Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
After clashing repeatedly, Obito Uchiha and Ryūjin finally slowed as several powerful presences rapidly closed in on them.
One after another, Konoha shinobi appeared using the Body Flicker Technique, surrounding the two in a tight formation.
"That is... the Nine-Tails!"
An aged yet firm voice rang out. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood atop a massive rock, his sharp gaze sweeping across the battlefield, his expression grave.
"Minato was right. Two Uchiha are fighting here, and both possess extraordinary power."
Not far from him, standing on another boulder, was Jiraiya. Unlike his usual carefree demeanor, his face was unusually serious.
Ryūjin had already discarded his sunglasses during the fight, his Sharingan fully exposed.
"One of them looks like Obito Uchiha... the boy who supposedly died at Kannabi Bridge. But who is the other?" asked Chōza Akimichi in a deep voice.
He had been summoned to suppress the Nine-Tails if it lost control. His Expansion Jutsu would be essential in dealing with such a massive threat.
"That gold dust on the ground... it resembles Rasa's Magnet Release."
Shibi Aburame observed calmly. His clan's insects would also be effective in restraining the Nine-Tails.
All of them had responded immediately to the Hokage's urgent summons after hearing that the Nine-Tails had been taken. Yet the situation before them felt strangely unreal.
Alongside these elite shinobi, countless Anbu and Root operatives had already taken position.
The scale of Konoha's mobilization for the Nine-Tails was nothing short of overwhelming.
As for the Uchiha Clan, they had offered assistance, but Hiruzen had firmly rejected it.
The Hokage, advisors, and all senior officials unanimously opposed their involvement.
The reason was simple. The one who attacked Kushina was an Uchiha.
Trust was nonexistent.
To them, the possibility that the clan itself was behind the incident could not be ignored.
It was not an unreasonable suspicion. The mastermind was an Uchiha, and the clan had both the capability and motive to seize the Nine-Tails and attempt a coup.
Instead of being deployed, the clan was quietly placed under surveillance.
Clink, clank.
Despite the overwhelming presence of Konoha forces, Ryūjin and Obito paid them no attention.
They continued fighting as though no one else existed.
Then, in a flash, Minato Namikaze reappeared using the Flying Thunder God Technique, arriving beside Hiruzen.
"Minato, how is Kushina?" Hiruzen asked.
"She's safe, thankfully!" Minato replied, his eyes briefly shifting toward Ryūjin with a trace of gratitude.
Whether intentional or not, Ryūjin had given him the warning that saved Kushina.
"Good," Jiraiya said. "Since the Nine-Tails is currently stable, Minato, relocate it using Flying Thunder God. Leave these two to us."
"Understood, Jiraiya-sensei."
Minato nodded. That had already been his plan.
The moment Minato appeared, Ryūjin stopped moving.
Obito did the same, his cold gaze sweeping across the surrounding shinobi.
No words were needed.
Despite being enemies, both of them understood one thing clearly.
They could not allow the Nine-Tails to fall into Konoha's hands.
"Konoha's here. Do we keep going?" Ryūjin asked casually, his tone indifferent.
Obito remained silent, but his stance made his intentions obvious.
"So... we stop trying to kill each other for now and work together?" Ryūjin said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah right. Life's funny."
Moments ago, they had been intent on killing each other. Now they were considering an alliance.
Ridiculous, but practical.
"Minato Namikaze will try to teleport the Nine-Tails. Can you stop him?" Obito finally spoke, his eyes locked onto Ryūjin.
"You're asking me for help?" Ryūjin replied, unimpressed.
"Don't play dumb. You want the Nine-Tails even more than I do."
Ryūjin clicked his tongue lightly, then suddenly slammed both palms onto the ground.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust."
The earth trembled as a massive surge of golden sand erupted upward, surrounding the Nine-Tails.
In an instant, the sand expanded and closed in from all directions, forming a dense dome that sealed the beast completely inside.
"Magnet Release... it really is Magnet Release!" Hiruzen exclaimed, his composure cracking. "An Uchiha using Magnet Release is impossible."
The disbelief was not his alone. Jiraiya, Chōza, Shibi, and the rest of the Konoha forces were equally stunned.
Minato's expression stiffened.
He and Jiraiya had just agreed on a plan, only for it to be rendered useless in an instant.
Before he could act, the Nine-Tails had already been sealed.
"Forget the Nine-Tails for now," Hiruzen declared firmly. "Capturing these two is our priority."
His reasoning was simple.
If they defeated Ryūjin and Obito, the Nine-Tails would no longer be a problem.
But if they focused on relocating it and failed to stop these two, the beast would simply be taken again.
That would be pointless.
From Konoha's perspective, failing to capture two enemies with such overwhelming numbers was unthinkable.
"Sensei is right. Let's take them down first," Jiraiya said, leaping forward.
"I'll assist him," Minato added, stepping up. "Hokage-sama, you and the others maintain the perimeter. If the Nine-Tails breaks free, we'll rely on you."
"Wait," Hiruzen called out, stopping him. "If the Nine-Tails does break loose, you are more suited to handle it than I am. Jiraiya and I will face them."
With that, master and student advanced together, their expressions resolute as they approached Ryūjin and Obito.
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