"W-what kind of Ninjutsu is this?"
While Ryūjin's mind raced, everyone on the battlefield stood dumbstruck. Ninja from Konoha and Iwagakure alike stared at the massive earthen sphere suspended in the air, muttering in disbelief.
In the Ninja World, Tailed Beasts were the ultimate force. Once a Jinchuriki transformed, few shinobi could stand against them, unless another Jinchuriki intervened. Yet who could have imagined that Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, would be sealed by a Sealing Technique no one had ever heard of? It was beyond shocking.
WhooshA blur streaked across the field. The two Iwagakure ninja carrying Kakashi barely registered a shift in the air before Shisui snatched him away.
Then Shisui unleashed his Body Flicker Technique. Four images of Shisui scattered across the battlefield at lightning speed. Screams erupted as the remaining rock-nin fell one by one. The handful who survived, either terrified or finally grasping the situation, fled at full speed. Shisui didn't bother pursuing them.
"Shisui, what was that technique?" Kakashi asked, still reeling.
Shisui shook his head, equally bewildered. "I don't know, but it's terrifying—utterly unprecedented."
They exchanged a few quick words before checking the battlefield, tallying Konoha's casualties, and searching for other survivors. They also looked for the mysterious figure who had intervened from the shadows, but found no trace.
The only other survivors they found were Ryūjin and Rin Nohara. Together, the three hurried back toward Konoha. Fortunately, the rest of the journey passed without incident, and they reached the Village safely.
"Kakashi, Ryūjin, Rin, don't head home yet. Come with me to see Hokage-sama."
The moment they entered the Village, Shisui whisked them straight to the Hokage Office without even pausing to rest. Their mission report needed to be delivered immediately.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the hokage, held Shisui in high regard. Upon hearing the message from his aide, he set aside his work and summoned them.
Too bad the check-in system only allows one check-in per day; otherwise, I'd love to see the reward for this place, Ryūjin mused irreverently, glancing around the solemn office.
"Shisui, how did it go—did you find Obito's body?" The Hokage asked, taking a thoughtful pull from his pipe.
Kakashi had been implanted with Obito's Sharingan, a matter serious enough to reach the Hokage. Shisui's search party had been approved by him.
"Hokage-sama, we never found his body," Shisui replied honestly. Many who died on the battlefield were never recovered, but Obito was no ordinary shinobi. He was an Uchiha who had awakened the Sharingan. If alive, they needed the man; if dead, the corpse. The Sharingan could not fall into enemy hands.
Thus, the Hokage pressed for details, instructing Shisui to continue searching, though there was little more he could do.
"Hokage-sama, there is one more matter to report."
After the Obito topic, Shisui's expression grew serious. The Hokage was unsurprised; if it had been only about Obito, Shisui could have come alone. Bringing Kakashi, Rin, and a Genin indicated something unusual.
"Speak," said the Hokage.
"On our way back, we were ambushed by Iwagakure ninja—an elite squad led by the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Han."
"The Five-Tails Jinchuriki?" Even the unflappable Hokage's eyes widened.
Mobilizing a Jinchuriki was an extreme move. Iwagakure's other Jinchuriki had left long ago over disagreements with the Tsuchikage. To risk their only remaining one took serious courage. Still, could the current Shisui actually handle a Jinchuriki?
"Shisui, you escaped the Five-Tails Jinchuriki while bringing Kakashi and the others back—my faith in you was not misplaced," the Hokage said, tone mixing praise and wariness. Shisui's strength was growing absurdly. Beyond the monstrous genjutsu Kotoamatsukami, his raw combat power was equally terrifying.
Fortunately, he remained on the Village's side; otherwise, endless trouble would follow.
"No, Hokage-sama—we survived because someone else intervened," Shisui corrected, recounting the details without waiting for questions.
The Hokage was left speechless. "You're saying someone used a bizarre Sealing Technique to trap Han in his partial Tailed Beast form?"
No one besides the Uzumaki Clan had the knowledge to seal a Tailed Beast. It defied everything Hiruzen knew.
"Shisui, take me there at once!" the Hokage decided after a pause. Capturing a Five-Tails Jinchuriki was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Without delay, he summoned Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina, along with an Anbu platoon, and followed Shisui out of the Village.
As for Kakashi and Ryūjin, Shisui had only brought them to report on the Iwagakure clash. With the Hokage rushing off to secure the Jinchuriki, their debrief was abruptly cancelled.
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