Night of the Nine-Tails (Six)

"Nine-Tails!"

Taiichi's voice rang out, attempting to awaken Nine-Tails's rationality.

"Look closely! Someone else is controlling you, it's that masked guy. This is all his conspiracy, and Konoha is a victim too. We don't need to—"

"Shut up!!!"

The Nine-Tails's roar interrupted him, but the rage burning in its enormous, now clear beastly eyes remained undiminished.

"I don't care who I am, it was you, Konoha, who imprisoned and sealed me as a weapon! It was you, Konoha, who used my power! Today, you will all pay the price!"

It wouldn't listen to any explanation at all.

The humiliation of decades of imprisonment, the anger of being forcibly manipulated, and the hatred for all humanity erupted completely at this moment.

It abandoned its attack on Taiichi, its massive body stood upright, and its claws slammed into the ground!

Boom!!!

The earth undulated and shattered violently like waves! A terrifying shockwave spread out in a ring, sending countless huge rocks flying into the air, their target none other than the other Konoha Ninja were closing in.

Faced with the Nine-Tails' indiscriminate attack, Taiichi's eyes turned completely cold.

He knew that words were useless; to have a dialogue, he had to first defeat it!

Taiichi clasped his hands together abruptly, his Chakra rapidly transforming. He then took a deep breath, his chest bulging high.

Call!!!

Taiichi spewed out was no longer ordinary flames, but—a pure, ultra-pure white-gold flame wave!

Sage Art: Fire Style - White Flame Burning Heaven!

The moment the White Flame appeared, it emitted an unimaginable heat. It lacked the explosiveness and flamboyance of ordinary flames; instead, it was like flowing platinum, carrying a sacred yet destructive majesty, silently covering the Nine-Tails's body.

Laugh!!!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a teeth-grinding sound, like cold water being poured on a branding iron!

The Nine-Tails' fur, which was strong enough to withstand ordinary Ninjutsu attacks, was instantly melted and burned the moment it came into contact with the platinum flames, as if it had encountered its nemesis!

"Awooo!!!"

This time, the Nine-Tails' roar was no longer one of anger, but a scream filled with extreme pain!

The pain inflicted by this White Flame far surpasses that of physical attacks! It seems to directly scorch the soul and burn away the very essence of Chakra!

For the first time, the Nine-Tails' enormous body writhed and convulsed violently in pain!

Its nine long tails lashed wildly, slapping at the platinum flames burning on its body, trying to extinguish them with Chakra, but the flames were like living things, burning even more fiercely!

The darkness was completely illuminated, and the surrounding area for miles was as bright as day!

"This—this is—" Orochimaru's golden snake eyes contracted violently. Even with his vast knowledge, he was shocked by this flame that defied common sense.

This is definitely not an ordinary Fire Style!

"Taiichi ----" Hiruzen Sarutobi Adamantine Staff, looking at the Nine-Tails writhing in pain amidst the white flames, and then at the young figure in the air who seemed like a god of fire descending to earth, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The next generation of Konoha has grown to such a level!

"We can't let this idiot run around with fire!" Taiichi knew the Nine-Tails' terrifying regenerative power and knew he had to completely control it!

His hands Hand Seals with lightning speed.

Sage Art: Adamantine Sealing Chains!

Splash!!!

Eight thick chains, gleaming with dazzling golden light, shot out from behind Taiichi.

They instantly traversed the battlefield, precisely binding the Nine-Tails, which was struggling painfully amidst the White Flame.

Limbs, neck, waist, and most importantly, those nine giant tails that were wildly flailing and trying to extinguish the flames!

The moment the chains touched the Nine-Tails' body, they unleashed a powerful sealing force.

They not only physically restrained the Nine-Tails' movements, but also severely suppressed the raging Chakra within the Nine-Tails' body.

"Hoo----Ugh----"

The Nine-Tails's struggle instantly became incredibly difficult, as the Adamantine Sealing Chains had a natural and powerful restraining effect on it.

The sealing power emanating from the chains became increasingly firm as the chains wrapped around them.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Under the powerful restraint of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, the nine wildly beating giant tails were forcibly pulled back, straightened, and then, like giant whips, firmly nailed to the ground by chains!

Dust flying everywhere!

Finally, the chains even wrapped around the Nine-Tails's mouth, strangling its howling jaws and forcing it to utter only mournful "woo-woo" sounds filled with resentment and pain.

In a short moment, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, who had been rampaging and invincible, plunging the entire Konoha into despair, was now bound into a giant dumpling by eight Adamantine Sealing Chains.

His limbs were bound, rendering him unable to move; his Nine-Tails were pulled apart and lay flat on the ground; his giant mouth was sealed, allowing him only to utter humiliating whimpers; on his enormous body, platinum flames were still burning quietly, only much smaller in scale.

