Konoha 51, early winter. A chill had quietly descended upon the Land of Fire, yet Konohagakure was still immersed in the peace of post-war recovery. The new policies and vitality brought by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, after taking office were like warm sunlight, gradually dispelling the gloom left by the long war. People looked forward to a peaceful future, completely unaware that the shadow of disaster was approaching in the cruelest and most unexpected way.
That night, the moon and stars were sparse, but a faint, ominous blood color seeped through the sky.
Without warning, a terrifying roar, loud enough to tear the soul, suddenly exploded above Konoha Village! The sound, filled with endless hatred, tyranny, and the desire for destruction, instantly woke the entire Village!
The villagers rushed out of their homes in terror, immediately seeing a sight they would never forget—a scene straight out of the apocalypse.
An unimaginably huge Demonic Fox, brandishing nine massive, mountain-like tails, was rampaging wildly through the Village! Its entire body was enveloped in solidified, blood-red Chakra; a single swipe of its tail easily leveled several houses! A single claw strike left an unfathomably deep ravine in the earth! The malicious Chakra was like a tangible plague, pressing down on everyone's hearts, making them feel heavy and nauseous.
"The Nine-Tailed Fox! It's the Nine-Tailed Fox!"
"Help! Run!"
Panic spread instantly like a plague. Screams, cries, and the roar of collapsing buildings intertwined, transforming the quiet night into a bloody hell.
Konoha's response was swift. Large numbers of Ninja rushed toward the Nine-Tailed Fox, disregarding their lives, attempting to use Ninjutsu, exploding tags, and even their own flesh and blood to stop the steps of this World-Destroying Monster. However, their attacks seemed so pale and weak against the Nine-Tailed Fox's absolute power. Countless Ninja were ground into dust by the Nine-Tailed Fox's claws, fangs, and tails, like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"Sealing Squad! Quickly organize the Sealing Squad!"
"Stop it! Don't let it get near the Village center!"
The Sandaime Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had long since retired, but at this moment, he had to don his battle armor once more, leading the Anbu and the Jonin of the major clans in a desperate resistance. The Ino–Shika–Chō trio cooperated tacitly, attempting to use the Shadow Imitation Technique and the Mind Body Switch Technique for control, but they were instantly overwhelmed by the Nine-Tailed Fox's ferocious Chakra. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could see the Chakra Points but had no means to attack them. The Aburame Clan's insects were vaporized upon approach. The Uchiha Clan's Great Fireball was even unable to break through the Tailed Beast Cloak!
Despair, deep despair, enveloped every Konoha Shinobi.
Just at this most critical juncture, a golden flash of light, like a sword of hope, pierced the darkness!
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had finally arrived!
His Flying Thunder God Technique was executed with extreme speed, saving dying comrades time and again in the nick of time, attempting to lure the Nine-Tailed Fox out of the Village.
People saw hope; they saw their Hokage maneuvering around the Nine-Tailed Fox like a god descended from heaven.
However, they did not know that behind this disaster lay a deeper conspiracy and a pair of Sharingan controlling everything. The Nine-Tailed Fox's pupils had clearly transformed into a crimson Tomoe Shape!
Minato quickly discovered the truth, but he faced a series of extremely cruel choices. To protect the Village, to protect his newborn son, and to protect everything he cherished, he resolutely made his final decision.
No one knew how tragic and heroic the specific details of the battle were. What people ultimately saw was the Nine-Tailed Fox's world-destroying Tailed Beast Ball being successfully diverted, preventing the Village's complete destruction. Afterward, the terrifying and chilling Nine-Tailed Chakra rapidly receded like a tide, forcibly sealed away.
When dawn finally arrived and the sunlight shone upon Konoha once more, what met the people's eyes was only a chaotic expanse of ruins, the bodies of countless victims, and the painful weeping of the survivors.
And a piece of news that everyone found unacceptable and heart-wrenching pierced the heart of every Konoha villager like the coldest ice pick—
To seal the Nine-Tailed Fox and protect the Village, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze... bravely sacrificed himself.
The new Hokage, who was as warm as sunshine, as swift as a flash of light, and who brought unlimited hope to the Village, fell suddenly like a shooting star after emitting his brightest radiance.
Immense sorrow and endless mourning instantly engulfed Konoha.
The news swept across the entire Ninja World like a hurricane.
The first reaction of every Ninja Village that heard the news was disbelief.
"yellow flash" Minato Namikaze, that Peerless Expert who had earned great fame in the Third Great War, had only recently become Hokage, and was at his peak—he just died? Died during the rampage of his own Village's Jinchuriki?
Hidden Sand Village, Kazekages Office.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa abruptly stood up from his seat when he received the Secret Report, his face filled with extreme shock. After repeatedly confirming the news was accurate, the shock gradually transformed into an extremely complex emotion.
Minato Namikaze's death meant Konoha had lost its sharpest spear and its strongest shield, losing a Top-Tier Combatant who was in his prime. Their overall strength was bound to suffer a heavy blow!
Almost instinctively, a long-suppressed thought uncontrollably surged up from the depths of Rasa's heart.
Kikyō Mountain Fortress!
That tragic defeat! That humiliating Surrender Treaty they were forced to sign! That Massive Indemnity that still suffocated Sunagakure! And the countless heroic souls of Sunagakure who died on the battlefield!
All this shame and hatred had never truly been forgotten; it had merely been temporarily buried in their hearts.
Now, Konoha had suffered such a heavy blow, the Fourth Hokage had just died, and internal turmoil was inevitable, severely reducing their strength.
And Sunagakure? After several years of recuperation, especially after repelling Kirigakure at East Sea Bay and even successfully counterattacking across the sea, their morale was high. Pakura, Sayo, and other Strong Individuals of the New Generation had already risen, and their combat power was abundant.
"This... this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Sunagakure..." Rasa's fingers unconsciously tapped the desktop, his eyes flickering, filled with ambition and calculation. "We can invade the Land of Fire in one fell swoop, reclaim everything we lost, and even... seize more territory and resources! We will completely wash away the shame of Kikyō Mountain!"
Inside the office, Baki and other High-Ranking Officials of the Main War Faction, who had rushed over after receiving the news, showed similar expressions. The clouds of war, it seemed, were quietly gathering once again.
Nine-Tails Attack not only brought endless pain to Konoha but also acted like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up massive ripples across the entire Ninja World and agitating the already delicate and fragile peace. A new round of storms seemed to be brewing.