Even with his calm demeanor, Kakashi couldn't maintain his composure upon seeing the fully manifested One-Tail.
This was one of the Nine Tailed Beasts. The scene of the Nine-Tails rampaging through Konoha twelve years ago was still vivid in his memory. And now, another Tailed Beast had appeared within the village.
Even if its strength couldn't compare to the Nine-Tails...
It was still a genuine Tailed Beast.
An existence that ordinary ninja stood no chance against.
Genma Shiranui, Asuma, Kurenai, Guy, and the other Jonin all paled instantly.
Meanwhile...
Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation high above...
Hiruzen Sarutobi, having just summoned his ninja monkey Enma and escaped a severely weakened version of the Deep Forest Emergence, also witnessed the colossal form of Shukaku. His aged face contorted into an extremely ugly expression.
This expression was due to both the One-Tail and Menma.
Although he was too far away to hear Menma's roar, Hiruzen could clearly see Menma intercepting Naruto and standing on the side of the Sand ninja.
"Orochimaru! Damn you! You brought the One-Tail into the village and you bewitched Menma!"
Hiruzen's face was filled with rage.
"Bewitched? Heh, Sarutobi-sensei, you shouldn't throw accusations around like that. Menma-kun came to me of his own accord. Do you know? When he approached me in the Forest of Death, even I was surprised. After all, he is the son of Minato and Kushina. But after hearing what he had to say, I wasn't surprised at all. Because Menma-kun... he has known his identity for a very, very long time. Sarutobi-sensei, how does that make you feel?"
Orochimaru licked his lips, watching Hiruzen's shocked expression with glee. The pleasure in his snake-like eyes deepened. He truly enjoyed seeing his teacher like this.
He had returned to Konoha for this very purpose: to completely destroy his once most respected mentor, both mentally and physically.
"What did you say!?"
Hiruzen shouted, a mix of shock and anger on his face.
Emotionally, Hiruzen refused to believe Orochimaru's words. He would rather believe that Menma had been manipulated.
Knowing his identity for a long time!?
Wouldn't that make everything... utterly farcical!?
"So, Sarutobi-sensei, this is the other surprise I mentioned. Enjoy the last moments of your life. This village is about to follow you into destruction!"
Orochimaru gave a cold laugh, a chilling glint appearing in his eyes.
"Attack!"
With that command, Orochimaru led the reanimated Hashirama and Tobirama in another fierce assault on his teacher.
This was a stark divergence from the original story. Inside the barrier, it was still Orochimaru "soloing" Hiruzen (with help), but down below, Gaara had successfully transformed. A rampaging Tailed Beast was not something ordinary ninja could resist.
Rumble!
Chakra surged wildly.
The moment he transformed into the One-Tail, Gaara used the "Feigning Sleep Technique," allowing Shukaku's consciousness to completely take over his body.
"Gahahaha! I'm out! I'm finally OUT!"
Shukaku laughed maniacally.
He didn't care about escaping.
Right now, Shukaku only wanted to vent the frustration of being sealed for years. He cherished this precious "free time."
"Wind Style: Air Bullet!!!"
He swung his massive tail violently.
While easily forcing back Kakashi, Asuma, Genma, and the other Jonin, Shukaku slammed his paws onto his belly.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Massive spheres of compressed air shot from his mouth.
He aimed directly at the stands, still filled with tens of thousands of sleeping spectators.
"Not good!"
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
Seeing this, Kakashi immediately formed seals, molding a large amount of chakra.
From the ground...
A massive earth wall adorned with several large dog heads rose abruptly.
The wall stood tall and sturdy, blocking the path of the two giant air bullets.
However!
Boom!
The air bullets smashed into the wall, punching through it effortlessly and flying straight into the spectator seats behind.
Bang!
Crack!
Clatter!
One shot hit the front rows, instantly killing the "lucky" spectators who were still asleep and hadn't been evacuated.
The other shot struck the upper support beams. The wall shattered, and falling debris buried the audience below.
Even though Might Guy reacted quickly, flashing over to smash countless falling rocks and save many civilians, a significant number were still buried under the rubble.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Severed limbs scattered across the stands. In an instant, the area became a gruesome hellscape.
"Bastard!"
Seeing this, Kakashi's expression turned grim.
"Gahahahahaha!"
Shukaku laughed uproariously at his "masterpiece," his voice filled with smug satisfaction.
He had been sealed for so long.
The last time he had been able to play freely like this was almost twenty years ago.
"No one can stop ME!!!"
Shukaku roared.
Even if he wasn't as strong as the Eight-Tails or Nine-Tails, in front of ordinary ninja, Shukaku was invincible.
So what if Kakashi had the Sharingan!?
A normal three-tomoe Sharingan was a joke to a Tailed Beast.
To truly control or suppress a Tailed Beast, one needed the Mangekyō Sharingan.
And even that came at the cost of pupil power.
In the original story, how did Naruto defeat Shukaku?
He relied on Gamabunta, a summon with near-Kage-level strength!
And later, with Bunta's advice, Naruto woke Gaara up with a punch, forcing Shukaku's consciousness back down. If the fight had dragged on, even Bunta wouldn't have been a match for Shukaku!
Relying solely on Kakashi (who hadn't realized he possessed the Mangekyō), Asuma, Genma, and the others... it was impossible to stop a rampaging Shukaku!
Watching Shukaku wreak havoc with ease...
And seeing the wretched state of Kakashi, Asuma, and the others...
Menma, who had already retreated to a safe distance and was standing atop a broken wall, smiled cruelly.
"Yes, just like that. Keep venting, Shukaku! Let the fireworks be even brighter than twelve years ago! Let Konoha feel true pain once again!!!"