At the edge of Konoha's outer defensive barrier.
Having just completed another round of emergency evacuation guidance, Jiraiya stood solemnly atop a hastily constructed observation platform. His gaze was fixed beyond the village—where a savage, monstrous Nine-Tails over a hundred meters tall had risen to its feet and let out a roar that shook the earth!
The sight drained the color from many Chunin and Genin's faces.
"There's... another one?" Jiraiya said gravely. "Is that bastard trying to distract Naruto this way?"
Although the beast before them looked identical to the Nine-Tails, every Konoha ninja knew the truth—it was a fake!
Just moments ago, they had all witnessed that mythic battle in the distance. The real Nine-Tails, radiating golden light like the sun, had fought five giant beasts of different attributes and ultimately destroyed them all with a heaven-shaking circular slash.
From the still badly injured Third Hokage, Jiraiya had learned part of the attacker's abilities—he could steal others' Chakra and use it to create powerful puppets or attacks.
The source of the dark-red Nine-Tails' Chakra was precisely the power of Kurama that had been stolen from Kushina Uzumaki.
"Lord Jiraiya! What do we do now?!"
"That monster is too close to the village! If it attacks..."
"The evacuation hasn't been fully completed yet!"
Around the temporary command post, Konoha's combat Jonin and elite Anbu had already gathered swiftly. Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy were both present, standing ready. Everyone's eyes were on Jiraiya—the Third Hokage was still seriously wounded, and the only one who could oversee the situation and issue the highest combat orders was the man about to succeed him as the Fifth Hokage.
Jiraiya immediately made his decision.
"Everyone, continue holding your defensive positions! Prioritize keeping the evacuation routes open, reinforce the barrier, and stay alert for