Iwagakure's Jinchuriki differed from Konoha's. After their sealing techniques had been refined, the two had already gained control over most of their Tailed Beasts' power.
Roshi, the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, was in his prime. Because his ideals clashed with Tsuchikage Ōnoki's, he had moved to a valley outside the village.
Han, the Five-Tails' Jinchuriki, had actively contributed to Iwagakure. After tapping into the Tailed Beast's power, he had come to approve of the village's policies and had spent this time actively using "Talk no Jutsu" on his comrades.
Toward evening, Han, known as the "Steam Ninja," arrived at Roshi's place in his red armor for a routine visit. Just as he was about to complain about the recently famous AB Duo, Roshi suddenly rose to his feet.
"You've let your guard down, Han. Someone's come to visit us!"
"Looks like the comrades on the perimeter have all been taken out. This isn't the time for idle chat."
Fastening his hollow mask beneath his chin, Roshi called for his companion to meet the enemy with a grave expression. After sensing carefully, Han narrowed his eyes as well, pulled his red mask back over his face, and said:
"We're being underestimated! Kumogakure ninja? What are those bastards plotting this time?"
"..."
After a brief exchange, the two took the initiative and attacked. As Jinchuriki, they had no intention of concealing their Chakra. A tail appeared behind each of them as they ran.
Meanwhile, in Jiraiya's team as they sped forward, Minato Namikaze suddenly gave a solemn warning:
"Two powerful Chakra signatures are moving toward us, very quickly."
The terrain in the valley was flat, with practically no cover. After a moment's thought, Jiraiya shouted his orders:
"Take the initiative and cover me!"
"Needle Jizo!"
The two team members behind him immediately responded. Just as the two sides were about to collide head-on, Jiraiya's white hair suddenly lengthened, its front end forming a huge maw that bit directly at the enemy.
Bound by the white hair, Roshi made no unnecessary movements. His Chakra suddenly turned scorching hot, and a wisp of flame emerged from his body.
"Bang..."
Han suddenly burst forth amid white smoke, accelerating sharply and charging before the three-man team. In a single exchange, he kicked the black-skinned fat man away. As he was about to pursue, Minato Namikaze immediately blocked him with a kunai.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
Jiraiya unleashed a large-scale ninjutsu that altered the terrain. Both sides tacitly pulled apart, and Minato Namikaze came behind his teacher and quietly warned:
"They're extremely troublesome. They should have already tapped into the Tailed Beasts' power."
Seeing the Chakra tails swaying behind the Jinchuriki, Jiraiya frowned slightly. One tail was clearly not their limit.
"Konoha ninja, Jiraiya of the Sannin! So you've finally begun taking the initiative!"
"Looks like Ōnoki has put enormous pressure on Konoha to have sent you here."
With his arms crossed, Han calmly provoked them, seemingly not taking his opponents seriously at all. Roshi beside him, however, looked grave. Interrupting his companion's "Talk no Jutsu," he spoke first:
"War again? Looks like I need to teach you a lesson!"
"Han, stop rambling! End this battle now."
The moment those words fell, Tailed Beast Chakra erupted fully from both of them. Before the astonished eyes of Jiraiya's four-man group, the massive forms of beasts and swaying tails appeared one after another.
Inside the mouth of the red giant ape, Roshi crossed his arms and said in a low voice:
"Stop with these meaningless probes. The only one who can stand against us is the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki!"
Inside the huge mouth of the white dolphin-faced beast, Han widened his eyes and roared:
"Die, Konoha scum!"
Pitch-black energy rapidly condensed into an enormous sphere. The Tailed Beast Chakra erupting from the two made cold sweat appear on the foreheads of Jiraiya's group.
"A Tailed Beast Bomb! They've reached this level already! Minato, retreat first!"
Hearing Jiraiya's order, Minato Namikaze immediately warned his two teammates. Facing the overwhelming attack of the Tailed Beast Bomb, he rapidly erupted with Chakra and completed the Flying Thunder God.
"Boom!"
