
"A few old acquaintances."
Kiyohara stood up and walked to the side of the bed.
He picked up the clothes hanging over the chair one piece at a time and calmly dressed himself.
The black skintight combat suit clung closely to his body, perfectly outlining the powerful muscles across his back.
Rin quietly watched his silhouette.
"I'll go help too."
She started climbing out of bed.
Kiyohara turned around to look at her.
"You organize the medical teams."
He said calmly.
"Prepare to treat the wounded."
"Alright."
Rin nodded immediately.
"I'll leave right now."
Kiyohara released his grip on his clothes and straightened himself.
He walked over to the window and pushed it open.
The next moment, his figure disappeared completely.
...
Atop the Hokage Rock.
Kiyohara stood on the head of his own stone monument with his arms folded across his chest.
The night wind stirred his hair and the hem of his clothes.
From this vantage point, the entirety of Konoha lay beneath him.
The streets shimmered under the moonlight like flowing silver rivers.
Rows of rooftops resembled overlapping scales stretching endlessly into the distance.
Far away, outside the village, the chakra disturbances from the direction of Kushina's delivery room were becoming increasingly intense.
The ANBU were already engaged in battle.
Kakashi's Purple Lightning repeatedly tore through the darkness, leaving streaks of violet lightning across the night.
"Let's release half of the Nine Tails."
Kiyohara remained standing with his arms crossed.
He had already placed a Flying Thunder God kunai inside the cave beforehand.
He could arrive there instantly whenever he wished.
However, his current plan was to allow only half of the Nine Tails to emerge before sealing that portion of its chakra into Naruto.
If Naruto grew up without the Nine Tails at all, then compared to the anime, his strength would simply be weakened.
As for Naruto and Sasuke, Kiyohara intended to personally train both of them.
Eventually, he planned to recruit them into the ANBU and make them his own direct subordinates.
Just then, the gourd hanging from his waist trembled slightly.
Streams of golden placer gold flowed out like ribbons, circling gracefully around him.
Kiyohara raised one hand.
Above his palm, a tiny golden projectile condensed into existence.
The sand-gold bullet was only about the size of his thumb.
Its surface gleamed brilliantly.
Despite its tiny size, its density was unimaginably high.
That single little sphere weighed dozens of kilograms.
Kiyohara infused chakra into the projectile, coating its surface with a thin electromagnetic field.
Tiny arcs of electromagnetic force crackled across its surface, producing faint snapping sounds.
He slowly closed his eyes.
His senses once again spread toward the distant battlefield.
Then...
He flicked his finger.
Whoosh!
The instant the projectile left his fingertip, the surrounding air was violently torn apart, producing an ear-piercing sonic shriek.
Its speed was simply unbelievable.
No ordinary human eye could even begin to follow its trajectory.
Kiyohara had mastered techniques utilizing electromagnetic force a very long time ago.
Now, after years of refinement...
He could effortlessly exceed one hundred times the speed of sound.
The golden projectile dragged a brilliant tail of light behind it.
Like a meteor flying upward against the heavens, it carved an elegant arc across the night sky as it hurtled toward the battlefield.
BOOOM!!!
The instant it struck the ground...
The earth shook violently.
The surrounding White Zetsu were instantly blown apart by the terrifying impact.
Limbs and torsos flew high into the air before the following shockwave tore them into even smaller fragments.
That single attack annihilated at least a hundred White Zetsu.
Every shinobi on the battlefield instinctively raised their heads.
They all looked toward the direction from which the projectile had come.
There, standing atop Hokage Rock, a lone white figure was clearly visible beneath the moonlight.
"It's Hokage-sama!"
"Lord Hokage has made his move!"
"The Fourth Hokage!"
Excited voices erupted from every direction.
Kiyohara's overwhelming strength had already been witnessed by everyone during the Third Great Shinobi War.
The moment he entered the battlefield, it felt as though an unshakable pillar had been planted deep within every shinobi's heart.
Their morale soared instantly.
Kakashi looked up toward the figure standing proudly atop Hokage Rock.
"So... he took action."
The uneasiness in his heart finally eased.
As long as Kiyohara took action...
Everything should be fine.
Might Guy kicked another puppet into pieces before also looking upward.
His face split into his trademark dazzling grin, revealing his brilliant white teeth.
"The flames of youth!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs before charging directly toward Kisame.
"Kiyohara's youth burns even brighter than mine!"
Meanwhile, Sasori was continuously retreating.
Even he had nearly lost half his body to the impact.
Lowering his head, he looked at the severed end of his right arm.
Transparent liquid slowly dripped from the broken pipes.
It was the specialized lubricating oil used to keep the joints of his puppet body functioning.
"That guy again..."
Sasori frowned deeply.
Long ago, he had already suffered at Kiyohara's hands.
He then opened a sealing scroll and removed a brand new mechanical arm.
Without hesitation, he installed it onto his body.
This was one of the greatest advantages of transforming himself into a puppet.