Were it not for its mountain-like body and its still-hate-filled crimson eyes, it would have looked like a giant fox that had been brutally bullied.

An eerie silence fell over the battlefield.

All the Konoha Ninja witnessed this scene stood frozen in place, as if under a spell.

They stared blankly at the colossal beast struggling futilely amidst the white flames and golden chains, then at the young figure slowly descending from the sky before the Nine-Tails giant head, just meters from its bound mouth.

Did we win?

So easily?

No, it wasn't easy; it was an absolute crushing defeat!

"White Reaper ----"

A murmured voice broke the silence, which was immediately followed by a deafening roar of cheers!

"Long live Lord Taiichi!!"

"We won! We won!!"

"The Nine-Tails -Tails has been subdued!!"

The ecstasy of surviving a catastrophe, the awe of absolute power, and the worship of the hero who saved the village erupted completely at this moment! The roar almost lifted the night sky!

Rewinding slightly, at the same time that the Nine-Tails was still wreaking havoc in Konoha, far from the village, outside the cave where the birth took place, another life-or-death battle was at a stalemate.

The air was thick with the stench of blood. Four Anbu lay silently on the rubble-strewn ground. Their masks were shattered, some were pierced by Kunai, and others had their bodies twisted by an invisible force. Their deaths were gruesome.

In the arena, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi, and the rest of the Anbu formed a fan shape, surrounding the figure wearing the orange Spiral Mask.

Although Konoha had more people on the field and surrounded the opponent, their aura was completely opposite.

The Masked Man's Space-Time Ninjutsu was truly troublesome. This kind of battle, where the other party was attacking him but he couldn't attack the other party, completely hampered Konoha's forces.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi formed Sancai Formation, surrounding the Masked Man in the center, but they hesitated to take action. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but rather that they had no good ideas. Otherwise, the four Anbu on the ground wouldn't have died so mysteriously.

However, the Masked Man appeared unusually calm. He strolled around as if he were taking a walk in his own backyard, his scarlet right eye gleaming with a cold and mocking light through the hole in his mask.

"It's useless, Princess Tsunade." Obito's voice, muffled by the mask, carried a metallic, hoarse quality. "And you, Kakashi —all your attacks are futile before these eyes of mine."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiraiya's attack had already arrived!

Fire Style: Flame Bullet!

A massive, blazing Fireball roared out, instantly engulfing the spot where Obito was standing.

However, the flames passed through his body as if through a phantom projection, striking the rock wall behind him and blasting away large chunks of rock.

Almost simultaneously, Tsunade appeared to Obito's side as if by Obito, her iron fist slamming into his head with a whooshing sound, the air crackling and the wind howling.

But the result was the same; the fist passed right through Obito's head without any resistance, as if it had struck thin air.

"Tsk!" Tsunade's attack missed, and the immense force had nowhere to go. The inertia forced her to quickly adjust her center of gravity.

She felt extremely frustrated; this feeling of helplessness was more irritating than facing any formidable enemy.

In the instant Tsunade lost her balance, the Masked Man's fist was already close to Tsunade back.

"Now!" Kakashi keenly caught the moment the Masked Man's body shifted from ethereal to solid!

This is a pattern they barely managed to figure out at the cost of four of their companions' lives: the Masked Man's Intangibility is not absolutely continuous; when launching an attack, his body must materialize!

Lightning Style: Chidori.

Kakashi's right hand surged to its limit with lightning, and a piercing cry of Chidori echoed through the night sky. He transformed into a blue lightning bolt that tore through the darkness, aiming straight for the Masked Man's heart!

Fast! As fast as possible!

However, Obito's Sharingan also caught Kakashi's movement trajectory.

Faced with this fatal blow, a hint of disdain seemed to curl at the corner of his mouth beneath the mask.

His body became ethereal again, Kakashi's Lightning Blade pierced through his chest without hindrance, slamming into the ground in the distance and blasting a deep crater, sending lightning bolts flying.

"Still too slow, Kakashi." Obito's voice carried a hint of mockery. "Your eyes can't keep up with your speed at all!"

"Damn it!" Jiraiya was furious, his hands rapidly Hand Seals.

Needle Jizo!

The white hair on his shoulders hardened instantly, transforming into countless Senbon harder than steel, covering all possible locations where Obito might appear like a torrential rain.

But this time Obito couldn't even dodge. The Senbon kimonos pierced through his afterimage and missed again, pinning him to the ground or rock wall in vain.

Taking advantage of this wave of attacks, the other Anbu also launched a continuous barrage of attacks on Obito. Two of them, one on the left and one on the right, fearlessly pounced on him, their Obito aimed Kunai for Obito's vital points.

Obito didn't even turn around. Their attacks passed right through him again. Then, in the instant they crossed paths, Obito thrust Kunai at one of the Anbu, while simultaneously taking quick steps to dodge the rest of the attacks.

