The Storm

The narrow Barrier was completely shattered, and the free, open world spread out before them.

A green wooden golem and a monstrous fox swinging nine tails clashed fiercely across the land, their godlike forms locked in brutal hand-to-hand combat. The aesthetics of pure violence were laid bare before the world.

Wooden fists covered in verdant green and beastly fists glowing red with Tailed Beast Chakra swung at each other, each blow tearing through the air with a violent roar.

On the ancient earth, a thunderous crash shook the land. A swift shock wave surged from the center of the battlefield, howling like a hurricane as it rapidly spread in every direction.

At the storm's heart, the Nine-Tails rose to its feet and clasped its paws tightly with the wooden golem's hands. Its muscular orange paws sank deep into a crater, and its long claws, sharp as blades, dug into the earth to hold its ground. As it strained harder, the cracked and furrowed ground crumbled into dust and rose skyward with the storm.

The wooden golem's round, chubby frame had fooled the Nine-Tails. It was far more nimble than he had expected. Its long claws had sunk into the golem's palms like nails, pinning it in place and keeping it within his reach.

Chakra began to gather in front of its mouth. The shadow cast by the pitch-black Tailed Beast Bomb enveloped Madara and Hashirama, who stood on the wooden golem's nose. As the sphere grew denser, a chilling, ominous feeling spread through the air.

The sinister Eternal Mangekyo turned silently. Madara could clearly see the amusement hidden in the Nine-Tails' scarlet eyes. He raised a hand and patted Hashirama on the shoulder, warning him, "Whatever you do, don't use the Wood Dragon Technique!"

"I still remember the plan," Hashirama replied as he kept the wooden golem locked in a stalemate with the Nine-Tails. He poured in more chakra, gripping the beast firmly before him. The golem and the Nine-Tails had just clashed in Taijutsu, but the Nine-Tails kept trying to pull away whenever it was struck. Hashirama had found the fight rather unsatisfying.

Luckily, the Nine-Tails had charged straight at them and foolishly let the wooden golem grab hold of it, thinking it could defeat them with a Tailed Beast Bomb.

"You filthy beast! I'll show you the power of the Uchiha!"

Madara withdrew the hand resting on Hashirama's shoulder and began forming Hand Seals. Blue chakra visibly streamed out from his body, and his long black hair danced in the wind, floating skyward. With a proud smile, he sized up the Nine-Tails before him as chakra surged into the wooden golem beneath his feet.

"Not good."

The amusement vanished from the Nine-Tails' narrow, vertical pupils. The cheerful mood between the two men on the wooden golem's nose made it realize it had fallen into a trap. It struggled with all its might to break free, but the golem held it fast. With no way to move, it could only pour more chakra into the sphere, hoping an enormous Tailed Beast Bomb would wipe them out.

A violent gale swept from the battlefield toward the sea of trees. Most of the towering ancient trees couldn't withstand the immense pressure and fell one after another, spreading outward in a fan-shaped pattern.

"Ah, my bugs!"

Sweat poured from Aburame Taiichi's forehead as he struggled to control the Kikaichū forming an umbrella above their heads. They flew against the wind, but quite a few were swept away, vanishing who knew where.

"Don't worry! Teacher's here." Tobirama stood at the front, where the storm battered him most fiercely. He raised an arm to keep the wind from rushing into his mouth, then quickly corrected his distorted voice.

The instant the storm struck, Rikusei pulled Naori behind him. The relentless gale forced him to squint, while his Sharingan quietly studied Tobirama ahead.

A sensor-type ninja should have been able to hear the surging chakra in Tobirama's body, pouring out like a mighty river. As he finished forming Hand Seals, the chakra burst forth from his mouth like a spring.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

Blue waves surged across the treetops, encircling them. The surging water leapt up like an inverted blue Sky Curtain, blocking the storm completely.

The wind that swept around the Sky Curtain blew toward the nearby forest. A gale mixed with sea spray raced over the rolling treetops, setting the leaves swaying like wind chimes beneath the clear sky.

As expected of a man who could make Water Style his own, Rikusei thought, shielding his face from the spray.

The Water Formation Wall was astonishingly powerful, but beside the earth-shaking battle ahead, it was like a grain of sand tossed into the sea of onlookers' hearts. The rising tide of emotion silently swallowed it, leaving not a trace in their minds.

"They're back."

Aburame Taiichi's excited voice broke the silence. Fortunately, Teacher had used Water Style in time, keeping the bugs from being blown too far away. Taiichi gathered them back with his chakra.

Quite a few people in the crowd let out a long breath as the Kikaichū connected to them by chakra dispersed. The battlefield they had seen through the Byakugan was simply unbelievable. Who knew a ninja's power could reach such heights?

Many had seen the wooden golem at the "Konoha Dance King" competition, but they had never imagined that the chubby, somewhat adorable golem could be so astonishingly powerful.

Rikusei felt someone tugging at the hem of his clothes. He turned and saw Naori gazing at him with bright, smiling eyes. Her slender fingers tucked the purple hair dampened by the spray behind her ear, and a playful droplet of water slid along her earlobe toward its rosy tip.

Her silky purple hair had been casually swept back and fell down her back. A droplet shimmered like the rosy light of sunset on her delicate earlobe. Without thinking, Rikusei reached out and wiped it away.

The faint brush of his finger against her earlobe made the evening sunset appear on Naori's face ahead of time. Suppressing the flutter in her heart, she suddenly grabbed his wrist and pointed in another direction while he wasn't looking.

"A rainbow!"

Someone in the crowd had already spotted it and cried out in delight.

Rikusei felt the ache in his wrist and wondered why Naori still hadn't let go. Then he realized she must have been frightened by the terrifying sight on the battlefield.

A rainbow hung quietly in the air alongside the mist.

Countless tiny droplets shimmered in the mist, just like the bead of water that had rested on Naori's earlobe. Beneath the clear sky, they sparkled with brilliant colors.

The wind and waves gradually began to subside. Tobirama called for them to jump down from the treetops. The forest ahead had already been battered beyond endurance, with most of it blown flat, like heavy ears of wheat bent over in a field.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

The enormous chakra of the Forest of Senju had appeared. Steadying himself, Rikusei watched the white-haired man channel chakra ahead and muttered to himself.

Tobirama pressed his hands, joined in Hand Seals, against the ground. The earth rose up continuously, forming a cliff within the newly flattened plain. Its steep, uneven surface offered them an excellent shelter from the wind. Tobirama had even thoughtfully reinforced the top with a layer of earth to shield them from the sun.

Taiichi controlled the Kikaichū, reconnecting everyone.

Now Danzo could watch the battle that had set his heart racing again. The connection had broken just after he saw the Nine-Tails getting beaten by the wooden golem, leaving him as restless as if a cat were scratching at him.

The battle seemed to have escalated again.

The Nine-Tails and the wooden golem had their hands locked together, and he had already seen the huge black sphere gathering at the beast's mouth.

As for its power, it was so-so. The Hokage and Lord Madara could block it, anyway.

He glanced at the faint white-haired figure ahead, wondering whether Tobirama could block it. For some inexplicable reason, Danzo touched the Kunai in his pocket. If something really happened, Teacher Tobirama should be able to escape in an instant, right?

"Danzo!"

"Ah! Yes?"

"Teacher, I heard you!"

Ignoring the curious looks around him, Danzo calmly tugged at his collar. He knew what had happened. He had accidentally touched the Flying Thunder God Mark and connected his chakra to his teacher's.