The Final Battle with Shendu (2)

The smooth little combo from the Anbu squad wasn't unfamiliar to Qian Yu, watching from the shelter. That's right! It was the same combo the Anbu had used against Pain's summoning beast, the Multi-Headed Dog, during the original Pain fight.

Although the Multi-Headed Dog eventually broke free, that battle had given the Anbu Ninja, who had barely made an impression before, a much-needed boost to their power and intelligence.

Unfortunately, they had still fallen victim to an information gap. This jutsu, which roasted its enemies like they were in an oven, was essentially Fire Style, so it was almost useless against Shendu, the Fire Demon.

"Roar!"

A furious roar shook the sky. Large, unmistakable cracks appeared across the enormous "microwave." The next moment, Shendu pried open the cage with his claws and spat fire at the Anbu squad.

"Water Style: Water Wall!"

The Anbu squad created a huge wall of water in front of them, but before Shendu's flames could even touch it, the water had already vaporized into steam.

"Scatter!"

The flames erupted in the middle of the four of them. Even though they dodged at once, Shendu, empowered by the Rabbit Talisman, could still race toward them. Before the Anbu Ninja could even react, their bodies were sent flying hundreds of meters. Their flesh-and-blood bodies smashed into buildings under Shendu's force, crushing them into ruins as the ninja landed badly injured.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Tens of thousands of shuriken came down in a torrential barrage. Anbu reinforcements had arrived, hoping to launch a surprise attack while Shendu's attention was elsewhere.

But Shendu was nimble, and clearly not easy to hit. His form blurred into a streak, and in a fraction of a second, the Anbu Ninja were made to feel the agony of having their bones shattered.

"Damn it!"

The Anbu Ninja were the village's finest, standouts among their peers since childhood. They had never experienced such a one-sided battle.

It was as if all their grueling training had been meaningless. In front of a true powerhouse, they were no better than cannon fodder.

They were all prepared to give their lives to protect the village, but the immense pressure and suffocating presence Shendu brought with him made them wonder, "Against a monster like this... is there really any hope of winning?"

"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"

"Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Jutsu!"

"Super Multi-Size Jutsu!"

Just as Shendu was about to continue forward, ninja from Konoha's various clans arrived on the battlefield. At their head was the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, all three of them clan leaders.

First was the "Deer" of Ino-Shika-Cho, Nara Shikaku, Konoha's famous henpecked husband. He wore a jonin vest beneath a shabby-looking coat, and several scars marked his face. He formed hand seals and stretched his shadow beneath Shendu, stopping him in his tracks.

Next came the "Boar" of Ino-Shika-Cho, Yamanaka Inoichi. His long yellow hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he wore a red cloak over his Konoha jonin vest. He released his mind and, while Shendu was pinned by the shadow, entered his body in an attempt to take control of it.

Last was the "Butterfly" of Ino-Shika-Cho, Akimichi Choza. His red hair resembled a lion's mane, and two streaks of pale purple face paint marked his face. He was rather portly. He converted the fat in his body into a massive amount of chakra, swelling into a giant dozens of meters tall and throwing a heavy punch at Shendu.

"Wait! Clan head of the Akimichi Clan! He's not under control at all!"

The words of Hyuga Hiashi, the Main Family head who had arrived late, made everyone draw in a sharp breath.

What? He wasn't under control?! The Ino-Shika-Cho team combo had never failed before!

"You humans think you can rival me in matters of the soul, when I'm a demon sorcerer?"

Shendu's Fire Demon Chi erupted, spreading outward as a fiery shock wave. At the same time, Nara Shikaku's shadow snapped, and his body was sent flying uncontrollably.

The moment Yamanaka Inoichi entered Shendu's body, he grasped the difference between their spiritual powers. In an instant, it felt as if the nerves in his brain were being knotted together and yanked in different directions. The pain came from his very soul, leaving him with a splitting headache and unable to stand. Fortunately, Nara Shikaku pulled him over with his shadow, saving him from a direct hit by the fiery shock wave.

Of the three, Akimichi Choza suffered the worst. He was closest to Shendu, and stuck in his giant form, he had no choice but to take the attack head-on.

The fat inside him burned away through his belly, and his enormous stomach shrank until he was gaunt and emaciated. And that wasn't all: his body flew off and crushed a large section of Konoha's buildings before he landed in the middle of the medical unit behind the front lines.

"Severe burns over most of his body! His skin is breaking down, and his vital signs are extremely weak! Begin emergency treatment immediately!"

Back in the middle of the battlefield, Shendu used the Snake Talisman's power to turn invisible. The Hyuga Ninja led by Hyuga Hiashi immediately activated their Byakugan and began searching for him.

But they still came up empty. The Byakugan was said to see everything, and could even see through the body to its chakra pathways and chakra points, where chakra emerged. But it only worked on living beings with chakra, so it was useless against Shendu.

At Minato's home, Sarutobi Hiruzen had assigned Minato to escort Kushina Uzumaki to a shelter, to ensure the safety of the Jinchūriki.

After all, Konoha was at war, and all available personnel had been sent to deal with Shendu. The last thing they needed was a Tailed Beast rampage on top of that...

"Argh! Damn old Hokage! This is infuriating! I could protect the village too!"

Kushina angrily stuck her hair straight up, transforming into a red-haired demon. She was a jonin, after all, and she could try to seal Shendu with the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu. Even if that didn't work, her Adamantine Sealing Chains could greatly restrict his movements!

And now she was being sent to a shelter just because she was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?! Did that old geezer Sarutobi Hiruzen really think she, Kushina Uzumaki, couldn't punch his lights out?

"Argh! Don't underestimate me!"

Seeing his little firecracker wave her fists, looking ready to explode with anger, Minato found himself in a difficult position. He had to carry out the Third Hokage's orders while also calming Kushina down.

"Looks like I'll have to use my secret weapon...!"

Minato gathered himself for a moment, then embraced Kushina at lightning speed and said gently, "Lord Hokage's just worried something might happen... Can you please stop being angry?"

Just looking into Minato's handsome, gentle face made half of Kushina's anger melt away. Her cheeks flushed, and she muttered, "All right... I'll let that old geezer off this once, for your sake..."

At that moment, in the mental space, the Nine-Tails felt Kushina's anger slip out and the seal loosen. Overjoyed, it seized its chance to do something, but the anger it held in its paws slipped away in an instant...

"Damn Minato Namikaze! When I get out, you'll be the first one I eat!"

After calming Kushina down and taking her to the shelter beneath Kage Rock, Minato's gaze turned resolute. He gripped a Flying Thunder God Kunai, looked toward the fiery clouds in the sky ahead, and flashed away in a streak of golden light.