The fifth one.

The attacked Anbu member stiffened and collapsed to the ground, while Obito's cold voice announced the passing of yet another life.

He uses his ability to Intangibility during attacks, easily reaping lives, and then instantly Intangibility after the attack ends, avoiding any counterattack.

Although Jiraiya and his group saw through this underhanded tactic, they were basically helpless against it as long as the Masked Man didn't try to take credit for himself.

"His abilities must have limits! There must be weaknesses!" Everyone thought frantically.

At this suffocating moment—

A golden light flashed, Minato appeared beside Kakashi.

He returned, carrying with him a deep-seated murderous intent towards the culprit who had caused all this disaster!

He didn't look at the corpses on the ground, nor at Jiraiya and the others; all his attention and killing intent were firmly locked on the Masked Man in front of him!

"Oh, Fourth Hokage, you're back again. Is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki dead, or did you say your final goodbyes to her?"

Obito's flippant voice rang out, his words filled with schadenfreude.

Minato's expression grew even colder, Jiraiya Minato and the others watched him with concern, afraid that he would lose his composure.

Sure enough, before they could even ask any questions, Minato immediately took action.

He shot forward Kunai, Body Flicker followed up, all his movements executed in one fluid motion.

A mocking smile tugged at the corner of Obito —good, he's lost his composure. Only when he loses his composure will he have an opportunity to strike.

Without hesitation, he charged at his former teacher, his Mangekyo -like spatial-temporal Dōjutsu giving him the confidence and strength to defeat him.

The flying Kunai made contact with Obito first, but like all the previous attacks, it passed right through his Intangibility body.

Kunai the Minato, Minato's Rasengan, which he had just gathered in his right hand, was already aimed at Obito's face.

Unfortunately, Kunai, the Rasengan passed right through him without any success.

On Obito's side, as Minato's Rasengan came, Kunai at Minato. The instant the Rasengan passed through Minato's body, his Kunai had already reached Minato's back.

Seeing that Minato had no way to avoid it and the Minato Kunai about to pierce his body, Obito's eyes gleamed with excitement.

But the Minato in front of them suddenly disappeared the next moment.

"How could this be?" Obito's pupils, hidden beneath his mask, suddenly contracted!

He sensed it; that familiar yet deadly spatial fluctuation appeared very close behind him.

That's too fast!

Obito almost instinctively tried to activate his Intangibility ability again.

However, Minato is neither Kakashi nor Jiraiya. He is the "Yellow Flash," the fastest man in the Ninja World, whose keen perception of space and time and lightning-fast reflexes are unparalleled!

Just as Obito's body began to Intangibility, Minato's right palm, still holding the Rasengan, was slammed into Obito's back without hesitation!

Boom!!!

A solid hit! The immense impact exploded in Obito's back! Obito's body was thrown forward as if hit by a high-speed train, spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained the lower edge of his mask.

"We succeeded!" Jiraiya and Tsunade's eyes blazed with ecstatic joy! Minato had seized the fatal flaw that they had failed to exploit despite their best efforts!

"Kakashi!!!" Minato shouted sharply without pausing after landing his attack.

No need for further words! Kakashi had already locked onto the Masked Man was being knocked towards him, and lightning crackled in his hand.

Lightning Style: Chidori.

Kakashi's figure transformed into an even more dazzling blue lightning bolt than before, and the shrill cry of Chidori pierced the eardrums!

Pfft!!!

The lightning bolt pierced Obito's chest with perfect precision.

Piercing through the chest and exiting through the back, the Masked Man's body was pierced and torn apart by the violent power of lightning, and his heart was instantly reduced to charcoal by the Chidori!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Obito's body hung stiffly on Kakashi's arm, his eyes wide open beneath the mask, filled with disbelief and extreme pain.

He struggled to turn his eyes to look at Kakashi, who was standing right in front of him. His expression was extremely complex, containing shock, pain, and a hint of disbelief.

Kakashi looked at the enemy whose heart he had pierced with his own hand, and through the hole in the mask, he seemed to see a familiar feeling.

But when he thought of his master's wife, whom he had killed, hatred surged into his heart instantly. He swung his arm and slammed the Masked Man to the ground.

It's over?

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the surviving Anbu all breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves relaxing slightly.

Minato landed beside Kakashi, his eyes coldly fixed on the "corpse" on the ground, his anger still burning.

The enemy before us is definitely not Madara Uchiha; his strength relies solely on the unpredictability of his Space-Time Ninjutsu, and he is not actually that powerful.

This is far from the power level of Madara Uchiha as reported by Taiichi.

But at least, the threat has been eliminated.

However, just as the thought of "victory" had arisen, a sudden change occurred!