A tailed beast transformation.
A rampage.
Even without knowing the exact fate of that former Seven-Tails jinchūriki, everyone present could easily imagine how it must have ended—tragically, and without mercy.
Almost instinctively, their gazes shifted toward Kushina, still lying unconscious.
The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki… would she lose control as well?
"Is there any way to stop it?" Minato asked immediately.
He stared blankly at the red-haired woman in his arms, a crushing sense of helplessness rising within him.
Helpless… yes, that was the only word for it. He couldn't even protect the person he loved most.
And yet he dreamed of becoming Hokage?
Shinyo slowly shook his head. "There's no solution. The Hero Water drastically increases chakra, but it also disrupts the sealing array within the user's body… which in turn affects the tailed beast."
"As the user gains immense power, the seal is gradually weakened—until it ultimately breaks completely."
"In that state, the seal won't recover until the effects of the Hero Water wear off."
"Then we just need to reapply the seal," Shimizu said calmly. "If we can reinforce it, we can suppress the tailed beast again."
But Shinyo's reply was like a death sentence.
"The power of the Hero Water isn't something a mere sealing array can withstand…"
A heavy silence fell.
"It's already too late," Shinyo continued, his voice growing heavier with each word. "Even if you leave Takigakure with her right now… there isn't enough time."
"…Takigakure is finished."
"The Nine-Tails is about to be unleashed."
When he finished speaking, Shinyo collapsed onto the ground, all strength leaving his body.
The rampage of the Seven-Tails alone had nearly destroyed their village.
If it was the Nine-Tails—the strongest of them all…
Then what hope was there?
If sealing wouldn't work…
Then there was only one option left—however reckless it might be.
"We don't have to wait for the Hero Water's effects to fade," Shimizu said suddenly. "We can subdue the Nine-Tails ourselves."
Minato had been too shaken, too consumed by fear and self-doubt to consider such a direct approach. But now, hearing those words, his eyes snapped back into focus.
If they could suppress the Nine-Tails quickly—overpower it completely—then both Kushina's condition and the damage to Takigakure could be minimized.
"Right now—get her away from the residential area!" Shimizu added sharply.
"…Yes. We still have a chance!" Minato responded at once, as if jolted awake, and without another word, he carried Kushina and sped off.
If it had only been him and Minato, Shimizu wouldn't have dared suggest such a plan.
But standing beside him now…
Was a man who had fought the Eight-Tails head-on.
A man who had just held off tens of thousands of Iwagakure shinobi and remained undefeated.
Taking a deep breath, Shimizu stepped forward. He bowed deeply toward Dodai and the Third Raikage, his voice earnest.
"I'm counting on you."
This wasn't something Dodai could decide. His gaze shifted toward the Third Raikage.
After a moment, the Raikage spoke.
"I'll call you Shimizu, then. Dodai has already told me everything you discussed earlier."
"Shunshin Shimizu… and the Yellow Flash. To be allied with young men of such strength and caliber is a blessing for Kumogakure."
"And you—knowing full well that tens of thousands of Iwagakure shinobi were pursuing me—still chose to stand with Dodai and come to the front lines to support me…"
"That trust… and that courage…"
"I admire it."
His voice grew firm, resolute.
"So when Konoha faces hardship, Kumogakure will lend its full strength."
The towering figure of the Third Raikage extended a dark, calloused fist.
A fist bump to seal the alliance?
But this… was more than any written treaty. It was the Raikage's personal acknowledgment of Konoha.
"Alright," Shimizu replied, raising his own hand.
Their fists collided with a solid удар.
"Let's move!" the Third Raikage declared, taking the lead as he surged forward in pursuit of Minato.
Because of Kushina's sudden incident, Konoha and Kumogakure had, almost by accident, forged what appeared to be a solid alliance.
Under such circumstances, could the two villages still come to blows on the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War?
Would there ever again be a clash between the Yellow Flash and the next generation's A–B duo, a battle of pure speed and brilliance?
Shimizu shook those thoughts from his mind and took a deep breath.
Because in just a moment, he would be facing—
The Nine-Tailed Fox.
Everything moved forward in steady preparation for the coming battle.
Dodai immediately led a group of Kumogakure shinobi toward the center of the battlefield. At the same time, Minato's adjutant, Shigeki Egaki, rallied the Konoha forces to follow. As for Shinyo, after regaining his composure, he led Takigakure's villagers away to safety.
Minato continued to run at full speed, his teeth clenched tightly as he endured the searing burn of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Step by step, he watched as Kushina's body became enveloped in that vivid red chakra… the color deepening from crimson to a darker shade, until it finally turned a bloodlike scarlet.
The color of the abyss.
By now, four tails had already formed behind her.
"Minato, this is far enough," Shimizu urged.
If this continued, Minato would be worn down before the battle even began.
"You need to stay in peak condition. At this rate, you won't be able to save Kushina."
"…Alright. We'll stop here," Minato said, forcing open his severely burned hands. His voice was low but steady. "It's only four tails…"
Kushina lay on an open stretch of sandy shore. To the west stretched a vast, ocean-like lake, while to the east lay an endless forest.
"Go inform Takigakure to stay away from the shoreline," the Third Raikage ordered, his gaze fixed on Kushina—who now bore five tails and no longer resembled a human form.
"Yes, sir!" A Kumogakure shinobi departed at once.
Soon, the sixth tail began to emerge.
Kushina's form had already collapsed entirely into a writhing sphere of blood-red chakra.
"Aaaaagh—!!"
Her scream tore through the air, filled with unbearable agony.
Minato clenched his fists tightly.
Watching someone precious suffer such torment… and being powerless to help…
That kind of helplessness—
Shimizu knew it all too well.
The seventh tail appeared.
The atmosphere grew heavy, even the sound of breathing turning tense.
Then—the eighth tail.
"Be careful. Do not let the Nine-Tails touch you," the Third Raikage warned as a blue aura suddenly flared to life around his body.
Lightning crackled and coiled around him, forming a radiant armor.
"I have fought the Eight-Tails before. I've felt the absolute power of a tailed beast…"
"That is not something ordinary shinobi can confront head-on."
"So your task is to wear down its chakra as much as possible…"
"And I—"
"I will face it directly."
He stepped forward, taking his place at the very front.
Behind him stood Minato and Shimizu, side by side, and further back, dozens of shinobi from both Kumogakure and Konoha formed their ranks.
At last—
The ninth tail emerged.
Like a volcanic eruption, torrents of blood-red chakra burst forth, surging wildly before gathering together into a single form—
A colossal beast, towering dozens of meters high.
Nine massive tails lashed through the air like a storm of demons unleashed.
Then, the ferocious Nine-Tailed Fox threw back its head and let out a piercing roar.
"At last… I have seen the light of day once more!"
...
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