Even if parts of his body were damaged, he merely needed to replace the broken components and he could immediately continue fighting.
Click.
The gears meshed together.
The internal tubes connected perfectly.
The joints locked firmly back into place.
Sasori flexed his fingers several times, making sure every joint moved smoothly before finally lifting his head once more to stare toward Hokage Rock.
Under the moonlight, the white figure standing atop Hokage Rock was unmistakably clear.
Sasori's brows furrowed ever so slightly before quickly relaxing again.
"Troublesome."
That was all he said.
For Sasori, that single word was already the highest praise he could give an opponent.
"So that's the Fourth Hokage?"
While exchanging blows with Guy, Kisame asked Sasori without taking his eyes off the battle.
"That's him."
Sasori answered coldly.
The sight of Kiyohara had awakened memories he wished had stayed buried.
"Don't lose your focus while fighting me!"
Steam erupted from Might Guy's body once again.
Fourth Gate... Fifth Gate... Sixth Gate!
His aura climbed higher and higher with each gate he opened.
"Interesting."
Kisame stared at Guy with an eager grin.
He had never fought against such terrifying taijutsu before.
Meanwhile, Obito, who was battling Kakashi elsewhere, immediately sensed the disturbance.
His fist slowly clenched.
He could feel his heartbeat accelerating.
After all...
He had already lost to Kiyohara countless times.
Why?
Why was Kiyohara always the one who won?
Why did he always stand above everyone else as though victory naturally belonged to him?
Why would Rin smile at him?
Why would she treat him with such tenderness?
Why would she leave a lamp burning late into the night just for him?
Why?
Everything that should have belonged to Obito...
Everything...
Had been stolen by Kiyohara.
'Why is this masked man's strength suddenly increasing?'
Kakashi, who was exchanging blows with Obito, suddenly noticed that his opponent had become noticeably stronger.
He had no idea what had happened.
He simply assumed that the masked man had finally decided to fight with his full strength, which was why every exchange had become so much more difficult.
Obito slowly inhaled, suppressing the turbulent emotions raging inside him.
Yet under that emotional stimulation, the power of his Sharingan continued to rise.
There was another change that even Obito himself failed to notice.
His skin was gradually becoming paler.
If someone had examined him carefully, they would have discovered that his complexion was slowly beginning to resemble that of the White Zetsu.
'Tonight is my best opportunity.'
Obito thought silently.
If he could seize the Nine Tails tonight, then he would finally possess enough bargaining power.
The Nine Tailed Beasts.
The Rinnegan.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
As long as he gathered all of them together, he could begin the Eye of the Moon Plan and create a world where the true Rin still existed.
A world without Kiyohara.
Without Kakashi.
Without war.
Without pain.
A world where only he and Rin remained.
Obito loosened his fist.
Then slowly clenched it once more.
Within his lone Sharingan, the figure standing atop Hokage Rock was reflected clearly.
Slash!
Taking advantage of the instant Obito's thoughts wandered, Kakashi swung Yamamaru, its blade wrapped in brilliant lightning.
Yet Obito floated away like an incorporeal ghost.
The attack passed harmlessly through him.
Rather than continue fighting Kakashi, Obito immediately abandoned the battle.
His body continuously alternated between becoming tangible and intangible.
Every flicker carried him closer to the cave.
Kunai.
Shuriken.
Ninjutsu.
Nothing could stop him while he remained in that state.
Kakashi's heart tightened with anxiety.
Obito had already left him far behind.
He chased with all his strength.
By the time Kakashi caught up, Obito had already reached the entrance of the cave.
His crimson Sharingan swept across the surrounding ANBU guards, all of whom stood ready for battle.
Before they could even react...
Obito had already passed straight through their formation like a gust of wind no one could grasp.
"Fire Release..."
One ANBU had only managed to form a single hand seal before Obito's palm landed on the back of his neck.
Crack.
His neck snapped instantly.
The man's body collapsed limply to the ground.
Another ANBU barely had time to draw his sword before Obito's kunai pierced straight through his throat.
The interior of the cave was far wider than its narrow entrance suggested.
The air was filled with the scent of blood.
Medicine.
The unique milky smell carried by a newborn infant.
And another presence that Obito could not quite describe.
It was the chakra of the Nine Tails.
So dense that it almost seemed tangible.
Minato stood at the very back of the cavern.
One arm held a newborn wrapped in white swaddling cloth.
His other hand rested firmly upon Kushina's abdomen.
Soft blue chakra continuously flowed from his palm, maintaining the stability of the fuinjutsu technique.
Kushina lay upon a simple bed at his feet.
Her complexion was pale as paper.
Her crimson hair had been soaked completely with sweat and clung to her skin.
Her lips had lost all color.
She looked as though she had just been pulled from deep water.
Sarutobi Biwako slowly let out a breath of relief.
The sounds of battle outside had already reached the cave.
Because of that, everyone had raced against time to complete Kushina's delivery.
"Who... are you...?"