After a flash of white light, a deafening explosion erupted in the valley. The shockwave rapidly spread, flattening every nearby outpost. The Tailed Beast Bomb displayed its immense destructive power to the Konoha ninja.
At the edge of the valley, the four suddenly appeared, staggering. The black fat man who had fallen to the ground muttered in terror:
"Are we dead?"
"Open your eyes. Minato used Flying Thunder God to get us out."
His effeminate teammate replied weakly, his entire body limp. Jiraiya, standing before them, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at his disciple as he murmured:
"That was dangerous! We almost stayed there. I didn't expect them to have developed the Tailed Beasts to this extent."
At the thought of that world-destroying power from moments ago, Minato Namikaze's heart tightened. He began worrying that Kushina would be forced onto the battlefield once the war broke out.
"Whoosh..."
Shu Furukawa and the Anbu captain appeared before the four at once. Jiraiya was slightly stunned when he saw the scars on their armor.
Before he could ask, Shu Furukawa warned:
"With Chakra of that intensity, we need to withdraw quickly. Minato, do you need to restore your stamina?"
Sensing the two Jinchuriki moving at high speed, Minato Namikaze had no time to ask what had happened during the "cleanup." He decisively said:
"Teacher, we have to go! Hold on to me!"
As Minato Namikaze used Flying Thunder God once more, the group began a swift retreat.
Along the way, Shu Furukawa replenished Minato's Chakra once. Combined with secret medicine, the two Jinchuriki soon lost track of them.
Roshi and Han stopped at the edge of the valley and saw their slaughtered comrades. Both fell silent. Finally, Han spoke in a low voice:
"Is that the ninjutsu mentioned in the intelligence? It's even more troublesome than expected."
"Ōnoki was right. Konoha always produces genius ninja. They're the greatest threat."
Roshi remained silent. Revealing the Tailed Beast Bomb had been a warning not to act rashly. He had no interest in becoming a tool for war.
--
At the end of October, once the group entered the Land of Fire and neared Konoha's outskirts, they finally relaxed completely. Along the way, Minato Namikaze had enthusiastically shared his insights on sealing techniques:
"Sealing techniques and Summoning Jutsu have certain things in common. Both involve space."
"Sealing Tailed Beast Chakra within a space for use and extraction at any time is the purpose of sealing techniques. If the formula is proper, it can even operate independently of the Chakra pathway system."
"..."
After the explanation, Shu Furukawa removed his mask and nodded. Seeing that Minato still wanted to continue, he asked:
"Does controlling the Chakra in the sealing space require immense spiritual power? Or will the Tailed Beast control that power on its own?"
Minato Namikaze scratched his head awkwardly. Seeing his disciple like this, Jiraiya laughed heartily and took over:
"It's difficult for Minato to give a definite answer to that question, Shu. Although he's talented in sealing techniques, he's not a Jinchuriki after all."
"I'm better at Summoning Jutsu. Advanced sealing techniques are extremely difficult to learn. You two can exchange notes more in the future."
"..."
When the group reached the village gate, they relaxed completely. Minato Namikaze's two teammates even cheered. Going on missions with Jiraiya was simply too dangerous.
No one asked about the Root members who had "sacrificed" themselves. Jiraiya grinned as he greeted the gatekeeping Chunin, while Minato also revealed his brilliant smile.
The Anbu captain had remained silent the entire way. Only now, as they were about to part, did he pat Shu Furukawa on the shoulder and say:
"Shu, your talent is even more exceptional than everyone expected. Give Lady Tsunade my regards!"
The mask concealed his expression, but Shu Furukawa understood. This man had intended to take a side when he recruited Shu for the mission. Within the direct Anbu, some wanted to continue serving the "Hokage."
"It's thanks to the captain's care. I learned a great deal along the way!"
Shu Furukawa replied modestly. Having joined forces to kill Root ninja, the two now shared a life-and-death bond. The Anbu captain was very satisfied with that.
Walking ahead, Minato Namikaze keenly sensed the "unexpected developments" during the mission. But he did not want to think about them now. After seeing the Tailed Beast Bomb, he was even more worried about the woman he loved:
"Kushina, so that was the power possessed by the monster inside you."
"..."