"Just as expected of the Fourth Hokage. You found me."
In a corner of the Forest of Death, Namikaze Minato was locked in a fierce battle with a man in a black robe.
He had already rescued Kushina, but after being separated from the Nine-Tails for so long, her death was all but certain.
For the sake of everyone in the village, Namikaze Minato had no time to grieve. He could only force down his sorrow and fight.
Someone who could freely enter and leave the village despite its barrier, slaughter every member of the Anbu directly under the Third, and summon the Nine-Tails...
As far as Namikaze Minato knew, only one person could do such a thing.
"You're... Madara Uchiha?"
"No, that's impossible. He died a long time ago!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Namikaze Minato dismissed the possibility.
The mysterious man pulled back his hood and said casually, "Who knows? Maybe he's still alive."
"Now that things have come to this, whoever you are... why are you doing this?"
"If I had to say, it was a whim—and something I'd planned for a long time. It's for war, and also for peace."
What a... twisted way of thinking.
Namikaze Minato gripped his kunai and gave up on talking.
From the corner of his eye, he saw the Nine-Tails rampaging...
I can only leave the village to the Third. I have to keep this dangerous man here!
"It's no use. The Nine-Tails has been released. You have no hope left!"
The mysterious man strolled forward, then suddenly accelerated, closing in as his figure crossed paths with Namikaze Minato's.
The kunai passed through the mysterious man's body, while the man's chains wrapped around Namikaze Minato.
At the last possible moment, Namikaze Minato escaped with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
During the brief lull in the battle, Namikaze Minato quickly assessed the situation.
Just like before, physical attacks were ineffective. His body only became tangible when he attacked...
In other words, the only way to win was to rely on speed in the instant they struck at each other.
He seemed to have some kind of ability that could rob people of their ability to fight as soon as he touched them. Minato had to watch out for that.
The outcome would be decided in an instant.
Whoever attacked faster would win!
Whoosh!!
Namikaze Minato spun around and hurled his kunai, gathering a blue Rasengan in his right hand.
Whoosh—
The kunai passed through the mysterious man's head once again. His hand was just about to touch Namikaze Minato...
I win!!
Zzt—
Space shrieked. In the instant before the man's hand made contact, Namikaze Minato used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him and slammed the Rasengan into his back!
Boom!!
The ground shattered, and the mysterious man was driven deep into the earth!
"This is the Flying Thunder God: Second Step!"
As he attacked, Namikaze Minato had also marked the mysterious man's back with a Flying Thunder God Mark. He flashed in close, and Cursed Seal markings extended from his palm.
Contract Seal—Release!!
"This is... the Contract Seal!"
"Now the Nine-Tails no longer belongs to you."
The victor had been decided!
--
--
Unfortunately, even without anyone controlling it, the Nine-Tails didn't stop destroying Konoha. If anything, it grew even more frenzied.
The pain of decades spent sealed away was being unleashed all at once!
Fwoosh!!!
The Adamantine Staff shot forward at tremendous speed, driving the Nine-Tails out of Konoha.
"Everyone, follow it! Hold the Nine-Tails off until the Fourth Hokage arrives!"
--
At that very moment.
A massive pillar of light illuminated the night sky.
Within the light, Rayquaza's streamlined green body was wrapped in a bright yellow aura. Like a meteor, it tore through the clouds, its tail blazing with brilliant light.
Its imposing form was like the embodiment of order!
So... beautiful!!
Roar!!
A deafening roar rang out, announcing its arrival!
"What is that?!"
"That terrifying presence... The Nine-Tails wasn't enough? What kind of monster is this?!"
Judging by its size, this Rayquaza wasn't even as large as one of the Nine-Tails' tails, but the pressure it exuded was just as overwhelming.
It was... the feeling of humans facing an irresistible natural disaster.
Rayquaza kept twisting and turning, as if gathering some mysterious power.
The people noticed a small figure standing atop the serpent-like flying summon.
The wind whipped at his clothes, revealing the Uchiha Clan Crest emblazoned on them.
Another Uchiha!!
--
"What a powerful summon..."
There was no need for Sensory Ninjutsu. Rayquaza's strength was plain to see.
Fugaku murmured, "When did you gain this power... Sora... What exactly have you done..."
Uchiha Sora was also surprised. When he learned that the platform would lend him Rayquaza, he'd thought it would be the legendary beast from his memories—the one that ended the conflict between land and sea.
After reading the terms carefully, he learned that this wasn't the same Rayquaza, the one with a divine role.
Then again, even with the new-user double trial, a mere 1,000 credit points couldn't possibly get him power on that level.
Still... this was more than enough!
The people snapped out of their shock and began shouting.
"Uchiha Sora! What are you doing?! I order you to dismiss your summon immediately!"
"This is a severe warning! Disobey, and you'll be treated as a traitor and executed on the spot!"
"Think of your clan! Do you really intend to drag the entire Uchiha Clan into ruin?!"
It wasn't just Root, led by Danzo. The Anbu members who'd been responding to the crisis had also been drawn over by the commotion.
Shisui looked conflicted as he called up to him.
"Sora, you're going to help the village, right..."
"You... you will, won't you?"
Three hours.
In three hours, Rayquaza, which was completely under Uchiha Sora's command, would return to its original time and space.
Or it might end the contract, just like a summoned beast would if it sensed that its death was near.
After all, this was only a loan. It wouldn't risk its life.
He had to resolve the situation within that time!
Uchiha Sora crouched low and placed his hand on Rayquaza's head, sending his orders through their mental link.
Against Root, led by Shimura Danzo...
Use Dragon Pulse!!
Roar!!
As Rayquaza let out a long cry, emerald light rose around its body, and energy flowed between its scales like liquid aurora.
In an instant,
A beam of azure light, wrapped in the phantom shape of a dragon, shot out. The air let out a piercing shriek as the energy overloaded it!
"Protect Lord Danzo!!"
"He really attacked... Uchiha's rebellion is a fact now!"
"Sora! What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?!"
Attacking the Hokage's advisor in public...
The Uchiha were already unpopular. Even the Hokage's own son would be branded a rogue ninja for doing something like this!
--
Boom!!!!!
The beam struck with an earth-shaking roar. A powerful shock wave expanded in a ring from the impact point, sending dust billowing into the sky.
The ground cracked apart, and the ripples of energy even warped the air.
Rayquaza hovered steadily in midair, its long tail swaying gently in the aftermath. Its eyes brimmed with the arrogance of a creature that looked down upon the world.
From the thoughts Rayquaza transmitted, Uchiha Sora could feel its excitement at the destruction.
Clearly, this Rayquaza had a bad temper. It was probably a troublemaker among its kind.
As the dust settled, Shimura Danzo stood amid the ruins and looked up at Uchiha Sora, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Finally showing your true colors? Is this your secret weapon?"
"Who let you raise your head, you piece of trash?"
At that moment, Uchiha Sora and Rayquaza were one. Feeling the surging power within him, he shed his pretense.
He made no effort to hide his disgust for Shimura Danzo.
Before you continue