Kushina asked weakly.
Before she could finish speaking, Obito raised one hand.
A kunai shot from his palm.
At the exact same instant, Minato threw one of his own.
The two weapons collided in midair.
Obito's kunai was knocked away and embedded itself deeply into the cave wall.
"Don't move."
Minato warned calmly.
"Heh... your reactions are as fast as ever."
Obito answered in a mocking tone.
What a pity.
Even with speed like that...
Minato had failed to protect him.
He had been crushed beneath that massive boulder.
Only afterward had he encountered Madara.
Whenever Obito needed protection...
Whenever Rin needed protection...
The famous Yellow Flash had always arrived too late.
Yet now...
When it came to protecting his own wife and child...
He certainly acted quickly.
Obito shifted his gaze away from Minato.
His eyes settled upon the infant wrapped in white cloth.
Only a wrinkled little face peeked out from the swaddling blanket.
The baby's eyes remained tightly shut.
His tiny mouth opened slightly.
He was completely unaware of everything happening around him.
Minato could hear the hatred hidden within Obito's voice.
Yet he couldn't understand it.
He had no idea how he had ever offended this masked man enough to earn such deep resentment.
"I don't know what happened between us before."
Minato spoke calmly.
"But if you leave now... I won't attack you."
Even Minato remained wary of the mysterious masked man.
Meanwhile, Kushina's seal had already begun weakening.
The sealing formulas emerged across her abdomen.
Black markings twisted over her pale skin.
Because of that, Minato dared not attack recklessly.
If he made even the slightest mistake...
The Nine Tails could seize the opportunity to break free.
Obito calmly took another step forward.
Minato instantly flashed before Kushina, blocking his path.
In the very next instant...
Obito appeared beside Minato.
His right hand shot directly toward the swaddled infant.
However...
Minato reacted even faster than Obito had anticipated.
He vanished instantly.
Retreating several meters while still carrying Naruto safely in his arms.
Obito's fingertips merely brushed against the edge of the blanket.
He had touched nothing but a corner of the cloth.
Then...
Minato suddenly realized something.
The attack on Naruto had merely been a feint.
Obito's true objective...
Was Kushina.
The crimson Sharingan immediately turned.
Its gaze locked directly onto Kushina's eyes.
...
Inside Kushina's mind.
When Kushina opened her eyes, she discovered that she had already entered her inner spiritual world.
Shallow water covered the ground beneath her feet.
It reached only to her ankles.
She slowly looked ahead.
The gigantic body of the Nine Tails stood before her.
Its enormous form was bound by countless heavy chains.
"That disgusting chakra..."
The Nine Tails glared at both Kushina and the intruder who had entered alongside her.
It had no affection whatsoever for either of them.
"It's been a long time, Nine Tails."
Obito deliberately imitated Madara's voice.
The instant it heard him...
The instant it felt that cold, sinister chakra...
The Nine Tails' vertical pupils shrank into razor-thin slits.
It was as though something had stabbed directly into its memories.
Its massive body instinctively leaned backward.
The enormous iron gate behind it shook violently.
The chains rattled loudly within the darkness.
"You... you're..."
For the first time...
A trace of caution entered the Nine Tails' voice.
" Uchiha... Madara!"
Obito offered no denial.
Instead, he merely raised his head and looked directly into those enormous crimson eyes.
Then...
The Sharingan within his own eye socket began spinning.
The three tomoe merged together.
The pattern transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Immense power surged outward from that eye.
Like an invisible net...
It descended upon the Nine Tails.
The giant fox's body froze instantly.
Its scarlet eyes began changing.
The narrow vertical pupils slowly spread apart, transforming into concentric ripples.
For the briefest moment...
The Sharingan pattern flashed within the Nine Tails' pupils.
"Nine Tails..."
Obito roared.
"Come out!"
At that exact moment...
Kushina's body began changing in the real world.
Vast amounts of crimson Nine Tails chakra burst out from within her body.
It spread outward without restraint.
The outline of a gigantic crimson fox slowly began taking shape.
Rumble!
The overwhelming eruption of chakra blasted the entire cave apart.
The ceiling collapsed.
The walls exploded.
The night sky was suddenly exposed above them.
Obito's consciousness immediately returned to reality.
Everything that had happened within the mental world...
Had taken no more than a single instant.
The Nine Tails...
Was about to emerge.
Minato realized it as well.
But Naruto was still safely cradled in his arms.
He had no time to rush over.
If he used the Flying Thunder God now...
Obito might seize that brief opening to attack Naruto instead.
"Hahahaha!"
Obito threw back his head and laughed wildly.
At that very instant...
Kiyohara's figure suddenly appeared inside the shattered cave.
Shing!
His blade left its sheath in one smooth motion.
Without the slightest hesitation...
He slashed straight through the half-formed Nine Tails.
One clean stroke.
The incompletely materialized Nine Tails was split apart, and fully half of its body was severed before it could even emerge completely.
(End of Chapter)